Patents by Inventor Michael L. LaJoie
Michael L. LaJoie 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: 20230051743Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Peter Stern, Michael L. LaJoie, Michael Angus
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Patent number: 11496782Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLCInventors: Peter Stern, Michael L. LaJoie, Michael Angus
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Patent number: 11388461Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting, purchasing and delivering content to users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for physical media (e.g., DVDs or CDs). In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions or broadcast modes are used to deliver the virtual content stored at the head-end (or hub site) to the requesting owner. The purchased content is associated with one or more users when stored, thereby providing the owner(s) unlimited access thereto, without the costs and effort associated with renting/purchasing and maintaining DVDs. The content may also comprise new release content, which would otherwise not be available over the network at that time but for the purchase and delivery mechanisms of the invention. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLCInventors: Glenn Britt, Michael L. LaJoie
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Patent number: 11368498Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivery of packetized content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) over a content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content is packetized using an Internet Protocol (IP), and delivered by a service provider over both managed and unmanaged networks to subscribers of the provider, so as to provide delivery at any time, at any location, and via any designated user device. The delivered content may originate from the service provider, third-party content sources (e.g., networks or studios), the subscriber(s) themselves, or other sources including the Internet. Use of a common control and service functions within the network afford the ability to integrate or blend services together, thereby affording the service provider and subscriber new service and economic opportunities. Content delivery sessions may also be migrated from one device to another. A network-based user interface infrastructure, and gateway-based client-side architecture, are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventors: Michael L. LaJoie, Louis Williamson, Wilfird Aissi, Chris Cholas, Jason Gaedtke, Kenneth Gould, Glen Hardin, Charles Hasek, Vedavati Hegde, Jeffrey P. Markley, Vipul Patel, Howard Pfeffer
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Publication number: 20210352370Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering, uploading, and storing content for users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for additional storage space at the client premises and offering seamless compliance with copyright laws. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and sessions are used to deliver content to the requesting owner and then back to storage space associated with the head-end where the content remains available for future subscriber requests. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventor: Michael L. Lajoie
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Patent number: 11082723Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods that allow a user (e.g., cable or satellite network subscriber) to access content, such as a video program, from a location outside the subscriber's network, with dynamic or adaptive insertion of secondary content (e.g., advertisements or promotions) that are more relevant for that context. In one embodiment, a personal content server streams the content to the subscriber over a network connection from the local e.g., (subscription) network to a remote network upon authorization by a content manager process; secondary content is evaluated and selectively inserted or replaced depending on factors such as the user's remote location, the configuration of their platform, the date and time of their access request, and/or the subject matter of the primary content.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventors: Michael L. LaJoie, Michael T. Hayashi, Steven Riedl
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Patent number: 11076203Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering, uploading, and storing content for users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for additional storage space at the client premises and offering seamless compliance with copyright laws. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and sessions are used to deliver content to the requesting owner and then back to storage space associated with the head-end where the content remains available for future subscriber requests. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventor: Michael L. LaJoie
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Publication number: 20210006849Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Peter Stern, Michael L. LaJoie, Michael Angus
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Patent number: 10810628Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and delivering advertising or promotional content based on, e.g., the attributes of a desired demographic. In one embodiment, the invention enhances advertising or promotional penetration into a particular demographic of a network subscriber pool by correlating the advertising/promotion (and even the contextual program content) with specific users or groups of users within the pool. This approach decouples the advertising or promotion from any given program or lineup, and gives the network operator flexibility in deciding where, when, and how often to insert advertisements or promotions in order to achieve the desired result. Dynamic network architectures such as broadcast switched architectures can also be leveraged to further enhance flexibility and targeting precision. In effect, the network advertising or promotion model is made results-driven (versus program-centric).Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLCInventor: Michael L. LaJoie
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Patent number: 10721504Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventors: Peter Stern, Michael L. LaJoie, Michael Angus
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Patent number: 10623462Abstract: Personal content server apparatus and associated methods that allow a user (e.g., cable or satellite network subscriber) to access content, such as a video program, from a location outside the subscriber's network. In one embodiment, a personal content server streams the content to the subscriber over a network connection from the local e.g., (subscription) network to a remote network upon authorization by a content manager process. Various access, business or operational rules are applied depending on the content and delivery mode; e.g., to live video broadcast, video-on-demand (VOD), or archived content from the subscriber's digital video recorder (DVR) or networked PVR. Secondary content (e.g., promotions, advertisements, etc.) can also be selectively replaced if desired in order to make the remotely delivered content more appropriate to the remote user's context.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventors: Michael L. LaJoie, Michael Hayashi
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Publication number: 20190312915Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivery of packetized content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) over a content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content is packetized using an Internet Protocol (IP), and delivered by a service provider over both managed and unmanaged networks to subscribers of the provider, so as to provide delivery at any time, at any location, and via any designated user device. The delivered content may originate from the service provider, third-party content sources (e.g., networks or studios), the subscriber(s) themselves, or other sources including the Internet. Use of a common control and service functions within the network afford the ability to integrate or blend services together, thereby affording the service provider and subscriber new service and economic opportunities. Content delivery sessions may also be migrated from one device to another. A network-based user interface infrastructure, and gateway-based client-side architecture, are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Michael L. LaJoie, Louis Williamson, Wilfird Aissi, Chris Cholas, Jason Gaedtke, Kenneth Gould, Glen Hardin, Charles Hasek, Vedavati Hegde, Jeffery P. Markley, Vipul Patel, Howard Pfeffer
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Publication number: 20190266645Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and delivering advertising or promotional content based on, e.g., the attributes of a desired demographic. In one embodiment, the invention enhances advertising or promotional penetration into a particular demographic of a network subscriber pool by correlating the advertising/promotion (and even the contextual program content) with specific users or groups of users within the pool. This approach decouples the advertising or promotion from any given program or lineup, and gives the network operator flexibility in deciding where, when, and how often to insert advertisements or promotions in order to achieve the desired result. Dynamic network architectures such as broadcast switched architectures can also be leveraged to further enhance flexibility and targeting precision. In effect, the network advertising or promotion model is made results-driven (versus program-centric).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventor: Michael L. LaJoie
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Publication number: 20190149864Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting, purchasing and delivering content to users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for physical media (e.g., DVDs or CDs). In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions or broadcast modes are used to deliver the virtual content stored at the head-end (or hub site) to the requesting owner. The purchased content is associated with one or more users when stored, thereby providing the owner(s) unlimited access thereto, without the costs and effort associated with renting/purchasing and maintaining DVDs. The content may also comprise new release content, which would otherwise not be available over the network at that time but for the purchase and delivery mechanisms of the invention. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: GLENN BRITT, Michael L. LaJoie
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Patent number: 10264029Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivery of packetized content (e.g., video, audio, data, etc.) over a content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content is packetized using an Internet Protocol (IP), and delivered by a service provider over both managed and unmanaged networks to subscribers of the provider, so as to provide delivery at any time, at any location, and via any designated user device. The delivered content may originate from the service provider, third-party content sources (e.g., networks or studios), the subscriber(s) themselves, or other sources including the Internet. Use of a common control and service functions within the network afford the ability to integrate or blend services together, thereby affording the service provider and subscriber new service and economic opportunities. Content delivery sessions may also be migrated from one device to another. A network-based user interface infrastructure, and gateway-based client-side architecture, are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventors: Michael L. Lajoie, Louis Williamson, Wilfrid Aissi, Chris Cholas, Jason Gaedtke, Kenneth Gould, Glen Hardin, Charles Hasek, Vedavati Hegde, Jeffery P. Markley, Vipul Patel, Howard Pfeffer
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Patent number: 10223713Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and delivering advertising or promotional content based on, e.g., the attributes of a desired demographic. In one embodiment, the invention enhances advertising or promotional penetration into a particular demographic of a network subscriber pool by correlating the advertising/promotion (and even the contextual program content) with specific users or groups of users within the pool. This approach decouples the advertising or promotion from any given program or lineup, and gives the network operator flexibility in deciding where, when, and how often to insert advertisements or promotions in order to achieve the desired result. Dynamic network architectures such as broadcast switched architectures can also be leveraged to further enhance flexibility and targeting precision. In effect, the network advertising or promotion model is made results-driven (versus program-centric).Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventor: Michael L. LaJoie
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Patent number: 10129576Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting, purchasing and delivering content to users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for physical media (e.g., DVDs or CDs). In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions or broadcast modes are used to deliver the virtual content stored at the head-end (or hub site) to the requesting owner. The purchased content is associated with one or more users when stored, thereby providing the owner(s) unlimited access thereto, without the costs and effort associated with renting/purchasing and maintaining DVDs. The content may also comprise new release content, which would otherwise not be available over the network at that time but for the purchase and delivery mechanisms of the invention. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventors: Glenn Britt, Michael L. Lajoie
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Publication number: 20180324494Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering, uploading, and storing content for users of a network so that the user has “virtual” ownership of and access to the content, thereby obviating the need for additional storage space at the client premises and offering seamless compliance with copyright laws. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and sessions are used to deliver content to the requesting owner and then back to storage space associated with the head-end where the content remains available for future subscriber requests. Various other complementary features for enhancing the user's virtual ownership experience are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventor: Michael L. LaJoie
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Publication number: 20180192096Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Peter Stern, Michael L. LaJoie, Michael Angus
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Publication number: 20180159912Abstract: Personal content server apparatus and associated methods that allow a user (e.g., cable or satellite network subscriber) to access content, such as a video program, from a location outside the subscriber's network. In one embodiment, a personal content server streams the content to the subscriber over a network connection from the local e.g., (subscription) network to a remote network upon authorization by a content manager process. Various access, business or operational rules are applied depending on the content and delivery mode; e.g., to live video broadcast, video-on-demand (VOD), or archived content from the subscriber's digital video recorder (DVR) or networked PVR. Secondary content (e.g., promotions, advertisements, etc.) can also be selectively replaced if desired in order to make the remotely delivered content more appropriate to the remote user's context.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Michael L. LaJoie, Michael Hayashi