Patents by Inventor Michael A. Chen

Michael A. Chen 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: 20250071353
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating advertisements within viewed content. The advertisements may be banner advertisements or other advertisements. The advertisements may be obtained based on a request for an advertisement for insertion into an opportunity for inserting an advertisement in content. The advertisement may additionally or alternatively be obtained based on a Universal Resource Locator associated with the advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20250068590
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for using files or data (e.g., cookies) stored in network storage (e.g., the cloud) in lieu of files or data stored locally. A request for a plurality of files can be received from a device. The request can comprise a device identifier and a user identifier. The user identifier can be used to determine an associated account. A format for the requested plurality of files can be determined based on the device identifier. In an aspect, the device can have limited/no local persistent storage. Prior to transmission, the requested plurality of files can be formatted according to the determined format. For example, a user can access an HTML application from a device with limited/no local persistent storage, such as a set-top box. The device can request a plurality of files, such as cookies, from persistent storage. The persistent storage can be cloud storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Adam D. Hertz, Michael A. Chen, John Robinson, Ming-Chun Chiang
  • Patent number: 12182068
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for using files or data (e.g., cookies) stored in network storage (e.g., the cloud) in lieu of files or data stored locally. A request for a plurality of files can be received from a device. The request can comprise a device identifier and a user identifier. The user identifier can be used to determine an associated account. A format for the requested plurality of files can be determined based on the device identifier. In an aspect, the device can have limited/no local persistent storage. Prior to transmission, the requested plurality of files can be formatted according to the determined format. For example, a user can access an HTML application from a device with limited/no local persistent storage, such as a set-top box. The device can request a plurality of files, such as cookies, from persistent storage. The persistent storage can be cloud storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Adam D. Hertz, Michael A. Chen, John Robinson, Ming-Chun Chiang
  • Patent number: 11671661
    Abstract: A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20220201346
    Abstract: System and method for facilitating advertisements within viewed content. The advertisements may be banner advertisements or other advertisement. The advertisements may be included in such a manner that if a user skips or otherwise fast forwards through the advertisements, the user if force to skip through at least a portion of the viewed content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Patent number: 11310542
    Abstract: System and method for facilitating advertisements within viewed content. The advertisements may be banner advertisements or other advertisement. The advertisements may be included in such a manner that if a user skips or otherwise fast forwards through the advertisements, the user if force to skip through at least a portion of the viewed content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20220021934
    Abstract: A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20220019289
    Abstract: System and methods for controlling a user experience are described. In an aspect, an interface can comprise an interface device for rendering content to a user, a sensor having a gesture zone associated therewith configured to detect a dexterous gesture of a user within the gesture zone and generate a sensor signal representing the dexterous gesture. A processor may be provided in communication with the sensor and the interface device. The processor receives the sensor signal, analyzes the sensor signal to determine a control action associated with the detected dexterous gesture of the user, and configures the user interface based upon the determined control action of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Patent number: 11172254
    Abstract: A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Patent number: 11093047
    Abstract: System and methods for controlling a user experience are described. In an aspect, an interface can comprise an interface device for rendering content to a user, a sensor having a gesture zone associated therewith configured to detect a dexterous gesture of a user within the gesture zone and generate a sensor signal representing the dexterous gesture. A processor may be provided in communication with the sensor and the interface device. The processor receives the sensor signal, analyzes the sensor signal to determine a control action associated with the detected dexterous gesture of the user, and configures the user interface based upon the determined control action of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20210105514
    Abstract: System and method for facilitating advertisements within viewed content. The advertisements may be banner advertisements or other advertisement. The advertisements may be included in such a manner that if a user skips or otherwise fast forwards through the advertisements, the user if force to skip through at least a portion of the viewed content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20200374584
    Abstract: A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20200341555
    Abstract: System and methods for controlling a user experience are described. In an aspect, an interface can comprise an interface device for rendering content to a user, a sensor having a gesture zone associated therewith configured to detect a dexterous gesture of a user within the gesture zone and generate a sensor signal representing the dexterous gesture. A processor may be provided in communication with the sensor and the interface device. The processor receives the sensor signal, analyzes the sensor signal to determine a control action associated with the detected dexterous gesture of the user, and configures the user interface based upon the determined control action of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventor: MICHAEL A. CHEN
  • Patent number: 10785507
    Abstract: System and method for facilitating advertisements within viewed content. The advertisements may be banner advertisements or other advertisement. The advertisements may be included in such a manner that if a user skips or otherwise fast forwards through the advertisements, the user if force to skip through at least a portion of the viewed content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Patent number: 10785202
    Abstract: A system and method for processing entitlement rights are disclosed. Content may be stored. A request for playback of the content may be received. A right of a user to view the content may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Patent number: 10743065
    Abstract: A television program ratings method and system includes transferring information associated with households from a cable provider to a ratings provider such that the ratings provider has access to information associated with sampled households and lacks access to information associated with non-sampled households. To this end, identity information and usage information associated with the households are respectively anonymized and encrypted. Knowledge of the identities of the sampled households enables the anonymized identity information and the encrypted usage information for the sampled households to be respectively de-anonymized and decrypted. The ratings provider knows which households are sampled households. As such, the ratings provider de-anonymizes and decrypts the information associated with the sampled households and then uses the de-anonymized and decrypted information to determine television program ratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Patent number: 10664062
    Abstract: System and methods for controlling a user experience are described. In an aspect, an interface can comprise an interface device for rendering content to a user, a sensor having a gesture zone associated therewith configured to detect a dexterous gesture of a user within the gesture zone and generate a sensor signal representing the dexterous gesture. A processor may be provided in communication with the sensor and the interface device. The processor receives the sensor signal, analyzes the sensor signal to determine a control action associated with the detected dexterous gesture of the user, and configures the user interface based upon the determined control action of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Patent number: 10461931
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to processing content with watermarks to generate watermarked versions. In some aspects, each version may be different. Groups of fragments may be combined to generate a unique stream by pulling fragments from two or more of the groups of fragments. Further, fragmenting may be performed before watermarking, and fragments may be pulled and watermarked upon request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: John Leddy, James W. Fahrny, Allen Broome, Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20190281035
    Abstract: A system and method for processing entitlement rights are disclosed. Content may be stored. A request for playback of the content may be received. A right of a user to view the content may be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Michael A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20190258317
    Abstract: System and methods for controlling a user experience are described. In an aspect, an interface can comprise an interface device for rendering content to a user, a sensor having a gesture zone associated therewith configured to detect a dexterous gesture of a user within the gesture zone and generate a sensor signal representing the dexterous gesture. A processor may be provided in communication with the sensor and the interface device. The processor receives the sensor signal, analyzes the sensor signal to determine a control action associated with the detected dexterous gesture of the user, and configures the user interface based upon the determined control action of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventor: MICHAEL A. CHEN