Patents by Inventor Michael P. Ruffini

Michael P. Ruffini 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: 10715599
    Abstract: A status of an Internet of Things (IoT) device included in a local area cloud is identified. The local area cloud includes IoT devices that are connected in a wireless local area network (WLAN), and one IoT device functions as a leader of the local area cloud. A cloud server associated with the IoT device is identified and information identifying the status is forwarded to the cloud server via a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The cloud server selects an action to be performed by the IoT device and forwards data identifying the action. The leader receives and distributes information identifying the action to the IoT device via the local area cloud. The action may include actions by multiple IoT devices in the local area cloud or IoT devices included in multiple local area clouds. A user may input data to control the cloud server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Dongchen Wang, Michael P. Ruffini, Thierry R. Sender
  • Patent number: 9979993
    Abstract: One or more network devices provide, to a user device, a content list of content items available for presentation. The one or more network devices receive, from the user device, a personalized channel plan that includes a schedule of selected content items, from the content list, for presentation on a viewing device that is different than the user device. The one or more network devices select, based on the selected content items, advertising for inclusion with the selected content items and assign links for the viewing device to obtain the selected content items. The one or more network devices send the links to the user device, which may in turn be provided to the viewing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, John K. Trimper, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Paul D. Heitlinger, Rahul Kher, Eric N. Klings, Dongchen Wang
  • Patent number: 9948984
    Abstract: Network devices provide, to a content source device, an uplink user interface to describe and upload video content. The network devices receive, via the uplink user interface, descriptive information for the video content and generate, based on the descriptive information received via the uplink user interface, a unique content identifier for the video content. The network devices incorporate, based on the descriptive information, a listing of the video content into a catalog of content available to users of a content distribution network. The network devices receive, from the content source device, the video content and receive, from a user device, a request to view the video content that includes the unique content identifier. The network devices provide, to the user device, a link to enable the user device to access the video content via the content distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Trimper, Michael P. Ruffini, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Paul D. Heitlinger, Rahul Kher, Eric N. Klings, Dongchen Wang
  • Patent number: 9832501
    Abstract: A system may receive a first list of users of a provider network. For each of the first list of users, the system may obtain data pertaining to the user's categories of interest from a social media system; infer video programs based on the data; infer a list of one or more video channels based on the video programs; score the one or more video channels; rank the list of one or more video channels based on the scores; and recommend the ranked list of one or more video channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, Lily F. Chen, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Sankar Subramanian, Dale E. Veeneman, Dongchen Wang
  • Patent number: 9800921
    Abstract: A method, performed by a computer device, may include determining one or more frequently watched television channels associated with a customer's account. The method may further include obtaining content associated with the one or more frequently watched television channels via multicast transmission units from a video serving office associated with a television services provider; converting the multicast transmission units into video segments playable by a media playing device; storing the video segments in a cache associated with the computer device; detecting a selection of a television channel associated with the obtained content made via the media playing device; and providing the stored video segments to the media playing device, in response to detecting the selection of the television channel associated with the obtained content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Dongchen Wang, Michael P. Ruffini, Jianxiu Hao
  • Patent number: 9774923
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content delivery system transmitting a transport stream containing an advertisement channel and a program channel, the program channel carrying a media program stream at a first bit rate, detecting an upcoming advertisement break within the media program stream, inserting, in response to the detecting of the upcoming advertisement break, an advertisement content stream having a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate into the program channel to temporally coincide with the advertisement break to free bandwidth in the transport stream during the advertisement break, and inserting an additional advertisement content stream in the advertisement channel, the additional advertisement content stream temporally coinciding with the advertisement break and utilizing at least a portion of the freed bandwidth in the transport stream. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Di Mattia, Michael P. Ruffini, Harpal S. Bassali
  • Patent number: 9706249
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide an extended content delivery network service in which user devices are configured as extended content delivery network devices that download and/or stream programs to other users of the extended content delivery network service. Additionally, a method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide an in-home media server device that stores programs in a same format as a format of the programs stored in a content delivery network, and provide an error correction service in which a portion of a program including an error, initially received via a multicast or broadcast transmission, is replaced with a corrected portion of the program via a unicast transmission. Still further, a method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide a mobile extended content delivery network device that downloads or streams programs to other users of the extended content delivery network service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Jian Huang, Martin A. Busse, Michael P. Ruffini, Gaurav D. Mehta
  • Patent number: 9681328
    Abstract: A method, in a multiple modem device that includes a notification modem and a Wi-Fi modem, includes identifying data to be collected and rules for selecting an optimal modem for data transmission from the multiple modem device. The method also includes collecting the data, and determining whether the data is to be sent via the notification modem based on a payload size associated with the data and the rules. The method includes sending the data via a control channel of a cellular network associated with the notification modem in response to a determination that the data to be sent via the notification modem. A determination whether a Wi-Fi network is available is made in response to a determination that the data is not to be sent via the notification modem. The data is sent via the Wi-Fi modem over the Wi-Fi network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Michael P. Ruffini, Zhong Chen
  • Publication number: 20170155703
    Abstract: A status of an Internet of Things (IoT) device included in a local area cloud is identified. The local area cloud includes IoT devices that are connected in a wireless local area network (WLAN), and one IoT device functions as a leader of the local area cloud. A cloud server associated with the IoT device is identified and information identifying the status is forwarded to the cloud server via a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The cloud server selects an action to be performed by the IoT device and forwards data identifying the action. The leader receives and distributes information identifying the action to the IoT device via the local area cloud. The action may include actions by multiple IoT devices in the local area cloud or IoT devices included in multiple local area clouds. A user may input data to control the cloud server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Dongchen Wang, Michael P. Ruffini, Thierry R. Sender
  • Patent number: 9602863
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and storage media provide for receiving an airing of a program and a national ad; recording the program and the national ad; identifying an age of the national ad; comparing the age of the national ad to a threshold time period; and obtaining a replacement national ad in response to a comparison indicating that the age of the national ad exceeds the threshold time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Marcelo D. Lechner, Michael P. Ruffini, Jason L. Malamud
  • Publication number: 20160381593
    Abstract: A method, in a multiple modem device that includes a notification modem and a Wi-Fi modem, includes identifying data to be collected and rules for selecting an optimal modem for data transmission from the multiple modem device. The method also includes collecting the data, and determining whether the data is to be sent via the notification modem based on a payload size associated with the data and the rules. The method includes sending the data via a control channel of a cellular network associated with the notification modem in response to a determination that the data to be sent via the notification modem. A determination whether a Wi-Fi network is available is made in response to a determination that the data is not to be sent via the notification modem. The data is sent via the Wi-Fi modem over the Wi-Fi network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Michael P. Ruffini, Zhong Chen
  • Patent number: 9467743
    Abstract: A user device receives, from a network device, a content index of content items available for presentation via a content distribution network. The user device presents a user interface to configure a personalized channel plan and receives, via the user interface, user input to configure the personalized channel plan. The personalized channel plan includes a schedule of selected content items, from the content index, for presentation on a remote viewing device. The user device sends, to a remote viewing device, presentation instructions for the personalized channel plan, wherein the instructions cause the viewing device to present the selected content items to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, John K. Trimper, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Paul D. Heitlinger, Rahul Kher, Eric N. Klings, Dongchen Wang
  • Patent number: 9438942
    Abstract: A routing device is coupled to a storage device to function as a digital video recorder (DVR) to store digital content. The routing device may include a client function to receive and store the digital content, and a server function to provide the stored digital content to a user device. Digital content directed to the client function may be recorded by the storage device, while other digital content may be passed by server function to the user device. The digital content may be received by the routing device in an encoded and/or encrypted format, and the digital content may be recorded by the storage device in the encoded and/or encrypted format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Fragale, Sankar Subramanian, Daniel J. O'Callaghan, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Patent number: 9407968
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide for receiving program data of programs; receiving files pertaining to each of the programs, wherein the files include a manifest file and M3U8 files; selecting one of the programs and the manifest file; adding multicast information to each M3U8 file pertaining to the program, wherein the multicast information indicates a multicast channel and a date and a time of a multicast; segmenting the program data of the program based on a maximum transmission unit of the multicast channel; storing the manifest file and the M3U8 files pertaining to the program; providing the manifest file and one or more of the M3U8 files pertaining to the program, to a user device; and multicasting a segmented program data via the wireless network based on the multicast information, wherein the multicasting includes the adaptive bitrate streaming service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Jian Huang, Dongchen Wang, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Patent number: 9400982
    Abstract: A multimedia client receives, over a subscription multimedia network, television content for presentation to a viewer, where the television content includes an advertising break and identifies a keyword associated with the television content. The multimedia client sends, over the subscription multimedia network, the keyword to an advertisement server and receives from the advertisement server, an advertisement corresponding to the keyword. The multimedia client then provides, for display to the viewer, the advertisement within the advertising break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Armando P. Stettner, Donald Gene Archer, Harpal Singh Bassali, Dolapo Kukoyi, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Patent number: 9398316
    Abstract: A server device may receive, from a user device, a request to store a unique copy of particular content, associated with a particular user; store, in a storage device associated with the server device, the unique copy of the particular content; determine a set of attributes of the particular content; determine a set of criteria based on which the unique copy of the particular content should be provided to the user device, the determining being based on one or more attributes, of the set of attributes of the particular content; determine that the set of criteria have been met; output, based on determining that the set of criteria have been met, the unique copy of the particular content to the user device; and delete the unique copy of the particular content from the storage device after outputting the particular content to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, Jianxiu Hao, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph E. Scott
  • Publication number: 20160182966
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide for receiving program data of programs; receiving files pertaining to each of the programs, wherein the files include a manifest file and M3U8 files; selecting one of the programs and the manifest file; adding multicast information to each M3U8 file pertaining to the program, wherein the multicast information indicates a multicast channel and a date and a time of a multicast; segmenting the program data of the program based on a maximum transmission unit of the multicast channel; storing the manifest file and the M3U8 files pertaining to the program; providing the manifest file and one or more of the M3U8 files pertaining to the program, to a user device; and multicasting a segmented program data via the wireless network based on the multicast information, wherein the multicasting includes the adaptive bitrate streaming service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Jian Huang, Dongchen Wang, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Publication number: 20160080793
    Abstract: One or more network devices provide, to a user device, a content list of content items available for presentation. The one or more network devices receive, from the user device, a personalized channel plan that includes a schedule of selected content items, from the content list, for presentation on a viewing device that is different than the user device. The one or more network devices select, based on the selected content items, advertising for inclusion with the selected content items and assign links for the viewing device to obtain the selected content items. The one or more network devices send the links to the user device, which may in turn be provided to the viewing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, John K. Trimper, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Paul D. Heitlinger, Rahul Kher, Eric N. Klings, Dongchen Wang
  • Publication number: 20160080807
    Abstract: Network devices provide, to a content source device, an uplink user interface to describe and upload video content. The network devices receive, via the uplink user interface, descriptive information for the video content and generate, based on the descriptive information received via the uplink user interface, a unique content identifier for the video content. The network devices incorporate, based on the descriptive information, a listing of the video content into a catalog of content available to users of a content distribution network. The network devices receive, from the content source device, the video content and receive, from a user device, a request to view the video content that includes the unique content identifier. The network devices provide, to the user device, a link to enable the user device to access the video content via the content distribution network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: John K. Trimper, Michael P. Ruffini, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Paul D. Heitlinger, Rahul Kher, Eric N. Klings, Dongchen Wang
  • Publication number: 20160080815
    Abstract: A user device receives, from a network device, a content index of content items available for presentation via a content distribution network. The user device presents a user interface to configure a personalized channel plan and receives, via the user interface, user input to configure the personalized channel plan. The personalized channel plan includes a schedule of selected content items, from the content index, for presentation on a remote viewing device. The user device sends, to a remote viewing device, presentation instructions for the personalized channel plan, wherein the instructions cause the viewing device to present the selected content items to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, John K. Trimper, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Paul D. Heitlinger, Rahul Kher, Eric N. Klings, Dongchen Wang