Patents by Inventor Thomas Woods

Thomas Woods 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: 9384424
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing customized user experiences with media assets created using plenoptic content capture technology. The ability to increase the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may allow a user to more easily track the object. Conversely, the ability to decrease the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may block, or cloud the display of, the object from being seen by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Grefalda, Richard Bullwinkle, Thomas Woods, Jason Conness, Minah Oh, Phil Golyshko
  • Patent number: 9288531
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for supplementing media assets in order to compensate for a particular disability of a user. Specifically, a media guidance application determines whether or not a user can comprehend a media asset based on the particular disability of the user. Upon determining that the user cannot comprehend the media asset, the media guidance application supplements the media asset with supplemental data, which compensates for the particular disability of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Amanda Mallardo, William Korbecki, Brian Peterson, David Wheatley, Jason Conness
  • Publication number: 20150317541
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing customized user experiences with media assets created using plenoptic content capture technology. The ability to increase the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may allow a user to more easily track the object. Conversely, the ability to decrease the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may block, or cloud the display of, the object from being seen by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Melvin Grefalda, Richard Bullwinkle, Thomas Woods, Jason Conness, Minah Oh, Phil Golyshko
  • Patent number: 9069764
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for providing a media guidance application that identifies users accessing the same media asset, determines which users desire to communicate with each other, and provides an asset-integrated notification to each of the users desiring to communicate, facilitating communication between the users. For example, other users with a desire to communicate with an initial user that are accessing the same media asset as the initial user may be indicated by inserting a media element representative of the other users directly into the media asset watched by an initial user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Brian Fife, Kourosh Soroushian
  • Patent number: 9070050
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing customized user experiences with media assets created using plenoptic content capture technology. The ability to increase the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may allow a user to more easily track the object. Conversely, the ability to decrease the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may block, or cloud the display of, the object from being seen by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Grefalda, Richard Bullwinkle, Thomas Woods, Jason Conness, Minah Oh, Phil Golyshko
  • Publication number: 20150106829
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for supplementing media assets in order to compensate for a particular disability of a user. Specifically, a media guidance application determines whether or not a user can comprehend a media asset based on the particular disability of the user. Upon determining that the user cannot comprehend the media asset, the media guidance application supplements the media asset with supplemental data, which compensates for the particular disability of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Amanda Mallardo, William Korbecki, Brian Peterson, David Wheatley, Jason Conness
  • Patent number: 8930975
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for supplementing media assets in order to compensate for a particular disability of a user. Specifically, a media guidance application determines whether or not a user can comprehend a media asset based on the particular disability of the user. Upon determining that the user cannot comprehend the media asset, the media guidance application supplements the media asset with supplemental data, which compensates for the particular disability of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Amanda Mallardo, William Korbecki, Brian Peterson, David Wheatley, Jason Conness
  • Publication number: 20140375558
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for adjusting audio output based on eye tracking input. In some embodiments, a memory stores data defining a boundary based on a coordinate system. The boundary corresponds to a display element of displayed content. An input receives data indicating coordinates of a gaze point location of a user viewing the displayed content. A processor compares the received coordinates of the gaze point location to the boundary corresponding to the display element to determine whether the gaze point location is inside the boundary corresponding to the display element. In response to determining that the gaze point location is inside the boundary corresponding to the display element, the processor adjusts an audio setting of the displayed content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Jason W. Conness, Phil Golyshko, Thomas Woods, Shrirang Nilkanth Jambhekar, Melvin Grefalda, Richard Bullwinkle, Minah Oh
  • Publication number: 20140344839
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein for supplementing media assets in order to compensate for a particular disability of a user. Specifically, a media guidance application determines whether or not a user can comprehend a media asset based on the particular disability of the user. Upon determining that the user cannot comprehend the media asset, the media guidance application supplements the media asset with supplemental data, which compensates for the particular disability of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Amanda Mallardo, William Korbecki, Brian Peterson, David Wheatley, Jason Conness
  • Publication number: 20140307070
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting a user in content selection are provided. A user request to access a content source may be received. Content from the content source may be received in response to the user request. A determination may be made as to whether the content received from the content source is an advertisement. An identifier of the content source may be retrieved from memory. The identifier of the content source may be cross-referenced with a database of audible messages to retrieve an audible message associated with the content source. The audible message may be played to identify the content source to the user in response to determining that the content received from the content source is an advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Woods
  • Patent number: 8854447
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for adjusting audio output based on eye tracking input. In some embodiments, a memory stores data defining a boundary based on a coordinate system. The boundary corresponds to a display element of displayed content. An input receives data indicating coordinates of a gaze point location of a user viewing the displayed content. A processor compares the received coordinates of the gaze point location to the boundary corresponding to the display element to determine whether the gaze point location is inside the boundary corresponding to the display element. In response to determining that the gaze point location is inside the boundary corresponding to the display element, the processor adjusts an audio setting of the displayed content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Conness, Phil Golyshko, Thomas Woods, Shrirang Nilkanth Jambhekar, Melvin Grefalda, Richard Bullwinke, Minah Oh
  • Publication number: 20140177905
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing customized user experiences with media assets created using plenoptic content capture technology. The ability to increase the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may allow a user to more easily track the object. Conversely, the ability to decrease the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may block, or cloud the display of, the object from being seen by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Melvin Grefalda, Richard Bullwinkle, Thomas Woods, Jason Conness, Minah Oh, Phil Golyshko
  • Publication number: 20140176813
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for adjusting audio output based on eye tracking input. In some embodiments, a memory stores data defining a boundary based on a coordinate system. The boundary corresponds to a display element of displayed content. An input receives data indicating coordinates of a gaze point location of a user viewing the displayed content. A processor compares the received coordinates of the gaze point location to the boundary corresponding to the display element to determine whether the gaze point location is inside the boundary corresponding to the display element. In response to determining that the gaze point location is inside the boundary corresponding to the display element, the processor adjusts an audio setting of the displayed content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason W. Conness, Phil Golyshko, Thomas Woods, Shrirang Nilkanth Jambhekar, Melvin Grefalda, Richard Bullwinkle, Minah Oh
  • Publication number: 20140081988
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for providing a media guidance application that identifies users accessing the same media asset, determines which users desire to communicate with each other, and provides an asset-integrated notification to each of the users desiring to communicate, facilitating communication between the users. For example, other users with a desire to communicate with an initial user that are accessing the same media asset as the initial user may be indicated by inserting a media element representative of the other users directly into the media asset watched by an initial user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Brian Fife, Kourosh Soroushian
  • Patent number: 8659228
    Abstract: An LED ballast mount preferably includes a housing assembly having sidewalls including a housing LED side wall and a housing opposite side wall. A rechargeable battery is installed in a battery assembly and the battery assembly includes a battery housing mounted to the housing LED side wall. A first LED lamp is mounted on a lower face of the battery housing. A first fluorescent lamp socket mounted on a ballast socket face of the battery housing. A second fluorescent lamp socket mounted on the ballast socket face of the battery housing. A bridge housing including an electronic ballast mounted within the bridge housing. Fluorescent tubes may be mounted in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Brian Wald, Kevin Yang, Fengchang Hu
  • Publication number: 20130141843
    Abstract: A folding ballast has a ballast housing having an elongated shape. A first socket arm is mounted to the ballast housing at a first socket arm joint, and the first socket arm has a first closed position parallel to the ballast. The first socket arm has a first open position perpendicular to the ballast. A second socket arm is mounted to the ballast housing at a second socket arm joint, and the second socket arm has a second closed position parallel to the ballast. The second socket arm has a second open position perpendicular to the ballast. A first socket is mounted to the first socket arm, and the first socket is electrically connected to the ballast housing. A second socket is mounted to the second socket arm, and the second socket is electrically connected to the ballast housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Brian Howard Wald, Thomas Woods, Kevin Yang, Fengchang Hu, Alvaro Garcia
  • Publication number: 20120319583
    Abstract: An LED ballast mount preferably includes a housing assembly having sidewalls including a housing LED side wall and a housing opposite side wall. A rechargeable battery is installed in a battery assembly and the battery assembly includes a battery housing mounted to the housing LED side wall. A first LED lamp is mounted on a lower face of the battery housing. A first fluorescent lamp socket mounted on a ballast socket face of the battery housing. A second fluorescent lamp socket mounted on the ballast socket face of the battery housing. A bridge housing including an electronic ballast mounted within the bridge housing. Fluorescent tubes may be mounted in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Woods, Brian Wald, Kevin Yang, Fengchang Hu
  • Publication number: 20070154002
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a call processing control record are disclosed. Generally, a call processing control record generator compares electronic schedule data with stored data to determine whether the electronic schedule data different from the stored data. In response to determining the electronic schedule data differs from the stored data, the call processing control record generator generates a call processing control record including an indication of an announcement to be transmitted to a caller in response to receipt of a call placed to a destination location during a defined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Gavin Lew, Thomas Woods
  • Publication number: 20070057411
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method is disclosed for treating particulate materials (e.g., plastic resins) so as change the surface characteristics of the particulate materials comprising a work chamber receiving a quantity of the particulate material to be treated, a power supply, and a capacitor energized by the power supply, where the capacitor generates a capacitive plasma which is used to treat the particulate material such that when objects are formed from the treated particulate material, such objects will have enhanced surface characteristics. Further, a quantity of a gas may be introduced within the work chamber to facilitate the generation of a plasma within the particulate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: R. Williams, Thomas Woods
  • Publication number: 20060029201
    Abstract: A method and system enable the automatic generation of a call processing control record. A user creates a schedule entry comprising a plurality of data entries on an electronic scheduler. The data entries are transmitted from the electronic scheduler to a call processing control record generator. The data entries are compared with stored data. In response to the data entries, the call processing control record generator generates a call processing control record which can be stored in a call processing control record database. The call processing control record can be used to forward calls or transmit an announcement to the calling party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Gavin Lew, Thomas Woods