Patents by Inventor Nicholas J. Paulson
Nicholas J. Paulson 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: 20230308135Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Andy BELK, Augustin PRATS, Joakim LINDE, Lucas NEWMAN, Nicholas J. PAULSON, Thomas Matthieu ALSINA
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Patent number: 11706729Abstract: Methods and systems provide synchronized sharing of multimedia between multiple devices. The multiple devices may form an ad-hoc network for sharing of multimedia. In an embodiment, group members may have playlist manipulation privileges such as pausing, rewinding, fast forwarding, or adding tracks to the playlist. A system may stream or distribute content according to the shared playlist. Playback may be synchronized for group members so that everyone is exposed to a same part of the content as the same time.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Taylor G. Carrigan, Szu-Wen Huang, Eric S. Lee, William M. Bachman, Jeffrey L. Robbin, Steve S. Gedikian, Nicholas J. Paulson, Gregory R. Chapman, David P. Saracino, Steven P. Bischoff
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Patent number: 11626901Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Andy Belk, Augustin Prats, Joakim Linde, Lucas Newman, Nicholas J. Paulson, Thomas Matthieu Alsina
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Publication number: 20230053350Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing media playback among an ad hoc group of playback devices. Such techniques may involve building a session among the playback devices in which playback devices communicate information regarding their playback capabilities. Based on the playback capabilities of the devices, playback mode may be derived for the session. Playback operations may be synchronized among the devices that are members of the session, in which devices receive identification of asset(s) to be rendered pursuant to the playback operation and timing information of playback of the asset. The devices may stream the playback assets directly from media sources when they are capable of doing so. In this manner, communication resources are conserved.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Thomas ALSINA, Charles MAGAHERN, Cody D. JORGENSEN, Edward T. SCHMIDT, Jason P. KETTERMAN, Nicholas J. PAULSON, Szu-Wen HUANG, Cesar de CAMARGO BARSCEVICIUS, Elena LEYFMAN, Keith HENRICKSON, Andrew SINESIO, Owen IMHOLTE, Harry SIMMONDS
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Patent number: 11509726Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing media playback among an ad hoc group of playback devices. Such techniques may involve building a session among the playback devices in which playback devices communicate information regarding their playback capabilities. Based on the playback capabilities of the devices, playback mode may be derived for the session. Playback operations may be synchronized among the devices that are members of the session, in which devices receive identification of asset(s) to be rendered pursuant to the playback operation and timing information of playback of the asset. The devices may stream the playback assets directly from media sources when they are capable of doing so. In this manner, communication resources are conserved.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Charles Magahern, Cody D. Jorgensen, Edward T. Schmidt, Jason P. Ketterman, Nicholas J. Paulson, Szu-Wen Huang, Cesar de Camargo Barscevicius, Elena Leyfman, Keith Henrickson, Andrew Sinesio, Owen Imholte, Harry Simmonds
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Patent number: 11496381Abstract: In some implementations, a computing system can reduce startup delays for presenting remote media items. For example, when a user requests media content from a media service, the computing system can include information about the first media item to be played in the initial startup messages to reduce the number of roundtrips needed between client and server devices to present the first media item. A media item can include an introductory asset. The introductory asset can be a portion of the full media item that can be decrypted with a local key or not encrypted at all so that a media client can receive and start presenting the introductory media asset quickly while the full media item is being processed by the media client. In some implementations, the system can remove leading silence from the media item so that the amount of delay perceived by the user is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Arvind S. Shenoy, Ketankumar B. Patel, Nicholas J. Paulson, Pierre de Lastic
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Publication number: 20220295436Abstract: Methods and systems provide synchronized sharing of multimedia between multiple devices. The multiple devices may form an ad-hoc network for sharing of multimedia. In an embodiment, group members may have playlist manipulation privileges such as pausing, rewinding, fast forwarding, or adding tracks to the playlist. A system may stream or distribute content according to the shared playlist. Playback may be synchronized for group members so that everyone is exposed to a same part of the content as the same time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Taylor G. Carrigan, Szu-Wen Huang, Eric S. Lee, William M. Bachman, Jeffrey L. Robbin, Steve S. Gedikian, Nicholas J. Paulson, Gregory R. Chapman, David P. Saracino, Steven P. Bischoff
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Patent number: 11304160Abstract: Methods and systems provide synchronized sharing of multimedia between multiple devices. The multiple devices may form an ad-hoc network for sharing of multimedia. In an embodiment, group members may have playlist manipulation privileges such as pausing, rewinding, fast forwarding, or adding tracks to the playlist. A system may stream or distribute content according to the shared playlist. Playback may be synchronized for group members so that everyone is exposed to a same part of the content as the same time.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Taylor G. Carrigan, Szu-Wen Huang, Eric S. Lee, William M. Bachman, Jeffrey L. Robbin, Steve S. Gedikian, Nicholas J. Paulson, Gregory R. Chapman, David P. Saracino, Steven P. Bischoff
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Patent number: 11212808Abstract: Methods and systems provide for coordinated control between multiple devices of playback of a media track or playlist. The multiple devices may form an ad-hoc network for sharing control of media. A control device may coordinate control of the playlist and facilitate playback of the media at a playback device. Then when the control device leaves the group, a second device in the group will seamlessly become the control device and control playback and playlist coordination. The playback device may also be the control device. The playback advice may be a network-enabled speaker. Where the playback device is separate from the control device, the playback device may maintain sufficient information to operate without a control device until a new control device is selected.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Szu-Wen Huang, Steven P. Bischoff, Nicholas J. Paulson, Gregory R. Chapman, David P. Saracino, Jason Ketterman
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Publication number: 20210385527Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can transfer a playback queue between the computing device and a playback device. For example, the computing device can detect when the computing device is within a threshold distance of a playback device. The computing device can establish a connection to the playback device and receive state information describing the media playback state of the playback device. The computing device can determine the media playback state of the computing device. The computing device can present graphical user interfaces for initiating a transfer of a playback queue between the computing device and the playback device based on the playback state of the devices. The computing device can initiate a transfer of the playback queue in response to user input to one of the graphical user interfaces or automatically based on the context of the computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: David C. Graham, Taylor G. Carrigan, Nicholas J. Paulson, Johannes P. Schmidt, Thomas Alsina, Bob Bradley, Haishan Ye, James C. Grandy, Pierre De Lastic, Julien Lerouge
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Publication number: 20210344379Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Andy BELK, Augustin PRATS, Joakim LINDE, Lucas NEWMAN, Nicholas J. PAULSON, Thomas Matthieu ALSINA
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Patent number: 11122328Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can transfer a playback queue between the computing device and a playback device. For example, the computing device can detect when the computing device is within a threshold distance of a playback device. The computing device can establish a connection to the playback device and receive state information describing the media playback state of the playback device. The computing device can determine the media playback state of the computing device. The computing device can present graphical user interfaces for initiating a transfer of a playback queue between the computing device and the playback device based on the playback state of the devices. The computing device can initiate a transfer of the playback queue in response to user input to one of the graphical user interfaces or automatically based on the context of the computing device.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David C. Graham, Taylor G. Carrigan, Nicholas J. Paulson, Johannes P. Schmidt, Thomas Alsina, Bob Bradley, Haishan Ye, James C. Grandy, Pierre De Lastic, Julien Lerouge
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Publication number: 20210234781Abstract: In some implementations, a computing system can reduce startup delays for presenting remote media items. For example, when a user requests media content from a media service, the computing system can include information about the first media item to be played in the initial startup messages to reduce the number of roundtrips needed between client and server devices to present the first media item. A media item can include an introductory asset. The introductory asset can be a portion of the full media item that can be decrypted with a local key or not encrypted at all so that a media client can receive and start presenting the introductory media asset quickly while the full media item is being processed by the media client. In some implementations, the system can remove leading silence from the media item so that the amount of delay perceived by the user is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Arvind S. Shenoy, Ketankumar B. Patel, Nicholas J. Paulson, Pierre de Lastic
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Patent number: 11018722Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Andy Belk, Augustin Prats, Joakim Linde, Lucas Newman, Nicholas J. Paulson, Thomas Matthieu Alsina
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Patent number: 10979331Abstract: In some implementations, a computing system can reduce startup delays for presenting remote media items. For example, when a user requests media content from a media service, the computing system can include information about the first media item to be played in the initial startup messages to reduce the number of roundtrips needed between client and server devices to present the first media item. A media item can include an introductory asset. The introductory asset can be a portion of the full media item that can be decrypted with a local key or not encrypted at all so that a media client can receive and start presenting the introductory media asset quickly while the full media item is being processed by the media client. In some implementations, the system can remove leading silence from the media item so that the amount of delay perceived by the user is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Arvind S. Shenoy, Ketankumar B. Patel, Nicholas J. Paulson, Pierre de Lastic
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Publication number: 20210006297Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Andy BELK, Augustin PRATS, Joakim LINDE, Lucas NEWMAN, Nicholas J. PAULSON, Thomas Matthieu ALSINA
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Patent number: 10785221Abstract: In some implementations, a computing system can be configured so that a first user device can delegate a first user's media account credentials to second user device corresponding to a second user. For example, a playback device may be configured with the second user's media account credentials for accessing media items through a network media service. A first user may wish to play media items associated with the first user's media account credentials on the playback device. To do so, the first user device can request a device identifier for the playback device, request and obtain a delegate token for the device identifier from the media service, and provide the delegate token along with media item information to the playback device. The playback device can then use the delegate token to request the media item associated with the first user's media access account.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David C. Graham, Taylor G. Carrigan, Nicholas J. Paulson, Johannes P. Schmidt, Thomas Alsina, Bob Bradley, Haishan Ye, James C. Grandy, Pierre De Lastic, Julien Lerouge
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Publication number: 20200221443Abstract: Methods and systems provide for coordinated control between multiple devices of playback of a media track or playlist. The multiple devices may form an ad-hoc network for sharing control of media. A control device may coordinate control of the playlist and facilitate playback of the media at a playback device. Then when the control device leaves the group, a second device in the group will seamlessly become the control device and control playback and playlist coordination. The playback device may also be the control device. The playback advice may be a network-enabled speaker. Where the playback device is separate from the control device, the playback device may maintain sufficient information to operate without a control device until a new control device is selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Thomas ALSINA, Szu-Wen HUANG, Steven P. BISCHOFF, Nicholas J. PAULSON, Gregory R. CHAPMAN, David P. SARACINO, Jason KETTERMAN
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Patent number: 10707919Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Andy Belk, Augustin Prats, Joakim Linde, Lucas Newman, Nicholas J. Paulson, Thomas Matthieu Alsina
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Patent number: 10624099Abstract: Methods and systems provide for coordinated control between multiple devices of playback of a media track or playlist. The multiple devices may form an ad-hoc network for sharing control of media. A control device may coordinate control of the playlist and facilitate playback of the media at a playback device. Then when the control device leaves the group, a second device in the group will seamlessly become the control device and control playback and playlist coordination. The playback device may also be the control device. The playback advice may be a network-enabled speaker. Where the playback device is separate from the control device, the playback device may maintain sufficient information to operate without a control device until a new control device is selected.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Szu-Wen Huang, Steven P. Bischoff, Nicholas J. Paulson, Gregory R. Chapman, David P. Saracino, Jason Ketterman