Patents by Inventor Michael Cutter

Michael Cutter 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: 12784782
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) estimating, using a skeletal detection model, a pose of an original actor for each of multiple frames of a video; (ii) obtaining, for each of a plurality of the estimated poses, a respective image of a replacement actor; (iii) obtaining replacement speech in the replacement actor's voice that corresponds to speech of the original actor in the video; (iv) generating, using the estimated poses, the images of the replacement actor, and the replacement speech, synthetic frames corresponding to the multiple frames of the video that depict the replacement actor in place of the original actor, with the synthetic frames including facial expressions for the replacement actor that temporally align with the replacement speech; and (iv) combining the synthetic frames and the replacement speech so as to obtain a synthetic video that replaces the original actor with the replacement actor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2025
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Karina Levitian
  • Publication number: 20260343069
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, from a content-distribution system, video comprising a watermark; (ii) extracting the watermark from the video; (iii) based on the extracted watermark, determining a content-creation attribute of the video that indicates a process by which the video was created, wherein the determining comprises using the watermark to select the content-creation attribute from among a set of two or more content-creation attributes comprising organically-generated video and synthetically-generated video; and (iv) in response to determining the content-creation attribute of the video, causing a content-presentation device to perform an action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2026
    Publication date: October 29, 2026
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Charles Brian Pinkerton, Karina Levitian
  • Publication number: 20260330792
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) obtaining video that depicts an area across multiple frames of the video, wherein the area is part of a scene of the video, and wherein the area is suitable for having an object inserted therein; (ii) detecting the area within the obtained video and determining area characteristic data associated with the detected area; (iii) determining scene attribute data associated with the scene; (iv) using at least the determined area characteristic data and the determined scene attribute data as a basis to select an object from among a set of multiple candidate objects; (v) inserting into the detected area the selected object to generate video that is a modified version of the obtained video; and (vi) outputting for presentation the generated video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2026
    Publication date: October 22, 2026
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Karina Levitian
  • Publication number: 20260330838
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for sharing video streams in a camera system network. The video streams may be modified and/or masked to obscure private video stream features from being shared. An example embodiment operates by linking a first camera system to a first user device. The first camera system detects a second camera system in its field of view, wherein the second camera system is linked to a second user device. Upon exchanging requests to share video streams, the first and second user devices may view the video streams from both camera systems. The video streams may be modified to mask and/or obscure private property and/or known persons to preserve privacy despite sharing video streams. For example, the first camera system may modify and stream a masked video stream to the second user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2026
    Publication date: October 22, 2026
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Sunil RAMESH, Michael CUTTER, Robert CURTIS, Gregory GARNER, Patrick BROUILLETTE
  • Patent number: 12771891
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling media-content presentation. An example method includes a computing system detecting that a media-player device has moved from a home location of the media-player device to a visited location and that the media-player device is connected with a media-presentation device at the visited location. Further, the example method includes, responsive to the detecting, the computing system causing the media-player device to output, for presentation by the media-presentation device at the visited location, media content selected by the computing system based on the media-player device having moved from the home location to the visited location. For instance, the computing system could cause the media-player device to output, for presentation by the media-presentation device, a message welcoming a user to the visited location and/or information about the visited location such as information about tourist attractions at the visited location for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Ronica Jethwa, Karina Levitian
  • Publication number: 20260299121
    Abstract: A RADAR system and associated methods are used to detect obstacles obscured from view when backing a trailer. An autonomous tractor is equipped with a rear facing RADAR device that has a field-of-view under the trailer and is configured to output RADAR returns from reflections. A controller of the tractor classifies RADAR returns from the RADAR device according to a number of reflections by a dock wall and a trailer face (e.g., a back end of the trailer) of a corresponding RADAR beam. The RADAR returns are correlated based on distance, and distance of a RADAR return from an obstacle is corrected based on the number of reflections. Advantageously, by processing RADAR returns from both direct and reflected RADAR beams, the controller is able to detect obstacles hidden behind the trailer and flag the obstacles as a hazard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2026
    Publication date: October 1, 2026
    Inventors: Ashutosh Ghosh, Michael Cutter, Lawrence Klein, Walter Jason Altice, Devin Jaenicke
  • Publication number: 20260301772
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) obtaining, by a computing system, video data representing video content; (ii) analyzing, by the computing system, the video data to identify an event that is a subject of the video content; (iii) using, by the computing system, the identified event as a basis to select audio content; and (iv) performing, by the computing system, an operation that facilitates editing the video content to include the selected audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2026
    Publication date: October 1, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Cutter, Sunil Ramesh, Karina Levitian
  • Publication number: 20260290400
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes: (i) a computing system obtaining media content; (ii) the computing system extracting from the obtained media content, audio content; (iii) the computing system using at least the extracted audio content to obtain sentiment data associated with the audio content; (iv) the computing system using the obtained sentiment data as a basis to modify a video content component of the media content, thereby generating a modified version of the media content; and (v) the computing system outputting for presentation the generated modified media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2026
    Publication date: September 24, 2026
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter
  • Publication number: 20260282196
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) causing a content-presentation device to output for presentation reference visual content; (ii) causing a lighting device to emit light in accordance with a lighting parameter, wherein initially the light emitted in accordance with the lighting parameter does not correspond to the reference visual content; (iii) receiving first input indicating an adjustment to the lighting parameter; (iv) responsive to receiving the first input, causing the lighting device to adjust the lighting parameter, thereby causing the lighting device to adjust the emitted light; (v) receiving second input indicating that the adjusted emitted light corresponds to the reference visual content; and (vi) responsive to receiving the second input, calibrating the lighting device at least by (i) causing storage of the adjusted lighting parameter and (ii) causing the lighting device to be configured to emit light in accordance with the stored lighting parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2026
    Publication date: September 17, 2026
    Inventors: Adil Jagmag, Johan Gerard Willem Maria Janssen, Sharada Palasamudram Ashok Kumar, Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Shashank C. Merchant, Yu-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 12739449
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) obtaining video that depicts an object across multiple frames of the video; (ii) detecting the object within the obtained video and determining object characteristic data associated with the detected object; (iii) determining user profile data associated with a viewer of the video; (iv) using at least the determined object characteristic data and the determined user profile data as a basis to select a replacement object from among a set of multiple candidate replacement objects; (v) replacing the detected object with the selected replacement object to generate video that is a modified version of the obtained video; and (vi) outputting for presentation the generated video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank C. Merchant, Prateek Tandon, Michael Cutter, Sunil Ramesh, Karina Levitian
  • Patent number: 12731352
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) obtaining video that depicts an area across multiple frames of the video, wherein the area is part of a scene of the video, and wherein the area is suitable for having an object inserted therein; (ii) detecting the area within the obtained video and determining area characteristic data associated with the detected area; (iii) determining scene attribute data associated with the scene; (iv) using at least the determined area characteristic data and the determined scene attribute data as a basis to select an object from among a set of multiple candidate objects; (v) inserting into the detected area the selected object to generate video that is a modified version of the obtained video; and (vi) outputting for presentation the generated video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Karina Levitian
  • Patent number: 12731473
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for reducing and/or eliminating false positive alarm triggers. Detector devices positioned throughout an environment scan for known events that are likely indicative of an alarm condition. A source device that may generate such a sound or image may imprint a fingerprint on to the event that can be detectable by the detector devices but is imperceptible to humans. Additionally, the detector devices may use directionality and known locations of source devices to determine if a triggering event occurred at a known location of a source device. An alarm suppression decision may occur at the detector device and/or relevant information may be sent from the various detectors to a central console for a final alarm decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Gregory Mack Garner, Robert Caston Curtis, David Lee Stern, Patrick Alan Brouillette
  • Patent number: 12718680
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof for providing a monitoring and alerting service for a premises comprising a set of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. An example embodiment operates by analyzing one or more of user input provided to the monitoring and alerting service or sensor data collected from at least the set of IoT devices, defining, based at least on the analyzing, an event whose occurrence can be monitored for using at least one or more IoT devices in the set of IoT devices, monitoring for an occurrence of the event using at least the one or more devices in the set of IoT devices, detecting the occurrence of the event based on the monitoring and, in response to detecting the occurrence of the event, generating an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Robert C. Curtis, Patrick A. Brouillette, Gregory M. Garner
  • Patent number: 12718817
    Abstract: A method and system for use of context information to disambiguate an automation-configuration command. In an example method, a computing system receives a voice command uttered by a user into a voice-interface device, the voice command describing an Internet-of-Things (IoT) automation. Further, in response to receiving the voice command, the computing system determines, based on context information not specified by the voice command, which of multiple IoT devices should be a subject of an IoT rule that implements the described IoT automation, and provisions the IoT rule with the determined IoT device as the subject of the IoT rule. In example implementations, the context information could be based on network signaling between devices, ambient audio in the user's environment, and/or one or more other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Maker, Yu-Cheng Lin, Nicholas Alexander Lineback, Michael Cutter
  • Patent number: 12711770
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for sharing video streams in a camera system network. The video streams may be modified and/or masked to obscure private video stream features from being shared. An example embodiment operates by linking a first camera system to a first user device. The first camera system detects a second camera system in its field of view, wherein the second camera system is linked to a second user device. Upon exchanging requests to share video streams, the first and second user devices may view the video streams from both camera systems. The video streams may be modified to mask and/or obscure private property and/or known persons to preserve privacy despite sharing video streams. For example, the first camera system may modify and stream a masked video stream to the second user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Robert Curtis, Gregory Garner, Patrick Brouillette
  • Patent number: 12670934
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) obtaining, by a computing system, video data representing video content; (ii) analyzing, by the computing system, the video data to identify an event that is a subject of the video content; (iii) using, by the computing system, the identified event as a basis to select audio content; and (iv) performing, by the computing system, an operation that facilitates editing the video content to include the selected audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Cutter, Sunil Ramesh, Karina Levitian
  • Patent number: 12669600
    Abstract: A RADAR system and associated methods are used to detect obstacles obscured from view when backing a trailer. An autonomous tractor is equipped with a rear facing RADAR device that has a field-of-view under the trailer and is configured to output RADAR returns from reflections. A controller of the tractor classifies RADAR returns from the RADAR device according to a number of reflections by a dock wall and a trailer face (e.g., a back end of the trailer) of a corresponding RADAR beam. The RADAR returns are correlated based on distance, and distance of a RADAR return from an obstacle is corrected based on the number of reflections. Advantageously, by processing RADAR returns from both direct and reflected RADAR beams, the controller is able to detect obstacles hidden behind the trailer and flag the obstacles as a hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Outrider Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashutosh Ghosh, Michael Cutter, Lawrence Klein, Walter Jason Altice, Devin Jaenicke
  • Patent number: 12672222
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes causing a content-presentation device to output reference visual content and causing a lighting device to emit light in accordance with a lighting parameter. The method can also include using a camera to continually capture an environment that includes the reference visual content and the emitted light and while continually capturing the environment, analyzing the generated capture data to compare the light emitted in accordance with the lighting parameter with the reference visual content, and continually cause the lighting device to adjust the lighting parameter until detecting, based on the comparing, that the adjusted emitted light corresponds to the reference visual content. The method can further include calibrating the lighting device at least by causing storage of the adjusted lighting parameter and by causing the lighting device to be configured to emit light in accordance with the stored lighting parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Adil Jagmag, Johan Gerard Willem Maria Janssen, Sharada Palasamudram Ashok Kumar, Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Shashank C. Merchant, Yu-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 12658212
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes: (i) a computing system obtaining media content; (ii) the computing system extracting from the obtained media content, audio content; (iii) the computing system using at least the extracted audio content to obtain sentiment data associated with the audio content; (iv) the computing system using the obtained sentiment data as a basis to modify a video content component of the media content, thereby generating a modified version of the media content; and (v) the computing system outputting for presentation the generated modified media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter
  • Patent number: 12659553
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) receiving, from a content-distribution system, video comprising a watermark; (ii) extracting the watermark from the video; (iii) based on the extracted watermark, determining a content-creation attribute of the video that indicates a process by which the video was created, wherein the determining comprises using the watermark to select the content-creation attribute from among a set of two or more content-creation attributes comprising organically-generated video and synthetically-generated video; and (iv) in response to determining the content-creation attribute of the video, causing a content-presentation device to perform an action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Ramesh, Michael Cutter, Charles Brian Pinkerton, Karina Levitian