Patents by Inventor Michael D. Ellis

Michael D. Ellis 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: 10958773
    Abstract: A method, device, system, and media are directed to controlling a multi-tuner radio. A voice command may be received and/or filtered. An operation of the radio may be modified based on the voice command. A gesture input may be received through a gesture pad. Another operation of the multi-tuner radio may be modified based on the received gesture input. A fingerprint may be recognized with a gesture pad. A user may be authenticated based on the recognized fingerprint. The operation or the other operation may be personalized based on the fingerprint. User training may be provided for the gesture input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3D RADIO, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10951926
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for retrieving non-on-demand media data and on-demand media data that is provided by separate data sources. On-demand media data may be cached to reduce system latencies and the burden on the distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10951927
    Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10904630
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing guidance to users for finding media are described. Such systems and methods may be provided in interactive media guides such as program guides, web browsers, or other suitable interactive media guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, W. Benjamin Herrington, David M. Berezowski, Robert A. Knee, Michael D. Ellis, Todd A. Walker, M. Scott Reichardt, L. Joe Hedges, Esq.
  • Publication number: 20200336583
    Abstract: A method, device, system, and media are directed to controlling a multi-tuner radio. A voice command may be received and/or filtered. An operation of the radio may be modified based on the voice command. A gesture input may be received through a gesture pad. Another operation of the multi-tuner radio may be modified based on the received gesture input. A fingerprint may be recognized with a gesture pad. A user may be authenticated based on the recognized fingerprint. The operation or the other operation may be personalized based on the fingerprint. User training may be provided for the gesture input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Michael D. ELLIS
  • Publication number: 20200260141
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic and television environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data or application data, which may include blackout information, is received. The blacked out content may be automatically recorded to the user equipment or a network server for later playback after the blackout has expired. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, retrieve more information about the blackout, or present summary information, such as a sports ticker, in place of the blacked out cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Jon P. Radloff, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10743064
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring audience information of programs are described. Systems and methods for providing audience information to users of interactive television applications are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Berezowski, Michael D. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20200236321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically generating a playlist of series assets and systems and methods for grouping assets of a playlist in clusters are provided. In one embodiment, series assets may automatically be included into a playlist for that series. In another embodiment, an interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters based on one or more user selected parameters or may group assets in cluster based on automatically determined parameters. In yet another embodiment, the interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters and display at least one identifier in connection with each cluster to indicate a basis for forming the cluster. The identifier may be a key word or catch phrase that succinctly identifies a trait or characteristic of assets in a particular cluster associated with the identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Jon P. Radloff, Robert A. Knee, Michael L. Craner, Joshua Berry
  • Patent number: 10721345
    Abstract: A method, device, system, and media are directed to controlling a multi-tuner radio. A voice command may be received and/or filtered. An operation of the radio may be modified based on the voice command. A gesture input may be received through a gesture pad. Another operation of the multi-tuner radio may be modified based on the received gesture input. A fingerprint may be recognized with a gesture pad. A user may be authenticated based on the recognized fingerprint. The operation or the other operation may be personalized based on the fingerprint. User training may be provided for the gesture input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: 3D RADIO, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10713009
    Abstract: A user speech interface for interactive media guidance applications, such as television program guides, guides for audio services, guides for video-on-demand (VOD) services, guides for personal video recorders (PVRs), or other suitable guidance applications is provided. Voice commands may be received from a user and guidance activities may be performed in response to the voice commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Scott Reichardt, David M. Berezowski, Michael D. Ellis, Toby DeWeese
  • Patent number: 10708539
    Abstract: A media recording system may be provided. The recording system may include features for reducing recording cut-off of a particular media event due to changes in the start time and end time of what is scheduled to be recorded. The recording system may provide a user with an opportunity to select a program by for example, selecting a listing, to have that program automatically recorded at a scheduled time for presentation to viewers. Changes in the schedule of programs may be compensated manually or automatically when the recording system receives information about actual or predicted time changes. In a manual mode, a user may adjust start or end times based on time change information that is displayed. For an automatic mode, the recording system may automatically compensate for predicted or actual time changes that are known by automatically adjusting the start and end times of recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, David M. Berezowski
  • Publication number: 20200137459
    Abstract: An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10609446
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic and television environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data or application data, which may include blackout information, is received. The blacked out content may be automatically recorded to the user equipment or a network server for later playback after the blackout has expired. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, retrieve more information about the blackout, or present summary information, such as a sports ticker, in place of the blacked out cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon P. Radloff, Michael D. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10587835
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically generating a playlist of series assets and systems and methods for grouping assets of a playlist in clusters are provided. In one embodiment, series assets may automatically be included into a playlist for that series. In another embodiment, an interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters based on one or more user selected parameters or may group assets in cluster based on automatically determined parameters. In yet another embodiment, the interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters and display at least one identifier in connection with each cluster to indicate a basis for forming the cluster. The identifier may be a key word or catch phrase that succinctly identifies a trait or characteristic of assets in a particular cluster associated with the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Jon P. Radloff, Robert A. Knee, Michael L. Craner, Joshua Berry
  • Patent number: 10521190
    Abstract: A user speech interface for interactive media guidance applications, such as television program guides, guides for audio services, guides for video-on-demand (VOD) services, guides for personal video recorders (PVRs), or other suitable guidance applications is provided. Voice commands may be received from a user and guidance activities may be performed in response to the voice commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Scott Reichardt, David M. Berezowski, Michael D. Ellis, Toby DeWeese
  • Publication number: 20190394320
    Abstract: A method, device, system, and media are directed to controlling a multi-tuner radio. A voice command may be received and/or filtered. An operation of the radio may be modified based on the voice command. A gesture input may be received through a gesture pad. Another operation of the multi-tuner radio may be modified based on the received gesture input. A fingerprint may be recognized with a gesture pad. A user may be authenticated based on the recognized fingerprint. The operation or the other operation may be personalized based on the fingerprint. User training may be provided for the gesture input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventor: Michael D. ELLIS
  • Patent number: 10499110
    Abstract: An interactive television application with mosaic browsing is provided. Selectable cells that may be associated with entities are used to display information corresponding to the entities. Information may include brand marks such as logos or any other suitable entity identifier. A cell may be in focus or it may not be in focus. When a cell is in focus the information displayed in the cell may be different than the information displayed when the cell is not in focus. Users may navigate among cells. The cells may be grouped into regions based on, for example, their association with similar entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Carpenter, Jr., Johnny B. Corvin, Bryan M. Drummond, Michael D. Ellis, Edward B. Knudson, Jeffrey B. Rush, Toby DeWeese
  • Patent number: 10491959
    Abstract: An interactive television program guide for supporting programming blackouts is provided. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may unschedule the reminding and recording of blacked-out programs that have been scheduled by a user for reminding or recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from scheduling blacked-out programs for reminding and recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from ordering blacked-out pay-per-view programs. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide blackout information in information displays. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide replacement media for blacked-out programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20190356945
    Abstract: On-demand systems and methods are provided to manage locally-stored on-demand content. A user's equipment controls the deletion of and/or access to on-demand content from a local storage device based on constraining criteria that may include rental conditions, dynamic factors, and keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Robert A. Knee, Michael L. Craner
  • Patent number: 10447835
    Abstract: A method, device, system, and media are directed to controlling a multi-tuner radio. A voice command may be received and/or filtered. An operation of the radio may be modified based on the voice command. A gesture input may be received through a gesture pad. Another operation of the multi-tuner radio may be modified based on the received gesture input. A fingerprint may be recognized with a gesture pad. A user may be authenticated based on the recognized fingerprint. The operation or the other operation may be personalized based on the fingerprint. User training may be provided for the gesture input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: 3D RADIO, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Ellis