Patents Examined by Timothy R Newlin
  • Patent number: 10212464
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method sends videos to a user that is using a video delivery service. The method receives user behavior that includes actions taken by the user on the video delivery service. The method inputs the user behavior into a first predictor to generate a set of actions for a set of entities. Also, the method inputs the set of actions for the set of entities, a real-time context, and the user behavior into a second predictor to generate probabilities for the set of actions for the set of entities. A probability for an action indicates the probability the user would select that action for an entity when compared against other actions in the set of actions for the set of entities. An action feed is selected based on the ranking and dynamically output to a client while the user is using the video delivery service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: HULU, LLC
    Inventors: Lutfi Ilke Kaya, Bangsheng Tang, Tong Yang, Christopher Russell Kehler, Chi Zhang
  • Patent number: 10187678
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for substituting an updated segment of media guidance data that no longer includes a selected media asset identifier with another segment of media guidance data that includes the selected media asset identifier. A media guidance application may determine, following an update to a segment of media guidance data, that a selected media asset identifier, associated with a given media asset classifier, is no longer included in the updated segment of media guidance data. The media guidance application may retrieve another segment of media guidance data that is associated with the given media asset classifier and that includes the selected media asset identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McCarty, Mikhail Aksenfeld, Corey Tulis, David Wittke
  • Patent number: 10178441
    Abstract: A network device may receive a signal from a headend, wherein a bandwidth of the received signal spans from a low frequency to a high frequency and encompasses a plurality of sub-bands. The network device may determine, based on communication with the headend, whether one of more of the sub-bands residing above a threshold frequency are available for carrying downstream data from the headend to the circuitry. The network device may digitize the signal using an ADC operating at a sampling frequency. The sampling frequency may be configured based on a result of the determining. When the sub-band(s) are available for carrying downstream data from the headend to the network device, the sampling frequency may be set to a relatively high frequency. When the sub-band(s) are not available for carrying downstream data from the headend to the network device, the sampling frequency may be set to a relatively low frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Ling, Timothy Gallagher, Sridhar Ramesh
  • Patent number: 10171862
    Abstract: A method and system for improving an interactive video search is provided. The method includes receiving, by a remote control, data including video object based questions. The remote control comprises a memory, a display, and a light fidelity device. The data is stored in the memory. A command associated with the data is received from a user based on video data being presented via a video presentation device and video object based questions are presented. In response, a selection for a question of the video object based questions is received. A light source is enabled such that a light is visible on the video object being presented via the video presentation device. The video object is identified and an Internet based search associated with locating answers to the question is executed. Information associated with the question is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventors: Vijay K. Ananthapur Bache, Vijay Ekambaram, Sarbajit Rakshit, Saravanan Sadacharam
  • Patent number: 10158901
    Abstract: Systems and methods for representing video and audio media files as workflows are disclosed. In some cases, the systems and methods combine segments of the media files into larger compilations in the workflows, and using the workflows to individually optimize both the viewing experience for and the advertising presented to viewers based upon the circumstances of each viewer and parameters described with the workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventors: John D. Steinberg, Arthur H. Muir
  • Patent number: 10154313
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that enable a user to identify video content that has not yet been created and to have that content downloaded from a video content provider when that video content has been newly created and available for download.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kate Megan Carney Landow
  • Patent number: 10142685
    Abstract: Systems and methods for organizing and controlling the display of content, then measuring the effectiveness of that content in modifying behavior, within a particular temporal and special dimension, so as to minimize or eliminate confounding effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Frederick J. Arsenault, Brian E. Brooks
  • Patent number: 10110950
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to attentiveness-based video presentation management. Using a set of computer-based sensors, an attentiveness of a user related to a first set of video presentation contents is monitored. Based on the monitoring, an attentiveness factor of the user related to the first set of video presentation contents is detected. Based on the attentiveness factor of the user related to the first set of video presentation contents, a second set of video presentation contents for presentation to the user is determined. The second set of video presentation contents is presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alaa Abou Mahmoud, Paul R. Bastide, Fang Lu
  • Patent number: 10096130
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can obtain a spherical media content item that captures at least one scene from a plurality of different positions. A three-dimensional object with a plurality of faces that converge at a point is determined. At least a first portion of the spherical media content item is mapped to at least a first face in the plurality of faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: David Young Joon Pio, Evgeny V. Kuzyakov, Chien-Nan Chen
  • Patent number: 10091547
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calculating granular data of an audience of a target region. An example method includes utilizing minimum cross entropy to apportion aggregate demographics data and aggregate behavioral data of the target region based on granular data of a source region. The example further includes reducing an amount of computer memory resources by calculating the granular data of the audience without collecting person-specific data from audience members of the target region, the granular data of the audience including (A) a count of the audience of the target region satisfying a behavioral constraint and a first demographic constraint and (B) a count of the audience of the target region satisfying the behavioral constraint and a second demographic constraint, the calculated granular data based on the aggregate demographics data of the target region, the aggregate behavioral data of the target region, and the granular data of the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Alejandro Terrazas
  • Patent number: 10085074
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for planning, executing, reviewing, and reporting the results of an advertising campaign to be run on TV. A demand-side platform receives ad slot opportunities from TV programming sources, and analyzes the ad slots to produce a prioritized list of placement opportunities for the advertising campaign to be presented to advertiser/clients. Each ad slot is analyzed with respect to past viewership data and with respect to desired targeting characteristics that may include conventional age and gender targeting, or additionally strategic targeting characteristics. Scores are established for each ad slot with respect to numbers of projected on-target impressions and/or a cost for projected on-target impressions. The scores are sorted to produce the prioritized list. Projected results can be viewed with respect to any or all of network, day, and daypart. After a campaign has completed, viewership data representing actual results is acquired, processed, and reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alexander R. Hood, Jason Lopatecki, Justin K. Sung, Greg Collison, David Innes-Gawn
  • Patent number: 10080047
    Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically monitoring, identifying, documenting, recording, interrupting, disrupting, educating, redirecting and infiltrating and/or monetizing the illegal and unauthorized sharing and viewing of video streaming content by using a keyword and an internet address and automatically retrieving data relating to the keyword and video streaming services or password sharing, automatically retrieving information relating to the retrieved data, automatically retrieving information relating with a combination of the first two retrievals, enhancing the data sets, and sending a message to the individual who shared the illegal share link or password and to all the viewers of the illegal video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventors: Wayne D. Lonstein, Julie C. Lonstein
  • Patent number: 10070187
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide various techniques for receiving, decoding, and simultaneously outputting multiple television programs and channels via television receivers. In various embodiments, one or more multi-video display modes may be provided by television receivers, including, for example, multi-video channel scanning display mode, a multi-video favorite channel scanning display mode, a multi-video swap command, a multi-video electronic programming guide (EPG), a multi-video digital video recorder (DVR) interface display mode, and a multi-video program/channel search display mode. Different multi-video display modes may be associated with different television data sources, and each display mode may have a corresponding layout that determines the number of different television selections (e.g., television channels and/or programs) to be displayed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DISH Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Greene
  • Patent number: 10063930
    Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for electronic program guide (EPG) sorting and automatic realignment is provided. In example embodiments, a graphical user interface having an EPG including a plurality of rows of thumbnails representing programs is presented on a device of a user. Each row of thumbnails may be navigated independent of other rows. A navigational input is received via a touchscreen of the device. The navigational input indicates an action performed on the graphical user interface that triggers a realignment of programming information presented on the EPG. An updated EPG with the realignment of the programming information indicated by the navigational input is then provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: OPENTV, INC.
    Inventors: Crx K. Chai, Alex Fishman, Matthew Huntington, Isaac Chellin, Kevin Lu
  • Patent number: 8087057
    Abstract: A television converter device is provided which includes a channel selector and an Internet Protocol (IP) interface. The channel selector is configured to receive multiple channels of television programming from at least one of a satellite, cable, and over-the-air broadcasting source, select one of the channels from the multiple channels, and deliver the selected channel to at least one television (TV). The IP interface is configured to receive television programming over an IP connection, and to deliver the television programming received over the IP connection to the at least one TV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Danny Jean Minnick
  • Patent number: 8024753
    Abstract: Television converter devices in accordance with present invention determine whether the programming is to be blocked or not, then inserts an appropriate V-code into the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of the programming before delivering the programming to one or more V-chip enabled TV where the V-chip blocks the programming as appropriate. Various methods of determining whether the programming is to be blocked are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: EchoStar Satellite, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Kummer, Edmund F. Petruzzelli, Danny J. Minnick
  • Patent number: 8001568
    Abstract: In a content distribution system, in which broadcast content is distributed and provided to a television viewer, a method and apparatus for providing a compact guide display of a plurality of television show or program recommendations, optionally with descriptions, which are available and selectable for viewing by a viewer without interrupting the presently-viewed content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Thurston, Devin Hosea
  • Patent number: 7992179
    Abstract: The present invention may be regarded as personal video recorder and a method of selecting a pay per view program to be transmitted to a personal video recorder having a program receiver. A schedule of pay per view programs is obtained. Each of the pay per view programs has a title and at least one transmission time and an associated transmission channel for each transmission time. A title list comprising the titles of at least one pay per view program is generated based on the schedule. The title list is provided to a display device for display to a user. A selection by title of the pay per view program to be received by the program receiver is received from the user. A potential transmission time of the pay per view program to be received by the program receiver is determined based on the at least one transmission time. Alternatively, selection of the pay per view program to be received by the program receiver may be based on user's preferences or a pre-selected list of titles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Keen Personal Media, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Jeffrey Kapner, III, Timothy J. Elliott, Peter J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7984474
    Abstract: A cost-efficient digital CATV network to improve signal quality, provide reliability, and offer the ability to meet demands for interactive services is described. Analog or digital video downstream channels are converted to a digital format by a digital headend transmitter. Relatively costly error-encoding for digital video channels is also part of the digital headend transmitter. Downstream analog and digital video channels in the digital format are transmitted using time-division multiplex technology from a headend to nodes using standard network protocols, such as SONET. Standard network protocols provide error-monitoring and status indication of transmit data, thus ensuring high signal quality and reliability. Time-division multiplexing facilitates easy adding or dropping of information to a transmit path. Flexibility to add or drop information is critical in providing interactive services. Data from interactive services can be added or dropped at points of presence throughout the digital CATV network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Quartics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sherjil Ahmed, Imtinan Elahi
  • Patent number: 7962947
    Abstract: A content delivery proxy system and method delivers content to an unsupported client device within a content delivery system by converting messages and data from the unsupported client device into content delivery system supported messages and data. Client log-in messages received from the unsupported client device are converted into a content delivery system supported format and sent to the content delivery system, and user entitlement information of a user of the unsupported client device is requested from the content delivery system. If the user is a subscriber of the content provider, an unsupported client device identifier is created for the client device. A user interface for selecting content from the content delivery system is displayed on the client device in a client device supported format, and selections on the user interface are sent to the content delivery system. Selected content is provided to the client device in the proper format for playback on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Verimatrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Kulakowski