By Passively Monitoring Receiver Operation Patents (Class 725/14)
  • Patent number: 10341701
    Abstract: A method and apparatus can include a system processor and a system controller. The system controller can retrieve data from at least one database, the data including information associated with at least one of subscribers, multimedia content, and subscriber interaction with customer premises equipment, and transmit, to a customer premises equipment of a subscriber, a recommendation of multimedia content. The system processor can formulate an input dataset from the retrieved data, perform nonlinear clustering on the input dataset to formulate subscriber and multimedia content clusters having similarities between elements therein, and determine the recommendation of multimedia content based on a metric distance between vector elements of the formulated subscriber and multimedia content clusters and the metric distance crossing a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Edge2020 LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Hirsch, Tell Allen Gates
  • Patent number: 10338407
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, computer program product and system for dynamic video capture through a contact lens based on dynamic contextual identification. Initially, a set of identifying information and a video stream from a contact lens is received. A determination is made as to whether to capture the video stream, based on the received information. The determining to capture the video stream is based on, at least one of, the user interest level exceeding a threshold and detecting a contextual identifier within the received the video stream from a contact lens. Responsive to determining to capture the video stream, the video stream is classified into a category and saving based on the classification category of the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Martin G. Keen, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 10305965
    Abstract: Method for executing applications on electronic devices, wherein a first application (11) on a first electronic device (21) controls the execution of a second application (12) on a second electronic device (22), and a first server (31) provides an environment for executing the second application (12), wherein the method includes the steps of: executing the first application (11) on the first electronic device (21); initiating the execution of the second application (12) by the first electronic device; coupling of the first electronic device (21) to the second electronic device (22); providing the environment for executing the second application (22) by the first server (31); and executing the second application (12) on the second electronic device (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: INSTITUT FUR RUNDFUNKTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Merkel, Michael Probst
  • Patent number: 10290023
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for sending content to a media player. In general, a user of the disclosed system consumes a plurality of media content (e.g., audio content, visual content, audiovisual content, etc.) distributed from a media server. The content preferably include advertising content and non-advertising content. Some or all of the content is selected by the system based on the user's specific requests, profile, preferences, and/or feedback, in conjunction with the profiles, preferences, requests, and feedback of other users, (e.g. using social media, social matching and/or collaborative filtering techniques). Preferably, the feedback includes statistical data indicative of partial experiences (e.g., user listened to 50%) of the content by one or more media consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MEDIAFLY, INC.
    Inventor: Carson Victor Conant
  • Patent number: 10270833
    Abstract: From a live streaming of a main content, an already streamed portion of the main content is analyzed to identify an occurrence of a climactic event in the main content. Based on the analysis, a set is constructed of feature values that are representative of the climactic event in the already streamed portion of the main content. A non-climactic period is forecasted during which a likelihood of an occurrence of any climactic event is below a threshold likelihood. A secondary content is inserted in the live streaming of the main content during the non-climactic period, such that a likelihood of the secondary content insertion interrupting the live streaming during a second climactic event is less than a second threshold of likelihood. The live streaming of the main content is continued after the secondary content is completely transmitted in the live streaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael F. Baryla, Aaron K. Baughman, Mauro Marzorati, Ahmed M. Nassar
  • Patent number: 10264318
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to improve viewer assignment by adjusting for a localized event are disclosed. An example method includes identifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, heavy tuning data associated with panelists in a first area based on (1) a first number of households tuned to first media in the first area and (2) a first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area. The example method also includes determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, if the heavy tuning data represents a local bias based on a second percentage of exposure minutes tuned to second media in a second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: David J. Kurzynski, Balachander Shankar, Richard Peters, Jonathan Sullivan, Molly Poppie
  • Patent number: 10230533
    Abstract: Power is supplied to telecom equipment in DSLAM outdoor/remote cabinets with relatively short distances between the subscriber and the cabinet. All of the subscriber Customer Premises Equipment connected to the DSLAM each provide a portion of the required power to the remote cabinet via the telephone line connecting the DSLAM and the subscriber CPE. The CPE at the subscriber premises is already connected to power mains in the subscriber premises so, providing power, via the telephone line to the outdoor cabinet is relatively simple. The remote cabinet includes a circuit for receiving the power input from each subscriber and then distributing the power, required by the DSLAM load, equally among the subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Jan Hansen, Hans Knutsson
  • Patent number: 10230695
    Abstract: An example method for distributing content includes receiving a first encrypted request for content over a first encrypted connection from a client. The method also includes obtaining an unencrypted version of the first encrypted request. The unencrypted version is associated with authentication information associated with the client. The method further includes sending over a second encrypted connection entitlement data and a second encrypted request for the content to a repository. The repository stores the content, the entitlement data is based on the authentication information, and an authentication of the second encrypted request is based on the entitlement data. The method also includes downloading the content from the repository over the second encrypted connection, storing the requested content in unencrypted form in a cache, and streaming the requested content to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Cline, Brian Bouterse, Randall Barlow
  • Patent number: 10225730
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform audio sensor selection in an audience metering device are disclosed. An example method includes identifying a plurality of audio sensor configurations supported by the audience metering device. A first quality metric of a first media identifier determined from first audio received via a first one of the audio sensor configurations is computed. A second quality metric of a second media identifier determined from second audio received via a second one of the audio sensor configurations is computed. One of the first one of the audio sensor configurations or the second one of the audio sensor configurations is selected based on a comparison of the first quality metric and the second quality metric. Media monitoring is performed at the audience metering device using the selected one of the audio sensor configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Patent number: 10182263
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for interactive control of live television broadcast streams. The method includes receiving a streaming live media feed from a television broadcaster and displaying an overlay on media content of the streaming live media feed. The overlay includes a play control option unassociated with an intermediary feed source of the live media feed between the television broadcaster and the media device. The method further includes receiving a first selection input of the play control option and determining that the selection input corresponds to a play mode at a first location within the media content of the streaming live media feed by determining that a first fingerprint fails to match a second fingerprint. Furthermore, the method includes overlaying targeted overlay content on the streaming live media feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Sorenson Media, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Grover
  • Patent number: 10171230
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for providing a fully homomorphic encryption scheme. In some examples, a method performed under control of a first device may include determining an enciphering function, based at least in part on a secret key of the first device and a system parameter; enciphering a plaintext into a first ciphertext, based at least in part on the enciphering function; transmitting, to a server, the first ciphertext and the system parameter; receiving, from a second device, a second ciphertext to which the first ciphertext has been processed by the second device without deciphering the first ciphertext; and deciphering the second ciphertext, based at least in part on the system parameter and a deciphering function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Masahiro Yagisawa
  • Patent number: 10158914
    Abstract: A system and method for real-time alteration of media content based on stress monitoring is disclosed. A computer system present a single media content item in two distinct content streams to a first and second user. Using sensor generated data the computer system measures at least one user response indicator for the first and second user and estimates a stress level for the first and second users. The computer system determines whether the estimated stress level for the first user exceeds a first predetermined stress threshold. In accordance with a determination that the estimated stress level for the first user exceeds a first predetermined stress threshold the computer system alters the first stream of the presented media content item to modify the particular portion of the media content item associated with the estimated stress level for the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Lenitra M. Durham, Tamir Damian Munafo, Rita H. Wouhaybi, Adi Shaliv, Giuseppe Raffa, Oleg Pogorelik, Sangita Ravi Sharma, Alex Nayshtut
  • Patent number: 10154307
    Abstract: A system and method for using a controllable appliance to report an inoperable state of a controlling device. The appliance is caused to repeatedly determine, at a first predetermined timed interval, if a wireless notification signal, repeatedly transmitted by the controlling device at a second predetermined timed interval, has been received from the controlling device. When the wireless notification signal has not been received from the controlling device within the first predetermined timed interval, the appliance is caused to issue a status notification that the controlling device is in an inoperable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gerben Meijer, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 10133455
    Abstract: A live presentation may be prepared and displayed by providing a primary scripting room for preparing a presentation script and a control computer in the primary scripting computer for use by a control operator to view and/or edit possible contributions to the presentation script and for saving the presentation script being preparing. At least one remote scripting room may be connected to the primary scripting room by network to form a virtual scripting room therewith. A remote computer may be provided in the remote scripting room for operation by a contributor to provide possible contributions to the presentation script viewable by the remote operator. At least portions of the saved scripted presentation may be presented on a display computer as the live presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Hariton
  • Patent number: 10110969
    Abstract: A system and method includes an automatic content recognition (ACR) headend to perform ACR recognition on a video stream that is also being streamed to a smart TV, to detect timing of an upcoming ad spot to be delivered within the video stream. An addressable TV (ATV) engine can be in communication with the ACR head end and to: determine, from data of an ad campaign, whether a first ad to be delivered to the ad spot is off target for the ad spot; notify the ad replacer client to replace the first ad with an addressable ad when the first ad is off target for the ad spot; and provide, to the ad replacer client, criteria with which to constrain an ad request to obtain a second ad that is on target for the ad spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Sorenson Media, Inc
    Inventors: Marcus Liassides, Stefan Liassides
  • Patent number: 10097653
    Abstract: Some listeners or viewers of online music or video may play the music or video repeatedly without actually listening to or watching the music or video, thereby wasting network resources, reducing bandwidths to other users, and slowing down or creating latency for the downloading of music or video by other users who actually listen to or watch the music or video. In some instances, owners of music or video content may encourage their fans to play the music or video repeatedly to increase their popularity ratings or copyright royalties. Inflated plays of music or video may be detected by applying one or more modifications to the music and monitoring for reactions by users, if any, to the modifications. The lack of a reaction by a user may indicate an inflated playback, whereas the presence of a reaction may indicate that the playback is legitimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Ronit Kassis
  • Patent number: 10051327
    Abstract: An online system predicts attention scores using a predictive model, each attention score representing a user's perspicaciousness as the user is accessing a live stream. The predictive model describes a relationship between a user's attention score and when the user joined the live stream. Therefore, when the online system receives a request to generate an attention score for a user that joined the live stream at a particular time, the online system applies the predictive model to determine a predicted attention score for the user. The online system can provide the predicted attention score to a content provider server such that the content provider server can select content items to be presented to each user during a break in the live stream. If users do not respond to presented content items as expected, the online system can update the predictive model to account for the unexpected responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: AdsWizz Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Nieuwenhuys, Victor Mocioiu, Adrian Hospodar, Mihai Isaroiu, Alexandru Cotiga
  • Patent number: 10038942
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for controlling the operation of a media playback device are presented here. An exemplary embodiment of a control method receives user interaction data that indicates content consumption behavior of at least one user of a media services delivery system. The user interaction data is processed to obtain playback prediction data for a particular subscriber of the media services delivery system. The method continues by determining that a particular video event is being presented by the media playback device to the particular subscriber, and by generating control commands in accordance with the playback prediction data. The control commands automatically modify playback characteristics of the particular video event during presentation to the particular subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mi Chen, Yunfeng Yang
  • Patent number: 10037123
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a designer may utilize an authoring tool to create or edit an interactive media pack (“IMP”). The authoring tool may facilitate creation of multiple versions of an IMP or IMP part. These versions may each be specific to a particular delivery-channel. For example, in an embodiment, a first version may be specific to an IMP presentation made via a graphical user-interface of an application on a mobile device, and a second version may be specific to an IMP presentation made via an interactive voice response system. In some instances, versions for a particular IMP or IMP part may be understood to be linked. That is, progress of an IMP presentation may be tracked so that a user may switch between a first version and second version while losing little, if any, progress in the presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Emmi Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory A. Blew
  • Patent number: 10009353
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to aggregate control of multiple devices. In some methods, a downstream controller can advertise a service group of the downstream controller, can receive a connection request message from a gateway controller that is part of the service group, and responsive to the connection request message, can transmit a connection accept message to the gateway controller to set up a connection channel between the downstream controller and the gateway controller. In some methods, the gateway controller can receive an advertisement message from the downstream controller, can transmit the connection request message to the downstream controller responsive to the advertisement message and when the gateway controller is part of the service group, and can receive the connection accept message from the downstream controller to set up the connection channel between the gateway controller and the downstream controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: John A. Dziadosz, Shiyuan Qi
  • Patent number: 10003830
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to manage network resources across a group of playback devices that share the same resources to control video quality across the group of playback devices are provided. A controller collects information about a plurality of playback devices wherein the playback devices share a network resource. The controller also collects information regarding the network resource. The controller allocates the network resource to deliver one or more requested video segments to one or more playback devices based on the information collected from the plurality of playback devices and the information collected regarding the network resource. By providing a controller that is aware of the available network resources and the specifications of the playback devices, the network resource can be managed in a way that improves the quality of experience for end users across all the playback devices while maximizing the efficiency of the network resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Marcin Morgos, Stephen J. Kraiman, Marek Bugajski
  • Patent number: 9992085
    Abstract: A system and method for serving related content via a content sharing service are provided. The system includes a monitoring module to monitor content and shared content being served; an interaction detection module to detect an interaction with the shared content via the content sharing service; a related content analyzer to analyze the monitored shared content, the detected interaction, and based on the analysis, to determine whether additional related content items are added to a related content list; and a related content list generator to generate an updated related content list with the additional related content items and the related content list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Justin Lewis, Joseph Daverin
  • Patent number: 9986294
    Abstract: A display device and method of displaying content on the display device are provided. The display device includes: a communicator configured to transmit information related to content displayed on a display to a server device and receive information on a highest rating content from the server device; and a controller configured to display a user interface (UI) object, which enables a user to change the content to the highest rating content on the display, in response to determining that the content is not the highest rating content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In-ji Kim, Eun-seok Choi, Sang-on Choi
  • Patent number: 9973790
    Abstract: An adaptive multimedia system includes a display, an audio device, and an adaptive media controller configured to selectively communicate with a media source and selectively signal the media source to stream only a desired portion of a media stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rachel H. Fithian, Hugh E. Hockett, Aaron J. Quirk, David V. Rooney
  • Patent number: 9973813
    Abstract: A commercial-free audiovisual content system allows a viewer to select two or more audiovisual sources such as television channels to view on an audiovisual display. When the system detects that a commercial is being displayed in the audiovisual content of the channel presented on the main part of the screen, the system will immediately switch to display the audiovisual content of another source that is not displaying a commercial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Scott Michael Parker
  • Patent number: 9955198
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of transmitting a file having an advertising portion and a requested portion different from the advertising portion. The method includes receiving a request to transmit the file, via a streaming protocol allowing non-sequential access, transmitting the advertising portion of the file, receiving a request to transmit a portion of the requested portion of the file prior to completing transmitting the advertising portion of the file, completing the transmission of the advertising portion of the file, and transmitting the requested portion of the file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TAMIRAS PER PTE. LTD., LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Fernández
  • Patent number: 9928222
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer storage media for customizing a user agent profile for a mobile communications device. The mobile communications device communicates a request for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) compatible data. The request includes information about capabilities of the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device receives an options page that includes selectable options associated with the capabilities of the mobile communications device. Selectable options of the options page are selected to identify one or more preferences of a user of the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device communicates the selected options to be used for generating the customized user agent profile. The mobile device receives a target HTTP-compatible page that is a variation of the requested HTTP-compatible page, converted based on the customized user agent profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Piyush Upadhyay, Badri Prasad Subramanyan, Hemanth Balaji Pawar, Shilpa Kowdley Srinivas, Vivek John Kurisunkal
  • Patent number: 9930327
    Abstract: A probe is configured to monitor one or more communication parameters on one or more downstream frequency channels carried on a communication medium of an access network. Results of repeated monitoring are stored over a predetermined period. At the conclusion of the monitoring period, data reports reflecting the stored results are transmitted in upstream frequency channels carried on the same medium. The probe can also be configured to send immediate messages if a parameter exceeds predefined limits and can store a plurality of monitoring programs and can be reprogrammed remotely. The probe can be contained within a cable tap if the medium is, e.g., a coaxial cable. Numerous probes can be deployed throughout an access network so as to provide monitoring data from each of many locations over a prolonged period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jorge Daniel Salinger, Maurice Garcia
  • Patent number: 9912976
    Abstract: A system and method includes a first user device and a head end. The head end has a billing system an audience measurement module. A billing system associates first content package data with first account data comprising a first account identifier. The first user device communicates a viewing history to the audience measurement module. The audience measurement module stores the viewing history over time. The head end communicates account data and the viewing history to a customer service system. The customer service system forms a selection signal by selecting second package content data. A comparison list is displayed comparing first package data and second package data. The customer service system communicates a confirmation signal to the billing system. The billing system associates the first content package data with the first account data. An authorization signal is communicated to the first user device to enable receiving the second content package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent P. Mader, Aditya P. Mishra, Sunaina Chaudhary, Safia Benaouda
  • Patent number: 9912991
    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: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sorenson Media, Inc
    Inventors: Steven M. Cormie, Stefan Liassides
  • Patent number: 9913002
    Abstract: A method of operating a video display device is provided. A reception unit obtains uncompressed audio and video content. A display unit displays the uncompressed audio and video content. An enhanced service management unit receives first content information comprising a trigger based on first characteristic information extracted from the uncompressed audio and video content, executes an application related to the uncompressed audio and video content based on the trigger, receives second content information related to the uncompressed content based on second characteristic information extracted from the uncompressed audio and video content, and terminates the application when the content information satisfies an application termination condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seungjoo An, Jinpil Kim, Kyoungsoo Moon, Jinwon Lee, Janghun Bae
  • Patent number: 9883241
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a system and method for measuring active participation of audience watching a TV programs and advertisements, in terms of age and gender. The system comprises a monitoring device which is configured to record TV audio, room audio and TV visual outputs, using an image sensor. The monitoring device is further configured to detect the audience engagement level, in watching the TV show, by monitoring the audience expressions and behavior. The audience engagement level is also detected by tracking the eye ball movement of the audience. The monitoring device is configured to continuously check and detect visitors who have joined along with already registered viewers to watch the TV programs. The monitored information is analyzed and visitor/viewer profile is created accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SUREWAVES MEDIATECH PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Rajendra Kumar Khare, Manajit Rath, Kishore Adekhandi Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 9872076
    Abstract: Implementations disclose livestream conversation notifications. A method includes receiving, via a first user device over a network, a livestream video; presenting, via the first user device to a first user, the livestream video; selecting, from contacts of the first user, a set of contacts with whom the livestream video is to be shared, the selecting being based on affinity scores of the contacts; and causing a transmission, to the selected set of contacts, of a notification that at least the first user is watching the livestream video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Justin Lewis, Joseph Cohen
  • Patent number: 9872065
    Abstract: Methods and systems for accessing or receiving content are provided. In one aspect, a non-tunable device (e.g., a device without the capability to tune to a particular channel) can access a particular channel via a tunable device (e.g., a device with the capability to tune to the particular channel). For example, the non-tunable device can receive a notification or a service denial notification in a tuning attempt. Based on the notification, the non-tunable device can transmit user information (e.g., relates to purchasing entitlement to content) to a computing device and receive tuning information (e.g., available tuners capable of accessing the request content) from the computing device. Upon receiving the tuning information, the non-tunable device can transmit a tuning request to the tunable device and receive a data asset (e.g., requested content, tuning denial) based on the tuning request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Slade Mitchell, John Robinson
  • Patent number: 9853867
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention may involve systems and methods. A system may score the experience of accessed services. The system may include a probe connected to a telecommunications network and configured to transmit metrics at regular intervals. The system may also include a network monitor configured to: receive data from the probe, transform the received data into key performance indicators, generate a set of key quality indicators based on the key performance indicators, categorize one or more subscribers, and calculate a Quality of Experience index based on the categorized subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: EMPIRIX, INC.
    Inventor: Angelo Baccarani
  • Patent number: 9854304
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for identifying a content source of media content being transmitted to a viewer in situations when a specific media asset is being transmitted to the viewer from two different content sources nearly simultaneously. For example, if a certain movie is being broadcast at nearly the same time by two different channels, the system is able to identify the channel that the viewer is watching. The system performs the identification by obtaining fingerprints for two different channels, matching the fingerprints based on time and then finding a divergent pair of fingerprints by iterating in reverse chronological order through the pairs and comparing the fingerprints. The system then compares the fingerprints to fingerprints in a log that stores fingerprints and corresponding generation times for content that the viewer is consuming. The matching fingerprint corresponds to the correct content source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Maughan
  • Patent number: 9843836
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine the number of people at a location. An example method includes collecting media identification information corresponding to media presented at a location, changing an identifier of a base station local to the location to cause mobile devices located at the location to attempt to register with the base station, responding to a received request to register a mobile device with the base station by storing device identification information for the corresponding mobile device at the base station, determining a number of mobile devices located at the location based on the stored device identification information, and identifying a number of persons exposed to the media based on the mobile devices located at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Ranney Harrold Fry, Mark Richard Cave
  • Patent number: 9843768
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for indicating audience engagement are generally described herein. A method may include sending speech from a speaker to be played for a plurality of members of an audience, receiving audience reaction information, for the plurality of members of the audience, from a plurality of sensors, the audience reaction information captured by the plurality of sensors while the speech is playing for the plurality of members of the audience, processing the audience reaction information to aggregate the audience reaction information, determining, using the processed information, an engagement factor, and sending an aggregated engagement level indicator to a speaker device, the aggregated engagement level indicator based on the engagement factor and indicating overall engagement of the audience to the speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ansuya Negi, Igor Tatourian, Rita H Wouhaybi
  • Patent number: 9826275
    Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting content are disclosed. One method can comprise presenting an interface such as a content guide comprising a field relating to content. A selection of one or more of a plurality of filters can be received. A first indicator representing first information can be presented if a first one of the filters is selected, wherein the first information relates to the field. A second indicator representing second information can be presented if a second one of the filters selected, wherein the second information relates to the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Lokesh Kumar, Surendra Goel
  • Patent number: 9820001
    Abstract: An on-line scheduling application allows users to personalize how television-related, entertainment-related, and social event related information is provided. Users may select one or more sources from which the information is obtained. Users may set up a date book that is also uses as a source. Users may select one or more delivery schemes that the application used to provide the information. One or more of the personalization features of the scheduling application may be incorporated into an on-line television programming guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
    Inventors: Franklin E. Boyer, Mark A. Regouby, Timothy B. Demers
  • Patent number: 9800913
    Abstract: A system and method for the assignment of person-level viewership. The system receives viewership information describing the viewing of video content at a household. The system additionally receives demographic information for that household, including the numbers of persons associated with the household. For each combination of viewers, the system calculates the probability that the viewers viewed the content based on the demographic attributes of those viewers and the probabilities that individuals sharing those attributes would view the content. The system then attributes the viewing information to one or more persons from the household based on the calculated probabilities. The system additionally updates the probabilities that individuals having different demographic attributes would view the content based on the selection of persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: comScore, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Levande, Bradley Baillod, David Algranati
  • Patent number: 9785980
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing advertisements for inclusion in video content. In one embodiment, a video is formatted into a specific format for advertising purposes. The format describes a standard for advertisement placement opportunities within a video in which a client device may select advertisements for display during these opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: John M. Harding, Jeremy Doig
  • Patent number: 9781459
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus can include a system processor control and a system controller. The system controller can retrieve data from at least one database, the data including information associated with at least one of subscribers, multimedia content, and customer premises equipment. The system processor can formulate an input dataset from the retrieved data, perform nonlinear manifold clustering on the input dataset to formulate clusters, and determine a recommendation of multimedia content, the recommendation of multimedia content being based on a metric distance between a subscriber and a multimedia content. The system controller can transmit, to a customer premises equipment of the subscriber, the recommendation of multimedia content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: EDGE2020 LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Hirsch, Tell Allen Gates
  • Patent number: 9769529
    Abstract: Various embodiment(s) for a service system, a digital device, and a method of processing a service therefor are disclosed in the present specification. In this case, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of processing a service in the digital device includes the steps of downloading and installing one or more STB applications configured to process the service, outputting an icon configured to approach the installed STB applications on a first service board supporting an RF mode, receiving a selection of an STB application icon among the STB applications, and outputting content processed by the selected STB application according to a result of a service authentication and a second service board for the selected STB application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jihye Park, Jaeuk Kim, Daegu Kim
  • Patent number: 9769283
    Abstract: Described are techniques for modifying the distribution or behavior of content based on the presence or absence of a particular user or a count of users relative to a media device. Based on user proximity data associated with one or multiple users, a corresponding proximity instruction may be determined. The proximity instruction may be configured to cause one or more media devices to request, present, or modify presentation of content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Christopher Mason, Richard William Mincher
  • Patent number: 9749378
    Abstract: A system and method for early media buffering using prediction of user behavior. In accordance with an embodiment, a user interface displays a plurality of media options from which particular options can be selected. A click determination logic is configured so that a first event associated with a particular option, such as a click event, is passed singly to a media application without trapping for the possibility of a double-click. The media application interprets the first event as a likely selection by a user of the particular option, and uses information associated with the likely selection to begin buffering a corresponding media content. If a second event associated with the particular option is received within a subsequent time interval, then the second event is treated, like a double-click, as confirmation of the user's selection, and the corresponding media content is streamed from its media content buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SPOTIFY AB
    Inventor: Mikael Olenfalk
  • Patent number: 9742511
    Abstract: Optimizing parameters includes, during a time interval, rotating from setting a first parameter to a first value for a first time period, to setting the first parameter to a second value for a second time period such that the time interval includes multiple first time periods in which the first parameter is set to the first value sequenced with multiple second time periods in which the first parameter is set to the second value; obtaining, for the time interval, a first set of ratings corresponding to the first time periods and a second set of ratings corresponding to the second time periods; averaging, for the time interval, the first set of ratings to a first average rating and the second set of ratings to a second average rating; and correlating the first average rating to the first value and the second average rating to the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TLS. Corp
    Inventor: Barry Blesser
  • Patent number: 9715901
    Abstract: A system and method including: a source video for broadcast by a social media platform may be received; a set of video snippets may be extracted from the source video; a subset of the video snippets may be joined to form a preview video; a request for content for an account of the social media platform may be received from a client device; and the preview video may be provided to the client device for automatic playback by the client device in a playback area displayed inline with a message stream of the account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Twitter, Inc.
    Inventors: Baljeet Singh, Michael Folgner, Ryan Cunningham, David Regan, Yi Wang, Noah Vihinen, Thomas Stephen Woolway
  • Patent number: 9706158
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a computerized method for reporting events from a television that supports transmission and playback of digital content in accordance with an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard. The method comprises downloading a triggered declarative object (TDO), which includes a reporting script, for storage within a digital receiver of the television. Thereafter, information associated with one or more detected events that occur during playback of the digital content is recorded and subsequently, upon execution of the reporting script, is output over a communication path separate from a communication path of the received digital content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC
    Inventor: Mark Eyer
  • Patent number: 9690466
    Abstract: Techniques for managing a playlist in a multimedia system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, the playlist is structured to be able to include as many items as desired. To facilitate the manageability of such playlist, the playlist is built with a plurality of items. Each of the items is associated with metadata that includes information related to, for example, artist, album, genre, composer, and track number. The metadata for each item may be parsed, updated or logically operated upon to facilitate the management of the playlist. In another embodiment, each of the items is either a single item or a group item. A single item contains metadata of a corresponding source. A group item contains metadata of accessing other constituent items, which again may be single items or group items. As a result, the playlist can accommodate as many items as desired in a limited memory space without compromising the manageability of the playlist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, Nicholas A. J. Millington, Paul Wren, Andrew J. Schulert, Robert A. Lambourne, Jonathan P. Lang