Patents by Inventor Robin Ford

Robin Ford 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: 9852441
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for selecting media assets based on a scent detected at a location of a user device. For example, a media guidance application implemented on a user device may incorporate or have access to a scent detection component, which may determine one or more scents at the location of the user device. The media guidance application may then select a media asset that corresponds to the determined one or more scents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Ford, Daniel Thomas Ward, Paul Jensen, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9313538
    Abstract: Methods and systems are also provided herein for establishing a mode of communication between a first user and a second user when a media asset is in a lull. Control circuitry may determine that a first user perceives a segment of the media asset as a lull based on a first user profile. The control circuitry may retrieve a second user profile associated with a second user, and may determine that the second user also perceives the segment of the media asset to be a lull based on the second user profile. The control circuitry may responsively establish a mode of communication (e.g., a chat window) between the first user and the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Tang, Robin Ford, Helen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9313537
    Abstract: Methods and systems are also provided herein for presenting an advertisement to a user who perceives a media asset to be in a lull, and refraining from presenting the advertisement to a different user who does not perceive the media asset to be in a lull. Control circuitry may determine that a first user perceives a segment of the media asset as a lull based on a first user profile. The control circuitry may determine whether or not the second user also perceives the segment of the media asset to be a lull based on a second user profile. In response to determining that the second user does not also perceive the segment of the media asset to be a lull, the control circuitry may cause the advertisement to be presented to the first user but not to the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Tang, Robin Ford, Helen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150319470
    Abstract: Methods and systems are also provided herein for presenting an advertisement to a user who perceives a media asset to be in a lull, and refraining from presenting the advertisement to a different user who does not perceive the media asset to be in a lull. Control circuitry may determine that a first user perceives a segment of the media asset as a lull based on a first user profile. The control circuitry may determine whether or not the second user also perceives the segment of the media asset to be a lull based on a second user profile. In response to determining that the second user does not also perceive the segment of the media asset to be a lull, the control circuitry may cause the advertisement to be presented to the first user but not to the second user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Young A. Tang, Robin Ford, Helen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150319471
    Abstract: Methods and systems are also provided herein for establishing a mode of communication between a first user and a second user when a media asset is in a lull. Control circuitry may determine that a first user perceives a segment of the media asset as a lull based on a first user profile. The control circuitry may retrieve a second user profile associated with a second user, and may determine that the second user also perceives the segment of the media asset to be a lull based on the second user profile. The control circuitry may responsively establish a mode of communication (e.g., a chat window) between the first user and the second user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Young A. Tang, Robin Ford, Helen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150317686
    Abstract: Systems and methods for placing advertisements based on social media activity are provided. Control circuitry may retrieve a user profile for the first user and determine whether the media asset matches characteristics of the user profile. The control circuitry may detect that the first user has transmitted a communication to a remote server, which in turn transmits the communication to a plurality of other users associated with the first user on the remote server. The control circuitry may then determine whether the content of the communication is related to the media asset. In response to determining that the content of the communication is not related to the media asset and that the media asset matches characteristics of the user profile, the control circuitry may cause an advertisement to be presented to the user. The control circuitry may responsively present an advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Young A. Tang, Robin Ford, Helen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150039421
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for selecting media assets based on a scent detected at a location of a user device. For example, a media guidance application implemented on a user device may incorporate or have access to a scent detection component, which may determine one or more scents at the location of the user device. The media guidance application may then select a media asset that corresponds to the determined one or more scents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robin Ford, Daniel Thomas Ward, Paul Jensen, Michael R. Nichols