Patents by Inventor Brian Fife

Brian Fife 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: 11860915
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Publication number: 20210173860
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 10963498
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Publication number: 20190073417
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 10133810
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiment, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 10063899
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically obtaining cost-efficient access to a media content collection are provided. A user selection of a media content collection, which consists of a number of media assets, is received. A first price is determined for receiving access to the entire media content collection using a single transaction. For each media asset of the media content collection a set of providers of the media asset are identified, and the lowest price for receiving access to each media asset is determined. The lowest price for receiving access to each media asset of the media content collection is accumulated to determine a second price for receiving access to the media content collection using multiple transactions. The first and the second price are compared, and access to the media content collection is received based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Craig Peterson, William J. Korbecki, Jonathan Arme, Brian Fife
  • Publication number: 20180203923
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiment, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 9852214
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Publication number: 20170272797
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically obtaining cost-efficient access to a media content collection are provided. A user selection of a media content collection, which consists of a number of media assets, is received. A first price is determined for receiving access to the entire media content collection using a single transaction. For each media asset of the media content collection a set of providers of the media asset are identified, and the lowest price for receiving access to each media asset is determined. The lowest price for receiving access to each media asset of the media content collection is accumulated to determine a second price for receiving access to the media content collection using multiple transactions. The first and the second price are compared, and access to the media content collection is received based on this comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Craig Peterson, William J. Korbecki, Jonathan Arme, Brian Fife
  • Patent number: 9609374
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically obtaining cost-efficient access to a media content collection are provided. A user selection of a media content collection, which consists of a number of media assets, is received. A first price is determined for receiving access to the entire media content collection using a single transaction. For each media asset of the media content collection a set of providers of the media asset are identified, and the lowest price for receiving access to each media asset is determined. The lowest price for receiving access to each media asset of the media content collection is accumulated to determine a second price for receiving access to the media content collection using multiple transactions. The first and the second price are compared, and access to the media content collection is received based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Craig Peterson, William J. Korbecki, Jonathan Arme, Brian Fife
  • Patent number: 9521448
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for extracting digital content using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may allow the user to record programs on a set-top box. The interactive television application may also allow the user to extract the audio from one of the recorded programs and transfer the extracted audio to removable media (e.g., a CD-R). The interactive television application also be configured to perform a future transfer of digital content to removable media. The future transfer may occur without requiring any further user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Thomas E. Westberg, Brian Fife, Joseph DiGiovanni, Michael D. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20160205426
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 9298810
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 9191689
    Abstract: Systems and methods for translating generic requests into requests specific to user media devices selected based on location are provided. In some embodiments, a first instruction data structure containing a request for an action to be performed on media content is received from a user equipment device. A location for the user equipment device is determined and a user media device is selected based on its proximity to the determined location. Device specific information for the selected user media device is then used to determine whether the selected user media device is authorized to perform the requested action. The device specific information is also used to translate the first instruction data structure into a second instruction data structure. The second instruction data structure is then transmitted to the selected user media device and causes the selected user media device to perform the requested action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Neel Suhas Ketkar
  • Publication number: 20150254333
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 9092415
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating automatic program recommendations based on user interactions. In some embodiments, control circuitry processes verbal data received during an interaction between a user of a user device and a person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry analyzes the verbal data to automatically identify a media asset referred to during the interaction by at least one of the user and the person with whom the user is interacting. The control circuitry adds the identified media asset to a list of media assets associated with the user of the user device. The list of media assets is transmitted to a second user device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Fife, Jason Braness, Michael Papish, Thomas Steven Woods
  • Patent number: 9069764
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for providing a media guidance application that identifies users accessing the same media asset, determines which users desire to communicate with each other, and provides an asset-integrated notification to each of the users desiring to communicate, facilitating communication between the users. For example, other users with a desire to communicate with an initial user that are accessing the same media asset as the initial user may be indicated by inserting a media element representative of the other users directly into the media asset watched by an initial user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Brian Fife, Kourosh Soroushian
  • Publication number: 20150135251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for extracting digital content using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may allow the user to record programs on a set-top box. The interactive television application may also allow the user to extract the audio from one of the recorded programs and transfer the extracted audio to removable media (e.g., a CD-R). The interactive television application also be configured to perform a future transfer of digital content to removable media. The future transfer may occur without requiring any further user interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Thomas E. Westberg, Brian Fife, Joseph DiGiovanni, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8966567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for extracting digital content using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may allow the user to record programs on a set-top box. The interactive television application may also allow the user to extract the audio from one of the recorded programs and transfer the extracted audio to removable media (e.g., a CD-R). The interactive television application also be configured to perform a future transfer of digital content to removable media. The future transfer may occur without requiring any further user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, Thomas E. Westberg, Brian Fife, Joseph DiGiovanni, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8756620
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking content sources from which media assets have previously been viewed are provided. A user request to access a first content source is received. Content currently being presented to the user from the first content source is monitored to determine whether the content meets a criterion. An amount of time the content being presented meets the criterion is measured. In response to determining the amount of time exceeds a threshold, an identifier of the first content source is stored in a list of content sources from which content meeting the criterion was previously presented to the user. Content received from one of the content sources in the list is presented each time a user request to access a last content source is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Papish, Brian Fife