Patents by Inventor Thomas Edward Hale

Thomas Edward Hale 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: 10356480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and transmitting content are described in the illustrative context of electronic program guides and program channels. A first system causes an interactive interstitial to be presented on a remote first device of a user in conjunction with a scheduled program. The first system determines if a second device of the user is available to receive an interstitial interaction request. At least partly in response to determining that the second device is available to receive an interstitial interaction request, the interstitial interaction request is presented via a client hosted on the second device. At least partly in response to determining that the user has provided an interaction via the second device, the interaction is stored in memory. Optionally, an interstitial is composed based at least in part on the user interaction. The composed interstitial is optionally displayed via the first device of the user in conjunction with a scheduled program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Pluto Inc.
    Inventors: Chan V. Hou, Thomas V. Ryan, Ilya Pozin, Matthew Brian Buchenroth, Thomas Edward Hale, Spencer Shanson, Kelly Ryan Littrell, Indira Ghosh
  • Patent number: 10327037
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying, assembling, and transmitting content are described in the illustrative context of electronic program guides and program channels. An electronic program guide comprises a channel listing and channel program listings. Supplementary content slots are identified. A slot is associated with a time length and is scheduled during or after a scheduled program. A first item of supplementary content, associated with a first time length, is selected to be displayed during a first slot on a user device. In response to determining that the first time length content is less than the time length associated with the first slot, the underrun may be compensated for by causing subsequent primary content to be displayed on the user device at a time earlier than scheduled and a previously scheduled time length of a subsequent supplementary content slot may be extended to a first extended time length, with respect to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Pluto Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer Shanson, Thomas Edward Hale
  • Publication number: 20180014076
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying, assembling, and transmitting content are described in the illustrative context of electronic program guides and program channels. An electronic program guide comprises a channel listing and channel program listings. Supplementary content slots are identified. A slot is associated with a time length and is scheduled during or after a scheduled program. A first item of supplementary content, associated with a first time length, is selected to be displayed during a first slot on a user device. In response to determining that the first time length content is less than the time length associated with the first slot, the underrun may be compensated for by causing subsequent primary content to be displayed on the user device at a time earlier than scheduled and a previously scheduled time length of a subsequent supplementary content slot may be extended to a first extended time length, with respect to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Spencer Shanson, Thomas Edward Hale
  • Publication number: 20180014077
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and transmitting content are described in the illustrative context of electronic program guides and program channels. A first system causes an interactive interstitial to be presented on a remote first device of a user in conjunction with a scheduled program. The first system determines if a second device of the user is available to receive an interstitial interaction request. At least partly in response to determining that the second device is available to receive an interstitial interaction request, the interstitial interaction request is presented via a client hosted on the second device. At least partly in response to determining that the user has provided an interaction via the second device, the interaction is stored in memory. Optionally, an interstitial is composed based at least in part on the user interaction. The composed interstitial is optionally displayed via the first device of the user in conjunction with a scheduled program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Chan V. Hou, Thomas V. Ryan, Ilya Pozin, Matthew Brian Buchenroth, Thomas Edward Hale, Spencer Shanson, Kelly Ryan Littrell, Indira Ghosh