Patents Examined by Nasser Goodarzi
  • Patent number: 10158438
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for broadcasting a local signal B that corresponds to a coverage hole in a remote signal B. The system includes a first transmitter at a first location and a second transmitter at the first location that transmits local signal B corresponding to remote signal B transmitted from a remote transmitter. The second transmitter broadcasts the local signal B to at least part of a coverage hole in a coverage area of remote signal B. Also disclosed is a method for consolidating allocated wireless spectrum. The method includes identifying a guard band in an allocated band of wireless spectrum, reassigning an existing channel occupying a portion of the allocated band of wireless spectrum to the guard band via selective single frequency network infill to yield a reassigned channel, and freeing the portion of the allocated band of wireless spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventor: Melvin Frerking
  • Patent number: 10148997
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same that may perform wireless communication with a video output device are disclosed. The mobile terminal comprises a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a video output device; a touch screen; and a controller controlling the touch screen to output at least one folder to a first area of the touch screen and output an electronic program guide (EPG), which includes channel information related to the video output device, to a second area different from the first area, wherein the controller, if a predetermined touch is applied to any one of the at least one folder output to the first area, generates a virtual channel configured to output videos included in the any one folder from the video output device, and changes the EPG such that channel information corresponding to the generated virtual channel is reflected in the EPG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sooyoung Ahn, Myoungho Jang
  • Patent number: 10148993
    Abstract: A loop recording system allows users to remotely save and share short recorded video, audio, or combination clips using portable devices equipped with cameras, microphones, and sensors. The loop recording system enables users of portable devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart watches, etc., to record moments of interest during live events (hereinafter called “loops”, “recordings”, or “loop recordings”), while preventing unwanted data loss and conserving memory resources of the portable device. In exemplary embodiments, the loop recording system has loop recording intervals that can be defined by the user or can be predetermined, certain recordings can be automatically saved rather than overwritten, and/or the number of recordings that are saved may be programmable by the user or predetermined. The loop recording system can also prevent unwanted erasure of data, facilitating the tagging of loops, sharing of loops, and enhancing the loops using post processing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Swarms Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Arms
  • Patent number: 10110941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for receiving a hybrid broadcast service and a method for transmitting the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sejin Oh, Kyoungsoo Moon
  • Patent number: 10104407
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method performed by a client device includes: determining a perceptual characterization metric, where the perceptual characterization metric provides a quantitative characterization of factors that determine quality of experience associated with a first playback profile of media content presented by the client device; and normalizing the perceptual characterization metric based on characterization factors associated with the client device. The method further includes: obtaining an aggregate perceptual characterization metric that is based at least in part on the normalized perceptual characterization metric from the client device and one or more other perceptual characterization metrics from other client devices sharing at least one network resource with the client device; and determining whether to change the first playback profile based on a function of the first normalized perceptual characterization metric and the aggregate perceptual characterization metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Zheng Lu, Sangeeta Ramakrishnan, Xiaoqing Zhu
  • Patent number: 10091555
    Abstract: A machine system for operating a content recommendation system includes a monitor to detect and identify user actions on network connected digital devices, a first associator to relate the user actions to digital content, a timer operable to control a minimum time period filter on the user actions, a sequencer operable in conjunction with the timer, the minimum time period filter, and a combiner to transform the user actions into aggregate user actions. The content recommendation system is responsive to the aggregate user actions to evolve a computer-stored user profile according to the aggregate user actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ThinkAnalytics
    Inventors: Peter Docherty, Ewen Cattanach, Bruce Zhang, David Scott, Shahad Ahmed, Alan Ryman, Asim Ullah, Darren Callaghan, Gordon McIntyre
  • Patent number: 10091561
    Abstract: Approaches for creating video on demand (VOD) assets with a VOD watermark. For a digital stream yet to be broadcast, a duplicate version of an accompanying audio stream comprised within the digital stream is created. A video on demand (VOD) watermark is inserted into or affixed within the duplicate version of the accompanying audio stream. Thereafter, the digital broadcast stream which comprises the original audio stream and the duplicate version is transmitted to an integrated receiver-decoder. The integrated receiver-decoder creates a broadcast version of the digital broadcast stream which comprises a broadcast watermark and a video on demand (VOD) version of the digital broadcast stream which comprises a VOD watermark. The integrated receiver-decoder may align the broadcast video with the VOD watermarked audio to ensure proper local storage and subsequent VOD distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Harmonic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gil Rudge, William Moore Macauley, Thomas Francis Lattie
  • Patent number: 10085070
    Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to configuring out-of-home streaming between a mobile device and a set top box (STB). Internet connectivity establishment (ICE) agents, installed on the mobile device and the STB, determine telemetry information via communication with network address translator (NAT) servers. Communication agents, installed on the mobile device and the STB, translate the telemetry information into a format acceptable to a communication server. The communication server exchanges the telemetry information between the mobile device and the STB and maintains a persistent connection with the STB. The communication agents connect the mobile device to the same communication server that the STB is persistently connected to. Media content is streamed directly from the STB to the mobile device if a direct connection between the STB and mobile device is established and via the NAT servers if a direct connection cannot be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: David Bibayoff, Christopher J. Cugno, Siva Subramanian Venkataramani, Gerard V. Talatinian, Benjamin Mui, Mark C. Guidarelli, Vishal Arya, Pankaj Sharma
  • Patent number: 10057618
    Abstract: A method includes acts for providing a VOD or streaming video manifest. The method includes at a server, receiving a request for a manifest from a client device. The request for a manifest includes an identification of one or more filters to be applied to a returned manifest. The method further includes, at the server, identifying the manifest. The manifest identifies different portions of a multimedia asset that can be delivered to client devices. The method further includes applying the one or more identified filters to the manifest to generate a filtered manifest that excludes one or more items as dictated by the one or more filters. The filtered manifest is returned to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas Drouin, Ismail Cenk Dingiloglu, Eok Kim
  • Patent number: 10057630
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for resuming playback of a media content. Media content is provided to the user device. The media content is paused in response to receiving a pause command. A memorability metric associated with a position where the media content was paused is determined. In response to receiving a resume command, the media content is resumed at a position that is earlier in time than the position where the media content was paused. The position where the media content is resumed is based on the memorability metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah, Vikram Makam Gupta
  • Patent number: 10009644
    Abstract: A computer system or method may be provided for modulating content based on a person's brainwave data, including modifying presentation of digital content at at least one computing device. The content may also be modulated based on a set of rules maintained by or accessible to the computer system. The content may also be modulated based on user input, including through receipt of a presentation control command that may be processed by the computer system of the present invention to modify presentation of content. Content may also be shared with associated brain state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: INTERAXON INC
    Inventors: Christopher Allen Aimone, Trevor Ce Coleman, Ariel Stephanie Garten, Locillo (Lou) Giuseppe Pino, Kapil Jay Mishra Vidyarthi, Paul Harrison Baranowski, Raul Rajiv Rupsingh, Tracy Nicole Chong
  • Patent number: 10003852
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing parties, e.g., individuals, at different locations to participate in an on-demand content delivery session are described. Dynamically updateable playlists are used to control content delivery to the session participants in a synchronized manner. Content may be delivered to different session participants from different servers with a different playlist corresponding to each session participant being used to control content delivery to the session participant's host platform, e.g., set top box. Either party may update the playlist with, optionally, each of the content delivery servers being controlled by a different or local copy of the jointly updateable play list. Thus, an inviting party and one or more joining parties are able to participate together in an on-demand session. While the participants may be served by the same or different content delivery servers, the parties are able to share images, audio, and/or video in a synchronized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Steven Riedl, Bryan Santangelo, Craig Mahonchak
  • Patent number: 9992251
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method includes identifying a request for a piece of content, and obtaining a Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) manifest after identifying the request for the piece of content. The method also includes identifying at least one location at which the piece of content is located using the DASH manifest, wherein the at least one location at which the piece of content is located is a location from which the piece of content is arranged to be fetched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Surcouf, William Mark Townsley, Thierry Gruszka
  • Patent number: 9986304
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to transmit to a web server one or more configurations of said media content processor. The web server can record said one or more configurations to perform one among re-provisioning of the media content processor after it experiences a loss of configuration information and provisioning of another media content processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott White, James Cansler
  • Patent number: 9967614
    Abstract: Systems and methods for suspending alert notifications at an electronic device may include receiving an instruction to suspend alerts for an event at the electronic device. The electronic device may access a separate information source including information associated with the event. The electronic device may also determine from the accessed information a time at which the event will end, and suspend alert notifications until the determined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bernard A. McCarthy, III
  • Patent number: 9936252
    Abstract: There are provided an image signal receiving apparatus, a method for setting a receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus, and a display apparatus. The method for setting the receiving channel comprises: storing (101) map information in the image signal receiving apparatus, wherein the map information comprises correspondence relationship between a transmitting channel and the receiving channel at each of different geographical positions; automatically determining (102) a geographical position where the image signal receiving apparatus is located; inquiring (103) the correspondence relationship between the transmitting channel and the receiving channel according to the geographical position where the image signal receiving apparatus is located; and setting (104) the receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus according to result of the inquiry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masakazu Okamura
  • Patent number: 9930327
    Abstract: A probe is configured to monitor one or more communication parameters on one or more downstream frequency channels carried on a communication medium of an access network. Results of repeated monitoring are stored over a predetermined period. At the conclusion of the monitoring period, data reports reflecting the stored results are transmitted in upstream frequency channels carried on the same medium. The probe can also be configured to send immediate messages if a parameter exceeds predefined limits and can store a plurality of monitoring programs and can be reprogrammed remotely. The probe can be contained within a cable tap if the medium is, e.g., a coaxial cable. Numerous probes can be deployed throughout an access network so as to provide monitoring data from each of many locations over a prolonged period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jorge Daniel Salinger, Maurice Garcia
  • Patent number: 9918036
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a digital video recording (DVR) system having a controller to record video content supplied by an interactive television (iTV) communication system as directed by a plurality of users of the iTV communication system, receive from a communication device of one of the plurality of users a request for a portion of the recorded video content, identify a need to transcode the requested portion of the recorded video content according to one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, transcode the requested portion of the recorded video content to conform with the one or more operating characteristics of the communication device, and transmit to the communication device the transcoded video content. The DVR system can be located outside of the premises of each of the plurality of users. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Ke Yu, Nicholas P. Hill, Troy C. Meuninck, William A. Brown, Scott Morris, Ashwini Sule
  • Patent number: 9918134
    Abstract: A method and system for providing video content on a data network connected device having a display and a device display controller including a player. The method comprises the steps of a data network connected device, accesses a reference file including a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data for one or more content sources. Play control commands are provided to the player based on the play control parameter values. Content data is acquired by the player from one or more content sources via the data network using the linking data, and the content acquired from each source played on the display in accordance with the player control commands. The reference file may be a pre-existing reference file or a reference file created in response to a request to play the video content data. A reference file compiler is provided for generating the reference file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Linius (AUST) Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Finbar O'Hanlon
  • Patent number: 9912980
    Abstract: Example embodiments provide systems and methods for dynamically creating intuitive favorites for a user. The system and methods include monitoring actions performed, by the user at a digital receiver, with respect to a plurality of content programs. The actions performed with respect to the plurality of content programs are analyzed. The analysis includes comparing a level of the actions with respect to a first content program of the plurality of content programs with a threshold. Based on the comparing indicating that the first content program is a favorites, an indication that the first content program is a favorites content program is stored to a data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: NAGRAVISION S.A.
    Inventors: Amudha Kaliamoorthi, Dharmveer Lakshmi Sharan Lal