Patents Examined by Nathan J. Flynn
  • Patent number: 11962839
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method is disclosed. The method includes identifying, by a content-presentation device, an upcoming content modification opportunity on an identified channel, where the identified upcoming content modification opportunity relates to a modifiable content-segment. The method also includes receiving, by the content-presentation device, the modifiable content-segment. The method further includes performing, by the content-presentation device, a set of operations to prepare the content-presentation device to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the identified upcoming content modification opportunity on the identified channel. The method additionally includes receiving, by the content-presentation device, an instruction to operate in a test mode. The method also includes responsive to receiving the instruction, outputting, by the content-presentation device, for presentation the modifiable content-segment without a modification that relates to supplemental content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew George Grover, Stefanos Christakis Liassides
  • Patent number: 11962854
    Abstract: A device implementing the subject system may include at least one processor configured to obtain a first preference profile corresponding to a first user, a second preference profile corresponding to a second user, and a group preference profile corresponding to a user group that includes the first and second users. The at least one processor may be further configured to generate an aggregate preference profile based at least in part on the first preference profile, the second preference profile, and the group preference profile and to identify content items based at least in part on the aggregate preference profile. The at least one processor may be further configured to rank the content items and provide, for display on a content output device, at least one indication of at least one of the ranked content items as a recommendation for the user group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Evangelia Christakopoulou, Chandrasekar Venkataraman, Jayasimha R. Katukuri, Aravind Ragipindi, Moloud Shahbazi
  • Patent number: 11962870
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a content-presentation device, a media-device loudness of content that is provided to the content-presentation device by a media device, with the content portion being provided to the content-presentation device prior to an upcoming content-modification opportunity; (ii) determining, by the content-presentation device, that the media-device loudness is less than a threshold; (iii) based on determining that the media-device loudness is less than the threshold, obtaining, by the content-presentation device, a reference loudness of the content portion; and (iv) using, by the content-presentation device, the reference loudness as a basis for determining whether or not to carry out a content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Grover
  • Patent number: 11949936
    Abstract: A method of targeting of advertising content for a consumer product is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining consumer demographic data from a first server over a network, the consumer demographic data including a plurality of demographic attributes for each person among a plurality of persons; obtaining product purchaser data for a plurality of product purchasers of the consumer product from a second server over the network, each product purchaser among the plurality of product purchasers being among the plurality of persons; and enriching the purchaser data with the consumer demographic data. The method further comprises enriching viewing data with consumer demographic data; and selecting viewed media among the aggregated viewed media having the highest similarity to the product purchasers as target media for the advertising content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ADAP.TV, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Kitts, Dyng Au, Sih Huseyin Ulger
  • Patent number: 11949935
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for network-based monitoring and serving of media to in-vehicle occupants. An example method includes linking panelist data corresponding to media exposure to first telemetry data collected by a vehicle to create linked panelist-telemetry data; and training a neural network to estimate vehicle occupant demographics based on second telemetry data using a first subgroup of the linked panelist-telemetry data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Edward Murphy, Kelly Dixon, Jennifer Carton, Francis C. Fasinski, III
  • Patent number: 11943505
    Abstract: System, methods, and non-transitory, machine-readable media to facilitate state-based content composite generation with respect to digitally distributed content are disclosed. Electronic communications received via interfaces may be detected. Signals of events that are specified for digital distribution from events may be detected. Data changes that are generated based on an event may be detected. A specification of criteria that apply to the data changes may be identified. A content composite may be created. An adaptable content object may be identified. The adaptable content object may be configured with a content object so that the content composite. The content composite may be output for presentation so that the endpoint media device performs an operation relating to the content composite. A signal corresponding to the operation that is indicative of activation of an interface option may be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert Sadler, Timothy Meyer, Christopher Kuhrt, Jesse Montgomery, Shaun Ryan
  • Patent number: 11943508
    Abstract: Techniques for real-time DVR programming employ secure instant message protocol in a DVR environment. An embodiment sends an instant message to the DVR which causes the DVR to open a new secure connection with the service provider for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider. Another embodiment uses an already established connection with an instant message server for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: James M. Barton
  • Patent number: 11936955
    Abstract: One or more videos are presented to a user. The videos include a plurality of hidden artifacts. The videos also include advertisements. The user looks for the hidden artifacts in the videos. Whenever the user finds the hidden artifacts in one of the videos, the user selects locations in the videos that correspond to the hidden artifacts. A computing device performs different actions depending on which ones of the hidden artifacts the user is able to find. For example, the computing device can provide different rewards to the user depending on which ones of the hidden artifacts the user is able to find.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: uSeek, Inc.
    Inventors: Huntley Stafford Ritter, Matthew Ambert Hartle
  • Patent number: 11910043
    Abstract: A system for data collection in a commercial travel setting is described. The system includes a plurality of sensor circuits that collect a plurality of sensor data values from in-flight entertainment (IFE) network. The system includes a sensor data processor that interprets the plurality of sensor data values. The system includes a passenger profile management controller configured that filters the plurality of sensor data values by processing a plurality of passenger profiles that are related to at least some of the plurality of sensor data values. The system generates a measurement index that is normalized with respect to the plurality of sensor data values or the plurality of passenger profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth William Sain, Andrew Timothy Masson, Mehdi Izadyar, Anand Desikan
  • Patent number: 11902610
    Abstract: A device may receive, from a user device, a content selection, and may receive metadata associated with the content. The device may determine viewing options, for viewing the content, based on the metadata associated with the content, and may identify dimensions of the content based on the viewing options. The device may calculate points for each of the dimensions of the content, and may assign the points for each of the dimensions of the content to generate weighted dimensions of the content. The device may associate the weighted dimensions of the content with the viewing options to generate weighted viewing options, and may rank the weighted viewing options to determine a primary viewing option, a secondary viewing option, and remaining viewing options. The device may provide the primary viewing option, the secondary viewing option, and the remaining viewing options to the user device, for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Leena Varghese, Mahalakshmi Velrajan, Sivanthikani Appadurai, Mukunda P. Raju, Sharon Gacek, Robert Joseph Hewitt, Vinodkrishnan Surianarayanan
  • Patent number: 11900484
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to identifying a user consuming content so that the user can share information on a social network communication service. Aspects of the disclosure relate to detecting reactions to the content and transmitting information to a social networking service associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Thirunarayanan Srinivasan, Andrew Lagrossa, Corey Farrell, Mehul Patel
  • Patent number: 11895363
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify user presence to a meter. An example apparatus includes memory, instructions, and at least one hardware processor to execute the instructions to at least: obtain presence information from a configuration device, the configuration device separate from the apparatus, the presence information indicating that user is present at the apparatus; verify the presence information matches user information, the user information stored in a memory of the apparatus; cause a confirmation prompt to be displayed on the configuration device, the confirmation prompt to indicate the presence information was obtained by the apparatus; and store the presence information in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: David Watts
  • Patent number: 11894915
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to credit media based on the presentation rate. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes memory and instructions. The example apparatus disclosed herein further includes at least one processor to execute the instructions to cause the at least one processor to at least detect a first peak in a first frequency range of audio data associated with monitored media, detect a second peak in a second frequency range of the audio data, the second frequency range different from the first frequency range, detect that a presentation rate of the monitored media is increased relative to a reference version of the media in response to the second peak being greater than the first peak, generate a signature corresponding to the monitored media, and transmit the signature to a media monitoring entity to credit the monitored media based on the presentation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Morris Lee
  • Patent number: 11887385
    Abstract: Performing object localization inside a cabin of a vehicle is provided. A camera image is received of a cabin of a vehicle by an image sensor at a first location with respect to a plurality of seating zones of a vehicle. Object detection on the camera image is performed to identify one or more objects in the camera image. A machine-learning model trained on images taken at the first location is utilized to place the one or more objects into the seating zones of the vehicle according to a plurality of bounding boxes corresponding to the plurality of seating zones for the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Faizan Shaik, Robert Parenti, Medha Karkare
  • Patent number: 11871091
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating an improved user interface that dynamically refers to related portions of media content items. First media content item is sent for display to a device. A first keyword associated with a currently transmitted first portion of the first media content item is identified. A first related media content item comprising a first portion associated with the identified first keyword is identified. The device displays a first identifier of first related media content item including an identification of the first portion of the first related media content item that is associated with the identified first keyword. The device then pauses the displaying the first media content item. The first portion of the identified first related media content item that is associated with the identified first keyword is displayed. The device then resumes generating for display the media content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Reda Harb, Charishma Chundi
  • Patent number: 11863831
    Abstract: Remote control devices to interface with audience measurement meters are disclosed. An example remote control device to interface with an audience measurement meter includes an audience management controller to, responsive to a gender value input via a user interface of the remote control device, store the gender value, responsive to an age value input via the user interface of the remote control device, store the age value, generate a message including the gender value and age value, and a transmitter to transmit the message to the audience measurement meter, the message including a sequence of infrared codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Eric Barone, Joseph Wyatt Brewer, Matjaz Finc, Robert Byrne
  • Patent number: 11856250
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine a duration of media presentation based on tuning session duration. Example apparatus a receiver to obtain a first tuning session duration indicative of an amount of time between channel changes of a first media presentation device at a first media presentation location, a presentation session estimator to select a model from storage, the model selected based on a match of the first tuning session duration and a second tuning session duration, the model including a relation between the second tuning session duration and a first presentation session duration of media presented on a second media presentation device at a second media presentation location, and estimate a second presentation session duration of media presented within the first tuning session duration based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Alejandro Terrazas
  • Patent number: 11856267
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for determining a recommended video, a data processing computer server and a system. The computer server determines candidate virtual scenes, users currently participating in the candidate virtual scenes, and a user corresponding to a virtual role in the candidate virtual scenes. After selecting a target virtual scene from the candidate virtual scenes, the computer server determines representation data of virtual roles of the target virtual scene, selects a target virtual role from the virtual roles of the target virtual scene according to the representation data of the virtual roles of the target virtual scene, and generates a recommended video at a viewing angle of the target virtual role in the target virtual scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xing Guo, Ruchun Wu, Jun Deng
  • Patent number: 11849078
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting media content capable of being dynamically adapted. One method involves analyzing content of a media program to identify a replaceable object at a spatial location within the content at a temporal location within the content, analyzing the spatial location of the content corresponding to the replaceable object within the content to identify one or more attributes of the replaceable object, identifying a substitute object based at least in part on the one or more attributes associated with the replaceable object, augmenting the temporal location of the content to include the substitute object at the spatial location within the content in lieu of the replaceable object, and providing the augmented version of the content to a media player for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Vineet Govil
  • Patent number: 11849185
    Abstract: A computing system detects that a media presentation device such as a television is in a content-selection mode in which a user is likely to select video content to be presented by the media presentation device, at a time when the media presentation device is not using a video-on-demand service. In response, the computing system causes the media presentation device to present a prompt for user approval to have the media presentation device present video content of the video-on-demand service. By presenting this prompt at a time when the media presentation device is in a content-selection mode and is not using the video-on-demand service, the disclosed mechanism can thereby help foster use of the video-on-demand service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: John R. Burbank, Kurt R. Thielen