Patents by Inventor Brian Beach
Brian Beach 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).
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Publication number: 20160037220Abstract: Techniques for generating customized rating systems for use in a DVR are described. According to one technique, a user submits a rating system definition that comprises two or more different ratings of the user's choosing. The rating system definition is stored. The rating system definition defines a customized ratings system. That system's creator and other users may then associate various entities, such as channels, series, and episodes, with ratings from the customized rating system. DVRs may use these associations between entities and ratings for various purposes. For example, DVRs may use these associations to allow a user to search for entities that satisfy specified rating criteria. For another example, DVRs may use these associations to restricting which entities and information about those entities can be displayed or recorded when the DVR is in a restricted mode of operation. Customized rating systems may be modified by multiple users in collaboration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Adam Feder, Brian Beach, Wijnand Van Stam
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Patent number: 9195694Abstract: A distributed database management system provides a central database resident on a server that contains database objects. Objects, e.g., program guide data, to be replicated are gathered together into distribution packages called “slices,” that are transmitted to client devices. A slice is a subset of the central database which is relevant to clients within a specific domain, such as a geographic region, or under the footprint of a satellite transmitter. The viewer selects television programs and Web content from displayed sections of the program guide data which are recorded to a storage device. The program guide data are used to determine when to start and end recordings. Client devices periodically connect to the server using a phone line and upload information of interest which is combined with information uploaded from other client devices for statistical, operational, or viewing models.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Brian Beach, David C. Platt
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Publication number: 20150302891Abstract: Techniques described herein automatically identify, in a multimedia content, an advertiser from which an advertisement in the multimedia content originates and/or a brand to which the advertisement pertains. The system determines whether the identified advertiser and/or identified brand is specified in a not to be displayed list and if so, performs at least one of: presents alternative content during the time interval that the advertisement occupies in the multimedia content or skips over the advertisement in the multimedia content.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: James Barton, Brian Beach, Margret Schmidt, Robert F. Poniatowski, Shelly Glennon
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Patent number: 9167305Abstract: Techniques for generating customized rating systems for use in a DVR are described. According to one technique, a user submits a rating system definition that comprises two or more different ratings of the user's choosing. The rating system definition is stored. The rating system definition defines a customized ratings system. That system's creator and other users may then associate various entities, such as channels, series, and episodes, with ratings from the customized rating system. DVRs may use these associations between entities and ratings for various purposes. For example, DVRs may use these associations to allow a user to search for entities that satisfy specified rating criteria. For another example, DVRs may use these associations to restricting which entities and information about those entities can be displayed or recorded when the DVR is in a restricted mode of operation. Customized rating systems may be modified by multiple users in collaboration.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Adam Feder, Brian Beach, Wijnand Van Stam
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Publication number: 20150281798Abstract: In an interactive network-based personal video recording system, a user interface is provided that allows viewers to search a database of program guide information according to program title, indexed program attributes such as actor and director, and key word. Viewer interaction is by way of a remote control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman
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Patent number: 9094718Abstract: Techniques described herein automatically identifies, in a multimedia content, an advertiser from which an advertisement in the multimedia content originates and/or a brand to which the advertisement pertains. The system determines whether the identified advertiser and/or identified brand is specified in a not to be displayed list and if so, performs at least one of: presents alternative content during the time interval that the advertisement occupies in the multimedia content or skips over the advertisement in the multimedia content.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: James M. Barton, Brian Beach, Margret Schmidt, Robert F. Poniatowski, Shelly Glennon
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Publication number: 20150172749Abstract: A broadcast program recording overrun and underrun scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a start and end broadcast time. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record from the program guide using a remote input device. The system schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database. The system allows the viewer to adjust the scheduled start and/or end recording times for a broadcast program by specifying the time increment to add or subtract from the start and/or end recording times of a specific program or series of programs.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2015Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman
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Patent number: 9060099Abstract: In an interactive network-based personal video recording system, a user interface is provided that allows viewers to search a database of program guide information according to program title, indexed program attributes such as actor and director, and key word. Viewer interaction is by way of a remote control unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman
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Patent number: 9049777Abstract: A conductive thermoset material is provided that provides shielding against electromagnetic radiation. The conductive thermoset material includes an intermixed conductive material dispersed essentially throughout. An antisettling additive is present in the conductive thermoset material to support dispersion, optionally, homogenous dispersion of the conductive material in the resin. The conductive thermoset material is formable into one or more articles. The articles may be transportable and resistant to significant conductivity changes by contact with other surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Plastics Research CorporationInventors: Brian A. Beach, Thomas Atkins
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Publication number: 20150131974Abstract: Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Robert F. Poniatowski, Shelly Glennon, Brian Beach, Marcel Dubois
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Patent number: 9018280Abstract: A molding composition formulation includes a thermoset cross-linkable 12 to 45 micron polymeric resin. Hollow glass microspheroids are present from 2 to 12 total weight percent. An article formed from such a composition is further strengthened by the addition of a surface activating agent bonded to the surface of the glass microspheroids. Conventional particulate fillers when added to an inventive formulation provide enhanced performance when the filler particle has a size sufficiently small to insert within adjacent microspheroid interstitial voids. An unsaturated polyester resin so formed is particularly well suited for the formation of sheet molding compound formulations.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Continental Structural Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Brian A. Beach, Probir K. Guha, Brad Haskell, Michael J. Siwajek
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Publication number: 20150106328Abstract: A distributed database management system provides a central database resident on a server that contains database objects. Objects, e.g., program guide data, to be replicated are gathered together into distribution packages called “slices,” that are transmitted to client devices. A slice is a subset of the central database which is relevant to clients within a specific domain, such as a geographic region, or under the footprint of a satellite transmitter. The viewer selects television programs and Web content from displayed sections of the program guide data which are recorded to a storage device. The program guide data are used to determine when to start and end recordings. Client devices periodically connect to the server using a phone line and upload information of interest which is combined with information uploaded from other client devices for statistical, operational, or viewing models.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Brian Beach, David C. Platt
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Publication number: 20150058379Abstract: A method for generating and maintaining hierarchical tags with community-based ratings is provided. Tags for media streams are organized into a hierarchical format. Users may select tags from the hierarchical tag database that describes a particular multimedia content. If the user is unable to locate a desired tag, the user may submit a new tag. Upon submission of the new tag, a librarian approves the tag before storing and placing the tag in the hierarchical tag database. Users are also able to rate the quality of the association between the tag and the multimedia content. If a tag is rated low, the tag may be removed from the hierarchical tag database. If the tag is rated highly, display of the tag in a list of tags becomes more prominent.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventors: Jim Barton, Brian Beach, David Platt, Kevin Smith, Michael Klar, Paul Stevens, David Chamberlin, Richard Lee
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Patent number: 8965182Abstract: A broadcast program recording overrun and underrun scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a start and end broadcast time. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record from the program guide using a remote input device. The system schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database. The system allows the viewer to adjust the scheduled start and/or end recording times for a broadcast program by specifying the time increment to add or subtract from the start and/or end recording times of a specific program or series of programs.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman
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Patent number: 8959099Abstract: Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Robert F. Poniatowski, Shelly Glennon, Brian Beach, Marcel Dubois
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Publication number: 20150012949Abstract: A DVR, server, or other agent correlates media metadata from diverse sources, like an EPG data provider and multiple video-on-demand (VOD) service providers. Metadata sets from different sources are compared in order to attempt to identify identical programs to which the metadata sets pertain. From at least one metadata set, information about the program that the other metadata set lacks is selected. A “canonical” data structure instance for the program is created. The information that is lacking from at least one of the metadata sources is inserted into that instance. For each source from which a program is available, the DVR stores the identity of that source on the DVR's persistent storage device in association with the canonical data structure instance for that program. The DVR receives search criteria from a user and then searches the stored canonical data structure instance for programs that satisfy the criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Todd Kulick, Michael Francis Klar, Vin Chawla, Marcel Dubois, Brian Beach, Alain Jobart
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Patent number: 8914394Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an integrated search is provided. An interface is provided that allows users to search and select any data related to a searchable term. Searchable terms may comprise titles of content, actors, and tags. A client device formulates a search request from the user-selected search terms. A service receives the search request from the client device and formulates a query for at least one broadband database and at least one partner broadcast database. The service queries each broadband database with a compatible query that the service creates using information regarding the type of database queries each partner's database requires. The service formats the data received from the searches of the databases into a user interface screen that is presentable by the client device. The screen information instructs the client device on how it should respond to any key presses by the user.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Marcel Dubois, Vin Chawla, Brian Beach, Glen Sanford, Robert F. Poniatowski, Shelly Glennon
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Patent number: 8880529Abstract: A method for generating and maintaining hierarchical tags with community-based ratings is provided. Tags for media streams are organized into a hierarchical format. Users may select tags from the hierarchical tag database that describes a particular multimedia content. If the user is unable to locate a desired tag, the user may submit a new tag. Upon submission of the new tag, a librarian approves the tag before storing and placing the tag in the hierarchical tag database. Users are also able to rate the quality of the association between the tag and the multimedia content. If a tag is rated low, the tag may be removed from the hierarchical tag database. If the tag is rated highly, display of the tag in a list of tags becomes more prominent.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Michael F. Klar, Paul Stevens, David Chamberlin, Richard Lee, James M. Barton, Brian Beach, David C. Platt, Kevin Smith
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Publication number: 20140275336Abstract: A molding composition formulation includes a thermoset cross-linkable 12 to 45 micron polymeric resin. Hollow glass microspheroids are present from 2 to 12 total weight percent. An article formed from such a composition is further strengthened by the addition of a surface activating agent bonded to the surface of the glass microspheroids. Conventional particulate fillers when added to an inventive formulation provide enhanced performance when the filler particle has a size sufficiently small to insert within adjacent microspheroid interstitial voids. An unsaturated polyester resin so formed is particularly well suited for the formation of sheet molding compound formulations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Continental Structural Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Brian A. Beach, Probir K. Guha, Brad Haskell, Michael J. Siwajek
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Patent number: RE45774Abstract: A smart broadcast program recording padding and scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a predetermined start and end broadcast time and resolving any conflicts arising from conflicting scheduled program recordings. An on screen program guide is displayed to the viewer via a monitor or television that lists the predetermined scheduled broadcast times and channels of a plurality of broadcast programs. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record and the invention schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman, David E. Pope, Martin Hibdon