Patents by Inventor Geoffrey R. Smith

Geoffrey R. Smith 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: 11412288
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200344513
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10757465
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180176626
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9854293
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150245089
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9084007
    Abstract: A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8966516
    Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to identify channel tunes and channel tune times. The channel tunes and channel tune times of the log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Iain Merrick, Michael A. Killianey, John Alastair Hawkins, Greg Hecht, Simon M. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20140223458
    Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to identify channel tunes and channel tune times. The channel tunes and channel tune times of the log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Iain Merrick, Michael A. Killianey, John Alastair Hawkins, Greg Hecht, Simon M. Rowe
  • Patent number: 8739199
    Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to identify channel tunes and channel tune times. The channel tunes and channel tune times of the log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Iain Merrick, Michael A. Killianey, John Alastair Hawkins, Greg Hecht, Simon M. Rowe
  • Patent number: 8495682
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for panel surveys. In one aspect, a method include accessing television history data for viewing devices associated with panelists and that describes, for each viewing device, television advertisements that were presented by use of the viewing device; a proper subset of panelists are selected based on the determinations of television advertisements that were presented and television advertisements that were not presented by use of the viewing device associated with the panelists, and for each of the selected panelists, a survey for the panelist is generated, the survey including one or more questions, each of the questions having been selected based on the television advertisements that were presented and television advertisements that were not presented by use of the viewing device associated with the panelist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Dierks, Geoffrey R. Smith, Pradipta Mitra
  • Patent number: 8438591
    Abstract: Reporting data related to content processing devices, e.g., television devices, are processed to identify channel tunes and corresponding tune times of the content processing devices. Automatically generated channel tunes based on the corresponding tune times are identified. Content items that are aired during a time period defined by the corresponding tune times can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Kaustuv, Daniel J. Zigmond, Jay Shrauner, John Alastair Hawkins, Simon M. Rowe, Michael A. Killianey, Yaroslav Volovich, Iain Merrick
  • Publication number: 20120124619
    Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to identify channel tunes and channel tune times. The channel tunes and channel tune times of the log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Simon M. Rowe, Iain Merrick, Michael A. Killianey, John Alastair Hawkins, Greg Hecht, Geoffrey R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120072935
    Abstract: Reporting data related to content processing devices, e.g., television devices, are processed to identify channel tunes and corresponding tune times of the content processing devices. Automatically generated channel tunes based on the corresponding tune times are identified. Content items that are aired during a time period defined by the corresponding tune times can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. SMITH, KAUSTUV, Daniel J. ZIGMOND, Jay SHRAUNER, John Alastair HAWKINS, Simon M. ROWE, Michael A. KILLIANEY, Yaroslav VOLOVICH, Iain MERRICK
  • Patent number: 8127325
    Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to identify channel tunes and channel tune times. The channel tunes and channel tune times of the log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Iain Merrick, Michael A. Killaney, John Alastair Hawkins, Greg Hecht, Simon Rowe
  • Patent number: 8091101
    Abstract: Reporting data related to content processing devices, e.g., television devices, are processed to identify channel tunes and corresponding tune times of the content processing devices. Automatically generated channel tunes based on the corresponding tune times are identified. Content items that are aired during a time period defined by the corresponding tune times can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Kaustuv, Daniel J. Zigmond, Jay Shrauner, John Alastair Hawkins, Simon M. Rowe, Michael A. Killianey, Yaroslav Volovich, Iain Merrick
  • Publication number: 20110239243
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for panel surveys. In one aspect, a method include accessing television history data for viewing devices associated with panelists and that describes, for each viewing device, television advertisements that were presented by use of the viewing device; a proper subset of panelists are selected based on the determinations of television advertisements that were presented and television advertisements that were not presented by use of the viewing device associated with the panelists, and for each of the selected panelists, a survey for the panelist is generated, the survey including one or more questions, each of the questions having been selected based on the television advertisements that were presented and television advertisements that were not presented by use of the viewing device associated with the panelist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Dierks, Geoffrey R. Smith, Pradipta Mitra
  • Patent number: 7944863
    Abstract: Accelerated channel change (ACC) strategies are described for supplying a client module with media information by transitioning between a first delivery of media information provided by first delivery functionality and a second delivery of media information provided by second delivery functionality without exceeding prescribed data rate limitations. The first delivery functionality can represent server-based functionality for delivering a unicast stream of media information at a data rate (or maximum data rate) of some excess amount over the nominal rate of delivery, starting at a selected location within the media information. The second delivery functionality can represent any functionality for delivering the media information at the data rate (or maximum data rate) of the nominal rate of delivery. A join interval separates the first delivery at the excess rate and the second delivery at the nominal rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, James A. Baldwin, Michael D. Dodd, Peter T. Barrett, David C. Clifford, Grant D. Mohr, Dustin L. Green
  • Patent number: 7853969
    Abstract: Set top box logs are received from a television provider and processed to compensate for broadcast latency and generate normalized log data, e.g., log data that are indexed to a relative time. Channel tunes and the channel tune times of the normalized log data can be compared to expected air times of television advertisements on channels, and an impression values, e.g., projected viewers, can be generated for each television advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Iain Merrick, Michael A. Killianey, John Alastair Hawkins, Greg Hecht, Simon Rowe
  • Publication number: 20100262496
    Abstract: Reporting data related to content processing devices, e.g., television devices, are processed to identify channel tunes and corresponding tune times of the content processing devices. Automatically generated channel tunes based on the corresponding tune times are identified. Content items that are aired during a time period defined by the corresponding tune times can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey R. Smith, Kaustuv, Daniel J. Zigmond, Jay Shrauner, John Alastair Hawkins, Simon Rowe, Michael A. Killianey, Yaroslav Volovich, Iain Merrick