Patents by Inventor Steven M. Cormie

Steven M. Cormie 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: 12101518
    Abstract: In a communication system where a channel teed carrying a media stream is broadcast for delivery of the media stream to a media client, where the channel feed further includes metadata in-band and correlated with a content frame of the media stream, but where the metadata gets removed from the channel feed before the media stream reaches the media client, a computing system (i) extracts the metadata from the channel feed and (ii) transmits out-of-band to the media client the extracted metadata in correlation with reference fingerprint data representing the frame of the media stream, the correlation being useable by the media client as a basis to re-correlate the metadata with the frame of the media stream, so as to enable the media client to carry out an action, such as dynamic ad insertion, based on the correlation of the metadata with the frame of the media stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Publication number: 20240298079
    Abstract: Use of watermarking in a media stream as a trigger for carrying out a fingerprint-related action, such as starting to generate fingerprints of the media stream, increasing a rate of generation of fingerprints of the media stream, starting to report fingerprints of the media stream, requesting fingerprints, or engaging in a fingerprint comparison. In an implementation, a media client that is processing the media stream could detect the watermark in the media stream and could responsively carry out or cause to be carried out a fingerprint-related action. Or an entity in a media-distribution path along which the media stream flows to a media client could detect the watermark in the media stream and could responsively carry out or cause to be carried out a fingerprint-related action. Further, the watermark could be inserted into the media stream in the first place based on transport-stream carried metadata, among other possibilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Shashank C. MERCHANT, John S. STAVROPOULOS, Benjamin J. ROPKE, Steven M. CORMIE
  • Patent number: 12015833
    Abstract: Use of watermarking in a media stream as a trigger for carrying out a fingerprint-related action, such as starting to generate fingerprints of the media stream, increasing a rate of generation of fingerprints of the media stream, starting to report fingerprints of the media stream, requesting fingerprints, or engaging in a fingerprint comparison. In an implementation, a media client that is processing the media stream could detect the watermark in the media stream and could responsively carry out or cause to be carried out a fingerprint-related action. Or an entity in a media-distribution path along which the media stream flows to a media client could detect the watermark in the media stream and could responsively carry out or cause to be carried out a fingerprint-related action. Further, the watermark could be inserted into the media stream in the first place based on transport-stream carried metadata, among other possibilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank C. Merchant, John S. Stavropoulos, Benjamin J. Ropke, Steven M. Cormie
  • Publication number: 20230403416
    Abstract: In a communication system where a channel teed carrying a media stream is broadcast for delivery of the media stream to a media client, where the channel feed further includes metadata in-band and correlated with a content frame of the media stream, but where the metadata gets removed from the channel feed before the media stream reaches the media client, a computing system (i) extracts the metadata from the channel feed and (ii) transmits out-of-band to the media client the extracted metadata in correlation with reference fingerprint data representing the frame of the media stream, the correlation being useable by the media client as a basis to re-correlate the metadata with the frame of the media stream, so as to enable the media client to carry out an action, such as dynamic ad insertion, based on the correlation of the metadata with the frame of the media stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: STEVEN M. CORMIE, BRIAN JENTZ
  • Patent number: 11792254
    Abstract: As a media client receives a media stream for presentation, the media client could receive, in-band with the media stream, metadata identifying the media stream, such as a media-stream identifier encoded as a watermark in the media stream or carried together with the media stream in a packet-based transport stream, among other possibilities. And while the media client is processing the media stream for presentation, the media client could then convey the received metadata out-of-band to a server to enable the server to readily obtain reference fingerprints representing the media stream and to thereby facilitate, based on the reference fingerprints, a content-related action such as dynamic content modification for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Patent number: 11689751
    Abstract: In a communication system where a channel feed carrying a media stream is broadcast for delivery of the media stream to a media client, where the channel feed further includes metadata in-band and correlated with a content frame of the media stream, but where the metadata gets removed from the channel feed before the media stream reaches the media client, a computing system (i) extracts the metadata from the channel feed and (ii) transmits out-of-band to the media client the extracted metadata in correlation with reference fingerprint data representing the frame of the media stream, the correlation being useable by the media client as a basis to re-correlate the metadata with the frame of the media stream, so as to enable the media client to carry out an action, such as dynamic ad insertion, based on the correlation of the metadata with the frame of the media stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Publication number: 20220150601
    Abstract: Use of watermarking in a media stream as a trigger for carrying out a fingerprint-related action, such as starting to generate fingerprints of the media stream, increasing a rate of generation of fingerprints of the media stream, starting to report fingerprints of the media stream, requesting fingerprints, or engaging in a fingerprint comparison. In an implementation, a media client that is processing the media stream could detect the watermark in the media stream and could responsively carry out or cause to be carried out a fingerprint-related action. Or an entity in a media-distribution path along which the media stream flows to a media client could detect the watermark in the media stream and could responsively carry out or cause to be carried out a fingerprint-related action. Further, the watermark could be inserted into the media stream in the first place based on transport-stream carried metadata, among other possibilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Shashank C. Merchant, John S. Stavropoulos, Benjamin J. Ropke, Steven M. Cormie
  • Publication number: 20220109715
    Abstract: As a media client receives a media stream for presentation, the media client could receive, in-band with the media stream, metadata identifying the media stream, such as a media-stream identifier encoded as a watermark in the media stream or carried together with the media stream in a packet-based transport stream, among other possibilities. And while the media client is processing the media stream for presentation, the media client could then convey the received metadata out-of-band to a server to enable the server to readily obtain reference fingerprints representing the media stream and to thereby facilitate, based on the reference fingerprints, a content-related action such as dynamic content modification for instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Patent number: 11276086
    Abstract: Systems and method for advertisement replacement are disclosed. A server may receive a server feed, generate a plurality of server fingerprints for a respective plurality of segments of the server feed, receive a synchronization message comprising a client fingerprint and a client time, match the client fingerprint with one of the plurality of server fingerprints, and send a synchronization response indicative of a server time associated with the one of the plurality of server fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Cormie
  • Patent number: 11233840
    Abstract: As a media client receives a media stream for presentation, the media client could receive, in-band with the media stream, metadata identifying the media stream, such as a media-stream identifier encoded as a watermark in the media stream or carried together with the media stream in a packet-based transport stream, among other possibilities. And while the media client is processing the media stream for presentation, the media client could then convey the received metadata out-of-band to a server to enable the server to readily obtain reference fingerprints representing the media stream and to thereby facilitate, based on the reference fingerprints, a content-related action such as dynamic content modification for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Publication number: 20210409788
    Abstract: In a communication system where a channel feed carrying a media stream is broadcast for delivery of the media stream to a media client, where the channel feed further includes metadata in-band and correlated with a content frame of the media stream, but where the metadata gets removed from the channel feed before the media stream reaches the media client, a computing system (i) extracts the metadata from the channel feed and (ii) transmits out-of-band to the media client the extracted metadata in correlation with reference fingerprint data representing the frame of the media stream, the correlation being useable by the media client as a basis to re-correlate the metadata with the frame of the media stream, so as to enable the media client to carry out an action, such as dynamic ad insertion, based on the correlation of the metadata with the frame of the media stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Patent number: 11212581
    Abstract: A processing device for generating a viewing data report is disclosed. The processing device may include a memory device and a processor. The memory device may store instructions. The processor may be operatively coupled to the memory device. The processor may execute the instructions to: determine first viewing data associated with a first ACR event; determine second viewing data associated with a second ACR event; determine that a data field of a plurality of data fields in the first viewing data is incomplete; derive new data for the data field using other data fields of the first viewing data; aggregate the first viewing data and the second viewing data into a single data model to obtain aggregated viewing data of viewing behavior of a first viewer and a second viewer; and create a viewing data report as a compilation of the aggregated viewing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Stefan Liassides
  • Patent number: 11212582
    Abstract: A processing device for generating a viewing data report is disclosed. The processing device may include a memory device and a processor. The memory device may store instructions. The processor may be operatively coupled to the memory device. The processor may execute the instructions to: determine first viewing data associated with a first ACR event; determine second viewing data associated with a second ACR event; determine that a data field of a plurality of data fields in the first viewing data is incomplete; derive new data for the data field using other data fields of the first viewing data; aggregate the first viewing data and the second viewing data into a single data model to obtain aggregated viewing data of viewing behavior of a first viewer and a second viewer; and create a viewing data report as a compilation of the aggregated viewing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Stefan Liassides
  • Patent number: 11153616
    Abstract: In a communication system where a channel feed carrying a media stream is broadcast for delivery of the media stream to a media client, where the channel feed further includes metadata in-band and correlated with a content frame of the media stream, but where the metadata gets removed from the channel feed before the media stream reaches the media client, a computing system (i) extracts the metadata from the channel feed and (ii) transmits out-of-band to the media client the extracted metadata in correlation with reference fingerprint data representing the frame of the media stream, the correlation being useable by the media client as a basis to re-correlate the metadata with the frame of the media stream, so as to enable the media client to carry out an action, such as dynamic ad insertion, based on the correlation of the metadata with the frame of the media stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Patent number: 11064253
    Abstract: A processing device and method are disclosed to manage content of a content feed is disclosed. The method can include receiving, from a client device, an overlay request for an overlay content. The method can also include select a first overlay content from a plurality of overlay contents. The method can further include determining when an amount remaining in a monetary budget, associated with the overlay request, exceeds a threshold monetary budget. The method can further include determining when a number of times the overlay content has been displayed does not exceed a threshold number of times. The method can further include retrieving, from an overlay database, the first overlay content. The method can further include delivering, to the client device, the first overlay content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Stefan Liassides
  • Publication number: 20210084345
    Abstract: In a communication system where a channel feed carrying a media stream is broadcast for delivery of the media stream to a media client, where the channel feed further includes metadata in-band and correlated with a content frame of the media stream, but where the metadata gets removed from the channel feed before the media stream reaches the media client, a computing system (i) extracts the metadata from the channel feed and (ii) transmits out-of-band to the media client the extracted metadata in correlation with reference fingerprint data representing the frame of the media stream, the correlation being useable by the media client as a basis to re-correlate the metadata with the frame of the media stream, so as to enable the media client to carry out an action, such as dynamic ad insertion, based on the correlation of the metadata with the frame of the media stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Publication number: 20210084091
    Abstract: As a media client receives a media stream for presentation, the media client could receive, in-band with the media stream, metadata identifying the media stream, such as a media-stream identifier encoded as a watermark in the media stream or carried together with the media stream in a packet-based transport stream, among other possibilities. And while the media client is processing the media stream for presentation, the media client could then convey the received metadata out-of-band to a server to enable the server to readily obtain reference fingerprints representing the media stream and to thereby facilitate, based on the reference fingerprints, a content-related action such as dynamic content modification for instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Brian Jentz
  • Publication number: 20200349612
    Abstract: Systems and method for advertisement replacement are disclosed. A server may receive a server feed, generate a plurality of server fingerprints for a respective plurality of segments of the server feed, receive a synchronization message comprising a client fingerprint and a client time, match the client fingerprint with one of the plurality of server fingerprints, and send a synchronization response indicative of a server time associated with the one of the plurality of server fingerprints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Steven M. Cormie
  • Patent number: 10825056
    Abstract: Systems and method for advertisement replacement are disclosed. A server may receive a server feed, generate a plurality of server fingerprints for a respective plurality of segments of the server feed, receive a synchronization message comprising a client fingerprint and a client time, match the client fingerprint with one of the plurality of server fingerprints, and send a synchronization response indicative of a server time associated with the one of the plurality of server fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventor: Steven M. Cormie
  • Publication number: 20200344523
    Abstract: A processing device for generating a viewing data report is disclosed. The processing device may include a memory device and a processor. The memory device may store instructions. The processor may be operatively coupled to the memory device. The processor may execute the instructions to: determine first viewing data associated with a first ACR event; determine second viewing data associated with a second ACR event; determine that a data field of a plurality of data fields in the first viewing data is incomplete; derive new data for the data field using other data fields of the first viewing data; aggregate the first viewing data and the second viewing data into a single data model to obtain aggregated viewing data of viewing behavior of a first viewer and a second viewer; and create a viewing data report as a compilation of the aggregated viewing data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Stefan Liassides