Patents by Inventor Kenneth S. Hancock

Kenneth S. Hancock 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: 20170078752
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: DOUGLAS B. MACRAE, THOMAS E. WARD, KENNETH S. HANCOCK, JONATHAN B. ORLICK
  • Patent number: 9521462
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
  • Publication number: 20160219327
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    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
  • Publication number: 20160156979
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
  • Patent number: 9271049
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
  • Patent number: 9191722
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20150189392
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas B. MacRae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
  • Publication number: 20150181310
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer program products and apparatus are described for presenting an advertisement playout summary in an interactive display, that involve collecting individual playout statistics corresponding to playout of advertisements from at least one advertising insertion computer system; organizing the individual playout statistics into groups, each group having a group identifier; calculating aggregated playout statistics for each group, the aggregated playout statistics comprising a first statistic calculated for the group; generating display information for a displayable grid of blocks, each block displays the group identifier and at least one of the aggregated playout statistics for a respective group, wherein the size and position of the block in the grid depends on the first statistic; and transmitting the display information to a client device to display the grid. The color of a block corresponding to a respective group can depends on a second statistic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: SeaChange International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Hancock, Aseem Bakshi
  • Patent number: 9015749
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 8997148
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas Edward Ward, III, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
  • Patent number: 8918807
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation
    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
  • Publication number: 20140229988
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Gemstar Development Corporation
    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
  • Publication number: 20140229981
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    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
  • Publication number: 20140229982
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    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
  • Publication number: 20140208362
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    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
  • Publication number: 20140089980
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    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
  • Publication number: 20110154397
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Gemstar Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
  • Patent number: 7921441
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas B Macrae, Thomas E Ward, III, Kenneth S Hancock, Jonathan B Orlick
  • Publication number: 20100186033
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Gemstar Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas Edward Ward, III, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
  • Publication number: 20080184300
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas Edward Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick