Patents by Inventor Steven D. Scherf

Steven D. Scherf 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: 11937026
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device, that a remote control transmitted to the playback device an instruction configured to cause a modification to operation of the playback device while the playback device displays the replacement media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device based on the instruction, an overlay that the playback device is configured to provide for display in conjunction with the modification; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a region within a display of the playback device corresponding to the overlay; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, a transparency of the region such that the overlay is visible through the replacement media content when the playback device provides the overlay for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20240045649
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for dynamic volume adjustment via audio classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Markus Cremer, Robert Coover, Steven D. Scherf, Cameron Aubrey Summers
  • Patent number: 11895370
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to a media device that provides media content to the playback device; (iii) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the media device; and (iv) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D Scherf
  • Publication number: 20230396836
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template corresponding to a screen portion. Based on the video input stream matching the template, a video output stream is generated and caused to be presented on a display. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is replacing video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, menus generated by the set-top box may be detected and the replacement video altered by the smart TV to include the menus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20230353822
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) identifying, by a playback device, a media device that provides media content to the playback device; (ii) providing, by the playback device, replacement media content for display; (iii) determining, by the playback device, that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to the identified media device; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the identified media device; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: KURT R. THIELEN, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf, Shashank Merchant
  • Patent number: 11775250
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for dynamic volume adjustment via audio classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Cremer, Robert Coover, Steven D. Scherf, Cameron Aubrey Summers
  • Patent number: 11765426
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) identifying, by a playback device, a media device based on a control message received from the media device by way of an audio and/or video interface, where the media device provides media content to the playback device; (ii) providing, by the playback device, replacement media content for display; (iii) determining, by the playback device, that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to the identified media device; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the identified media device; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf, Shashank Merchant
  • Publication number: 20230238125
    Abstract: A machine causes capture of an image that depicts an optically readable code exhibited by a measurement device that corresponds to a scheduled medical procedure. The machine then determines, based on the optically readable code depicted by the captured image, a hardware identifier of a network interface of the measurement device and a location identifier of the measurement device. The machine next identifies the medical procedure based on the location identifier determined based on the optically readable code exhibited by the measurement device. The machine establishes a network connection with the measurement device based on the determined hardware identifier of the network interface of the measurement device. The established network connection may provide access to measurement data generated by the measurement device that corresponds to the scheduled medical procedure identified based on the location identifier of the measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Gauss Surgical Inc.
    Inventors: Siddarth Satish, Andrew Hosford, Steven D. Scherf, Thang Sy, Charles Peterson Carroll, Gaurav Retwal
  • Patent number: 11503362
    Abstract: A computing system identifies a media stream being received by a client, based on fingerprint matching conducted with query fingerprints generated by the client at a frame rate. The computing system then causes the client to increase the frame rate, in order to facilitate establishment by the computing system of synchronous lock between true time within the media stream and client time according to a clock of the client. The computing system then uses the established synchronous lock as a basis to map a true-time point at which a content revision should be performed in the media stream to a client-time point at which the client should perform the content revision. And the computing system causes the client to perform the content revision at the determined client-time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 11470383
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template corresponding to a screen portion. Based on the video input stream matching the template, a video output stream is generated and caused to be presented on a display. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is replacing video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, menus generated by the set-top box may be detected and the replacement video altered by the smart TV to include the menus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11425454
    Abstract: A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of speed. In some example embodiments, the analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device modifies the video output stream to show the change of speed. For example, commercials transmitted from a national content provider to a smart TV via a set-top box may be replaced with targeted commercials. During the replacement, fast-forwarding of the commercial may be detected by matching a template with the video input stream. While the video input stream is being fast-forwarded, the smart TV fast-forwards the targeted commercial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Peter Dunker, Steven D. Scherf, David Henry Pearce, Sherman Ling Fung Li, Wilson Harron, Konstantinos Antonios Dimitriou, Dewey Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20220224986
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to a media device that provides media content to the playback device; (iii) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the media device; and (iv) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20220201265
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device, that a remote control transmitted to the playback device an instruction configured to cause a modification to operation of the playback device while the playback device displays the replacement media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device based on the instruction, an overlay that the playback device is configured to provide for display in conjunction with the modification; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a region within a display of the playback device corresponding to the overlay; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, a transparency of the region such that the overlay is visible through the replacement media content when the playback device provides the overlay for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20220150588
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) identifying, by a playback device, a media device based on a control message received from the media device by way of an audio and/or video interface, where the media device provides media content to the playback device; (ii) providing, by the playback device, replacement media content for display; (iii) determining, by the playback device, that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to the identified media device; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the identified media device; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf, Shashank Merchant
  • Patent number: 11323777
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to a media device that provides media content to the playback device; (iii) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the media device; and (iv) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 11303870
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) providing, by a playback device, replacement media content for display; (ii) determining, by the playback device, that a remote control transmitted to the playback device an instruction configured to cause a modification to operation of the playback device while the playback device displays the replacement media content; (iii) determining, by the playback device based on the instruction, an overlay that the playback device is configured to provide for display in conjunction with the modification; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a region within a display of the playback device corresponding to the overlay; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, a transparency of the region such that the overlay is visible through the replacement media content when the playback device provides the overlay for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 11290770
    Abstract: A computing system identifies a media stream being received by a client, based on fingerprint matching conducted with query fingerprints generated by the client at a frame rate. The computing system then causes the client to increase the frame rate, in order to facilitate establishment by the computing system of synchronous lock between true time within the media stream and client time according to an clock of the client. The computing system then uses the established synchronous lock as a basis to map a true-time point at which a content revision should be performed in the media stream to a client-time point at which the client should perform the content revision. And the computing system causes the client to perform the content revision at the determined client-time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 11272252
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) identifying, by a playback device, a media device based on a control message received from the media device by way of an audio and/or video interface, where the media device provides media content to the playback device; (ii) providing, by the playback device, replacement media content for display; (iii) determining, by the playback device, that while the playback device is displaying the replacement media content a remote control transmitted an instruction to the identified media device; (iv) determining, by the playback device, a playback-modification action corresponding to the instruction and the identified media device; and (v) modifying, by the playback device, playback of the replacement media content in accordance with the playback-modification action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf, Shashank Merchant
  • Publication number: 20210349683
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for dynamic volume adjustment via audio classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Markus Cremer, Robert Coover, Steven D. Scherf, Cameron Aubrey Summers
  • Patent number: 11086591
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for dynamic volume adjustment via audio classification. Examples methods include analyzing, with a neural network trained model, a parameter of an audio signal associated with a first volume level to determine a classification group associated with the audio signal, determining an input volume of the audio signal, the selection based on the classification group associated with the audio signal, applying a gain value to the audio signal, the gain value based on the classification group and the input volume, the gain value to modify the first volume level to a second volume level, and applying a compression value to the audio signal, the compression value to modify the second volume level to a third volume level that satisfies a target volume threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: GRACENOTE, INC.
    Inventors: Markus Cremer, Robert Coover, Steven D. Scherf, Cameron Aubrey Summers