Patents by Inventor Romulo Pontual
Romulo Pontual 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: 10708665Abstract: A system includes a viewer tracking module that determines a genre profile target representation based on program categories of watched events. A recommendation module determines a candidate program category representation for each program candidate of a plurality of program candidates from a plurality of program categories, compares the candidate program category representation for the plurality of candidates to the genre profile target representation, and determines a numerical value for each of the plurality of program candidates based on comparing. The system further includes a display displaying the program candidates ordered based of the numerical value for each.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Raynold M. Kahn, Gordon H. Chen, Hans M. Hagberg
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Publication number: 20200159393Abstract: A method and system for bookmarking content has a controller is programmed to establish bookmark list in a memory of an electronic device, store content metadata in the memory of the electronic device to form stored data, the content metadata comprising content identifiers and other metadata, bookmark a first content entry corresponding to a first content from list on a display associated with the electronic device and, in response to bookmarking the first content entry from the display, delete the plurality of the content metadata corresponding to the first content except for a first content identifier of the content metadata corresponding to the first content comprising only an alphabetic or numeric identifier or both in the bookmark list, said bookmark list comprising the content identifiers and the first content identifier wherein a total number of content identifiers is limited.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Don E. Cansino, Yeung Chan, Earl James Bonovich, Romulo Pontual
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Patent number: 10585568Abstract: A mobile device and a system for operating the same include a display displaying a list of entries comprising a plurality of content data. Each of the plurality of content data is associated with a content identifier. The mobile device further includes a controller selecting the first content entry and storing a first content identifier corresponding first content entry in a bookmark list within the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Don E. Cansino, Yeung K. Chan, Earl J. Bonovich
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Patent number: 10448104Abstract: A method of programming a remote control and a set top box to control the same includes a network communication module at the set top box receiving a device identifier from an electronic device through an interface. The set top box also includes a communication module obtaining remote control programming code based on the device identifier. A controller controls programming a remote control to control the electronic device based on the remote control programming code.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Henry Derovanessian, Scott D. Casavant, Jorge H. Guzman
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Publication number: 20190238947Abstract: A system includes a viewer tracking module that determines a genre profile target representation based on program categories of watched events. A recommendation module determines a candidate program category representation for each program candidate of a plurality of program candidates from a plurality of program categories, compares the candidate program category representation for the plurality of candidates to the genre profile target representation, and determines a numerical value for each of the plurality of program candidates based on comparing. The system further includes a display displaying the program candidates ordered based of the numerical value for each.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo PONTUAL, Sui-Ky Ringo LING, Raynold M. KAHN, Gordon H. CHEN, Hans M. HAGBERG
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Patent number: 10341740Abstract: A user device and method for operating the same includes a memory and a controller that stores an external recommendation list in the memory, said external recommendations list comprising a marketing list comprising a plurality of marketing list entries and a related program list comprising a plurality of related program entries that are related to the plurality of marketing list entries. Each marketing list entry has a related score corresponding to a respective marketing list entry. The controller generates a most viewed programming list, comparing the external recommendations list and most viewed programming list using the related score and generates a recommended recording list using both the external recommendation list and the most viewed programming list. The controller also stores at least one content from the recording recommendation list in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Raynold M. Kahn, Gordon H. Chen, Hans M. Hagberg
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Patent number: 10200500Abstract: A system and method for a system for communicating with a user device includes a broadcast management system generating content channel data signals. The system also includes a software download manager in communication with the broadcast management system. The software download manager generates an announcement file and a download resolution file. The download manager communicates the announcement file. The user device has user device identifier data and receives the download resolution file in response to the announcement file and stores the software image in the user device in response to the download resolution file.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Subbaraya Kumar Deverakonda Venkata, Jianming Yu, Charles C. Debergh, Gilbert Zaldivar, Joseph T. Hayes, Romulo Pontual, Lonnie Scott Clabaugh
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Patent number: 10182259Abstract: A user device includes a viewer tracking module that tracks viewer events to form a viewer tracking log and a recommendation module that generates a timeslot viewing profile based on the viewer tracking log. The timeslot viewing profile includes television programs watched previously and a prioritized timeslot series profile determined by summing and prioritizing the count of a plurality of watched programs in a series. The recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile of available television programs during the timeslot, generates a first content recommendation list of available television programs, receives related content identifiers for related content that identify content that is available and is related to the television programs of the first content recommendation, and, based on the related content identifiers, generates a second content recommendation list including content that is available during the timeslot different from the first content recommendation list.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Raynold M. Kahn, Robert G. Arsenault, Gordon H. Chen, Luke J. Crook, Jean Dumouchel, Hugh Rothman, Brad Rice
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Patent number: 10080045Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting a plurality of elementary data streams to a plurality of receivers is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of generating M data streams comprising K multiplexed elementary data streams in a first entity, transmitting the M data streams to a second entity, generating N transmitter streams from the M data streams in the second entity; and transmitting each of the N transmitter streams to the plurality of receivers using an associated one of N broadcast sub-transmitters.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Hanno Basse, Sassan Pejhan, Joseph Santoru, Ernest C. Chen
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Patent number: 10055746Abstract: A simulation engine and method of operating a simulation system includes a plurality of user devices and an interface receiving user device data and a recommendation request from at least one the plurality of user devices. The system also includes a memory storing the user device data therein. The system also includes a recommendation engine that generates a content recommendation based on the user device data and an algorithm. The interface communicates the content recommendation to the user device. The recommendation engine receives a recommendation rating from at least one of the plurality of user devices and changes the algorithm in response to the recommendation rating. The user device receives a different recommendation of the changed algorithm within the simulation engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Robert G. Arsenault, Romulo Pontual, Raynold M. Kahn
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Patent number: 10003780Abstract: A user device and method for operating the same includes a memory and a controller storing a recommended recording list in the memory. The controller stores recommended content from the recommended recording list in the memory and suppresses an indicator in response to storing recommended content from the recommended recording list. When the user selects a live content that corresponds to a recommended content stored in the memory, the user device may display the content from a previous position.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Raynold M. Kahn, Gordon H. Chen, Hans M. Hagberg
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Patent number: 9894312Abstract: A system and method includes a language processing module converting an electrical signal corresponding to an audible signal into a textual signal. The system further includes a command generation module converting the textual signal into a user receiving device control signal. A controller controls a function of a user receiving device in response to the user receiving device control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Don E. Cansino, Yeung K. Chan, Earl J. Bonovich
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Patent number: 9883242Abstract: A system and method for communicating content to a user device that includes a storage device having a network portion and a user portion. The user device stores content in a network partition thereof. The user device reallocates the content to a user portion of the storage device after storing is complete.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Robert G. Arsenault, Raynold M. Kahn, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Luke J. Crook, John D. Choi, Michelle L. Vagnati, John L. Norin
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Publication number: 20180007432Abstract: A user device includes a viewer tracking module that tracks viewer events to form a viewer tracking log and a recommendation module that generates a timeslot viewing profile based on the viewer tracking log. The timeslot viewing profile includes television programs watched previously and a prioritized timeslot series profile determined by summing and prioritizing the count of a plurality of watched programs in a series. The recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile of available television programs during the timeslot, generates a first content recommendation list of available television programs, receives related content identifiers for related content that identify content that is available and is related to the television programs of the first content recommendation, and, based on the related content identifiers, generates a second content recommendation list including content that is available during the timeslot different from the first content recommendation list.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo PONTUAL, Sui-Ky Ringo LING, Raynold M. KAHN, Robert G. ARSENAULT, Gordon H. CHEN, Luke J. CROOK, Jean DUMOUCHEL, Hugh ROTHMAN, Brad RICE
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Publication number: 20170366863Abstract: A user device and method for operating the same includes a memory and a controller that stores an external recommendation list in the memory, said external recommendations list comprising a marketing list comprising a plurality of marketing list entries and a related program list comprising a plurality of related program entries that are related to the plurality of marketing list entries. Each marketing list entry has a related score corresponding to a respective marketing list entry. The controller generates a most viewed programming list, comparing the external recommendations list and most viewed programming list using the related score and generates a recommended recording list using both the external recommendation list and the most viewed programming list. The controller also stores at least one content from the recording recommendation list in the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Raynold M. Kahn, Gordon H. Chen, Hans M. Hagberg
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Patent number: 9819982Abstract: A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates a plurality of upcoming content metadata that includes a content title to the user device. The user device displays the upcoming content metadata and selects at least one upcoming content metadata from the plurality of upcoming content metadata to form selected data. The user device communicates the selected data to the head end. The head end adjusts head end communication parameters for the content associated with the selected data based on the selected data and communicates the content to a user device based on the head end communication parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, John L. Norin, Robert G. Arsenault, Raynold M. Kahn, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Luke J. Crook, John D. Choi, Michelle L. Vagnati, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 9800929Abstract: A system and method for generating television recommendations includes a viewer tracking module that tracks viewer events to form a viewer tracking log. A recommendation module that determines a timeslot, generates a timeslot viewing profile based on the timeslot. The viewer tracking log corresponds to television programs watched previously at the user device during the timeslot. The recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile with available content for the timeslot and generates a content recommendation list.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Raynold M. Kahn, Robert G. Arsenault, Gordon H. Chen, Luke J. Crook, Jean Dumouchel, Hugh Rothman, Brad Rice
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Patent number: 9788069Abstract: A user device and method for operating the same includes a memory and a controller storing an external recommendation list received from a head end in the memory. The controller generates a most viewed programming list and generates a recommend recording list based on the external recommendation list and the most viewed programming list. The controller stores at least one content from the recording recommendation list in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Raynold M. Kahn, Gordon H. Chen, Hans M. Hagberg
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Patent number: 9768488Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Henry Derovanessian, Benjamin Mui, Gustave R. Stroes
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Publication number: 20170099509Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting a plurality of elementary data streams to a plurality of receivers is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of generating M data streams comprising K multiplexed elementary data streams in a first entity, transmitting the M data streams to a second entity, generating N transmitter streams from the M data streams in the second entity; and transmitting each of the N transmitter streams to the plurality of receivers using an associated one of N broadcast sub-transmitters.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Hanno Basse, Sassan Pejhan, Joseph Santoru, Ernest C. Chen