Patents by Inventor Douglas B. Macrae
Douglas B. Macrae 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: 20170078752Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: DOUGLAS B. MACRAE, THOMAS E. WARD, KENNETH S. HANCOCK, JONATHAN B. ORLICK
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Patent number: 9521462Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled or scrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2016Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
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Publication number: 20160219327Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Publication number: 20160156979Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled or scrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
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Patent number: 9271049Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
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Patent number: 9191722Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Patent number: 9118978Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a t-commerce platform, which is linked to the content from a video signal that the user is currently watching. At some point during the broadcast of the content, a close-up of the product is shown. Simultaneous with this, a VBI-based trigger is added to the video signal of the broadcast. This trigger causes the television, a set-top box, or a similar device to capture in a memory, a “freeze-frame” of the image being shown. This action is transparent to the user while the video being displayed on the television is continuing normally. If the user chooses to perform an interactive “buy” transaction the saved image data is used as part of the interactive screen display.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Westberg
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Publication number: 20150189392Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Douglas B. MacRae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
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Patent number: 9015749Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Patent number: 8997148Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas Edward Ward, III, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
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Patent number: 8918807Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Publication number: 20140229981Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Publication number: 20140229982Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Publication number: 20140229988Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Patent number: 8793742Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a t-commerce platform, which is linked to the content from a video signal that the user is currently watching. At some point during the broadcast of the content, a close-up of the product is shown. Simultaneous with this, a VBI-based trigger is added to the video signal of the broadcast. This trigger causes the television, a set-top box, or a similar device to capture in a memory, a “freeze-frame” of the image being shown. This action is transparent to the user while the video being displayed on the television is continuing normally. If the user chooses to perform an interactive “buy” transaction the saved image data is used as part of the interactive screen display.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Index Systems, Inc.Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Westberg
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Publication number: 20140208362Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen
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Publication number: 20140157316Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a t-commerce platform, which is linked to the content from a video signal that the user is currently watching. At some point during the broadcast of the content, a close-up of the product is shown. Simultaneous with this, a VBI-based trigger is added to the video signal of the broadcast. This trigger causes the television, a set-top box, or a similar device to capture in a memory, a “freeze-frame” of the image being shown. This action is transparent to the user while the video being displayed on the television is continuing normally. If the user chooses to perform an interactive “buy” transaction the saved image data is used as part of the interactive screen display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: INDEX SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Westberg
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Patent number: 8732757Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Patent number: 8726311Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Publication number: 20140089980Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Ronald Alexander, Stephen Dias, Kenneth S. Hancock, Elsie Y. Leung, Douglas B. Macrae, Arthur Y. Ng, Shawn P. O'Neil, P. Christopher Shoaff, Jonathon Sutton, Thomas E. Ward, Thomas E. Westberg, Henry C. Yuen