Patents by Inventor Steven Trombetta

Steven Trombetta 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: 20200086217
    Abstract: A method for launching interactive content including associating one or more templates with a corresponding one or more activities of an interactive content title and transmitting the one or more templates to a platform server. The method includes selecting and displaying a set of templates generated from the one or more templates received on a user device. The method includes launching the activity in the interactive title based on a template selected by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: STEVEN TROMBETTA, CHARLES WAYNE DENISON, II, BENEDIKT NEUENFELDT, AKIHIKO KUSUMOTO, NOBUKAZU KOYAMA, ATSUSHI FUSE
  • Patent number: 10595057
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time incorporation of user-produced content into a broadcast media stream are provided. A media title may be streamed to a producer computing device over a communication network. The producer computing device is associated with a channel for distributing the user-produced content in conjunction with the media title. Produced content may be captured from the producer computing device as the streamed media title is played on the producer computing device. Such captured produced content may be designated for the channel. The media title and the produced content may then be broadcast in real-time over the communication network to one or more subscriber devices subscribed to the channel. The media title and the produced content may be synchronized within the broadcast to reflect when the produced content was captured in relation to the media title as the media title was played on the producer computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventor: Steven Trombetta
  • Patent number: 10471360
    Abstract: A multi-user system hosts a game session over a communication network. The game session includes a plurality of media streams that show one or more views of live game play for the game session. The multi-user system further assigns a spectator value to each media stream, updates one or more spectator values based on user inputs received during the game session, selects, for one or more time periods of the game session, one media stream to broadcast based on the spectator value assigned to the one media stream for the one or more time periods, and broadcasts the one media stream over the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, James Fairbairn
  • Patent number: 10402630
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining privacy when providing media content to a group includes at least one sensor coupled to a processor that is configured to observe, based on sensor data from the sensor(s), that more than one user is engaged with the apparatus, and to obtain user identities for at least a first user and a second user engaged with the apparatus. The processor looks-up a first privacy preference for the first user and a second privacy preference for the second user based on the user identities of both users. The processor determines restricted content based on the first privacy preference and the second privacy preference and determines and outputs for display suggested content for engagement by the first user and the second user, based on the restricted content, where the suggested content satisfies criterion for the first privacy preference and the second privacy preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: James Fairbairn, Steven Trombetta, Vipul Hingne
  • Publication number: 20190266845
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards creation of winner tournaments. Instead of using traditional tournament bracket structures which establish pre-set match-ups between participating players in a tournament at an e-sport event, the present disclosure broadens the scope of participants who may be eligible to also participate within the same tournament but who may not initially be attending the e-sport event. With the e-sport competitive scene, not only do professionals compete against each other during a live e-sport event but remote users remotely viewing the e-sport event can also be introduced into the tournament structure as well. These remote users can be introduced into the live e-sport event for the purpose of also competing against competitive players as well as being introduced as an exhibition match with the professionals (e.g. fans of the professionals selected based on social media).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar
  • Publication number: 20190262724
    Abstract: Systems and methods for discovery and detection of events in interactive digital content are provided. A plurality of game titles may be hosted on a gaming network platform, and gameplay data in sessions involving the plurality of game titles may be tracked in real-time. Each session may be associated with a stream. One or more event criteria may be stored for each of a plurality of predefined events of interest. An event of interest may be identified when the tracked gameplay data for a session meets the stored criteria. A list of available streams identified as including the identified event may be sorted, and a subset of the available streams may be identified as being at a top of the list. A notification may be provided to a spectator device, the notification including a link to one of the streams in the subset. The criteria for the event of interest may also be updated based on subsequent game data and feedback (e.g., use of the link).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20190262727
    Abstract: A multi-user platform provides an immersive digital (including virtual reality (VR)) environment to solicit and broadcast commentary related to gameplay. The multi-user platform receives gameplay content, which includes a plurality of media streams that show one or more views. The multi-user platform generates a graphical representation for each media stream in the VR environment, receives commentary content corresponding to one or more media streams in the VR environment, and determines one graphical representation for one media stream is an active representation in the VR environment for a time period. The multi-user platform further synchronizes a portion of the commentary content received in the time period with the one media stream associated with the active representation to create synchronized content and broadcast gameplay channel(s) that includes the synchronized content to one or more subscribers connected to the multi-user platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20190262712
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the creation of channels providing customizable video feeds in an online gaming platform. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology can include steps for receiving a first set of event attributes from a first user, the first set of event attributes comprising information identifying a first game title and a first game-play event associated with the first game title, monitoring play of the first game title by a second user to detect occurrence of the game-play event, and in response to a detected occurrence of the first game-play event, automatically providing a video stream of the first game title to the first user. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, James Fairbairn, Christopher Thielbar
  • Publication number: 20190262720
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for ranking video game players based on performance statistics recorded during game-play. In some aspects, a process of the subject technology can include operations for receiving a first set of game-play attributes including two or more game-play statistics for measuring a first player's performance relative to a first game and a second game, receiving a second set of game-play attributes including two or more game-play statistics for measuring a second player's performance relative to the first game and the second game, and automatically ranking the first player and the second player based on the first set of game-play attributes and the second set of game-play attributes. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar
  • Publication number: 20190262705
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems directed towards providing scaled engagement and views of an e-sports event. Instead of providing the same distribution of live e-sport event data to all remote viewers of a live e-sports event, features associated with e-sports gaming network could be used to customize the distribution of live e-sport event data to promote immersive viewer experience. The enhanced immersion can also be carried out in a virtual reality or augmented reality setting. The features would be capable of providing additional information, different views, and a variety of different commentators for the e-sports event so that the viewer can be more engaged when viewing the particular e-sports event. With the increased engagement from remote viewers, the distribution of live e-sports event data can also be further modified for monetization by incorporating advertisements as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20190262706
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the de-interleaving of captured game data for the creation of separate video data and statistical metadata repositories. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for capturing gameplay data based on live gameplay in a game environment, the gameplay data comprising video data and statistical metadata based on player interactions with the game environment, de-interleaving the video data and the statistical metadata, storing the video data to a first database, and storing the statistical metadata to a second database, the first database being different from the second database. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn, Adil Sherwani
  • Publication number: 20190262723
    Abstract: A video game has at least one player client with control over an aspect of a shared virtual environment. The video game also has at least one spectator client with limited to no control over the shared virtual environment. For example, the spectator client's control may be limited to the game server generating audience cheers or boos in response to spectator input during gameplay. In response to detection of a trigger event by a game server, the player and spectator may switch roles. The client switching from spectator to player experiences an increase in network transfer quality from the game server to help provide smooth gameplay. The client switching from player to spectator faces a decrease in network transfer properties to compensate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20190262713
    Abstract: Techniques for incentivizing completive gameplay include measuring metrics for a plurality of players (e.g., ranked players and non-ranked players) that engage in gameplay, and generating ranked profiles for the ranked players and a non-ranked profile for the non-ranked player based on the metrics. The techniques further include mapping the ranked profiles and the non-ranked profile in a vector-space, where one metric corresponds to one dimension in the vector-space, and presenting a notification to the non-ranked player based on a distance in the vector-space between the non-ranked profile and at least one ranked profile. The notification provides an incentive for the non-ranked player to engage in competitive gameplay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Christopher Thielbar, James Fairbairn
  • Publication number: 20190215546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time incorporation of user-produced content into a broadcast media stream are provided. A media title may be streamed to a producer computing device over a communication network. The producer computing device is associated with a channel for distributing the user-produced content in conjunction with the media title. Produced content may be captured from the producer computing device as the streamed media title is played on the producer computing device. Such captured produced content may be designated for the channel. The media title and the produced content may then be broadcast in real-time over the communication network to one or more subscriber devices subscribed to the channel. The media title and the produced content may be synchronized within the broadcast to reflect when the produced content was captured in relation to the media title as the media title was played on the producer computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Trombetta
  • Patent number: 10319049
    Abstract: Implementations generally relate to the sharing of media content. In some implementations, a method includes providing a grid view in a user interface, where the grid view displays media content items that have been shared in a network. The method also includes providing a gallery view in response to a user selecting a media content item among the media content items in the grid view, where the gallery view displays the selected media content item. The method also includes providing a share menu view in response to the user selecting a re-share button, where the share menu view displays options for sharing the selected media content item. The method also includes providing a comment view, where the comment view enables the user to comment on the selected media content item. The method also includes re-sharing the selected media content item to other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Shunsuke Kunieda
  • Patent number: 10258882
    Abstract: Active gameplay of a video game on a computer gaming device is overseen by a platform-level in-game recording companion that executes separately from any of a plurality of different video games. During active gameplay of the video game, the active gameplay is continuously and automatically buffered to a temporary storage buffer. During active gameplay the computer gaming device receives a command to save a segment of the active gameplay for subsequent viewing. While displaying gameplay of the currently-executing video game, an interface for the platform-level in-game recording companion is displayed. The segment of the active gameplay is saved from the temporary storage buffer to a library of the platform-level in-game recording companion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Edmund Samuel Victor Pinto, Todd Ryun Manion, James Andrew Goossen
  • Patent number: 10237584
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time incorporation of user-produced content into a broadcast media stream are provided. A media title may be streamed to a producer computing device over a communication network. The producer computing device is associated with a channel for distributing the user-produced content in conjunction with the media title. Produced content may be captured from the producer computing device as the streamed media title is played on the producer computing device. Such captured produced content may be designated for the channel. The media title and the produced content may then be broadcast in real-time over the communication network to one or more subscriber devices subscribed to the channel. The media title and the produced content may be synchronized within the broadcast to reflect when the produced content was captured in relation to the media title as the media title was played on the producer computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventor: Steven Trombetta
  • Patent number: 10143928
    Abstract: A video game application is executed on a computer gaming device. While the video game application is providing active gameplay, the computer gaming device receives a command to broadcast the active gameplay. Responsive to the command, the computer gaming device broadcasts the active gameplay without interrupting the active gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Travis John Muhlestein, Joanna Mason, Christian Klein, Corey E. Rogers, Ryan Y. Kim, Sudhakar V. Prabhu
  • Publication number: 20180302657
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time incorporation of user-produced content into a broadcast media stream are provided. A media title may be streamed to a producer computing device over a communication network. The producer computing device is associated with a channel for distributing the user-produced content in conjunction with the media title. Produced content may be captured from the producer computing device as the streamed media title is played on the producer computing device. Such captured produced content may be designated for the channel. The media title and the produced content may then be broadcast in real-time over the communication network to one or more subscriber devices subscribed to the channel. The media title and the produced content may be synchronized within the broadcast to reflect when the produced content was captured in relation to the media title as the media title was played on the producer computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Trombetta
  • Publication number: 20180260534
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining privacy when providing media content to a group includes at least one sensor coupled to a processor that is configured to observe, based on sensor data from the sensor(s), that more than one user is engaged with the apparatus, and to obtain user identities for at least a first user and a second user engaged with the apparatus. The processor looks-up a first privacy preference for the first user and a second privacy preference for the second user based on the user identities of both users. The processor determines restricted content based on the first privacy preference and the second privacy preference and determines and outputs for display suggested content for engagement by the first user and the second user, based on the restricted content, where the suggested content satisfies criterion for the first privacy preference and the second privacy preference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: James Fairbairn, Steven Trombetta, Vipul Hingne