Receiver (e.g., Set-top Box) Patents (Class 725/151)
  • Patent number: 11949962
    Abstract: A profile provider: (i) associates a primary online device (OD1) with a set-top box (STB); (ii) a location of OD1 at some point in time is estimated to be “near” the STB, thereby establishing a STB proxy location; (iii) one or more secondary online devices (OD2s) are observed to be located “near” the STB proxy location and are associated with the STB; and (iv) a television advertisement is selected to be directed to the STB, which selection is based at least in part on profile information linked to one of the associated OD2s. The method can be particularly advantageous in situations wherein: the STB is not connected to any computer network; the STB is not ever connected to the same local area network as OD1 or OD2; or television service (used by the STB) and online access (used by OD1 and OD2s) are provided by different service providers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Intent IQ, LLC
    Inventors: Roy Shkedi, Dror Ben-Yishai
  • Patent number: 11930225
    Abstract: A video switching system, which can be part of an audio video receivers (AVR), enables simultaneous routing of multiple independent video streams (e.g., 8K video streams) received at HDMI inputs of the AVR from digital media sources to multiple selected digital display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lenbrook Industries Limited
    Inventors: Gregory R. Stidsen, Kevin Groeneveld
  • Patent number: 11868785
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for information processing. For example, the apparatus includes a storage medium, processing circuitry and network interface circuitry. The storage medium stores a first application program, and other application programs that are downloaded via the network interface circuitry. The processing circuitry executes the first application program in an operating system to provide a running environment. Further, the processing circuitry executes a second application program in the running environment to start a logic process and a first view process corresponding to a first view page of the second application program. The logic process and the first view process respectively interface with the running environment. The logic process generates initial first page data, and the initial first page data is transferred from the logic process to the first view process. The first view page is rendered in the first view process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hao Hu, Haojun Hu, Qingjie Lin
  • Patent number: 11863831
    Abstract: Remote control devices to interface with audience measurement meters are disclosed. An example remote control device to interface with an audience measurement meter includes an audience management controller to, responsive to a gender value input via a user interface of the remote control device, store the gender value, responsive to an age value input via the user interface of the remote control device, store the age value, generate a message including the gender value and age value, and a transmitter to transmit the message to the audience measurement meter, the message including a sequence of infrared codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Eric Barone, Joseph Wyatt Brewer, Matjaz Finc, Robert Byrne
  • Patent number: 11765751
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE). The method generally includes receiving radio resource control (RRC) signaling indicating a set of cells that support physical (PHY) layer or medium access control (MAC) layer mobility signaling, receiving at least one downlink control information (DCI) indicating mobility information for the set of cells, and updating one or more features of the set of cells based on the DCI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jelena Damnjanovic, Tao Luo, Aleksandar Damnjanovic
  • Patent number: 11757689
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating broadcast signal frame using layered division multiplexing are disclosed. The apparatus includes a combiner configured to generate a multiplexed signal by combining a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal at different power levels; a power normalizer configured to reduce the power of the multiplexed signal to a power level corresponding to the core layer signal; a time interleaver configured to generate a time-interleaved signal by performing interleaving that is applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal; and a frame builder configured to generate a broadcast signal frame including a bootstrap and a preamble using the time-interleaved signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jae-Young Lee, Sung-Ik Park, Sun-Hyoung Kwon, Heung-Mook Kim, Nam-Ho Hur
  • Patent number: 11677999
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a data processing apparatus and a data processing method that enable correct clock synchronization by use of clock information. The data processing apparatus receives a digital broadcast signal so as to process content included in the digital broadcast signal and clock information also included therein for use in presentation synchronization on the content and sends via a transmission path the processed content and clock information to another data processing apparatus that presents the received content. On the other hand, the another data processing apparatus receives via the transmission path the content and clock information sent from the data processing apparatus so as to process presentation synchronization on the received content on the basis of the received clock information. The present technology is applicable to data processing apparatuses configured to process content, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SATURN LICENSING LLC
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11610610
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting and correcting synchronization errors in multimedia content comprising a video stream and a non-original audio stream. Techniques for directly detecting synchronization of video and audio streams may be inadequate to detect synchronize errors for non-original audio streams, particularly where such non-original audio streams contain audio not reflective of events within the video stream, such as speaking dialog in a different language than the speakers of the video stream. To overcome this problem, the present disclosure enables synchronization of a non-original audio stream to another audio stream, such as an original audio stream, that is synchronized to the video stream. By comparison of signatures, the non-original and other audio stream are aligned to determine an offset that can be used to synchronize the non-original audio stream to the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Avijit Vajpayee, Hooman Mahyar, Vimal Bhat, Abhinav Jain, Zhikang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11533190
    Abstract: A service management system communicates via wide area network with gateway devices located at respective user premises. The service management system remotely manages delivery of application services, which can be voice controlled, by a gateway, e.g. by selectively activating/deactivating service logic modules in the gateway. The service management system also may selectively provide secure communications and exchange of information among gateway devices and among associated endpoint devices. An exemplary service management system includes a router connected to the network and one or more computer platforms, for implementing management functions. Examples of the functions include a connection manager for controlling system communications with the gateway devices, an authentication manager for authenticating each gateway device and controlling the connection manager and a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features offered by the gateway devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: KIP PROD P1 LP
    Inventors: Amir Ansari, George A. Cowgill, Leon E. Nicholls, Jude P. Ramayya, Ramprakash Masina, Alvin R. McQuarters, Atousa Raissyan
  • Patent number: 11524214
    Abstract: A picture with multiple slices is encoded by generating a coded slice representation for each of the slices. A slice flag is set to a first value for the first slice in the picture and corresponding slice flags of the remaining slices are set to a second defined value. A respective slice address is generated for each remaining slice to enable identification of the slice start position within the picture for the slice. A coded picture representation of the picture comprises the coded slice representations, the slice addresses and the slice flags. The slice flags enable differentiation between slices for which slice addresses are required and the slice per picture for which no slice address is needed to identify its slice start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Rickard Sjöberg, Clinton Priddle
  • Patent number: 11514341
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sports data crowdsourcing and analytics is provided. In one embodiment, a method for at least one server for generating verified sports data of a sporting event is provided, the method comprising: receiving, at the server(s), first audio data captured by a microphone of a first client device; receiving, at the server(s), second audio data captured by a microphone of a second client device; synching the first audio data by arranging the first audio data based on at least one parameter; synching the second audio data by arranging the second audio data based on the at least one parameter; and generating the verified sports data by comparing, based on the at least one parameter, the first audio data and the second audio data to determine that a stat within the sporting event is verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Azra Analytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Isobe, Randa Reslan, Yang Hu
  • Patent number: 11457174
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for broadcast signal frame using layered division multiplexing are disclosed. An apparatus for generating broadcast signal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a combiner configured to generate a multiplexed signal by combining a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal at different power levels; a power normalizer configured to reduce the power of the multiplexed signal to a power level corresponding to the core layer signal; a time interleaver configured to generate a time-interleaved signal by performing interleaving that is applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal; and a frame builder configured to generate a broadcast signal frame including a preamble for signaling, size information of Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs) and time interleaver information shared by the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jae-Young Lee, Sung-Ik Park, Sun-Hyoung Kwon, Heung-Mook Kim
  • Patent number: 11190827
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices enable a receiver device to determine completeness of low level signaling (LLS) tables received via broadcast transmissions. In various embodiments, broadcast service signaling may include generating a directory table identifying one or more LLS tables to be broadcast and sending the directory table in a broadcast stream of the one or more LLS tables. In various embodiments, broadcast service signaling may include calculating a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code for, generating a hash value for, and/or applying a digital signature to one or more LLS tables in a broadcast stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Gordon Kent Walker, Giridhar Dhati Mandyam, Charles Nung Lo
  • Patent number: 11144422
    Abstract: Provided is a terminal for controlling an external device, not equipped with its own memory or controller, connected to the terminal. The portable terminal, when being connected to at least one external device, changes its setting with an extracted setting data matching the connected external device. Accordingly, the connected external device in a connection state to the portable terminal performs corresponding operations under control of the portable terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Do-Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 11057133
    Abstract: A device for receiving signals captured by a satellite antenna, comprising a front circuit and a digital circuit, the front circuit and the digital circuit being galvanically isolated relative to each other by isolation means, the front circuit comprising a first electric mass, an input port, a universal head power supply component, and an output module of a switched-mode power supply of the universal head power supply component, the digital circuit comprising a second electric ground, an output port, reception components arranged to acquire the input signals, so as to convert them to output signals and to apply the output signals on the output port, an input module of the switched-mode power supply, and a control component arranged to generate control signals intended for the universal head power supply component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sagemcom Broadband SAS
    Inventors: Romain Dejardin, Eric Levecque
  • Patent number: 10884449
    Abstract: An LO clock signal generator includes a fundamental mixer for mixing a source clock signal with a divided version of the source clock signal. The LO clock signal generator also includes a harmonic mixer for mixing the source clock signal with a third harmonic of a divided version of the source clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alireza Khalili, Mohammad Emadi, Shahram Abdollahi-Alibeik, Ali Mostajeran
  • Patent number: 10805571
    Abstract: A reproducing device includes a reproducer that reproduces a content, a communicator that establishes a direct wireless connection to an information terminal, and a controller. The controller determines whether the information terminal is a previously permitted information terminal or not when the communicator receives a content reproduction request from the information terminal through wireless connection. The controller performs first control to power on the reproducer, and issues an instruction to perform the content reproduction to the reproducer, when it is determined that the information terminal is the previously permitted information terminal, and when the reproducer is powered off. The controller does not perform the first control when it is determined that the information terminal is not the previously permitted information terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Takagaki
  • Patent number: 10791366
    Abstract: A client establishes connections with a media server. The connections include a first connection for regular playback and one or more second connections for processing a channel change. Segments of a first video are received from the media server using the first connection in the plurality of connections. The first video is being played on a first channel in a plurality of channels. The client receives a request to change from the first channel to a second channel in the plurality of channels. A request for at least a portion of a segment of a second video being played on the second channel is sent to the media server. The request includes a channel change indicator. The client then receives the at least the portion of the segment of the second video using the one or more second connections with the media server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HULU, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaocheng Li
  • Patent number: 10582251
    Abstract: Various arrangements for recording multiple television channels are presented. A plurality of sets of television channels may be identified. An interface may be output for presentation, the interface presenting indications of each of the plurality of sets of television channels and a plurality of input elements associated with the plurality of sets of television channels. User input may be received via one or more of the plurality of input elements indicative of one or more sets of television channels of the plurality of sets of television channels to be recorded. Dates and times at which the one or more sets of television channels are to be recorded may be determined. The one or more sets of television channels may be recorded at the determined dates and the determined times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Danny Jean Minnick
  • Patent number: 10542324
    Abstract: A method for providing enhanced broadband services over a communications network includes the steps of: receiving from the communications network at least first signals in a first frequency band, the first signals comprising programming material that has been converted from a second frequency band and/or material originally generated in the first frequency band to be converted to the second frequency band, the first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping; translating one or more first signals from the first frequency band to the second frequency band; and combining the one or more first signals translated to the second frequency band with the first signals in the first frequency band to generate combined programming material comprising one or more signals in the first frequency band and one or more signals in the second frequency band for reception by receiving location equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventor: Paul D. Brooks
  • Patent number: 10477272
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for source device detection. Source device detection may be performed for a variety of types of connectors such as cables or board/substrate connectors across which a DC voltage or stable presence signal is normally supplied during connections when the power signal of the connector is not present. An alternating power source is coupled to a capacitor of known capacitance via a switch. The capacitor is in series with an effective capacitance of a sink device, a connector, and a source device. When the switch is open, the voltage between the capacitor and the effective capacitor is read to determine if a source device is present and On, and when closed, if the source device is present and Off or in Stand-By, or not present. The methods, systems, and apparatuses described include tunability for the capacitor based on temperature and effective capacitance variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Caavo Inc
    Inventors: Ashish D Aggarwal, Pankaj Kumar Kashyap, Pankaj Ramesh Chandra Katiyar
  • Patent number: 10419713
    Abstract: A reproducing device includes a reproducer that reproduces a content, a communicator that establishes a direct wireless connection to an information terminal, and a controller. The controller determines whether the information terminal is a previously permitted information terminal or not when the communicator receives a content reproduction request from the information terminal through wireless connection. The controller performs first control to power on the reproducer, and issues an instruction to perform the content reproduction to the reproducer, when it is determined that the information terminal is the previously permitted information terminal, and when the reproducer is powered off. The controller does not perform the first control when it is determined that the information terminal is not the previously permitted information terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Takagaki
  • Patent number: 10205996
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method which graft and standardize interface technologies to peripheral apparatuses is provided. The image processing apparatus includes a first signal processor configured to process a content image and output the processed content image using a differential pair method through a transmission lane, a second signal processor configured to convert a signal format of the processed content image of the first signal processor into a signal format supportable by an image display apparatus and output the converted content image to the image display apparatus, and a controller configured to change the output features of the first signal process based on a resolution of the image display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung-bo Oh
  • Patent number: 10116895
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a signal display output method, apparatus and system, which pertain to the field of computer technologies. The method includes: receiving, by a TV box expansion device, a radio television signal by using a radio frequency port; performing, by the TV box expansion device, demodulation processing on the radio television signal to obtain a to-be-decoded digital signal; and sending, by the TV box expansion device, the to-be-decoded digital signal to an IP TV box, so that the IP TV box performs decoding processing on the to-be-decoded digital signal to obtain the decoded digital signal for display output. Use flexibility of the IP TV box can be improved by using the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jichun Yang, Juntao Chen
  • Patent number: 10045070
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for centralized content, media and data delivery and access within a premises such as, e.g., a residence. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a remotely manageable premises device that acts as a centralized client networking platform, providing gateway services such as network management as well as traditional content and high-speed data delivery functions. The device also acts as the shared internet connection for all devices in the premises via a cable modem, sharing personal and DVR content such as video, music and photos (and any associated metadata) throughout the premises, and providing both a wired and wireless network in the home. Telephony services utilizing e.g., embedded multimedia terminal adapter (eMTA) and/or Wi-Fi architectures may also be provided via the device. The device can also provide a trusted domain for content or data, as well as allowing a subscriber total mobility in the home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Markley, Louis D. Williamson, John B. Carlucci
  • Patent number: 10021455
    Abstract: A method of identifying content and tracking viewership thereof comprising measuring a color content of a display device, defining a measured color content and determining an occupancy of a space associated with the display device, defining a determined occupancy. Where the determined occupancy indicated the occupancy by at least one person, the measured color content with is associated with the viewable content. Additionally, a viewership information database is updated responsive to the determined occupancy and the viewable content. In some embodiments, determining the color content may be performed by a luminaire in optical communication with the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: Robertson Price
  • Patent number: 9930392
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an image includes a non-volatile memory device configured to store a first program and a second program; and a processor configured to load the first program onto a first area of a volatile memory device to execute the first program in a power-on state of the apparatus, wherein the processor includes a plurality of cores, and in a power-off state of the apparatus, the processor is configured to deactivate at least one of the plurality of cores, deactivate the first program loaded onto the first area, and load the second program onto a second area of the volatile memory device to execute the second program, wherein the first program and the second program, when executed, are configured to cause the processor to receive state information of an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Je-ik Kim
  • Patent number: 9860586
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for transferring a received media object to remote devices in accordance to attributes in a user profile. The profile information additionally determinates the versions of the media object that are available to such remote devices and whether the media object may be stored in such remote devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THOMSON Licensing
    Inventors: Mike Arthur Derrenberger, Terry Wayne Lockridge, Robert Eugene Trzybinski, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer
  • Patent number: 9848231
    Abstract: A streaming media device includes a printed circuit board hosting components configured to access internet data. An audio/visual connector is linked to the printed circuit board, wherein the audio/visual connector is adapted for connection to an audio/visual device, wherein the audio/visual connector is adapted to operate with a first audio/visual interface having sufficient power to fully operate the printed circuit board and a second audio/visual interface having insufficient power to fully operate the printed circuit board. A power connector is linked to the printed circuit board, wherein the power connector selectively receives power based on the audio/visual connector utilizing one of the first audio/visual interface and the second audio/visual interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd Klarke, Greg Garner, Carl Sassenrath, Anthony Wood, Scott Edward De Haas
  • Patent number: 9813661
    Abstract: An image analysis system and method determines whether a channel is active by intercepting signals from a set-top box and determining whether the signals correspond to an inactive channel by analyzing pixels, recognized text and/or audio in the signal stream. The system and method controls tuning of the set-top box to each channel to be tested. Data relating to the analysis may be stored and transmitted for processing credit requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: WATCHANATOR, INC.
    Inventors: Leonard Scott Freudenthal, Gregory Andrew Anderson, Percy F. Shadwell, Jr., Frank David Freudenthal
  • Patent number: 9805197
    Abstract: Among other things, a guest operating system is refreshed from a master image of the guest operating system repeatedly in connection with use of one or more electronic devices on which the guest operating system is hosted. A guest operating system is executed on a virtual machine, and, from time to time, while the virtual machine is running, the guest operating system is reloaded from a master image of the guest operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ENT. SERVICES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LP
    Inventors: Yona Shaposhnik, Ephraim Carmen
  • Patent number: 9807451
    Abstract: The high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) unit includes a source interface module, configured to communicate with a sink device, a sink interface module, configured to communicate with a source device, an interface circuit module, configured to connect to an HDMI interface of an external device, a processing module, configured to identify a device type of the connected external device, and control a switching circuit module, and the switching circuit module, configured to establish a connection between the HDMI interface of the external device connected to the interface circuit module and the source interface module or the sink interface module. It is implemented that when a different type of a device connected to a multimedia terminal matches a port, it is ensured that the multimedia terminal establishes a connection to a source device or a sink device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HUAWEI DEVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yingqi Xu, Zhiqin He, Cunzhi Fan
  • Patent number: 9740177
    Abstract: A method of time synchronization between a timepiece-equipped electronic device and a cell phone or an IPAD, which includes the steps of: (a) utilizing the universal standard time of the cell phone or IPAD by a time synchronization APP to obtain a synchronization time information; (b) modulating an audio frequency carrier signal or time signal from the digital signal of the cell phone or IPAD based on the encoding rules of audio phase-shifting; (c) transmitting the time information in the audio frequency carrier signal to the timepiece-equipped electronic device through audio or data signal transmission channel by utilizing the Bluetooth module or WIFI of the cell phone or IPAD; and (d) receiving and pairing the audio frequency carrier signal, decoding the time information and displaying the time information, which is the synchronized time with the cell phone or IPAD, onto the display of the timepiece-equipped electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Qixiang Feng
  • Patent number: 9576585
    Abstract: A decoder device for decoding a bitstream so as to produce therefrom an audio output signal, the bitstream having audio data and optionally loudness metadata containing a reference loudness value, wherein a gain control device has a reference loudness decoder configured to create a loudness value, wherein the loudness value is the reference loudness value in case that the reference loudness value is present in the bitstream; wherein the gain control device has a gain calculator configured to calculate a gain value based on the loudness value and based on a volume control value, which is provided by an external user interface allowing a user to control the volume control value, and a loudness processor configured to control the loudness of the audio output signal based on the gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Robert Bleidt
  • Patent number: 9577611
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may have a clock input pin coupled to a buffer (24). The buffer may supply a clock signal (28) to an integrated circuit chip such as the memory. To conserve power, the buffer is powered down. When ready for use, the buffer is quickly powered back up. In one embodiment, in response to a predetermined number of toggles Of the clock signal, the buffer is automatically powered up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniele Balluchi, Daniele Vimercati, Graziano Mirichigni
  • Patent number: 9326036
    Abstract: A channel remapping pre-notification (RPN) message is transmitted in each of multiple frequencies prior to movement of data associated with one or more virtual channels to one or more different frequencies. The RPN message is also sent prior to transmission of a Virtual Channel Table (VCT) reflecting channel movement. If a receiving device is unable to find data associated with a selected channel subsequent to the channel movement, the stored RPN information can be used to identify a new frequency for that selected channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 9269088
    Abstract: Method and system of advertising. The method and system permitting a user to select advertisements for viewing. The user may select the advertisements so that the advertisements appear during access to media services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Davis, So Vang
  • Patent number: 9253430
    Abstract: Systems and methods to allow a user to control viewed content. A particular method includes receiving at least one selected video stream of multiple video streams associated with a particular event. The method includes forming an output stream from the at least one selected video stream based on a user modifiable template. The method also includes sending the output stream to a display device for playback as indicated by the user modifiable template. The user modifiable template indicates a display region location where the at least one selected video stream is to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Alberto Levine, Dale Malik
  • Patent number: 9237380
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying program guide information are disclosed. In some implementations, a method includes, at a computing device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, responsive to a user-supplied search query, formatting for display program guide data on a first grid. The first grid includes (i) a first axis representing units of time and (ii) a second axis. The program guide data comprises information representing a first set of time-bounded events. The method also includes formatting a second grid for concurrent display with the first grid. The second grid includes information identifying a second set of time-bounded events. The first set of time-bounded events is a subset of the second set of time-bounded events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Richard Carl Gossweiler, III, Marisa Bauer, John Wayne Blackburn, David A. Brown, Neha Gupta, Timothy Dharma Heilman, Manish Gordhan Patel, David Scott Reiss, Mehran Sahami, Maricia Scott, Thomas H. Taylor, Alice Tull, Mark Wagner, Lucy Congyun Zhang, Daniel John Zigmond
  • Patent number: 9191716
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing guidance to users for finding media are described. Such systems and methods may be provided in interactive media guides such as program guides, web browsers, or other suitable interactive media guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Thomas, W. Benjamin Herrington, David M. Berezowski, Robert A. Knee, Michael D. Ellis, Todd A. Walker, M. Scott Reichardt, L. Joe Hedges
  • Patent number: 9191695
    Abstract: A receiver includes: a broadcast contents acquisition unit configured to acquire contents from a broadcast signal; a determination unit configured to determine whether a received application is an application whose reference to the contents has been permitted; a recording unit configured to record, in a first storage area, an application whose reference to the contents has been determined to have been permitted by the determination unit, and record, in a second storage area, an application whose reference to the contents has been determined not to have been permitted by the determination unit; an execution unit configured to execute the application recorded in at least one of the first storage area and the second storage area; and a reference refusal unit configured to refuse reference to the contents acquired by the broadcast contents acquisition unit due to execution of an application other than the application recorded in the first storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON HOSO KYOKAI
    Inventors: Hisayuki Ohmata, Kazuhiro Otsuki, Keigo Majima, Go Ohtake, Yuki Hironaka, Yusuke Endo
  • Patent number: 9161090
    Abstract: Arrangements for preparing a television channel for presentation are presented. A set of one or more tuners that are idle may be identified. Being idle may correspond to not being used to receive any television channel data for presentation or recording. An electronic programming guide that indicates programming may be output for presentation. One or more television channels may be selected for preparation. The television channels may be selected based at least in part on one or more electronic programming guide operations and/or prior to receiving user input selecting a television channel of the one or more television channels for presentation. Each of the television channels may be prepared for presentation by tuning, by each tuner, to the one or more television channels prior to receiving the user input selecting the television channel of the television channels for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Kummer, Steven Michael Casagrande, Charlie William Zetterower, Kenneth Robert Hodge, William Michael Beals
  • Patent number: 9143424
    Abstract: A content delivery networked is monitored to verify operation of control channels for the delivery of content to a customer. Monitoring includes joining a connection with at least one control channel in the network, decoding content of a signal in the control channel, determining whether the decoded content complies with a pre-determined rule corresponding to content transmitted in the control channel, and producing a report indicating whether the decoded content is compliant with the rule. In addition, a graphical user interface (GUI) displays the status and results of testing the control channel. The GUI is configured to perform generating a display representing testing status of a plurality of DSG tunnels in a first frame and test results of the DSG tunnels in a second frame and providing details of a DSG tunnel test when selected by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Van Doorn, Joseph Pryszlak
  • Patent number: 9093015
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose a display apparatus including: an image processing device which processes an image signal; a display device which displays an image based on the processed image signal; a connection device which connects to an upgrade apparatus which processes the image signal; a power supply device which supplies power to each component of the display apparatus and the upgrade apparatus through the connection device; and a first controller which controls the connection device to receive the processed image signal from the upgrade apparatus when the upgrade apparatus is connected through the connection device, wherein the power supply device is controlled by the upgrade apparatus connected through the connection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kee-wook Na, Byung-kwon Kang, Shane Cho
  • Patent number: 9069043
    Abstract: A termination circuit includes a pMOS transistor configured to have a source connected with a signal terminal outputting or inputting a transmission signal, a drain connected with a grounding line, and a gate receiving a control signal, the pMOS transistor being turned on when enabling a characteristic impedance matching function and being turned off when disabling the matching function; and an inductor and a capacitor configured to be connected with the signal terminal for matching characteristic impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshihide Suzuki, Yoichi Kawano
  • Patent number: 9043836
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 9038122
    Abstract: Without using a gateway, an AV device is controlled as intended by an operator without causing a conflict between an operation by a user and an operation by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Konishi
  • Patent number: 9037494
    Abstract: Method and system of managing subscriber access to services. The method and system including features for use in determining sub scriber entitlements to the services and managing presentation of the services for subscriber selection and access as a function of the subscriber entitlements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: David Cleary, Walter Michel
  • Patent number: 9032436
    Abstract: A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Pil Kim, C. Gomer Thomas
  • Patent number: 9015770
    Abstract: A digital broadcasting reception apparatus (100) is provided with: a reception unit (111, 121) that receives a signal; a signal strength detection unit (112, 122) that detects the received strength of the received signal; a channel scan control unit (125) that detects receivable physical channels; an area map storage unit (129) that stores coverage area information indicating coverage areas; a current position detection unit (127) that detects the current position; a tuning control unit (118) that determines a distance threshold value on the basis of the received strength detected by the signal strength detection unit when the channel scan control unit (125) detects a physical channel and the current position, at which the detection was made, is not included within the coverage area of the detected physical channel; and an area map generating unit (128) that expands the coverage area on the basis of the determined distance threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Takaki, Keiichi Shirasuka