Patents Examined by Nathan Flynn
  • Patent number: 9900647
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring media services is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a portal having a controller element to detect an installation of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media receiver in an IPTV media system and adapt at least a portion of the portal according to the installation. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Scott White
  • Patent number: 9888289
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for playing an interactive video on a user device. The method comprises receiving an interactive content file associated with a video to be played by the user device, the interactive content file comprising: one or more interactive tags arranged to be overlaid on the video when the video is played by the user device, wherein the one or more interactive tags have associated information which is accessible by a user when a respective tag is selected via a user interface of the user device; and information defining a location and a time for the tag to be overlaid on the video. The method also comprises receiving the video and combining, at a processor, the video and the one or more interactive tags in accordance with the information defining the location and the time for the tag to be overlaid on the video to produce an interactive video for display, and playing the interactive video for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SMARTZER LTD
    Inventor: Karoline Gross
  • Patent number: 9888213
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to present a mosaic image to a user of an audiovisual receiver. The method comprises a step for generating a list of at least one audiovisual channel in order to display its content in a mosaic image. Then, the list is transmitted to a server which then transmits visual data associated with each channel in the list. The visual data is aggregated in order to form a mosaic image which is then displayed at the level of the receiver. According to a first embodiment, the mosaic image is produced at the level of the receiver. According to another embodiment, the mosaic image is created at the level of the server before being transmitted. According to a refinement, a channel is graphically highlighted at the level of the mosaic image, the receiver receives either the audio stream or the video stream or both of the highlighted channel. The invention also relates to the receiver able to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING DTV
    Inventor: Jean-Baptiste Henry
  • Patent number: 9883228
    Abstract: A digital broadcast reception device includes a first broadcast reception system, a second broadcast reception system, an audio similarity-degree detection processor, a service list storage unit, and a reception monitoring unit that sends a notification signal to the first broadcast reception system when a value representing reception status of a channel currently selected by the first broadcast reception system becomes low. Upon receiving the notification signal, the first broadcast reception system refers to values representing audio similarity-degree in a service list stored in the service list storage unit, thereby judges a program which is most similar to the program of the channel currently selected by the first broadcast reception system as an identical program, and switches the channel to a channel judged as the identical program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiichi Shirasuka
  • Patent number: 9883241
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a system and method for measuring active participation of audience watching a TV programs and advertisements, in terms of age and gender. The system comprises a monitoring device which is configured to record TV audio, room audio and TV visual outputs, using an image sensor. The monitoring device is further configured to detect the audience engagement level, in watching the TV show, by monitoring the audience expressions and behavior. The audience engagement level is also detected by tracking the eye ball movement of the audience. The monitoring device is configured to continuously check and detect visitors who have joined along with already registered viewers to watch the TV programs. The monitored information is analyzed and visitor/viewer profile is created accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SUREWAVES MEDIATECH PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Rajendra Kumar Khare, Manajit Rath, Kishore Adekhandi Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 9883233
    Abstract: Techniques for real-time audience measurement are provided. The techniques include instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time audience measurement data to modify the scheduled recording time of a media content in real-time, to bookmark in real-time, and to gather audience ratings on commercials and viewership in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: James M. Barton
  • Patent number: 9881535
    Abstract: In an image display device having a frame rate converting (FRC) portion, it is possible to prevent image degradation of a combined image display portion such as an OSD and PinP attributed to the FRC process. The image display device includes: an FRC portion 10 for converting the number of frames of an input image signal by interpolating an image signal subjected to a motion compensation process between the frames of the input image signal; an OSD processing portion 14 for superposing an OSD signal on the input image signal, and a controlling portion 15. The FRC portion 10 has a motion vector detecting portion 11e for detecting a motion vector between the frames of the input image signal, an interpolation vector evaluating portion 11f for allocating interpolation vector between frames based on the motion vector information, and an interpolation frame generating portion 12d for generating an interpolation frame from the interpolation vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Hanaoka, Kenichiroh Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Furukawa, Masafumi Ueno, Yasuhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9883222
    Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a system comprising a processor, first media content from a service provider network over a high resolution channel at a first resolution, determining whether a first resolution exceeds a resolution threshold for viewing the first media content, transmitting a notification to the service provider network that the first resolution exceeds the resolution threshold, receiving the first media content from the service provider network over the high resolution channel at a second resolution according to the notification, wherein a difference between the first resolution and the second resolution provides unused bandwidth on the high resolution channel, and receiving second media content from the service provider network over the unused bandwidth of the high resolution channel. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Crawford Gibbon, Lee Begeja, Zhu Liu, Amy Ruth Reibman, Bernard S. Renger, Behzad Shahraray, Eric Zavesky
  • Patent number: 9877058
    Abstract: A method for presenting advertisements based on emotion of a viewer is provided. A first emotional state of a viewer wearing smart glasses is detected using first sensor data captured by a sensor of the glasses. A rate is set according to the detected first emotional state. A set of advertisements is displayed on the smart glasses according to the set rate while a movie is played so that the advertisements are perceived by the viewer as overlaying the movie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuntal Dey, Vijay Ekambaram, Seema Nagar, Swati Rallapalli
  • Patent number: 9872055
    Abstract: A system includes a first communication system, a second communication system and a network processor in communication with the first communication system and the second communication system. The first communication system and the network processor communicate first network signals therebetween. The first network signals include first higher priority network signals and first lower priority network signals. The second communication system and the network processor communicate second network signals therebetween. The second network signals include second higher priority network signals and second lower priority network signals. The network processor communicates a first congestion notification request signal to the first communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin M. Mathews, Henry Derovanessian
  • Patent number: 9866785
    Abstract: One or more components of a video display device such as a television set can be powered down in response to a determination that a video input source has been paused. The video signal provided by the video input source can be analyzed to determine whether the video source is paused. When the video input source is no longer paused, the powered down components can be restored to fill power operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., ATI Technologies, ULC
    Inventors: David A. Strasser, Larry A. Pearlstein
  • Patent number: 9866900
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to detect shapes are disclosed. An example method includes determining a depth value associated with an object outline detected in image data representative of an environment; and using the depth value to select a first group of reference shapes to be compared to the object outline from a collection of reference shapes, the first group representing a portion of the collection of reference shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Alejandro Terrazas
  • Patent number: 9866884
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a request associated with a secondary event orchestrator to schedule a secondary event to be concurrently broadcast with a primary video program. The secondary event is based on the primary video program. The method includes scheduling, by a processing device, the secondary event in an interactive media guide (IMG). The method also includes receiving requests or subscriptions for the secondary event from at least one user device based on the scheduled secondary event in the IMG, and providing support for the concurrent broadcast of the secondary event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Manah M. Khalil, Omar A. Abou-Khamis, Vijaya R. Challa, Anil K. Guntupalli, Mazen Hammad, Amar Nageswaram, Saivivek Thiyagarajan
  • Patent number: 9866895
    Abstract: Methods, system, and set-top box are provided. A method for personalizing a home screen of an electronic device includes entering a standby mode of the electronic device, loading modules based on personalization indicators, retrieving content that is associated with the modules, and generating a video signal while the electronic device is in one of the standby mode and a startup mode. The video signal includes the content. The entertainment system and the set-top box are provided for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Kate Landow, Kara Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9866923
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating links to points in a video stream corresponding to actual programming events of a show playing, played, or about to be played in the live video stream, improving the utility of streaming by enabling viewers to view information specifically related to a story and easily navigate to the start of the story within the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CBS Interactive Inc.
    Inventors: Ashutosh Nayak, Cristyan Nevers, Robert Accettura
  • Patent number: 9866899
    Abstract: Features of various implementations are used to control operation of a second electronic device from a first electronic device using indirect control methods and optical character recognition. In some implementations, communication between a primary set-top box and a supplemental set-top box is configured in order to avoid the need for one or more provider-specific APIs. For example, one aspect of the disclosure is a method of identifying commands that can be used to control one or more features of a primary set-top box (e.g., DVR or VOD features) by a supplemental set-top box issuing commands to the primary set-top box via a wireless (e.g., IR) transmitter, and then using optical character recognition to identify the outcomes of those commands as displayed on a primary TV display or secondary display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Dureau, Nathan Leslie Sandland
  • Patent number: 9860578
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for recommending collaborators of media content based on authenticated media content input are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: receiving a request from a content creator to initiate presentation of broadcasted media content using a media device, wherein the request invites a plurality of users to participate in the broadcasted media content; determining that a user of the plurality of users has interacted with the broadcasted media content, wherein the user has been permitted to interact with the broadcasted media content in response to providing user authentication information; determining collaborator information associated with the user based on the user authentication information; and automatically causing, without user interaction, the determined collaborator information to be presented to the content creator for associating with the broadcasted media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Lewis, Jeffrey Lee-Chan
  • Patent number: 9860612
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a media server from a computing device, a first request for a manifest associated with media content. The method also includes generating, at the media server, the manifest based on a manifest type and a content segmentation type. The manifest identifies one or more segments of one or more adaptive streaming renditions. The method further includes sending the manifest from the media server to the computing device. The method includes receiving a second request from the computing device, where the second request identifies a requested segment of an adaptive streaming rendition identified by the manifest. The method also includes sending the requested segment from the media server to the computing device in response to the second request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WOWZA MEDIA SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Charles F. Good, Richard A. Collins
  • Patent number: 9860613
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to present summaries of a media content event. An exemplary embodiment receives a media content stream having at least one media content event, receives a summary feed stream having at least one media content event summary segment associated with the received at least one media content event, receives a user request for presentation of the media content event summary residing in the received at least one media content event summary segment, ends or pauses presentation of the media content event on a media presentation device, and presents the media content event summary of the media content event summary segment on the media presentation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Sling Media PVT LTD
    Inventor: Nandury V. Kishore
  • Patent number: 9854286
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the broadcast of multimedia is described. Multimedia is broadcast to at least one multimedia user device. User information is received from the at least one multimedia user device. The user information relates to user behavior from the at least one multimedia user device. The user information is processed to select future multimedia to broadcast. The future multimedia is broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Control4 Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Howard