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).

  • Publication number: 20160066025
    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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Dongchen Wang, Michael P. Ruffini, Jianxiu Hao
  • Patent number: 9264750
    Abstract: One or more servers in an IP network receive, from a user device, a selection of live streaming content and assemble an index file including links to chunks of the selected live streaming content and links to advertising files for insertion within the selected live streaming content. The one or more severs send, to the user device, a link to the index file associated with the selected live streaming content and receive, from the user device, a streaming request for the selected live streaming content. The one or more servers send, to the user device, the index file including the links to chunks of the selected live streaming content and the links to advertising files for insertion within the selected live streaming content. The user device may use the links to combine the chunks of the selected live streaming content and the advertising files into a single linear presentation. A standards-based client for the user device is used with the server side implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Robin M. Mathews, Michael P. Ruffini, Tushar Saxena
  • Patent number: 9258529
    Abstract: A device may include a communication interface configured to receive programming information from a service provider multicast over multiple channels. The device may also include logic configured to decode the programming information received over the multiple channels, assemble a programming guide based on the decoded programming information and output the programming guide to an output device for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Nabil N. Bitar, Michael P. Ruffini, Rajesh Yadav
  • Patent number: 9210646
    Abstract: A local router for a home network pairs with a mobile device via a local network connection. The local router is also connected to a wide area network. The local router receives, from the mobile device and over the local network connection, configuration settings for a backup path for the wide area network. The backup path includes the local network connection and a mobile broadband connection using the mobile device. The local router detects an interruption with the local router's connection to the managed wide area network and forwards, based on the detecting, critical traffic from the home network via the backup path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    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
  • Publication number: 20150264408
    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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Jian Huang, Martin A. Busse, Michael P. Ruffini, Gaurav D. Mehta
  • Publication number: 20150256862
    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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Fragale, Sankar Subramanian, Daniel J. O'Callaghan, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Patent number: 9124914
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to obtain network state information pertaining to at least a portion of a network that provides an adaptive bitrate streaming service; generate a recommended bitrate for delivery of a program based on the network state information; transmit the recommended bitrate to user devices; monitor a compliance and a non-compliance of the recommended bitrate by the user devices; and assign a credit commensurate with the compliance of the recommended bitrate to each of the user devices that complied with the recommended bitrate and a penalty commensurate with the non-compliance of the recommended bitrate to each of the user devices that did not comply with the recommended bitrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, Dongchen Wang
  • Publication number: 20150237384
    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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicants: Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC, Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, Jianxiu Hao, Sankar Subramanian, Joseph E. Scott
  • Publication number: 20150121407
    Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to obtain network state information pertaining to at least a portion of a network that provides an adaptive bitrate streaming service; generate a recommended bitrate for delivery of a program based on the network state information; transmit the recommended bitrate to user devices; monitor a compliance and a non-compliance of the recommended bitrate by the user devices; and assign a credit commensurate with the compliance of the recommended bitrate to each of the user devices that complied with the recommended bitrate and a penalty commensurate with the non-compliance of the recommended bitrate to each of the user devices that did not comply with the recommended bitrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, Dongchen Wang
  • Patent number: 8997137
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed include a method and a system. The method includes receiving a first media stream, in a first network device from a remote network device, using a first network protocol. The may method include converting the first media stream in real-time to a second media stream according to a second network protocol and transmitting the second media stream to a user device. The method may include receiving a first trick-mode command according to a first trick-mode protocol from the user device, wherein the first trick-mode command includes rewind, fast forward, or pause. The method may include converting the first trick-mode command into a second trick-mode command according to a second trick-mode protocol and transmitting the second trick-mode command to the remote network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Montague Mathews, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Publication number: 20150089517
    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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: 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: 8970668
    Abstract: A method performed by one or more computing devices includes receiving, by a data center and from a user device via a public network connection, a selection of high-definition three-dimensional (HD3D) content and sending, by the data center and to the user device, a link to a content delivery system to provide the selected HD3D content. The method also includes receiving, by the content delivery system and from the user device, a streaming request for the selected HD3D content; reserving, by the content delivery system, bandwidth, for the selected HD3D content, within a managed network; and sending, by the content delivery system and to the user device, a streaming Internet protocol (IP) address for providing the selected HD3D content over the managed network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Te Sheng Lin, M. James Ho, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Publication number: 20150016241
    Abstract: A local router for a home network pairs with a mobile device via a local network connection. The local router is also connected to a wide area network. The local router receives, from the mobile device and over the local network connection, configuration settings for a backup path for the wide area network. The backup path includes the local network connection and a mobile broadband connection using the mobile device. The local router detects an interruption with the local router's connection to the managed wide area network and forwards, based on the detecting, critical traffic from the home network via the backup path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, Lily F. Chen, Joseph G. Fragale, Dwight W. Fronsdahl, Sankar Subramanian, Dale E. Veeneman, Dongchen Wang
  • Patent number: 8856823
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes processing a first program stream representative of media content having a first resolution and a second program stream representative of the media content having a second resolution, generating a single advertisement stream representative of advertisement content having a third resolution, detecting a transmission lag between the first and second program streams, dynamically synchronizing the first and second program streams to substantially remove the detected transmission lag, transmitting the synchronized first program stream by way of a first content channel, the synchronized second program stream by way of a second content channel, and the advertisement stream by way of an advertisement channel, and directing a media content access device to switch from being tuned to the second content channel to being tuned to the advertisement channel during an advertising break in the media content. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Harpal S. Bassali, Armando P. Stettner, Michael P. Ruffini, Marcelo D. Lechner
  • Patent number: 8843977
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving, by a media content delivery subsystem from an end-user media content processing device via a network, a request to record a live transmission of a media content instance, recording, by the media content delivery subsystem, the live transmission of the media content instance, and transmitting, by the media content delivery subsystem, data representative of the recorded live transmission of the media content instance to the end-user media content processing device via the network for local storage by the end-user media content processing device. In certain embodiments, the recording includes generating at least one media data file containing the data representative of the recorded live transmission of the media content instance, and the transmitting includes transferring the at least one media data file from the media content delivery subsystem to the end-user media content processing device via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruffini, Harpal S. Bassali, John K Trimper, Armando P Stettner
  • Patent number: 8763057
    Abstract: An approach for enabling third party video content to be assigned a higher priority for delivery over a service provider network is described. A content delivery platform determines whether a third party content provider or video content to be delivered fulfill one or more criteria for permitting the content delivery system direct access to a video on demand network of a network provider. The content delivery platform then assigns a higher delivery priority to the video content based on the direct access of the video on demand network by the content delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Ruffini
  • Publication number: 20140130104
    Abstract: An approach for enabling third party video content to be assigned a higher priority for delivery over a service provider network is described. A content delivery platform determines whether a third party content provider or video content to be delivered fulfill one or more criteria for permitting the content delivery system direct access to a video on demand network of a network provider. The content delivery platform then assigns a higher delivery priority to the video content based on the direct access of the video on demand network by the content delivery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. RUFFINI
  • Patent number: 8707182
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes maintaining data representative of a recorded media content instance comprising a media content program and a first advertisement and an index file corresponding to the recorded media content instance, playing back the recorded media content instance in accordance with timestamp data and storage location data included in the index file, dynamically replacing, during the playback of the recorded media content instance, a portion of the storage location data in the index file that corresponds to the first advertisement with storage location data corresponding to a second advertisement, and presenting the second advertisement in place of the first advertisement during the playback of the recorded media content instance in accordance with the modified index file. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Harpal S. Bassali, Marcelo D. Lechner, Michael P. Ruffini, Armando P. Stettner
  • Patent number: 8683514
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content delivery system transmitting an enhanced media content transport stream that includes at least a single program stream that carries data representative of multiple video content programs. The enhanced media content transport stream further includes data specifying multiple video program identifiers for the multiple video content programs, each of the multiple video program identifiers configured to be used by an access subsystem that receives the enhanced media content transport stream to selectively access a different one of the multiple video content programs. In certain embodiments, the multiple video content programs comprise a first video content program including video data for a main media content program and a second video content program including video data for an advertisement. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Di Mattia, Michael P. Ruffini
  • Patent number: 8601524
    Abstract: A system and method for delivering a long-tail content comprising a set-top box configured to couple an external signal to a user device. The long-tail content server also comprises a long-tail content server configured to provide the external signal to the set-top box from a central server. The long-tail content server further comprises a long-tail content asset manager configured to control a communication between at least one of the central server, the long-tail content server and the set-top box and at least one of the central server, the long-tail content server and the set-top box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Trimper, Michael P. Ruffini