Patents by Inventor Ross Gilson

Ross Gilson 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: 20210120314
    Abstract: A system and method for improving media delivery and display. By utilizing a memory buffer in a DVR or similar device, and broadcasting linear content at a rate other than 1×, services like video on demand or regular broadcasters can be more versatile. For example, viewers can start over without launching a separate VOD session. If part of the linear content requested is not in the buffer, a switched multicast stream can be sent with the proper section of content. Other receivers on the network may also receive the stream and buffer the content if the content is related to what a viewer is viewing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20210119659
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a remote control which may include one or more buttons configured to provide input to the remote control upon being activated, a transmitter for transmitting data, a receiver for receiving data, a processor and memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the two-way remote control to perform a method for configuring repeat transmission behavior of one or more of the buttons of the two-way remote control. Further, the receiver may be configured to receive data from a device configured to be controlled by the remote control and the data may include instructions for configuring the repeat transmission behavior of the one or more buttons of the two-way remote control. Additionally, the two-way remote control may configure the repeat transmission behavior of the one or more buttons of the two-way remote control based on the data received from the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20210120096
    Abstract: A media device and methods that identify playback states reachable from a current content playback state and identify a reachable state that is likely to occur, are disclosed. A memory associated with the media device may receive frames that enable a smooth transition between the playback state and the reachable state. The media device may receive frames that correspond to points in the content that are separated by an amount of time that is proportional to the playback rate of the likely state. The frames may be frames corresponding to an image that may be played back at the playback rate of the likely state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Ross Gilson, Derik Yarnell
  • Publication number: 20210112108
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for data distribution over a network. A device can capture content. The device can be configured to publish the content so that other devices in a network can access the content. The publishing device can indicate to other devices on the network that the content is available for use. In response, the publishing device can receive requests for the content from the other devices. When sending a request, a requesting device can include viewing parameters that indicate capabilities of the requesting device. The publishing device can create one or more data layers that comprise the content based on the viewing parameters of requesting devices. The publishing device can also determine a transmission path to the various requesting devices and transmit the one or more data layers along the transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Ross Gilson, Dustin Addison
  • Patent number: 10979526
    Abstract: A media device and methods that identify playback states reachable from a current content playback state and identify a reachable state that is likely to occur, are disclosed. A memory associated with the media device may receive frames that enable a smooth transition between the playback state and the reachable state. The media device may receive frames that correspond to points in the content that are separated by an amount of time that is proportional to the playback rate of the likely state. The frames may be frames corresponding to an image that may be played back at the playback rate of the likely state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TIVO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ross Gilson, Derik Yarnell
  • Publication number: 20210105521
    Abstract: Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20210104263
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced content are presented. Data including a first program, a first caption stream associated with the first program, and a second caption stream associated with the first program may be received. The second caption stream may be extracted from the data, and a second program may be encoded with the second caption stream. The first program may be transmitted with the first caption stream including first captions and may include first content configured to be played back at a first speed. In response to receiving an instruction to change play back speed, the second program may be transmitted with the second caption stream. The second program may include the first content configured to be played back at a second speed different from the first speed, and the second caption stream may include second captions different from the first captions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 10972525
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, aspects of the disclosure may provide efficient, effective, and convenient ways of managing the transmission of content items in a network. In particular, a device may be preconfigured with buffer priority assignments and performance metrics for various media types or data types. The device may detect a media type or data type for a packet corresponding to a content item, assign the packet to a buffer queue based on the media type or data type, and transmit the packet. The device may also determine whether performance metrics for the media type or data type are being met. If the device fails to meet performance metrics, the device may negotiate with other devices on the network to compensate for the failure to meet performance metrics and/or adjust buffer priorities as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Benny Pruden, Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 10965587
    Abstract: Ways of sending data over a network over a single path or over multiple parallel paths on an as-needed basis depending upon network conditions, and/or other factors, are described. For example, if a computing device detects sufficient jitter and/or latency at one or more network interfaces, the data may be sent over two or more communication paths using two or more network interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 10965970
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for enhancing the quality of content. A determination may be made that a portion of the content received using a base feed or bitrate completed early. In response to that determination, an attempt may be made to download that portion of the content using a differential bitrate or feed corresponding to a higher quality. Another determination may be made whether the differential bitrate or feed download completed early, and if so, then the differential bitrate or feed may be used as a new base bitrate or feed for downloading additional portions of the content. The differential bitrate or feed download may also provide for a secondary playback of the content at higher quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20210092175
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to control of consumption of content in an appliance. The content can include linear programming and non-linear assets. Such control can permit (i) changing a channel in the appliance (e.g., a CPE without upstream functionality) and thus selecting a linear-programming asset, a non-linear asset, and so forth, and (ii) controlling consumption of such assets. In one aspect, a device with upstream network connectivity can control the consumption of media in the appliance. The device can leverage data management and control functionality of a service provider network to acquire information related to assets available for consumption and to transmit asset requests to the service provider network, which can transmit content and signaling to the appliance in accordance at least in part with the asset request, thus controlling media consumption in the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Danial Holden, Michael D. McMahon, Gregory Allen Broome, Weidong Mao, Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 10950270
    Abstract: Features described herein relate to providing the capability to playback audiovisual content in a comprehensible manner at a rate adjustable by the viewer. For example, if a viewer wishes to watch a one hour news program, but the viewer only has thirty minutes to view the program, playback of the program at twice the rate, but in a comprehensible manner is provided. To provide the playback of the video at the adjustable rate, substitute audio is generated by adding or removing audio content without changing the playback rate of the audio. The video at the adjusted playback rate and the substitute audio at the normal playback rate may have the same duration and in some embodiments, may be presented synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Gilson, John Hart, Mark Francisco
  • Patent number: 10951505
    Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting routes from among multiple media and/or optimizing transmission across those media are described. A minimum data rate may be determined for transmitting a content item. Based on that minimum data rate, a device may determine whether to transmit the content item via a given medium, select a different medium for transmission, or adjust transmission to compensate for unfavorable network conditions. A device may select a medium based on ranking one or more routes from a content source to a user device. Further, a device may determine a data rate for transmission based on calculating an expected time of transmission that includes time spent performing retransmissions at a given data rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Gilson, David Urban, Albert Garcia
  • Patent number: 10917180
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for controlling vibrations output by one or more computing devices. A plurality of computing devices may form an ad hoc group using vibration signals. A computing device may suspend generation of a tactile vibration and/or sound as a notification of a received communication or other event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20210035608
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for variable speed playback. In one aspect the disclosure provides for receiving content having a first playback speed, determining a second playback speed for at least a portion of the content based on a playback factor, associating the second playback speed with the portion of the content, and providing at least the portion of the content at the second playback speed to a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20210007110
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing data are disclosed. An optimal set of subcarriers can be determined for a data transmission when a plurality of devices have requested the data transmission. The optimal set of subcarriers can be determined based on similarities or differences between parameters assigned to subcarriers in capability profiles. Capacity loss and other information can be determined based on the similarities or the differences among corresponding parameters of the capability profiles. The data transmission can be transmitted to the plurality of devices via the optimal set of subcarriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Ross Gilson, Mark Francisco, David Urban
  • Publication number: 20200412408
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing dynamic block control of multi-bitrate video are described. In some embodiments, a computing device may determine transcoder conditions of a transcoder independent of a client device. The computing device may dynamically adjust a block size of one or more blocks of a stream based on the transcoder conditions. In some embodiments, a computing device may receive a stream. The client device may package the stream into a first packaged stream having a first block size and a second packaged stream having a second block size less than the first block size. In some embodiments, a client device may determine an actual minimum number of blocks to buffer prior to initiating content playback based on a received predicted network and/or transcoder quality of service forecast. The client device may adjust its preset minimum number of blocks to the actual minimum number of blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 10878692
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for device pairing are described. A first device may transmit one or more codes to a second device via a first protocol. The second device may prioritize the one or more codes. After receiving the one or more codes, the devices may initiate automated pairing. After concluding the automated pairing, the devices may communicate via a second protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sallas, Ross Gilson, Mariel Sabraw, Jonathan Palmatier
  • Patent number: 10880593
    Abstract: Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Tivo Corporation
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20200396580
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing power consumption of network devices are disclosed. An example method can comprise detecting a triggering condition and reducing functionality of a network device based on detecting the triggering condition. The method can comprise detecting, at the network device, a user device, restoring functionality of the network device in response to detecting the user device, and transmitting information to the user device after restoring functionality of the network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Ross Gilson, David Urban