Patents by Inventor Ann Gordon Prather

Ann Gordon Prather has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10206004
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media service system 1) establishing a set of one or more conditions for a media-on-demand-based programming channel, 2) selecting, from a repository of on-demand media content and based on the set of one or more conditions, a set of on-demand media programs for inclusion in the media-on-demand-based programming channel, and 3) mapping the selected set of on-demand media programs to the media-on-demand-based programming channel to represent a scheduled, linear playback of the set of on-demand media programs on the media-on-demand-based programming channel in accordance with a linear playback schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather, Paul Bradley Bowers, Imran Arif Maskatia, Brandon N. Wright
  • Patent number: 9794631
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media service provider system providing a browse view for display on a display screen associated with a user during a first media consumption session, detecting a selection by the user of a planning option, the selection of the planning option indicating that the user plans to consume at least one media program during a second media consumption session that is subsequent to the first media consumption session, presenting a user interface that allows the user to specify one or more parameters associated with the second media consumption session, detecting user input specifying the one or more parameters, identifying one or more media programs that are available for consumption by the user during the second media consumption session, and presenting listing information associated with the identified one or more media programs. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather, Brandon N. Wright
  • Patent number: 9558788
    Abstract: In an exemplary method, a computer-implemented media service system provides a graphical user interface view associated with a first functional area of the media service for display on a display screen, detects a peek request input while the graphical user interface view is displayed, and provides, in response to the peek request input and for display with the graphical user interface view, an activity indicator indicating a tracked activity associated with the second functional area of the media service. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather
  • Patent number: 9129656
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media service system presenting a first user interface view within which a presentation of a media program is provided for experiencing by a user, determining that the media program is included in a first set of curated media programs associated with a first theme, identifying a second theme that is different than the first theme, detecting a theme shift event that occurs in association with the presentation of the media program, and switching, in response to the theme shift event, from presenting the first user interface view to presenting a second user interface view for experiencing by the user, the second user interface view related to a second set of curated media programs associated with the second theme and unassociated with the first theme. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC
    Inventors: Ann Gordon Prather, Christina S. Siegfried, Brian F. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20150020105
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media service system 1) establishing a set of one or more conditions for a media-on-demand-based programming channel, 2) selecting, from a repository of on-demand media content and based on the set of one or more conditions, a set of on-demand media programs for inclusion in the media-on-demand-based programming channel, and 3) mapping the selected set of on-demand media programs to the media-on-demand-based programming channel to represent a scheduled, linear playback of the set of on-demand media programs on the media-on-demand-based programming channel in accordance with a linear playback schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather, Paul Bradley Bowers, Imran Arif Maskatia, Brandon N. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150019332
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media service system detecting an upcoming trip of a user to a media vending kiosk at which physical copies of a plurality of media programs are distributed, determining, based on a user activity history, a potential activity of the user, determining an optimization associated with the potential activity of the user and the upcoming trip of the user to the media vending kiosk, and providing, for display on a display screen, user interface content configured to notify the user of the optimization. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather
  • Publication number: 20150020107
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computer-implemented media service system presenting a first user interface view within which a presentation of a media program is provided for experiencing by a user, determining that the media program is included in a first set of curated media programs associated with a first theme, identifying a second theme that is different than the first theme, detecting a theme shift event that occurs in association with the presentation of the media program, and switching, in response to the theme shift event, from presenting the first user interface view to presenting a second user interface view for experiencing by the user, the second user interface view related to a second set of curated media programs associated with the second theme and unassociated with the first theme. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Ann Gordon Prather, Christina S. Siegfried, Brian F. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20150019965
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media service provider system providing a browse view for display on a display screen associated with a user during a first media consumption session, detecting a selection by the user of a planning option, the selection of the planning option indicating that the user plans to consume at least one media program during a second media consumption session that is subsequent to the first media consumption session, presenting a user interface that allows the user to specify one or more parameters associated with the second media consumption session, detecting user input specifying the one or more parameters, identifying one or more media programs that are available for consumption by the user during the second media consumption session, and presenting listing information associated with the identified one or more media programs. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather, Brandon N. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150020091
    Abstract: In an exemplary method, a computer-implemented media service system provides a graphical user interface view associated with a first functional area of the media service for display on a display screen, detects a peek request input while the graphical user interface view is displayed, and provides, in response to the peek request input and for display with the graphical user interface view, an activity indicator indicating a tracked activity associated with the second functional area of the media service. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Christina S. Siegfried, Ann Gordon Prather
  • Publication number: 20150020011
    Abstract: As exemplary media program discovery assistance user interface method includes a computing device 1) displaying, on a display screen, a graphical user interface that includes a media program browse panel configured to present browse content representing media programs and an adaptive media program discovery assistance panel presented together with the media program browse panel in the graphical user interface, 2) detecting a current browse state of the media program browse panel, 3) selecting, based on the detected current browse state of the media program browse panel, media program discovery assistance content for inclusion in the adaptive media program discovery assistance panel, and 4) populating the adaptive media program discovery assistance panel with the selected media program discovery assistance content. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Brandon Neil Wright, Ann Gordon Prather, Christina S. Siegfried