Patents by Inventor David Westerhoff

David Westerhoff 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).

  • Publication number: 20240297528
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for detecting downstream devices connected to an electrical load controlling device. An example embodiment operates by detecting an association signal from a downstream smart device responsive to a downstream smart device detection signal. The example embodiment further operates by determining whether the downstream smart device is coupled to an electrical terminal of an electrical switching device and configured to receive electricity in response to an actuation of the electrical switching device. If so, the example embodiment further operates by generating a control signal configured to instruct the electrical switching device to prevent a deactuation of the electrical switching device and transmitting the control signal to the electrical switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack GARNER, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Dustin Verhoeve
  • Patent number: 12027854
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for detecting downstream devices connected to an electrical load controlling device. An example embodiment operates by detecting an association signal from a downstream smart device responsive to a downstream smart device detection signal. The example embodiment further operates by determining whether the downstream smart device is coupled to an electrical terminal of an electrical switching device and configured to receive electricity in response to an actuation of the electrical switching device. If so, the example embodiment further operates by generating a control signal configured to instruct the electrical switching device to prevent a deactuation of the electrical switching device and transmitting the control signal to the electrical switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Dustin Verhoeve
  • Publication number: 20230403540
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a device including a functional circuit, a power monitor circuit, and a controller. The functional circuit can be configured to perform a function. The power monitor circuit can collect power usage data of the functional circuit. The controller can transmit the power usage data to a master control device, and receive an instruction provided by the master control device. The instruction is generated based on the power usage data of the functional circuit and related to the function. Based on the instruction received from the master control device, the controller can adjust the function performed by the functional circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: GREGORY MACK GARNER, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Anthony John Wood
  • Patent number: 11653187
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a device including a functional circuit, a power monitor circuit, and a controller. The functional circuit can be configured to perform a function. The power monitor circuit can collect power usage data of the functional circuit. The controller can transmit the power usage data to a master control device, and receive an instruction provided by the master control device. The instruction is generated based on the power usage data of the functional circuit and related to the function. Based on the instruction received from the master control device, the controller can adjust the function performed by the functional circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Anthony John Wood
  • Publication number: 20230117823
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for detecting downstream devices connected to an electrical load controlling device. An example embodiment operates by detecting an association signal from a downstream smart device responsive to a downstream smart device detection signal. The example embodiment further operates by determining whether the downstream smart device is coupled to an electrical terminal of an electrical switching device and configured to receive electricity in response to an actuation of the electrical switching device. If so, the example embodiment further operates by generating a control signal configured to instruct the electrical switching device to prevent a deactuation of the electrical switching device and transmitting the control signal to the electrical switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Dustin Verhoeve
  • Publication number: 20230116654
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for determining physical possession of one or more IoT devices. According to some embodiments, a method for determining physical possession of a plurality of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices includes determining physical possession of a first IoT device of the plurality of IoT devices. The method further includes determining whether the first IoT device with the determined physical possession satisfies a condition. In response to determining that the first IoT device with the determined physical possession does not satisfy the condition, determining physical possession of a second IoT device of the plurality of IoT devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack GARNER, David L. Stern, David A. Westerhoff
  • Patent number: 11515726
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for detecting downstream devices connected to an electrical load controlling device. An example embodiment operates by detecting an association signal from a downstream smart device responsive to a downstream smart device detection signal. The example embodiment further operates by determining whether the downstream smart device is coupled to an electrical terminal of an electrical switching device and configured to receive electricity in response to an actuation of the electrical switching device. If so, the example embodiment further operates by generating a control signal configured to instruct the electrical switching device to prevent a deactuation of the electrical switching device and transmitting the control signal to the electrical switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Dustin Verhoeve
  • Patent number: 11463130
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for determining physical possession of one or more IoT devices. According to some embodiments, a method for determining physical possession of a plurality of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices includes determining physical possession of a first IoT device of the plurality of IoT devices. The method further includes determining whether the first IoT device with the determined physical possession satisfies a condition. In response to determining that the first IoT device with the determined physical possession does not satisfy the condition, determining physical possession of a second IoT device of the plurality of IoT devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David L. Stern, David A. Westerhoff
  • Patent number: 11388474
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments for server-side scene change content stitching. An example embodiment operates by providing a stream of first content for display on a display device. Second content to be stitched into the stream is received. Metadata indicates a point in time in the stream into which the second content is to be stitched. A scene change is identified in the first content closest to the point in time. A first frame proximate to the scene change is identified. A distance within the plurality of frames between the identified first frame and the identified scene change is identified. The stream is displayed on the display device, including the second content stitched into the first content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Wim Michiels, David Westerhoff
  • Publication number: 20210385532
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments for server-side scene change content stitching. An example embodiment operates by providing a stream of first content for display on a display device. Second content to be stitched into the stream is received. Metadata indicates a point in time in the stream into which the second content is to be stitched. A scene change is identified in the first content closest to the point in time. A first frame proximate to the scene change is identified. A distance within the plurality of frames between the identified first frame and the identified scene change is identified. The stream is displayed on the display device, including the second content stitched into the first content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: WIM MICHIELS, DAVID WESTERHOFF
  • Patent number: 9705947
    Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving an identifier associated with a client streaming player, determining one or more attributes associated with the identifier from a data structure in response to the identifier, determining available channels from a plurality of channels that are to be made available to the client streaming player in response to the identifier, wherein available channels comprises a first channel, but not the second channel, determining a first graphical identifier associated with the first channel, providing the first graphical identifier to the client streaming player, receiving a user selection of the first graphical identifier indicating a user request to associate the first channel with the computer system, and providing an indicator of a server network address associated with the first channel to the client streaming player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Wood, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Bill Ataras, Mark Goodwin, Aaron Graham, Matt Emerson, Kevin Phillips
  • Patent number: 9420338
    Abstract: A streaming media device includes a controller to receive a power off signal, bookmark streamed content at a current location of play after receiving the power off signal, and present a home screen with a visual representation of an alternative content selection and channel selection for a predefined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Vassigh, David Westerhoff, Jeff Anderson
  • Patent number: 9143814
    Abstract: A video server adaptively selects an appropriate video encoding standard and an appropriate video encoding rate for encoding video content to be downloaded to one or more video client devices over a communication network. The video server adaptively selects the video encoding standard and the video encoding rate based upon factors such as the data transmission rate of the communication network, the processing speed of the video client device, or the type of the video content to be downloaded. Once the video encoding standard and the video encoding rate are selected, video content can be transcoded prior to downloading to one or more video client devices. During the download, the video content may be adaptively transrated, such as in response to a change in the data transmission rate of the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Wolfe, David Westerhoff
  • Patent number: 8977721
    Abstract: A method for presenting content to a client device through a platform server includes detecting a selection of current content at the platform server. An attribute of the current content is identified. Additional content based on the attribute is identified. A representation of the additional content configured to be displayed at the client device is transmitted. A selection of the additional content is detected at the platform server. The attribute is revised based on the selection of the additional content. A representation of revised content configured to be displayed at the client device is transmitted. The revised content is based on revising the attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Goodwin, Thomas C. Marksworth, David A. Westerhoff
  • Publication number: 20140330940
    Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving an identifier associated with a client streaming player, determining one or more attributes associated with the identifier from a data structure in response to the identifier, determining available channels from a plurality of channels that are to be made available to the client streaming player in response to the identifier, wherein available channels comprises a first channel, but not the second channel, determining a first graphical identifier associated with the first channel, providing the first graphical identifier to the client streaming player, receiving a user selection of the first graphical identifier indicating a user request to associate the first channel with the computer system, and providing an indicator of a server network address associated with the first channel to the client streaming player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Wood, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Bill Ataras, Mark Goodwin, Aaron Graham, Matt Emerson, Kevin Phillips
  • Patent number: 8788578
    Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving an identifier associated with a client streaming player, determining one or more attributes associated with the identifier from a data structure in response to the identifier, determining available channels from a plurality of channels that are to be made available to the client streaming player in response to the identifier, wherein available channels comprises a first channel, but not the second channel, determining a first graphical identifier associated with the first channel, providing the first graphical identifier to the client streaming player, receiving a user selection of the first graphical identifier indicating a user request to associate the first channel with the computer system, and providing an indicator of a server network address associated with the first channel to the client streaming player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Wood, David Stern, David Westerhoff, Bill Ataras, Mark Goodwin, Aaron Graham, Matt Emerson, Kevin Phillips
  • Publication number: 20130262558
    Abstract: A method includes identifying different content associated with a client device, transmitting a representation of the different content to the client device, and formatting the representation according to categories where the representation includes the different content displayed in different rows where each of the categories is represented by each of the rows. Different selections are detected from among the representation where the different selections represent an interest in corresponding content. The representation is modified based on the different selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony John Wood, David A. Westerhoff, Jonathan Colorado Criswell
  • Publication number: 20130262620
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a request for content, adding the request to a playlist and supplying different content associated with the playlist to a client device. The content is associated with the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Wood, David A. Westerhoff, Patrick Ellis, Mark Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20130262431
    Abstract: A method for matching a search request from a client device includes detecting the search request from the client device, storing content listings within a content database where each of the content listings represents content, and searching for a match result between the search request and the content listings. A subscription to a subscribed content provider is detected and associated with the client device. The match result is displayed to indicate the content listings associated with the subscribed content provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David A. Westerhoff, Wendy M. Abowd, Thomas C. Markworth, Patrick Ellis, Jonathan Colorado Criswell
  • Publication number: 20130262633
    Abstract: A method for presenting content to a client device through a platform server includes detecting a selection of current content at the platform server. An attribute of the current content is identified. Additional content based on the attribute is identified. A representation of the additional content configured to be displayed at the client device is transmitted. A selection of the additional content is detected at the platform server. The attribute is revised based on the selection of the additional content. A representation of revised content configured to be displayed at the client device is transmitted. The revised content is based on revising the attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Goodwin, Thomas C. Marksworth, David A. Westerhoff