Video Distribution System With Local Interaction Patents (Class 725/135)
  • Patent number: 9544650
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for presenting news items corresponding to media content are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: determining a channel that is providing a television program; determining whether news content corresponding to the channel exists, wherein the determining further comprises: obtaining news documents, determining keywords associated with the news documents based on frequency, receiving captioning content corresponding to the channel, determining whether at least one of the keywords associated with the news documents is included in the captioning content, selecting a news document in response to determining that keywords associated with the news document are included in the captioning content, and obtaining one or more news items that correspond to the news document; and causing the one or more news items relating to the television program to be presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ant Oztaskent, Yaroslav Volovich
  • Patent number: 9538229
    Abstract: A method may include receiving and outputting a selected multimedia stream at a mobile device. It is determined that a user wishes to browse other available multimedia streams. The selected multimedia stream is paused while the user browses the other available multimedia streams. The selected multimedia stream is cached while the user browses the other available multimedia streams. It is determined that the user has finished browsing the other available multimedia streams. The cached multimedia stream is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Hong Xiao, Afshin Moshrefi, Rahul Khushoo, Changqing Wang
  • Patent number: 9535450
    Abstract: Synchronizing a data stream with an associated metadata stream by receiving a data stream and a metadata stream having a plurality of metadata events associated with the data stream, identifying within the data stream a plurality of data events, matching each of the data events to one of the metadata events in accordance with a matching criterion, and synchronizing the data stream with the metadata stream by effecting a relative time shift between the metadata stream and the data stream in accordance with a time shift adjustment value that results in the smallest sum of absolute differences between time indices of each matched data event and metadata event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shay Ben-David, Evgeny Hazanovich, Zak Mandel
  • Patent number: 9525913
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for inhibiting the presentation of spoiler content based on requested content are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Arthur Kardatzke
  • Patent number: 9516353
    Abstract: A method for generating a set of aggregated media content includes storing a plurality of segments of media data. The method further includes organizing the segments into a set of aggregated content including content for generating a plurality of sets of assembled content. The plurality of segments includes a first segment and a second segment. The method further includes generating a first set of metadata for the first segment specifying a first source index location of the first segment in the set of aggregated media content and a first target index location of the first segment in a first set of assembled media content, and a second set of metadata for the second segment specifying a second source index location of the second segment in the set of aggregated media content and a second target index location of the second segment in a second set of assembled media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kate Megan Carney Landow, John Anthony Card, II
  • Patent number: 9510047
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically performing a media action based on the status of external components are provided. A media asset is determined to be presented on a user equipment device. Components external to the user equipment device are monitored to obtain status information pertaining to the components. A determination is made as to whether a media action is associated with the status information. The identified media action is performed for the media asset in response to determining that the media asset is associated with the status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: China Arai, Michael R. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9462353
    Abstract: An enhanced television service provides a shared folder over a television network, such as a fiber optic network. Users, the service provider, or trusted sources, share use of a program folder via television. A user recommends content, such as a program listing, to other geographically dispersed subscribers, by sending the content to the subscribers' shared folder. Users may create a personal content guide for use instead of a standard program guide that contains identical listings for all subscribers. The shared folder may consist of programs from a variety of channels as well as other content and may be populated by trusted sources in remote locations. Users may search for content that matches search criteria and may delete or edit listings from the shared folder. The contents of the folder may not only include program listings, but also other content such as movies, television shows, web sites, photos, home videos, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Joel S. Angiolillo, Xi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9456240
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus providing UI functionality at a client device via a video decoder/renderer operates to decode a compressed video stream bearing UI imagery and a messaging proxy is adapted to process user interaction data indicative of a local function to invoke an application programming interface (API) associated with the local function in order to select an appropriate channel of the decoded compressed video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Donovan McMahon, David James Colter, Douglas Masaur Ike
  • Patent number: 9451197
    Abstract: A server interactively serves client applications and client applications make estimates until updates are received from the server based on user input from the client. Processors on both the server and client execute applications with images. A video encoder in the server estimates images in response to the client user input and forwards a compressed data stream to the client. A video decoder of the client obtains images from memory and estimates images and reconstructs images from a compressed data stream in synchronization with an encoder of the server using the user input. A client display displays a region from memory of the one or more estimated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UV Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A Krause, Peter A Monta
  • Patent number: 9448696
    Abstract: A method for delivering media content in full motion video to users via a network in a collaborative media production process is disclosed. The method includes: receiving production digital media files at a server; preparing the production digital media files for downloading or streaming to a collaborative display interface, wherein the production digital media files include meta-data captured on a production set, including production time codes; downloading or streaming the production digital media files to a collaborative display interface via the network; and enabling viewing and collaborative interaction with the production digital media files by a user using the collaborative display interface, wherein the collaborative interaction includes interacting with other users during post-production by notating comments that include inserting a link to a specific digital media file and an actual media clip frame using a production time code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Dax PFT, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua C. Kline
  • Patent number: 9451202
    Abstract: A media device for content-based highlight handling of television programming may be provided. Criteria of interest corresponding to user input may be processed. Idle tuner(s) not being used to receive any television channels for presentation or recording may be identified. A television channel identified based at least in part on the criteria of interest may be tuned to with an idle tuner. Content received at the media device may be processed. Update data associated with a subject matter of the content may be received separately from the television channel. A portion of the content that corresponds to the criteria may be identified based at least in part on the criteria of interest and the update data. A portion of a television program may be recorded and/or marked. The portion of the television program may correspond to the portion of the content identified based at least in part on the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: William Michael Beals
  • Patent number: 9425869
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending, from a client system to a media-player device, an indication that a user is logged into an online social network via an application. The media-player device includes antennas, and power levels of the antennas are set to maximum in response to receiving the indication. An orientation position of the client system with respect to the media-player device is determined based on broadcast signals received from the antennas. At each boundary position of the client system, where each boundary position in range of an antenna, a broadcast signal is received from the antenna. Signal strengths are determined for the received broadcast signals. Instructions to adjust a power level of each of the antennas based on the determined signal strengths are sent to the media-player device. The power levels are adjusted to define a broadcast range based on the orientation and boundary positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Mateusz Marek Niewczas
  • Patent number: 9409081
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for a media application that indicates to a user when members of his or her fantasy sports team appear in sports programming displayed on a user device. In addition, the media application may display additional information (e.g., statistics, commentary, highlights, etc.) that is particular to members of the fantasy sports team of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Jensen, Bill Amidei
  • Patent number: 9325953
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user's client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Cheng
  • Patent number: 9307276
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for processing messages intended to allow the access to conditional access content and to a security module arranged for implementing this method. The method comprises the steps of receiving by a security module comprising at least one decryption module, a plurality of messages, these messages belonging to at least two different categories; assigning a different priority level to messages from each different category, one of said priority level being defined as high and another priority level, lower that the high priority level, being defined as the standard priority level; associating a value to the messages to which the standard priority level has been assigned; assigning at least one threshold value for the value associated with messages having a standard priority level; and comparing between the threshold value for a determined message and the value associated with said message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NAGRASTAR, LLC
    Inventors: Jean Keomany, Daniel Golaz, Philippe Mazeau, Jean-Luc Bussy, Sébastien Erard
  • Patent number: 9300896
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage medium, reception apparatus, and information providing apparatus for generating a list of accessible channels. The method includes retrieving from a primary server terrestrial broadcast channel information associated with a predetermined geographical region. The terrestrial broadcast channel information includes, for each broadcaster associated with the predetermined geographical region, one or a combination of a broadcast channel and a secondary server location associated with the respective broadcaster. Service information is retrieved, for each of at least one broadcaster associated with the predetermined geographical region, from a secondary server associated with the respective broadcaster based on the terrestrial broadcast channel information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark Eyer
  • Patent number: 9271021
    Abstract: A device includes a communication interface and one or more processors. The communication interface may receive media guide data, from a media guide server via a network, including information relating to a number of available media items and playlist information relating to at least one available playlist file associated with a particular media item. The one or more processors may receive a user selection of the particular media item and may request the playlist file from a playlist server via the network based on the playlist information via the interface. The interface may receive the playlist file from the playlist server, the playlist file including locations of stream segments corresponding to the selected playlist. The one or more processors may request the stream segments from a content server via the network based on the received playlist file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Venkata S. Adimatyam, Sameer Vasant Gavade, Laxmi Ashish Arte
  • Patent number: 9262119
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recording/transferring program that causes an information processing apparatus to perform the steps of: generating programming information for programming the information processing apparatus to record a particular content; starting recording of the particular content onto a recording medium in accordance with the programming information; and automatically transferring, upon completion of the recording of the particular content onto the recording medium, the particular content read out from the recording medium to an external device connected to the information processing apparatus so as to be capable of communicating therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Araki
  • Patent number: 9264772
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception block configured to receive AV content; a definition information acquisition block configured to acquire definition information defining the life cycle of an application program to be executed in linkage with the AV content; an application acquisition block configured to acquire the application program distributed over a network in accordance with the acquired definition information; and a control block configured to control the performance of the acquired application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohisa Kitazato, Yoshiharu Dewa
  • Patent number: 9253526
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus providing UI functionality at a client device via a video decoder/renderer operates to decode a compressed video stream bearing UI imagery and a messaging proxy is adapted to process user interaction data indicative of a local function to invoke an application programming interface (API) associated with the local function in order to select an appropriate channel of the decoded compressed video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Donovan McMahon, David James Colter, Douglas Masaru Ike
  • Patent number: 9226011
    Abstract: Systems and methods that may facilitate synchronizing the presentation of a program on multiple devices are disclosed. Synchronization information related to a program may be exchanged via a two-way communications channel. Amounts by which each device may delay its presentation of a program may be calculated and/or exchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Mark David Francisco
  • Patent number: 9223400
    Abstract: A performing method of a device capable of adjusting images according to a body motion of a user, the device comprising a display unit, at least one camera unit, and a control unit electrically coupled to the display unit and the camera unit, the performing method comprising: capturing at least one motion image of the user by the at least one camera unit; receiving the at least one motion image of the user by the control unit; and adjusting the display unit according to the least one motion image of the user by the control unit, whereby the images displayed by the display unit moving as does the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chyi-Yeu Lin, Koichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9195383
    Abstract: A method for controlling media presentation is disclosed. In some implementations, the method is performed at a first electronic device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The first electronic device receives a media control command for a second electronic device. In response to receiving the media control command, the first electronic device sends a server media control request to a server system, and sends a local media control request to a second electronic device within a local network to which both the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected. In some implementations, the server system is associated with an IP address outside an IP address space of the local network. In some implementations, the first electronic device and the second electronic device are associated with IP addresses within the same subnetwork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SPOTIFY AB
    Inventors: Sten Garmark, Karl Magnus Röös, Andreas Öman, Per Gunnar Joachim Bengtsson, Marcus Per Vesterlund
  • Patent number: 9191705
    Abstract: A system and method for managing media quality is provided. The system includes a data store with a computer readable medium storing a program of instructions for the managing of media quality; a processor that executes the program of instructions; a media analysis unit to receive transcoded media from a media store, and to detect for a phenomena affecting the transcoded media; a media quality manager, in response to the media analysis unit detection of the phenomena, determining a parameter for transcoding media; and a re-transcode unit to re-transcode the transcoded media based on the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Uok Kum, Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 9183881
    Abstract: A semantic based trick play method and system in a media player is provided in which a semantic trick play command is received from a user while the user is experiencing a current content of a media item. Metadata is detected with respect to a current playback position of the media item, and at least one further playback position is determined in the current content of the media item or a related content in another media item. The further playback position is semantically related to the metadata of the current playback position. Playback is then moved to the at least one further playback position, so that the user experiences a media content of the at least one further playback position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Porto Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Alfredo C. Issa, Kunal Kandekar, Richard J. Walsh
  • Patent number: 9185151
    Abstract: There is provided a method device and system for streaming media content to a media presentation appliance. There may be provided an appliance specific media stream generator adapted to derive an appliance specific stream from a multicast media stream. The generator may convert a multicast media stream addressed to a set of media presentation appliances into either (1) one or more unicast media streams, wherein each unicast media stream is addressed to a separate media presentation appliance; or (2) a multicast media stream addressed to a subset of the set of media presentation appliances. In both cases, the media content within the derived media stream may be substantially identical to the media content of the original multicast media stream. The generator may also introduce content (e.g. advertising) into the derived media stream(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ORCKIT-CORRIGENT LTD.
    Inventors: Leon Bruckman, Eli Aloni, David Zelig, Gal Mor
  • Patent number: 9185309
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a snipe-overlay video effect (DVE). An example method involves (i) selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, the first log-entry corresponding to a snipe-overlay DVE, to a snipe video, and to a start time; (ii) selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, the second log-entry corresponding to a video component (VC) and the start time; (iii) causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; (iv) making a determination that a threshold time-period has passed since the start time; and (v) responsive to making the determination (a) causing the snipe video to be sent to the stunt switcher, and (b) causing the stunt switcher to run the snipe-overlay DVE, thereby overlaying the snipe video on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC
    Inventor: Hank J. Hundemer
  • Patent number: 9167300
    Abstract: A television and remote control system, where the television receives data over a channel and produces outputs that create a television display. The television also receives notifications over a data connection indicating events that are other than the television display, like emails, alerts and the like. The television displays visual and audible notifications and mutes those notifications based on commands from a remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Vizio Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew McRae
  • Patent number: 9154830
    Abstract: A gateway (e.g., a broadband gateway), which enables communication with a plurality of devices and handles at least one physical layer connection to at least one corresponding network access service provider, may be operable to receive one or more programs in preview formats from one or more program sources. Each of the one or more programs may be specified in a list. The programs specified in the list may be from different program sources. The broadband gateway may process the received one or more programs in the preview formats for presentation to one or more of the plurality of devices. The processed one or more programs in the preview formats may be communicated by the broadband gateway to the one or more of the plurality of devices, via a programming guide, for program preview by one or more users during program selections from the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rich Prodan, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Xuemin Chen, Wael William Diab, David Garrett, David Lundgren
  • Patent number: 9148707
    Abstract: A cue message detection synchronizer that provides an out-of-band cue message to downstream content insertion devices. The cue message detection synchronizer receives a first data stream corresponding to a network feed, receives a second data stream corresponding to a provider feed, receives at least one cue message associated with the first data stream, compares the first data stream to the second data stream to determine a data stream offset, and generates cue message comprising one or more of: (i) the determined data stream offset, and (ii) a timestamp associated with the generated cue message and modified by the determined data stream offset. In this way, a location within a synchronized provider stream can be provided to downstream content insertion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventor: Mark DiLorenzo
  • Patent number: 9137565
    Abstract: Caching related technology, in which a time needed to begin rendering network-based video content without caching a decoded version of the content is determined and, the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content is compared to a threshold time. When the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content exceeds the threshold time, an initial portion of the network-based video content is pre-transcoded to a faster video codec format, and the pre-transcoded initial portion of the network-based video content is stored in electronic storage associated with a media system of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: PurpleComm Inc.
    Inventors: Jack H. Chang, William H. Sheu, Sherman Tuan
  • Patent number: 9137560
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems for providing access to content during the presentation of a media content instance are disclosed herein. As described in more detail below, a content presentation system may detect a predefined motion of a mobile device during a presentation of a media content instance by a media content access device, identify the media content instance, and provide access to the identified media content instance by way of the mobile device in response to the predefined motion. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Donald H. Relyea, Raul I. Aldrey, Kishore Tallapaneni, Japan A. Mehta
  • Patent number: 9106938
    Abstract: A method for monetizing third-party recommended content is provided. The method includes receiving a programming feed from a recommender, receiving information regarding one or more items of advertising content from one or more advertising publishers, scheduling recording of video content identified in the programming feed for a user that follows the programming feed, sending the information regarding the one or more items of advertising content to a client device of the user, and receiving information regarding user playback actions that occurred during presentation of the video content identified in the programming feed and the advertising content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Antonio Fontan, Alan Merzon, Tim Herby
  • Patent number: 9088470
    Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes receiving, at a wireless communication device, a signal that is based on produced signals, the produced signals being produced via different respective constellations; detecting a first signal from the received signal based on a combined constellation of the respective constellations; removing a signal contribution of the first detected signal from the received signal to produce a modified received signal; and detecting a second signal from the modified received signal. Removing the signal contribution can include using a constituent constellation of the respective constellations, the constituent constellation being associated with the first detected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungwon Lee, Jihwan P. Choi
  • Patent number: 9069509
    Abstract: A system and method for printing relevant content via a cloud print service upon completion of an entertainment event in media from an associated one of one or more entertainment devices are disclosed. In one example, the relevant content is obtained from an associated one of one or more entertainment device cloud services by the cloud print service upon completion of the entertainment event in the media. Further, the obtained relevant content is printed on a web connected printer by the cloud print service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Rajesh Muthukrishnan, Bibhu Prasad Biswal, Venugopal Kumarahalli Srinivasmurthy
  • Patent number: 9055325
    Abstract: A transport control interface may be provided by an interactive television program guide application to provide information, control or both for live and recorded video programming. The transport control interface may indicate to the user the time duration of a live or recorded program and any time segments of the program that have been recorded. The transport control interface may automatically adjust the start and end time shown to accommodate various factors such as continuous viewing on a particular channel, multiple recorded segments, buffer size, etc. Various information associated with the live or recorded video programming may be displayed in the transport control interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Michael D. Ellis, Thomas Day
  • Patent number: 9043852
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing instant messaging in conjunction with an audiovisual, video, or audio program are provided. The methods include providing an audiovisual, video, or audio program to a user. Viewer/listener input is received requesting activation of a program-based instant messaging function. A viewer/listener identifier corresponding to the viewer/listener is associated with a program identifier that uniquely identifies the audiovisual, video, or audio program being provided to the user to thereby generate a program viewer/listener record. The program viewer/listener record is transmitted to an electronic database. A list of other users who are viewing or listening to the program in addition to the viewer/listener is acquired from the electronic database. The list of other users is transmitted to the viewer/listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Tim Weaver
  • Patent number: 9043859
    Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher Harvey, James William Cuddihy
  • Patent number: 9026672
    Abstract: Techniques for fragmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect of the techniques, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and several tails or segments. The header is a continuous portion of the file while the segments are respective parts of the remaining portion of the file. The header is seeded substantially in all boxes, and none, one or more of the segments are distributed in each of the boxes in service. When a title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are continuously fetched respectively from other boxes that have the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Vudu, Inc.
    Inventor: Prasanna Ganesan
  • Patent number: 9027073
    Abstract: The present application provides transferring channel allocation tables for receiving radio frequency services. Automatic updating channel allocation tables is provided by storing within at least one central database at least one channel allocation table, storing within each of a plurality of distributed consumer electronic devices at channel allocation table for receiving the radio frequency services, and transferring the channel allocation tables between the central database, and the distributed consumer electronic device via a bidirectional communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: TP Vision Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Theodorus Anna Petrus Gertrudis Vergoossen
  • Patent number: 9021042
    Abstract: A method includes enabling accessing of content via a first device. The access of the content may be suspended in response to receiving a suspending signal associated with a second device coupled to the first device in a communication session. The access of the content may be resumed via at least one of the first device or a third device coupled to the first device in the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Marcos Weskamp, Jon Lorenz
  • Patent number: 9015784
    Abstract: A method comprising running a web browser on one or more servers of a service center, and hosting files for a web page on a storage unit associated with the one or more servers. Upon receiving user input from a client device to the web browser at the service center, streaming interactive video web page is transmitted to the client device with substantially no detectable latency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: OL2, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Perlman, Roger van der Laan
  • Patent number: 9009763
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods related to content management in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder. In some embodiments, a request to view a listing of content assets associated with a user account may be received from a user device. One or more content assets associated with the user account may be identified. The listing of content assets may be generated based at least in part on the identified one or more content assets. The listing of assets may be transmitted to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Alan Rothschild, Slavisha Karach
  • Patent number: 9009776
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a display, a speaker, a connector to output a video signal and audio signal, a display driving module to control outputting of the video signal with respect to the display and connector, a sound driving module to control outputting of the audio signal with respect to the speaker and connector, and an output control module to instruct the sound driving module to output the audio signal from the connector when an event of instructing the display driving module to output a video signal to the connector occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kotaro Fukui
  • Patent number: 9002879
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for making a playlist available to the public. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for creating a playlist comprising user-defined descriptor information. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for searching for such public playlists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Spiegelman, David E. Brown, Lori Ann Sutton, Pierre Schiro, Christa Maria Stelzmuller, Siddhartha S. Sahay, Daniel Baird, Adam Korman, Alexander Stephen Toth, III, Poorna Chandra Gowda Bannikuppe Ramachandra, Bipin Suresh
  • Patent number: 9003473
    Abstract: A method may include receiving an enhanced television (ETV) application in a video client over a first data path and executing the ETV application in the video client. In one embodiment, the ETV application may include an enhanced television binary interchange format (EBIF) resource. The method may also include extracting, from the EBIF resource, an identifier of an extension application and requesting the identified extension application. The method may include receiving the extension application, over a second data path different than the first data path and executing the extension application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhanshu Sharma, Karthic Chinnadurai, Vedhashree Sampath, Shrividhyaa Kannan
  • Patent number: 8996615
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synchronizing an action in a piece of Rich Media® content with a change in a piece of audiovisual content, said Rich Media® and audiovisual content being part of a Rich Media® presentation. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: obtaining a piece of information representative of said change in said piece of audiovisual content, or change information; synchronizing an action in said piece of Rich Media® content with said change, said synchronization step including the following substeps: converting said change information into a Rich Media® event; detecting said event by at least one Rich Media® object of said presentation; triggering said action in said presentation on the basis of said detected event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Streamezzo
    Inventors: Pierre-Erwann Gouesbet, Stephane Bellanger, Jean-Claude Dufourd
  • Patent number: 8988609
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium stores one or more computer programs adapted to cause a processor based system to execute steps that include analyzing an image, identifying one or more faces in the image using a face recognition technique, designating at least one of the identified faces collectively as a first area of interest, and determining whether an insertion area exists in the image where additional content can be inserted without obstructing the first area of interest. Another computer program is adapted to cause a processor based system to execute steps that include determining whether the insertion area can be divided into two or more regions based on color. Methods and processor based apparatuses that perform one or more of these steps are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Gary M. Zalewski
  • Patent number: 8984573
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiving apparatus including: a broadcast reception block; a network connection block; an operation input block; a display block; a broadcast content display block; a network content processing block; a pseudo-data broadcast content processing block configured to process pseudo-data broadcast content having a first designation part and a second designation part, and a data broadcast content processing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Dewa, Jun Komatsu
  • Patent number: RE45472
    Abstract: A data stream may be processed using a computer system by receiving the data stream using a browser application, detecting a content type of data in the data stream, temporarily overriding a default rendering process otherwise associated with the content type detected for the data in the data stream by associating a particular rendering process with the data stream based on the type of data in the data stream, and routing the data stream to the particular rendering process. The default rendering process may be identified in a registry of the computer system. It may be temporarily overridden by discriminating among internal and external instances of the browser application used to receive the data stream, and temporarily overriding the default rendering process only if the browser application is an internal instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: John Robinson