Patents Examined by Michael R Telan
  • Patent number: 10575050
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a user interface for displaying multiple points of view within a digital environment is provided. For example, a display device of a user computing entity may display a user interface. The display of the user interface may be caused by operation of an application on the user computing entity. One or more video streams corresponding to points of view within the digital environment may be received via a communications interface of the user computing entity. The one or more video streams may be processed via the application operating on the user computing entity. In response to the processing of the one or more video streams, at least one of the video streams may be displayed in a configurable position of the user interface. At least one of the video streams is a mosaic video stream comprising mosaic video data corresponding to two or more points of view within the digital environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Occhialini
  • Patent number: 10575062
    Abstract: Subtitles (graphics) can be superimposed and displayed on a video satisfactorily. A container in a predetermined format including a video stream having video data with UHD resolution and a subtitle stream having subtitle data is received. The video data is obtained by decoding the video stream. Bitmap data of the subtitles is obtained by decoding the subtitle stream. In a case where a resolution of the subtitles does not match the UHD resolution, processing of converting a position of the subtitles is performed on the bitmap data of the subtitles. Video data for display is obtained by superimposing, on the video data, the bitmap data of the subtitles on which the processing of converting the position has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ikuo Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 10542310
    Abstract: A method for providing media data to a media player on board a vehicle. The method comprises, at a device on board the vehicle, receiving from a remote device one or more media data segments of a first media stream to be played in a single media session. The media data segments are stored in a transient buffer upon receipt at the device on board the vehicle and before playback by the media player. The method further comprises generating a plurality of playlists for the single media session. The plurality of playlists comprise a first playlist comprising a first media data segment stored in the transient buffer, and a second playlist comprising a second media data segment stored in a storage device on board the vehicle, the second media data segment of a second media stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nomad Digtal Limited
    Inventor: Paul Vaclik
  • Patent number: 10455294
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the communications field, and provide a video distribution method and a device. The method includes: receiving, by an SCEF, a first request message sent by a third-party server, where the first request message includes an MBMS capability negotiation parameter for video distribution, the MBMS capability negotiation parameter being requested by the third-party server; sending, by the SCEF, a second request message to an HSS according to the first request message, to request the HSS to expose an MBMS capability; sending, by the SCEF, a third request message to a broadcast multicast service center BM-SC after the SCEF receives a second response message returned by the HSS when the HSS determines to allow the exposure of the MBMS capability, to request to obtain MBMS capability information exposed by the BM-SC; and sending the MBMS capability information obtained from the BM-SC to the third-party server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiming Li, Shuo Wang
  • Patent number: 10419707
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of method for providing highlights of multimedia content that may be of interest to a user of a television system. The interest of a particular user of the television system may be obtained from a viewing history gathered about the user. From this information, one or more available multimedia programs may be identified as being of interest to the user. Highlights of such content, such as pay-per-view or other premium content, may be gathered and sent to or recorded on the receiver associated with the user such that the highlights may be presented to the user during use of the television system. The highlights may be viewed by the user through the television system and, if the user is interested in the content, may also purchase or otherwise access the highlighted programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Hey
  • Patent number: 10341702
    Abstract: A system and method for providing programming data includes a first module that generates first programming data for content and a second module generating billing data corresponding to the content. A listing service module receives first programming data from the first module and receives billing data from the second module. The listing service module combines the first programming data and the billing data to form combined programming data. A first cache module is in communication with the listing service module and a user device and stores the combined programming data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil Chaudhry, Jin H. Chung, Gideon S. Raj
  • Patent number: 10327038
    Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: PerfTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis T. Donzis, Henry M. Donzis, Peter W. Baron, John A. Murphy, Jonathan E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10327018
    Abstract: An improved approach to tracking media playback includes tracking logic that is based on abandonment indicators. An abandonment indicator is detected during media playback, such as a user interaction with a computing device that is detected prior to ceasing playback of the media content. Tracking messages are reduced, suppressed, or suspended until an abandonment indicator is detected. After an abandonment indicator is detected, the system quickens, releases, or restart sending tracking messages to a collection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TEALIUM INC.
    Inventors: Michael Anderson, Craig Rouse
  • Patent number: 10320500
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for channel switching comprising encapsulating a plurality of IP datagrams associated with a plurality of real time audio/visual (A/V) streams or a plurality of file objects onto a plurality of MPE sections; inserting the plurality of MPE sections into one of a plurality of elementary streams; and multiplexing the plurality of elementary streams associated with the plurality of real time A/V streams or the plurality of file objects into a plurality of non-consecutive bursts, wherein the plurality of elementary streams are adjacent in a channel line-up. In one aspect, the plurality of non-consecutive bursts is transmitted to a DVB-H receiver with a limited memory size for enabling fast channel switching. In one aspect, the channel line-up is presented in an electronic service guide (ESG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sandeep Singhai, Sivaramakrishna Veerepalli
  • Patent number: 10306332
    Abstract: Various arrangements for providing interactive content to viewers of television programming are presented. A television service provider system may supplement broadcast television programming with a supplemental audio signal. The supplemental audio signal may not part of the broadcast television programming as received by the television service provider system from a content provider. The television service provider system may broadcast a data stream comprising the broadcast television programming and the supplemental audio signal via a television programming distribution network. A television receiver may receive the data stream and output the broadcast television programming and the supplemental audio signal. A viewer's mobile device may detect the supplemental audio signal using an on-board microphone of the mobile device. In response to the received supplemental audio signal, the mobile device may access interactive content and provide such interactive content to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christofer Hardy, Thomas Yarborough
  • Patent number: 10270552
    Abstract: Systems and methods of gathering, processing, and distributing information of a sporting event over a wireless network covering the sporting event, including a first portable device carried by a spotter of the sporting event to acquire global positioning system (GPS) data corresponding to the first portable device, to receive input data regarding status of the sporting event from the spotter, and to transmit the GPS and input data over the network, and a second portable device carried by a patron of the sporting event to receive the transmitted data, and to selectively display graphical representations of the transmitted data according to an input from the patron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Arthur B. Long, III
  • Patent number: 10255353
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided which includes: a first managing part for managing first data about preferences of a user; a second managing part for managing second data about information; a retrieving part for retrieving the second data about the information used by the user; and an updating part for updating the first data by use of the second data retrieved by the retrieving part. If the second data are found to exist within the first data, then the updating part updates the first data using the second data; if the second data are not found to exist within the first data, then the updating part adds the second data to the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Tsunoda, Masaaki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10250930
    Abstract: A content ingestion system and method allows a single pitch of media content and associated metadata to be provided by a content provider and processed into appropriate packages for different content distribution services or delivery platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BCE INC.
    Inventors: Chris Snyder, Josh Gordon
  • Patent number: 10231022
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting media content using integrated content sources are provided. In some implementations, systems for presenting media content using integrated content sources are provided, the systems comprising: at least one hardware processor that is configured to: receive a control signal corresponding to a user input; generate at least one tuning instruction based on the control signal; transmit the tuning instruction to a tuner; and transmit graphical content and a set of instructions to the display device, wherein the set of instructions contains information about overlaying the graphical content on video content generated based on the tuning instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Dureau, Majd Bakar
  • Patent number: 10225595
    Abstract: A non-climactic period is forecasted during a live streaming of a main content, where a likelihood of an occurrence of any climactic event in the non-climactic period is below a threshold likelihood, and where a second content is inserted during the non-climactic period. A validation is requested from a first user of the live streaming, of the forecasted non-climactic period and a first response to the request is received from the first user. Based on the first response, a first rank of the first user is computed relative to another user in a group of responding users. A first dynamic delay period that has an inverse relationship with the first rank is computed for the first user. A first transmission of a future portion of the live streaming to the first user is delayed by at least the first dynamic delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael F. Baryla, Aaron K. Baughman, Mauro Marzorati, Ahmed M. Nassar
  • Patent number: 10212479
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives interest indications for entities, entitlements, and location information that are indexed by user profiles in databases. The interest indications for the entities, the entitlements, and the location information are transformed from being indexed by the user profiles to indexing the entities and indexing entitlement and location information as availability pairs in an index and associating user profiles in the user profiles as entries for the index. The method receives a notification of a live programming event before the event starts and uses the notification to determine an entity of a media program and an availability pair. A second database is queried using the entity and the availability pair to determine a set of user profiles associated with the entity and the availability pair. Then, an action is performed for at least a portion of the set of user profiles before the live programming event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: HULU, LLC
    Inventors: Minlin Zhang, Hank Hwang, Yingan Wang
  • Patent number: 10205992
    Abstract: This application discloses a video decoding method for a mobile terminal. The method includes receiving a video file from a server; based on a hardware-decoding model whitelist and a hardware-decoding operating-system blacklist, obtained from a server, and locally obtained type information of the mobile terminal, determining whether a decoding method of the video file is hardware decoding or software decoding; and decoding the video file by using the determined decoding method and playing back the decoded video file, wherein the hardware-decoding model whitelist includes model information of mobile terminals that can perform hardware decoding on the video file, and the hardware-decoding operating-system blacklist includes model information of mobile terminals that do not support hardware decoding on the video file and version numbers of operating systems of the mobile terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Yulong Ying
  • Patent number: 10194206
    Abstract: Systems and methods of image searching include receiving content, receiving a request to select an image from content, selecting a plurality of items in the image, retrieving information about the selected item, and providing display data based on the retrieved information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Jason Witenstein-Weaver
  • Patent number: 10187676
    Abstract: In response to a user reserving a vehicle via a first application on a user's mobile device, a first server authorizes a transportation service provider to access media items associated with the user's account for a media content provider. The authorizing includes receiving a first identifier generated by a second application on the mobile device, generating a second identifier if the first identifier is valid, and sending the second identifier to a second server associated with the transportation service provider. A request, initiated via the second application, is received to present a first media item at a media presentation system of the reserved vehicle. In response, a portion of the first media item is sent for presentation at the media presentation system if a device in communication with the media presentation system has received the second identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Spotify AB
    Inventors: Johnson Lieu, Erik Hartwig
  • Patent number: 10129586
    Abstract: Various implementations process a television content stream to detect program boundaries such as the starting point and ending point of the program. In at least some implementations, program boundaries such as intermediate points between the starting point and ending point of the program are also detected. The intermediate points correspond to where a program pauses for secondary content such as an advertisement or advertisements, and then resumes once the secondary content has run. Once program boundaries are detected, primary content is isolated by removing secondary content that occurs before the starting point and after the ending point. In at least some implementations, secondary content that occurs between detected intermediate points is also removed. The primary content is then recorded without secondary content that originally comprised part of the original television content stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Joon-Hee Jeon, Jason R. Kimball, Benjamin P. Stewart