Patents by Inventor Steven M. Casey

Steven M. Casey 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: 20170230730
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are described for auto-summarizing video and/or audio content. In some embodiments, a summary server might retrieve one or more time codes from a time code database, and might analyze the one or more time codes to determine at least one selected time code among the one or more time codes that exceeds a predetermined number of selections. The one or more time codes might correspond to one or more triggers, which might include user-inputted triggers, triggers associated with actions by a live audience, or broadcaster/distributor/producer-provided triggers (i.e., cue tones). The summary server might determine one or more selected segments of video or audio content corresponding to the at least one selected time code, and might create one or more summary tracks, where each of the one or more summary tracks might comprise each of the one or more selected segments of the video or audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Felipe Castro, Kevin M. McBride, Ronnie S. Dhaliwal
  • Publication number: 20170187816
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and software are disclosed for generating a network usage profile. Certain embodiments of the network usage profile include a devices-by-node profile, indicating the set of customer devices available for use in communicating with a customer-side network node located at a customer side of an access network over a period of time, where some of the customer devices are not in operative communication with the customer-side network node during a portion of that time. Other embodiments associate the network usage profile with customer information to generate device-by-customer profiles. Still other embodiments associate the network usage profile with network traffic information to generate traffic-by-device profiles. Even other embodiments associate the multiple sources and types of information to generate traffic-by-customer profiles and/or traffic-by-device-by-customer profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Amie Elcan, John Butala
  • Publication number: 20170180823
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content delivery. In some embodiments, a globally unique identifier (“GUID”) associated with a particular media content might be embedded in headers of packets of a transport stream of the media content. When the transport stream is received by a user device, the GUID might enable retrieval of the necessary metadata (and/or updates of metadata) for enabling presentation of the media content. Alternatively or additionally, ratings or similar information can likewise be embedded in the headers of packets or I-frames of the transport stream, which enables a user (e.g., parent) to easily block or skip objectionable content from children who may be present. Alternatively or additionally, the transport stream may be combined with auxiliary data streams containing metadata and other associated auxiliary content to create a combined transport stream, to ensure no lost or corrupted media content during transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Kiran Ganuthula, Mayur Kudtarkar
  • Publication number: 20170180824
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content delivery. In some embodiments, a globally unique identifier (“GUID”) associated with a particular media content might be embedded in headers of packets of a transport stream of the media content. When the transport stream is received by a user device, the GUID might enable retrieval of the necessary metadata (and/or updates of metadata) for enabling presentation of the media content. Alternatively or additionally, ratings or similar information can likewise be embedded in the headers of packets or I-frames of the transport stream, which enables a user (e.g., parent) to easily block or skip objectionable content from children who may be present. Alternatively or additionally, the transport stream may be combined with auxiliary data streams containing metadata and other associated auxiliary content to create a combined transport stream, to ensure no lost or corrupted media content during transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Kiran Ganuthula, Mayur Kudtarkar
  • Publication number: 20170180821
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content delivery. In some embodiments, a globally unique identifier (“GUID”) associated with a particular media content might be embedded in headers of packets of a transport stream of the media content. When the transport stream is received by a user device, the GUID might enable retrieval of the necessary metadata (and/or updates of metadata) for enabling presentation of the media content. Alternatively or additionally, ratings or similar information can likewise be embedded in the headers of packets or I-frames of the transport stream, which enables a user (e.g., parent) to easily block or skip objectionable content from children who may be present. Alternatively or additionally, the transport stream may be combined with auxiliary data streams containing metadata and other associated auxiliary content to create a combined transport stream, to ensure no lost or corrupted media content during transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Kiran Ganuthula, Mayur Kudtarkar
  • Patent number: 9667937
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are described for auto-summarizing video and/or audio content. In some embodiments, a summary server might retrieve one or more time codes from a time code database, and might analyze the one or more time codes to determine at least one selected time code among the one or more time codes that exceeds a predetermined number of selections. The one or more time codes might correspond to one or more triggers, which might include user-inputted triggers, triggers associated with actions by a live audience, or broadcaster/distributor/producer-provided triggers (i.e., cue tones). The summary server might determine one or more selected segments of video or audio content corresponding to the at least one selected time code, and might create one or more summary tracks, where each of the one or more summary tracks might comprise each of the one or more selected segments of the video or audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Felipe Castro, Kevin M. McBride, Ronnie S. Dhaliwal
  • Publication number: 20170150209
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are described for providing media content to a plurality of set-top boxes (“STBs”) over a licensed spectrum and over an unlicensed spectrum. In an aspect, each of the plurality of STBs might comprise a first transceiver configured to receive media content or data over a licensed spectrum and a second transceiver configured to receive and send media content or data over an unlicensed spectrum. The first STB of the plurality of STBs might receive a first portion of the media content at the first transceiver and receive a second portion of the media content at the second transceiver from a second STB of the plurality of STBs. The plurality of STBs might query each other to determine available frequencies and/or bandwidth, and might store results of the query in a table in local memory or in a database accessible by all of the plurality of STBs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Misbah ur Rehman, Steven M. Casey, Kevin M. McBride, Felipe Castro
  • Patent number: 9635117
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and software are disclosed for generating a network usage profile. Certain embodiments of the network usage profile include a devices-by-node profile, indicating the set of customer devices available for use in communicating with a customer-side network node located at a customer side of an access network over a period of time, where some of the customer devices are not in operative communication with the customer-side network node during a portion of that time. Other embodiments associate the network usage profile with customer information to generate device-by-customer profiles. Still other embodiments associate the network usage profile with network traffic information to generate traffic-by-device profiles. Even other embodiments associate the multiple sources and types of information to generate traffic-by-customer profiles and/or traffic-by-device-by-customer profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Amie Elcan, John Butala
  • Patent number: 9584856
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are described for providing media content to a plurality of set-top boxes (“STBs”) over a licensed spectrum and over an unlicensed spectrum. In an aspect, each of the plurality of STBs might comprise a first transceiver configured to receive media content or data over a licensed spectrum and a second transceiver configured to receive and send media content or data over an unlicensed spectrum. The first STB of the plurality of STBs might receive a first portion of the media content at the first transceiver and receive a second portion of the media content at the second transceiver from a second STB of the plurality of STBs. The plurality of STBs might query each other to determine available frequencies and/or bandwidth, and might store results of the query in a table in local memory or in a database accessible by all of the plurality of STBs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Misbah ur Rehman, Steven M. Casey, Kevin M. McBride, Felipe Castro
  • Patent number: 9542830
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for distributing urgent public information. Merely by way of example, urgent public information, such as an alert message, may be received by, inter alia, an alert gateway device. The alert message may then be distributed to a subscriber in any of a variety of ways, including by telephone, by data message (e.g., to a computer), by video message (e.g., via a television), by display on an alert notification device. In some embodiments, the alert gateway device may process the alert message and/or may determine how to provide the alert message to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Bruce A. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20160353170
    Abstract: Tools are provided for distributing access-restricted content in an internet protocol television (“IPTV”) environment based on portable entitlement keys. Such tools can include a decoder, an encoder, and a network entitlement handler. The decoder may be configured to receive a key associated with entitlement information, and transmit the entitlement information over a network. The encoder may be configured to receive content from content providers, and to encode the content to create IP-compatible content, with access restrictions based on entitlement. The network entitlement handler may be configured to receive a request for requested content from the decoder; receive the access-restricted content (including the requested content) from the encoder; and transmit the requested content over the network to the decoder using IP, when the decoder is entitled to receive the requested content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Gnanasegeran Selvadurai, Felipe Castro, Waqar Khan
  • Publication number: 20160316234
    Abstract: A system for intelligent video streaming a video controller having at least one processor and non-transitory computer readable media having a set of instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive a playback request from a user device for a live stream, determine, from the playback request, whether source streaming content for the live stream is being transcoded, and allocate an available transcoder to transcode the source streaming content. The system further includes a transcoding having at least one processor and non-transitory computer readable media having a set of instructions executable by the at least one processor to join the multicast stream, retrieve the source streaming content, and transcode the source streaming content, and provide transcoded streaming content for delivery to the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Mayur Kudtakar, Nikhil Parikh, Felipe Castro
  • Patent number: 9462461
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. In some cases, a plurality of mobile communication devices can be tracked, based on a user's preferences, and data regarding the locations of that plurality of mobile communication devices can be sent to the user's device. In a particular aspect, for example, the user's device might display a map showing the locations of some or all of the plurality of mobile communication devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Casey
  • Patent number: 9462462
    Abstract: Tools and techniques related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. A system might comprise a mobile communications device, a mobile communications base station, and a server computer system. The location of the device may be correlated with certain user preferences stored on the server computer system. Some techniques provide for activities to be undertaken based on the location of a device are described, including without limitation different notification schemes based on the location of a device and/or specified preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Casey
  • Publication number: 20160241849
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing video qualification, which might include implementing video quality measurements at a subscriber premises and qualification of the subscriber premises for particular levels of video data transmission. In some cases, one or more customer premises equipment might comprise video quality chips that might perform measurements of the telecommunications links, and might send the results to a server associated with the service provider. The server might determine available video services, based on the results of the measurements, and might send the subscriber notifications indicating that the subscribers qualify for particular video services. In some cases, implementing video qualification might include the server determining that video service levels provided to a customer premises has been decreased or otherwise negatively affected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Ronnie S. Dhaliwal, Steven M. Casey, Kevin M. McBride, Felipe Castro
  • Publication number: 20160241920
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques to enable more robust electronic program guides in television distribution systems. Some solutions can obtain data (e.g., from the Internet) about a program listed on an electronic program guide and integrate that data with electronic program guide. In some cases, this information can be obtained and/or updated dynamically, in real-time or near real-time, for example to provide, up-to-date information can be provided in the electronic program guide, rather than requiring the viewer to tune to an information channel. In some cases, the system can provide a generalized electronic program guide that can be rendered by the system to be displayed on a plurality of different devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Felipe Castro, Ronnie S. Dhaliwal
  • Patent number: 9420453
    Abstract: Tools and techniques related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. A system might comprise a mobile communications device, a mobile communications base station, and a server computer system. The location of the device may be correlated with certain user preferences stored on the server computer system. Some techniques provide for activities to be undertaken based on the location of a device are described, including without limitation efficiently determining the location of a mobile device and mapping the location of the device, along with other features of interest, such as the locations of other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Casey
  • Patent number: 9392330
    Abstract: Tools are provided for distributing access-restricted content in an internet protocol television (“IPTV”) environment based on portable entitlement keys. Such tools can include a decoder, an encoder, and a network entitlement handler. The decoder may be configured to receive a key associated with entitlement information, and transmit the entitlement information over a network. The encoder may be configured to receive content from content providers, and to encode the content to create IP-compatible content, with access restrictions based on entitlement. The network entitlement handler may be configured to receive a request for requested content from the decoder; receive the access-restricted content including (including the requested content) from the encoder; and transmit the requested content over the network to the decoder using IP, when the decoder is entitled to receive the requested content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Gnanasegeran Selvadurai, Felipe Castro, Waqar Khan
  • Publication number: 20160182662
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and software are disclosed for generating a network usage profile. Certain embodiments of the network usage profile include a devices-by-node profile, indicating the set of customer devices available for use in communicating with a customer-side network node located at a customer side of an access network over a period of time, where some of the customer devices are not in operative communication with the customer-side network node during a portion of that time. Other embodiments associate the network usage profile with customer information to generate device-by-customer profiles. Still other embodiments associate the network usage profile with network traffic information to generate traffic-by-device profiles. Even other embodiments associate the multiple sources and types of information to generate traffic-by-customer profiles and/or traffic-by-device-by-customer profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Amie Elcan, John Butala
  • Publication number: 20160162666
    Abstract: A license manager includes a processor and non-transitory computer readable media having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive a request, from a virtual machine, to reserve an individual license of the set of authorized licenses for a vendor software instance, determine the availability licenses for the requested vendor software, register a unique identifier of the virtual machine in association with an available individual license, grant the individual license to the virtual machine, and prevent the granted individual license from concurrent use by other virtual machines or devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Thomas Schwengler, Kevin M. McBride, Felipe Castro