Patents by Inventor Steven Keith Hines

Steven Keith Hines 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: 10838988
    Abstract: A geospatial indexing module operating in a server device operates on an efficient index for retrieving and providing map features which represent geographic entities such as streets, roads, cities, states, buildings, bodies of water, etc. The index includes identification information for a map feature fragment, which represents at least a portion of a map feature, as well as a node in a tree data structure to which the map feature fragment corresponds and a range of levels of detail for which the map feature fragment is valid. When a user requests map data for a geographic region at a level of detail, the geospatial indexing module queries the index for all map feature fragments within the requested region and level of detail and provides the retrieved map feature fragments to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Patent number: 10631063
    Abstract: This application discloses a method for using closed captions to initiate display of related content. A computer system identifies a set of first information in closed captions of a video stream, and searches an identity database using the set of first information as queries. The identity database stores a plurality of identities, and each identity is associated with a name and an importance metric. The computer system identifies one or more identities in the identity database based on the respective importance metrics of the one or more identities, and obtains second information of one or more content files related to the identities identified in the identity database. Upon obtaining the second information, the computer system generates instructions to invoke an application for presenting the second information of the one or more content files to the user of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Patent number: 10567834
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein describe using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program. In one aspect, a method is performed at a computing device having processors and memory storing programs to be executed by the processors. The computing device obtains audio description data of a video stream for a media program. The audio description data comprises a synchronized audio narrative describing what is happening visually in the media program. The computing device identifies a set of information items including one or more words in the audio description data. The computing device transmits the words to a server. After the transmitting, the computing device obtains from the server information of content files related to the words. In response to obtaining the information, the computing device causes the information to be displayed on an electronic device that is distinct from the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Timbo Drayson
  • Publication number: 20190098357
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein describe using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program. In one aspect, a method is performed at a computing device having processors and memory storing programs to be executed by the processors. The computing device obtains audio description data of a video stream for a media program. The audio description data comprises a synchronized audio narrative describing what is happening visually in the media program. The computing device identifies a set of information items including one or more words in the audio description data. The computing device transmits the words to a server. After the transmitting, the computing device obtains from the server information of content files related to the words. In response to obtaining the information, the computing device causes the information to be displayed on an electronic device that is distinct from the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Timbo Drayson
  • Patent number: 10154305
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program are disclosed. A video stream including audio description data is received. A set of information is determined from the audio description data. A request including the set of information is sent to a server remotely located from the client for additional processing. A set of instructions is received from the server. The set of instructions is determined based on the additional processing of the set of information. One or more applications are executed in accordance with the set of instructions in response to receiving the set of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Timbo Drayson
  • Publication number: 20180276242
    Abstract: A geospatial indexing module operating in a server device operates on an efficient index for retrieving and providing map features which represent geographic entities such as streets, roads, cities, states, buildings, bodies of water, etc. The index includes identification information for a map feature fragment, which represents at least a portion of a map feature, as well as a node in a tree data structure to which the map feature fragment corresponds and a range of levels of detail for which the map feature fragment is valid. When a user requests map data for a geographic region at a level of detail, the geospatial indexing module queries the index for all map feature fragments within the requested region and level of detail and provides the retrieved map feature fragments to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Publication number: 20180227641
    Abstract: This application discloses a method for using closed captions to initiate display of related content. A computer system identifies a set of first information in closed captions of a video stream, and searches an identity database using the set of first information as queries. The identity database stores a plurality of identities, and each identity is associated with a name and an importance metric. The computer system identifies one or more identities in the identity database based on the respective importance metrics of the one or more identities, and obtains second information of one or more content files related to the identities identified in the identity database. Upon obtaining the second information, the computer system generates instructions to invoke an application for presenting the second information of the one or more content files to the user of the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Patent number: 10007677
    Abstract: A geospatial indexing module operating in a server device operates on an efficient index for retrieving and providing map features which represent geographic entities such as streets, roads, cities, states, buildings, bodies of water, etc. The index includes identification information for a map feature fragment, which represents at least a portion of a map feature, as well as a node in a tree data structure to which the map feature fragment corresponds and a range of levels of detail for which the map feature fragment is valid. When a user requests map data for a geographic region at a level of detail, the geospatial indexing module queries the index for all map feature fragments within the requested region and level of detail and provides the retrieved map feature fragments to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Patent number: 9942617
    Abstract: This application discloses a method for using closed captions to initiate display of related content. A computing device obtains closed captions of a video stream displayed to a user of the computing device, and identifies in the closed captions a set of information items including one or more emphasized words that are relevant for identifying information of one or more related content files. The computing device then transmits the emphasized words to a server that is distinct from a source of the video stream, and obtains therefrom the information of the one or more content files related to the emphasized words. In response to obtaining the information of the one or more content files and without user intervention, the computing device causes an application to be invoked for presenting the one or more content files to the user of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Publication number: 20170257666
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program are disclosed. A video stream including audio description data is received. A set of information is determined from the audio description data. A request including the set of information is sent to a server remotely located from the client for additional processing. A set of instructions is received from the server. The set of instructions is determined based on the additional processing of the set of information. One or more applications are executed in accordance with the set of instructions in response to receiving the set of instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Timbo Drayson
  • Patent number: 9661381
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program are disclosed. A video stream including audio description data is received. A set of information is determined from the audio description data. A request including the set of information is sent to a server remotely located from the client for additional processing. A set of instructions is received from the server. The set of instructions is determined based on the additional processing of the set of information. One or more applications are executed in accordance with the set of instructions in response to receiving the set of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Timbo Drayson
  • Publication number: 20160269798
    Abstract: This application discloses a method for using closed captions to initiate display of related content. A computing device obtains closed captions of a video stream displayed to a user of the computing device, and identifies in the closed captions a set of information items including one or more emphasized words that are relevant for identifying information of one or more related content files. The computing device then transmits the emphasized words to a server that is distinct from a source of the video stream, and obtains therefrom the information of the one or more content files related to the emphasized words. In response to obtaining the information of the one or more content files and without user intervention, the computing device causes an application to be invoked for presenting the one or more content files to the user of the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Patent number: 9367682
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method manages data content, the data content including static data and dynamic data. The content management method includes analyzing the data content by a server to identify the static data and the dynamic data within the data content, wherein the dynamic data is included within a content block, and extracting the dynamic data in the content block from the data content, and replacing the content block with a special identifier. The content management method further includes hosting, by the server, the data content with the static content and the special identifier from a primary website in a primary domain, and the dynamic data in a secondary website in a secondary domain, wherein the special identifier identifies a location of the dynamic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Dan Sanderson
  • Patent number: 9357271
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method for using closed captions in a double display scenario includes, obtaining a video stream configured to be displayed on a first display device. The video stream includes closed captions. The method also includes, identifying one or more symbols or words included in the closed captions; and obtaining a set of instructions. The set of instructions includes instructions to display content information relating to at least one symbol or word in the one or more symbols or words. The method further includes, in response to obtaining, and in accordance with, the set of instructions, executing one or more applications based on a type of the content information; and formatting for display, on a second display device, output from the one or more applications. The applications include one of: a web browser, a music application, a feed reader application, a coupon application, and a content viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Publication number: 20150256880
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program are disclosed. A video stream including audio description data is received. A set of information is determined from the audio description data. A request including the set of information is sent to a server remotely located from the client for additional processing. A set of instructions is received from the server. The set of instructions is determined based on the additional processing of the set of information. One or more applications are executed in accordance with the set of instructions in response to receiving the set of instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: STEVEN KEITH HINES, TIMBO DRAYSON
  • Patent number: 9043444
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program are disclosed. A video stream including closed captions is received. A set of information is determined from the closed captions. A request including the set of information is sent to a server remotely located from the client for additional processing. A set of instructions is received from the server. The set of instructions is determined based on the additional processing of the set of information. One or more applications are executed in accordance with the set of instructions in response to receiving the set of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Timbo Drayson
  • Publication number: 20150020104
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method for using closed captions in a double display scenario includes, obtaining a video stream configured to be displayed on a first display device. The video stream includes closed captions. The method also includes, identifying one or more symbols or words included in the closed captions; and obtaining a set of instructions. The set of instructions includes instructions to display content information relating to at least one symbol or word in the one or more symbols or words. The method further includes, in response to obtaining, and in accordance with, the set of instructions, executing one or more applications based on a type of the content information; and formatting for display, on a second display device, output from the one or more applications. The applications include one of: a web browser, a music application, a feed reader application, a coupon application, and a content viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Publication number: 20140320742
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using an audio stream to identify metadata associated with a currently playing television program are disclosed. A video stream including closed captions is received. A set of information is determined from the closed captions. A request including the set of information is sent to a server remotely located from the client for additional processing. A set of instructions is received from the server. The set of instructions is determined based on the additional processing of the set of information. One or more applications are executed in accordance with the set of instructions in response to receiving the set of instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Keith Hines, Timbo Drayson
  • Patent number: 8849959
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method for using closed captions in a double display scenario includes, obtaining a video stream configured to be displayed on a first display device. The video stream includes closed captions. The method also includes, identifying one or more symbols or words included in the closed captions; and obtaining a set of instructions. The set of instructions includes instructions to display content information relating to at least one symbol or word in the one or more symbols or words. The method further includes, in response to obtaining, and in accordance with, the set of instructions, executing one or more applications based on a type of the content information; and formatting for display, on a second display device, output from the one or more applications. The applications include one of: a web browser, a music application, a feed reader application, a coupon application, and a content viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Keith Hines
  • Publication number: 20130300929
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method for using closed captions in a double display scenario includes, obtaining a video stream configured to be displayed on a first display device. The video stream includes closed captions. The method also includes, identifying one or more symbols or words included in the closed captions; and obtaining a set of instructions. The set of instructions includes instructions to display content information relating to at least one symbol or word in the one or more symbols or words. The method further includes, in response to obtaining, and in accordance with, the set of instructions, executing one or more applications based on a type of the content information; and formatting for display, on a second display device, output from the one or more applications. The applications include one of: a web browser, a music application, a feed reader application, a coupon application, and a content viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: STEVEN KEITH HINES