Patents by Inventor Michael L. Needham

Michael L. Needham 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: 11812073
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20220103878
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 11140424
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20210006847
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 10785506
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20180352271
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 10051295
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 9888279
    Abstract: A method receives video content and metadata associated with video content. The method then extracts features of the video content based on the metadata. Portions of the visual, audio, and textual features are fused into composite features that include multiple features from the visual, audio, and textual features. A set of video segments of the video content is identified based on the composite features of the video content. Also, the segments may be identified based on a user query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Faisal Ishtiaq, Benedito J. Fonseca, Jr., Kevin L. Baum, Anthony J. Braskich, Stephen P. Emeott, Bhavan Gandhi, Renxiang Li, Alfonso Martinez Smith, Michael L. Needham, Isselmou Ould Dellahy
  • Patent number: 9729920
    Abstract: A method implemented in a computer system for controlling the delivery of data and audio/video content. The method delivers primary content to the subscriber device for viewing by a subscriber. The method also delivers secondary content to the companion device for viewing by the subscriber in parallel with the subscriber viewing the primary content, where the secondary content relates to the primary content. The method extracts attention estimation features from the primary content, and monitors the companion device to determine an interaction measurement for the subscriber viewing the secondary content on the companion device. The method calculates an attention measurement for the subscriber viewing the primary content based on the attention estimation features, and the interaction measurement, and controls the delivery of the secondary content to the companion device based on the attention measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Needham, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Renxiang Li, Shivajit Mohapatra
  • Publication number: 20170188061
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 9628829
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20160286250
    Abstract: A method for managing content, within a video-on-demand system, which includes receiving, at a first content source, a request for content. The method also includes determining that the content is not available from the first content source. The method also includes determining that a second content source cost to retrieve the content from a second content source is less than a third content source cost to retrieve the content from a third content source. The costs are determined based on a network impact to fetch the content to the first content source. The method also includes in response to determining that the second content source cost is less than the third content source cost, fetching the content from the second content source. The first content source, the second content source, and the third content source each maintain a different subset of content available from a master content source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Bogdan O. Carbunar, Michael D. Pearce, Venugopal Vasudevan, Loren J. Rittle, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 9380323
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Bogdan O. Carbunar, Michael D. Pearce, Venugopal Vasudevan, Loren J. Rittle, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 9307337
    Abstract: Devices and methods for scoring viewer's interactions with content broadcast on a presentation device by processing at least one audio signal received by a microphone proximate the viewer and the presentation device, to generate at least one audio signature, which is compared to at least two different reference audio signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Benedito J. Fonseca, Jr., Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20150382032
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Bogdan O. Carbunar, Michael D. Pearce, Venugopal Vasudevan, Loren J. Rittle, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 9154811
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Bogdan O. Carbunar, Michael D. Pearce, Venugopal Vasudevan, Loren J. Rittle, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20150121438
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Bogdan O. Carbunar, Michael D. Pearce, Venugopal Vasudevan, Loren J. Rittle, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20150082349
    Abstract: A method receives video content and metadata associated with video content. The method then extracts features of the video content based on the metadata. Portions of the visual, audio, and textual features are fused into composite features that include multiple features from the visual, audio, and textual features. A set of video segments of the video content is identified based on the composite features of the video content. Also, the segments may be identified based on a user query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Faisal Ishtiaq, Benedito J. Fonseca, JR., Kevin L. Baum, Anthony J. Braskich, Stephen P. Emeott, Bhavan Gandhi, Renxiang Li, Alfonso Martinez Smith, Michael L. Needham, Isselmou Ould Dellahy
  • Patent number: 8925022
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Bogdan O. Carbunar, Michael D. Pearce, Venugopal Vasudevan, Loren J. Rittle, Michael L. Needham
  • Publication number: 20140282642
    Abstract: A method implemented in a computer system for controlling the delivery of data and audio/video content. The method delivers primary content to the subscriber device for viewing by a subscriber. The method also delivers secondary content to the companion device for viewing by the subscriber in parallel with the subscriber viewing the primary content, where the secondary content relates to the primary content. The method extracts attention estimation features from the primary content, and monitors the companion device to determine an interaction measurement for the subscriber viewing the secondary content on the companion device. The method calculates an attention measurement for the subscriber viewing the primary content based on the attention estimation features, and the interaction measurement, and controls the delivery of the secondary content to the companion device based on the attention measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael L. Needham, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Renxiang Li, Shivajit Mohapatra