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).
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Publication number: 20250071353Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20250068590Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventors: Adam D. Hertz, Michael A. Chen, John Robinson, Ming-Chun Chiang
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Patent number: 12182068Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 16, 2015Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventors: Adam D. Hertz, Michael A. Chen, John Robinson, Ming-Chun Chiang
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Patent number: 11671661Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20220201346Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventor: Michael A. Chen
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Patent number: 11310542Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20220021934Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20220019289Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventor: Michael A. Chen
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Patent number: 11172254Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Patent number: 11093047Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20210105514Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20200374584Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20200341555Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventor: MICHAEL A. CHEN
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Patent number: 10785507Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2016Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Patent number: 10785202Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Patent number: 10743065Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Patent number: 10664062Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Michael A. Chen
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Patent number: 10461931Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventors: John Leddy, James W. Fahrny, Allen Broome, Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20190281035Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventor: Michael A. Chen
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Publication number: 20190258317Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventor: MICHAEL A. CHEN