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).

  • Publication number: 20210219011
    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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20210195276
    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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20210127159
    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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    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: 10992981
    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: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 10979758
    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: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 10893320
    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: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Gracenote, 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: 20200396513
    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: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 10869086
    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: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, 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: 20200389637
    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: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 10827224
    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: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 10791312
    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: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 10785530
    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: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, 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: 20200186860
    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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Patent number: 10623800
    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: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20200081683
    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: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Markus Cremer, Robert Coover, Steven D. Scherf, Cameron Aubrey Summers
  • Publication number: 20200068248
    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: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20200053422
    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: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    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: 20200029129
    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: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Chungwon Seo, Seunghyeong Lee, Steven D. Scherf
  • Publication number: 20200029118
    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: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf, Shashank Merchant
  • Publication number: 20200021877
    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: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt R. Thielen, Shashank C. Merchant, Peter Dunker, Markus K. Cremer, Steven D. Scherf