Patents by Inventor Donald J. Hejna, Jr.

Donald J. Hejna, Jr. 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: 10614829
    Abstract: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in an audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the audio of the audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio or audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus so that the audio is presented at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more indicia of words of interest; and wherein the audio or audio-visual work includes conversations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Virentem Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9860582
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting the information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Virentem Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170374406
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting non-time-scale modified information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is broadcast prior to or after a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160259541
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) a user selecting a speed contour from one or more speed contours stored in a database apparatus; (b) presenting the audio or audio-visual work at a playback device using the user selected speed contour to provide presentation rates; (c) during presenting, the user selecting another speed contour from the one or more speed contours stored in the database apparatus; and (d) continuing to present the audio or audio-visual work at the playback device using the user selected another speed contour to provide presentation rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, JR.
  • Patent number: 9343080
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting at least a portion of an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) retrieving an average speed contour or a democratic speed contour from a database apparatus; and (b) presenting the at least a portion at a playback apparatus using the retrieved average speed contour or democratic speed contour to provide presentation rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Virentem Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160035371
    Abstract: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in an audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the audio of the audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio or audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus so that the audio is presented at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more indicia of words of interest; and wherein the audio or audio-visual work includes conversations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, JR.
  • Patent number: 9185380
    Abstract: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in a visual portion of the audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the portion of the audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more of a predetermined number of items in a video frame, a predetermined number of moving items in a video frame, and one or more predetermined individuals; and wherein the audio-visual work is output from a surveillance camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Virentem Ventures, LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140020016
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting the information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Enounce, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140020035
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting a media work that includes one or more media works at a client device, which method includes: receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source; determining whether the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present a portion of the media work, and if so; presenting the portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Enounce, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140003787
    Abstract: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in a visual portion of the audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the portion of the audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more of a predetermined number of items in a video frame, a predetermined number of moving items in a video frame, and one or more predetermined individuals; and wherein the audio-visual work is output from a surveillance camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Enounce, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8566885
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to a client device, which device utilizes presentation rates to present information at various presentation rates, and which method includes: (a) broadcasting information; and (b) broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the client device in presentation of the information; wherein the guidance information is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Enounce, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130253921
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting at least a portion of an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) retrieving an average speed contour or a democratic speed contour from a database apparatus; and (b) presenting the at least a portion at a playback apparatus using the retrieved average speed contour or democratic speed contour to provide presentation rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Enounce Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8478599
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting a media work which includes: detecting media work content properties in a portion of the media work; associating a presentation rate of the portion with the detected media work content properties; and presenting the portion at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties include one or more of: (a) indicia of a number of syllables in utterances; (b) indicia of a number of letters in a word; (c) indicia of the complexity of grammatical structures in portions of the media work; (d) indicia of arrival rate of newly presented objects; (e) indicia of temporal proximity of between events in portions of the media work or (f) indicia of number of phonemes per unit of time in portions of the media work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Enounce, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8452589
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of storing a speed contour for use in playback of at least a portion of an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) generating one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours for the audio or audio-visual work; (b) storing the one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours in a database; and (c) associating retrieval information with the one or more stored contours in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Enounce Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110153319
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of storing a speed contour for use in playback of at least a portion of an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) generating one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours for the audio or audio-visual work; (b) storing the one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours in a database; and (c) associating retrieval information with the one or more stored contours in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ENOUNCE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, JR.
  • Patent number: 7899668
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for testing an audience member's comprehension rate and presenting material in a media work at a rate determined from the comprehension rate, the method including: (a) determining a comprehension rate for materials to be presented in a media work; (b) storing information representing the comprehension rate; (c) determining a presentation rate for intervals of the media work utilizing the comprehension rate information to alter effort required for comprehension; and (d) presenting portions of the media work at the presentation rates determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Enounce Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7802003
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information from a server to a client which includes the steps of: (a) broadcasting information at predetermined starting times; (b) receiving a request for the information from the client at an arrival time different from the predetermined starting times; and (c) transmitting a time-scale modified version of the information to the client for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Enounce, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100192174
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to a client device, which device utilizes presentation rates to present information at various presentation rates, and which method includes: (a) broadcasting information; and (b) broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the client device in presentation of the information; wherein the guidance information is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ENOUNCE, INC.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, JR.
  • Patent number: 7703117
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to a client device, which device utilizes presentation rates to present information at various presentation rates, and which method includes: (a) broadcasting information; and (b) broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the client device in presentation of the information; wherein the guidance information comprises insistence information that specifies a measure of importance of utilizing presentation rate information contained in the guidance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Enounce Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090306966
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting a media work which includes: detecting media work content properties in a portion of the media work; associating a presentation rate of the portion with the detected media work content properties; and presenting the portion at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties include one or more of: (a) indicia of a number of syllables in utterances; (b) indicia of a number of letters in a word; (c) indicia of the complexity of grammatical structures in portions of the media work; (d) indicia of arrival rate of newly presented objects; (e) indicia of temporal proximity of between events in portions of the media work or (f) indicia of number of phonemes per unit of time in portions of the media work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Enounce, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Hejna, JR.