Patents by Inventor Robert Drew Major
Robert Drew Major 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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Patent number: 11936929Abstract: A digital content storage and delivery system (DCSDS) includes a network interface to communicate data between the DCSDS and a destination device via a network data communication link having limited bandwidth. An input interface receives digital content for handling by the DCSDS. A storage architecture stores recorded video content on behalf of subscriber end users for on-demand playback via the network data communication link, and it caches live streaming video content for distribution via the network data communication link. The DCDS may monitor bandwidth usage of the network data communication link, determine current bandwidth demand for playback of recorded video content stored at the storage architecture, and reserve at least some of the limited bandwidth of the network data communication link to satisfy the determined current bandwidth demand. The available bandwidth is allocated to support distribution of live streaming video from the DCSDS.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Sling Media L.L.C.Inventor: Robert Drew Major
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Patent number: 11924490Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media for adapting content composites to device operations of an endpoint media device are disclosed. Blockchain data associated with a blockchain address may be processed by one or more processing devices. The blockchain data and/or the blockchain address may be mapped by the one or more processing devices to a first endpoint media device. Based at least in part on the blockchain data, a first content composite may be identified by one or more processing devices for delivery from a content provider system via one or more networks to the first endpoint media device. Transmission of the first content composite may be caused where, consequent to delivery of the first content composite to the first endpoint media device, the first endpoint media device or a second endpoint media device performs at least one operation relating to the first content composite.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventors: Jorg Nonnenmacher, Robert Drew Major
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Patent number: 11917246Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to presentation time stamp (PTS) or other time markers.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Steven Casagrande
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Patent number: 11902604Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2023Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Sling TV L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Leo Davis, Howard Davis
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Publication number: 20240048804Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to anchor points or other references in the programming itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Steven Casagrande
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Publication number: 20230409635Abstract: The present invention recognizes media content using signatures generated by network devices with limited processing power. A signature comprises a first set of frequency-amplitude pairs associated with a first piece of content. The signature is compared with stored signatures corresponding to known content. Each of the stored signatures comprises a stored set of frequency-amplitude pairs. The first piece of content is identified as being or including known content in response to the first signature matching a stored signature.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.Inventors: Eric Dyoniziak, Robert Drew Major
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Publication number: 20230388562Abstract: The present invention recognizes media content using signatures generated by network devices with limited processing power. An audio signal is prepared for application of a discrete Fourier transform (DFT). Outputs from the DFT include real components and imaginary components that are used to calculate output magnitudes associated with frequency bins. The frequency-amplitude pairs include the output magnitudes and the associated frequency bins. A signature of the audio signal is generated by selecting a predetermined number of frequency-amplitude pairs having dominant output magnitudes. The network devices that generate the signatures may transmit the signatures to a server for analysis. The server may trigger actions in response to detecting known content based on the received signatures matching known signatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.Inventors: Eric Dyoniziak, Robert Drew Major
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Patent number: 11825160Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to anchor points or other references in the programming itself.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2019Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Steven Casagrande
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Publication number: 20230370656Abstract: Various arrangements for performing dynamic content insertion are presented. Content items that have been output for presentation may be tracked across multiple viewing sessions. One or more insertion rules may be evaluated that are mapped to a content item. The content item may be determined to have met an output rate threshold. An alternative piece of content may be selected for insertion based on the content item having met the output threshold rate. A streaming content viewer device may be triggered to substitute the alternative content item to replace the content item.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventor: Robert Drew Major
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Patent number: 11750855Abstract: Various arrangements for performing dynamic content insertion are presented. Content items that have been output for presentation may be tracked across multiple television viewing sessions. One or more insertion rules may be evaluated that are mapped to a content item. The content item may be determined to have met an output rate threshold. An alternative piece of content may be selected for insertion based on the content item having met the output threshold rate. The television receiver may be triggered to substitute the alternative content item into a television channel stream to replace the content item.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventor: Robert Drew Major
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Publication number: 20230239522Abstract: A digital content storage and delivery system (DCSDS) includes a network interface to communicate data between the DCSDS and a destination device via a network data communication link having limited bandwidth. An input interface receives digital content for handling by the DCSDS. A storage architecture stores recorded video content on behalf of subscriber end users for on-demand playback via the network data communication link, and it caches live streaming video content for distribution via the network data communication link. The DCDS may monitor bandwidth usage of the network data communication link, determine current bandwidth demand for playback of recorded video content stored at the storage architecture, and reserve at least some of the limited bandwidth of the network data communication link to satisfy the determined current bandwidth demand. The available bandwidth is allocated to support distribution of live streaming video from the DCSDS.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: SLING MEDIA L.L.C.Inventor: ROBERT DREW MAJOR
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Publication number: 20230224522Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: SLING TV L.L.C.Inventors: ROBERT DREW MAJOR, LEO DAVIS, HOWARD DAVIS
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Publication number: 20230217073Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to presentation time stamp (PTS) or other time markers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventors: ROBERT DREW MAJOR, STEVEN CASAGRANDE
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Publication number: 20230141399Abstract: Viewing of advertisements in broadcast television programming is electronically monitored using network communications to determine viewership of programming that is promoted in the ads. This correlation is enabled through a distributed information system that permits digital identification of ads in programming, as well as distributed tracking of ad and program viewership. Through automated gathering of viewership information and distributed data processing, advertising effectiveness can be very accurately tracked.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2022Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: SLING TV L.L.C.Inventor: ROBERT DREW MAJOR
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Patent number: 11611786Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Sling TV L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Leo Davis, Howard Davis
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Patent number: 11611803Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to presentation time stamp (PTS) or other time markers.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: DISH Network L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Steven Casagrande
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Publication number: 20230024837Abstract: Various systems, devices and methods automatically identify advertisements or other portions of television or other media content prior to broadcast using automated content analysis. Information about identified content may be used for any number of different purposes, including advertisement identification; advertisement replacement; second screen browsing or augmentation of identified content; tracking of times or places that ads or other content are viewed; and many others.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Christopher Boyd Tirpak, Steven Michael Casagrande
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Publication number: 20220417570Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: SLING TV L.L.C.Inventors: ROBERT DREW MAJOR, LEO DAVIS, HOWARD DAVIS
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Patent number: 11463785Abstract: Various systems, devices and methods automatically identify advertisements or other portions of television or other media content prior to broadcast using automated content analysis. Information about identified content may be used for any number of different purposes, including advertisement identification; advertisement replacement; second screen browsing or augmentation of identified content; tracking of times or places that ads or other content are viewed; and many others.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Christopher Boyd Tirpak, Steven Michael Casagrande
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Publication number: 20220159349Abstract: A method for operating a programming receiver is provided. The method displays, by the programming receiver, a sequence of recorded video content comprising a video presentation and a plurality of segments of interstitial content; receives, at the programming receiver, a command to skip one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content; and presents a screen comprising a picture advertisement for the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content, the screen requesting confirmation to skip the one of the plurality of segments of interstitial content in the sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Mark B. Hurst