Patents Examined by Michael H Hong
  • Patent number: 11962864
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for recommending providers of media content to users viewing over-the-top content based on quality of service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Raymond Valadez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11962818
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein optimize the retrieval of missed content by playing back cached content to enable tuners with limited capacity to retrieve the missed content. A content presentation system may receive, with a tuner, a transmission of content comprising media content and advertisements. The content presentation system may cache the advertisements. The content presentation system may determine whether an interruption during the transmission resulted in a missed portion of content and, in response, determine whether an advertisement upcoming at a time period in the transmission of content is cached. If the upcoming advertisement is cached, the content presentation system may play back the cached advertisement at the time period and release the tuner previously receiving the transmission of content to retrieve the missed portion of the content during the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhusudhan Srinivasan, Piar Chand, Labhala Gowtham, Durga Prasad Pulicharla, Aditya Rautray, Deviprasad Punja
  • Patent number: 11956484
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for identifying videos containing objectionable content are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Bartlomiej Wolowiec, Andreea-Alexandra Ganciulescu
  • Patent number: 11949531
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for proactive network diagnosis. An example method may include determining, by one or more processors, telemetry data and streaming trap data indicative of a group of cable modem devices being disconnected from a cable network. The example method may include determining, based on the telemetry data and streaming trap data, a first network node device of the group of network node devices. The example method may include generating first performance data associated with the first network node device. The example method may include determining, based on a comparison between the first performance data and an event criterion, an occurrence of an event associated with the first network node device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Yates, Joseph Keller, Christian Welin, Sam Plant, Tuba Aktaran-Kalayci, Drew Milley, Brian Stublen, Alexis Hwang, Mohammad Khabbazian, Will Gao
  • Patent number: 11949963
    Abstract: A highlight transmission service allows users of communication devices to view highlights of sporting events while the sporting events are occurring without having to watch the sporting events. For example, a computer-implemented method may comprise: determining that a highlight of a sporting event is to be conveyed to a communication device; and transmitting data regarding the highlight of the sporting event to the communication device over a network during the sporting event in order to allow a user of the communication device to view the highlight of the sporting event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventors: Housam Badaan, Martin Tremblay
  • Patent number: 11949925
    Abstract: In some implementations, a system is capable of intelligently generating customized multimedia content streams that are distributed to different groups of users. The system generates the customized content streams such that the initial and terminating portions of the streams are shared between each of the content streams. The system adjusts the intermediate portions of the streams to, for example, the viewing preferences of each user group using alternate forms of content. In this regard, the customized content streams that have both customized portions and shared portions to provide a standardized yet adaptive viewing experience for all users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Perfect Sense, Inc.
    Inventors: David Gang, Bryan Morgan
  • Patent number: 11943488
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles for assigning content, such as advertisements, to similar content breaks, such as advertisement placement opportunities, across multiple content providers. The systems disclosed herein automatically identify similar advertisement placement opportunities, such as advertisement placement opportunities occurring at the same time, across a plurality of media content providers, and assign an indicated advertisement spot to as many of the identified advertisement placement opportunities as possible. This is achieved by re-assigning advertisement spots which are already assigned to a slot in one of the advertisement placement opportunities to another slot in order to allow the indicated advertisement spot to be assigned to the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: WideOrbit LLC
    Inventors: Trevan Zosel, Brian Edward Thoman, Francisco Lopez Alvarez, William E. Offeman
  • Patent number: 11910037
    Abstract: Embodiments include an overlay multicast network. The overlay multicast network may provide a set of features to ensure reliable and timely arrival of multicast data. The embodiments include a congestion control system that may prioritize designated layers of data within a data stream over other layers of the same data stream. Each data stream transmitted over the network may be given an equal share of the bandwidth. Addressing in routing tables maintained by routers may utilize summarized addressing based on the difference in location of the router and destination address. Summarization levels may be adjusted to minimize travel distances for packets in the network. Data from high priority data stream layers may also be retransmitted upon request from a destination machine to ensure reliable delivery of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Scale Video Coding, LLC
    Inventor: Erik Van Zijst
  • Patent number: 11902258
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described to enable delivery of streaming content while inhibiting or preventing removal, blocking, or skipping of portions within that streaming content. A content delivery system can generate a manifest indicating content portions that form the streaming content. Each content portion can be identified in the manifest using a concealed identifier, which conceals the actual identifier of the content portion from the client to inhibit or prevent the client from automatically removing or modifying the content portion. On receiving a request for a content portion, the content delivery system can convert the concealed identifier into the actual identifier, and return the appropriate content portion to the client. In some instances, the specific identifiers included within a concealed manifest may be modified or adapted based on monitoring information of the client device, to ensure clients view given portions of streaming content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan F. Watson, Craig Wesley Howard, Gregory Kenneth Truax, Alex Xiaoye Zhang
  • Patent number: 11902633
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for server-side manipulation of underlying video content in order to dynamically place overlay content within a video stream in a manner whereby a viewing user sees the advertisement content over or integrated within a portion of the base video content. Segments of the original video file may be modified by a server to display overlay content over a portion of the original content, and a revised manifest file may be generated by the server and sent to a client device. The revised manifest file may cause a video player on the client device to present in sequence (a) a first original portion of the video, (b) a second portion of the video modified to include overlaid advertisement content or other overlay content within the second portion, followed by (c) a third original portion of the video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GumGum, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Weiner, Jagadish Kamath
  • Patent number: 11895354
    Abstract: A live streaming interaction method and apparatus, and a readable medium and an electronic device are provided. The method includes: in response to a selection operation of a user regarding target virtual objects in a live streaming viewing interface, displaying an object trigger operation control, the object trigger operation control being used for the user to perform a target operation to continuously trigger target virtual objects; and during the process of the user performing the target operation on the object trigger operation control, controlling a first display control to move along a first pre-set path, wherein the first display control is used for displaying, in real time, the number of target virtual objects currently triggered by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING BYTEDANCE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Meilin Li, Di Wu, Hongshuo Xu, Ting Wang, Hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11880993
    Abstract: An image processing device used in determining a distance to an object includes a memory that stores a stereo image of the object including first and second images, and a processor configured to detect first and second reference lines in the first image, calculate disparity between the first and second images, correct, using the calculated disparity, a position of the first reference line in the second image, and calculate a parameter for determining the distance to the object, the parameter indicating a difference between the first and second images based on a distance between the first and second reference lines in the first image and disparity between the first reference line in the first image and the corrected first reference line in the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Oki
  • Patent number: 11882346
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for identifying a playlist of highlights to use for refreshing a user on a plot related to a media asset the user has requested to access based on how long it has been since the user last saw related programming. The media guidance application may receive a request from a user to access a media asset and may determine whether the user previously consumed a related media asset to the media asset. The media guidance application may determine whether a period of time between receiving the request and a time when the user previously consumed the related media asset exceeds a threshold period of time. If the period of time does not exceed the threshold, the media guidance application may play back a predefined playlist of highlights, and if it exceeds the threshold, the media guidance application may play back a customized playlist of highlights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Reda Harb
  • Patent number: 11871070
    Abstract: A method, comprising receiving live video streams from different live streaming platforms, presenting the live video streams to users in video tiles in an aggregated live streaming platform, and allowing the users to navigate and select among the video tiles of the aggregated live streaming platform to view and interact with the live video streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: WWEEVV Pty Ltd
    Inventor: George Bancs
  • Patent number: 11871050
    Abstract: Some implementations include methods for replacing advertisements that have been inserted into a manifest associated with live streaming and may include receiving a request for a manifest from a player to enable a user to watch a live stream of an event. The request may be received at a first time when the live stream is already in progress. The manifest may be generated to include content fragments associated with the live event and advertisements based on first set of selection criteria. The manifest may be sent to the player to enable the user to watch the live stream. A seek back request may be received from the player to enable the user to watch the live stream at a second time earlier than the first time. The manifest may be updated to replace at least one advertisement with a replacement advertisement selected based on second set of selection criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Koceski, Shyam Krishnan Moni, Varun Chadha, Yongjun Wu, Abhishek Kumar
  • Patent number: 11871060
    Abstract: The system generates a display providing storyline information. The display includes, for example, a plurality of storyline identifiers, a plurality of time period indicators, and a plurality of episode indicators. Episode indicators indicate an episode having a segment of the storyline corresponding to a storyline identifier. The system may receive a user input selecting a storyline, or further filtering an existing storyline to tailor the displayed information more closely to a storyline of interest. The system updates the display to each reflect segments within episodes corresponding to the selected storyline identifier. The display may include a grid, with the storyline identifiers arranged along one axis and the time period indicators arranged along a different axis. The system may process metadata to determine storylines, and filter what information is displayed based on user input, the metadata, or both. Storylines include, for example, characters, locations, plots, teams, players, or other attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: George Grigore
  • Patent number: 11869384
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit and a changing unit. The acquisition unit acquires character information input by a viewer to content. The changing unit changes a representation form of a frequent word which is character information with a high appearance frequency among character information input by multiple viewers to the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventor: Masakazu Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11863814
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, with a computing system, data representing a video item into a buffer. The method further includes outputting the video item from the buffer to a display system. The method further includes determining that utilization of the buffer falls below a predetermined threshold. The method further includes, in response to determining that the utilization of the buffer falls below the predetermined threshold, determining that there is a specified rebuffering point within a predetermined time frame. The method further includes pausing with the computing system, the video item at the specified rebuffering point in response to determining that there is the specified rebuffering point within the predetermined time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ioannis Katsavounidis, Mark Watson, Aaron Hipple, Will Wolcott
  • Patent number: 11863844
    Abstract: Various embodiments for dynamically generating an advertisement in a video stream are disclosed. In one embodiment, video stream content associated with a video stream for a user device is received. Video analytics data is obtained for the video stream content, which indicates a scene recognized in the video stream content. An advertisement to be generated and inserted into the video stream content is then selected based on the scene recognized in the video stream content, and an advertisement template for generating the selected advertisement is obtained. Video advertisement content corresponding to the advertisement is then generated based on the advertisement template and the video analytics data. The video advertisement content is then inserted into the video stream content, and the modified video stream content is transmitted to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ravishankar Iyer, Nilesh Kumar Jain, Rameshkumar Illikkal, Carl S. Marshall, Selvakumar Panneer, Rajesh Poornachandran
  • Patent number: 11856155
    Abstract: A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventor: Donald F. Gordon