Program, Message, Or Commercial Insertion Or Substitution Patents (Class 725/32)
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Patent number: 9288550Abstract: A system and method for integrating a media plan and a targeted advertisement into a television or a radio channel. The system includes a user interface for receiving a media plan and a television program schedule. The system also includes a media server to integrate the television program schedule and the targeted advertisement based on the media plan and to generate a Mark-in and a Mark-out montage. The system further includes one or more edge devices for fetching the targeted advertisement, detecting the Mark-in and the Mark-out montage and inserting the targeted advertisement into the television channel. The method includes receiving a media plan from an advertiser. The method also includes selecting a television channel by the advertiser. The method further includes scheduling of a targeted advertisement. Furthermore, the method includes fetching and inserting the targeted advertisement for playing on the television channel based on the media plan.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: SUREWAVES MEDIATECH PRIVATE LIMITEDInventor: Rajendra Kumar Khare
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Patent number: 9282378Abstract: Various arrangements are provided for earning and using credit. Via one or more tuners, a first commercial may be received and stored, wherein the first commercial comprises video and audio. The commercial may be output for presentation for viewing by a user of the television receiver system, wherein the first commercial is associated with a first predefined amount of credit. It may then be confirmed that the first commercial has been viewed by the user. In response to confirming that the first commercial has been viewed by the user, an account of the user may be credited with the first predefined amount of credit. This credit may be used for viewing other content, such as pay-per-view (PPV) content, services, and/or products.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Echostar Technologies, L.L.C.Inventors: Eric Holley, Frederick Tuck
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Patent number: 9282285Abstract: A technique provides user video to an online conference. The technique involves receiving a live user video signal from a camera device. The live user video signal defines a field of view. The technique further involves automatically identifying live initial content of a presentation region within the field of view and live initial content of a privacy region (e.g., a background region) within the field of view. The technique further involves generating, as the user video signal to the online conference, a modified user video signal based on the live user video signal. The modified video signal includes (i) the live initial content of the presentation region within the field of view and (ii) modified video content in place of the live initial content of the privacy region within the field of view. Such operation effectively forms a virtual curtain in which anything in the background is hidden.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc.Inventors: Florian Winterstein, Albert Alexandrov
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Patent number: 9282353Abstract: Novel arrangements are detailed involving delivery of entertainment content, and commercial sponsorship of such content. Some arrangements enable viewers to control presentation of advertising in video, e.g., selecting what commercials are to be presented—if any, and also their order and timing. Ad presentation can also be made dependent on context. Other arrangements ensure that advertising is actually rendered, and is not skipped-over. In still other aspects, entertainment content that is now offered on a paid basis is made available for free to certain viewers. For example, viewers may receive free content as a perk for earlier patronage of certain content sponsors. Fees charged to advertisers can be tied to measured consumer responses (e.g., to correlated increases in sales of advertised products), or to the demographics of the responding viewers (e.g., engagement of affluent consumers merits higher fees). A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Bruce L. Davis, Tony F. Rodriguez
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Patent number: 9277293Abstract: In interactive advertisement offering method and system, a server wirelessly receives from a user terminal an input signal, which is associated with a target TV advertisement viewed by a user of the user terminal. Upon identifying one TV advertisement to be the target TV advertisement based on the input signal, the server determines one of pre-stored Internet advertisements as a reference advertisement based on key terms representative of the target TV advertisement, and then transmits to the user terminal a reference advertisement menu generated thereby along with pre-stored Internet advertisement content corresponding to the reference advertisement for display of the reference advertisement menu on the user terminal.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION INDUSTRYInventors: Yu-Hao Chen, Wen-Shan Liou
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Patent number: 9277397Abstract: A system may be configured to receive profile identifiers from a set of user devices; identify, based on the profile identifiers, one or more user devices, of the set of user devices, for which updated parameters should be provided, the parameters relating to operation of the one or more user devices with respect to a telecommunications network; and provide, to the identified one or more user devices, the updated parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Cellco PartnershipInventor: Stephen J. Kolanowski
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Patent number: 9271034Abstract: A device is provided for use with extended content data on a first data stream and second content data on a second data stream. The device includes a processing portion, an acquisition portion and a buffer. The acquisition portion is in communication with the processing portion. The acquisition portion can acquire the first data stream, can transition to the second data stream to receive the second content data and can provide the second content data to the processing portion. The buffer can receive the extended content data. The processing portion can instruct the acquisition portion to transition from the first data stream to the second data stream to receive the second content data. The buffer can further provide the extended content data to the processing portion based on the acquisition portion transitioning from the first data stream to the second data stream. The processing portion can further process the extended content data portion as received from the buffer.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Yeqing Wang, Brian D. Mullen
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Patent number: 9271020Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for providing social interaction opportunities for people watching television is presented. The system includes: a television data source which transmits television data streams for reception by end devices, each end device being represented by an equipment code; a plurality of end devices, including a first user's end device and a second user's end device, each end device configured to receive a television data streams, and each user represented by an identifier code; and an interactive-information server configured to: store, at the first user's behest, the identifier code of the second user; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the first end device; monitor which of the television data streams is being received by the second end device; and notify the first user when the first end device and the second end device are receiving the same television data stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.Inventor: Jordan Alperin
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Patent number: 9269396Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for variable speed playback. In one aspect the disclosure provides for receiving content having a first playback speed, determining a second playback speed for at least a portion of the content based on a playback factor, associating the second playback speed with the portion of the content, and providing at least the portion of the content at the second playback speed to a display device.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Ross Gilson
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Patent number: 9264471Abstract: To create information in media content a standardized segment tag associated with macro segments is created. To extract segments from media content, macro segments of the contiguous stream are identified based on the presence of a standardized segment tag associated with each identified segment and data is extracted from each identified segment based on the associated tag. In a device for creating information in media content, a processor identifies macro segments of the contiguous stream and creates a standardized segment tag associated with each segment. A memory stores the macro segments and the standardized tag associated with each segment. A device for extracting segments includes a processor configured to identify macro segments of the contiguous stream based on the presence of a standardized segment tag associated with each segment. The processor extracts data from each identified macro segment based on the associated standardized tag. A memory stores the extracted data.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Padmagowri Pichumani, Padmassri Chandrashekar, Shailesh Ramamurthy
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Patent number: 9264760Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for electronically tagging a video component (VC) in a video package. One example method includes the steps of: (i) receiving a video package; (ii) identifying a position of each of multiple video sections (VS) in the received video package; (iii) identifying a type of at least a portion of the VSs having identified positions, wherein at least one VS is identified as having a show-segment VC type; (iv) determining a total duration of the VSs identified as having a show-segment VC type; (v) determining a total count of the VSs identified as having a show-segment VC type; (vi) responsive to determining that the determined total duration is within a threshold range of a predetermined duration, associating tagging data with the received video package, wherein the tagging data indicates the position and type of each VS identified as having a show-segment VC type.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLCInventors: Hank J. Hundemer, Dana A. Lasher
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Patent number: 9251505Abstract: A contact management method and system is provided. The method includes presenting, by a computer processor via a dashboard of a graphical user interface, a user name icon associated with a user. The computer processor presents a list of names associated with users and receives a selection for a first contact name. A file sharing option between the user and a user associated with the first contact name is enabled. The computer processor receives a selection for a second contact name and in response presents an internal network contacts map comprising the user name icon connected to the first contact name via a first link and the user name icon connected to the second contact name via a second link. The first link comprises an attribute indicating the file sharing option and the second link comprises an attribute indicating that the file sharing option is not enabled.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sujith Job, Lokesh Mishra, Pradosh A. Tarkar
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Patent number: 9241200Abstract: A distribution system of programs and ads includes transmitting one or more ad channels to user devices. An ad channel includes ads and ratings that indicate a likelihood of interest of a user for an ad. The ratings are calculated based on ad profiles and user profiles. A user device selects ads to play during an ad insertion period of a program based on the rating.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventor: Ming Chen
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Patent number: 9235557Abstract: A method for associating at least a link to an information resource with a multimedia content element. The method comprises identifying at least one multimedia content element in a web-page, wherein a uniform resource locator (URL) of the web-page is received from any one of a user device and a web server hosting the web-page; generating a signature for at least a portion of the at least one identified multimedia content element; determining at least a link to the at least a portion of the content respective of the generated signature; and providing the web-page with the at least a link respective of the signature of the at least a portion of the at least one multimedia content element to the user device.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Cortica, Ltd.Inventors: Igal Raichelgauz, Karina Odinaev, Yehoshua Y. Zeevi
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Patent number: 9237377Abstract: The MEDIA CONTENT SYNCHRONIZED ADVERTISING PLATFORM APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS (“AD-SYNCH”) transforms TV program schedule listing information and user channel selection via AD-SYNCH components, into channel-synchronized product placement advertisement. A system is disclosed, comprising: a memory; a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions for: receiving a user media program selection message from the user mobile device; retrieving an ad tag associated with the user selected media program from TV program schedule listing data; identifying an advertised item embedded in the media program based on the retrieved ad tag; determining an available ad template associated with the retrieved ad tag; generating an ad for the embedded advertised item based on the available ad template; and providing the generated ad to the user mobile device based on a timestamp of the ad tag.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Symphony Advanced MediaInventors: Manish Bhatia, Michael Scott Saxon, Nigel Stephen Pratt, Pyeush Gurha
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Patent number: 9226044Abstract: A system for real time distribution of data and media is disclosed. The system may include a processor that executes instructions to authenticate an employee into an application based on login information received for the employee. The processor may enable the employee to access the application if the employee is authenticated. Once the employee is logged in, the processor may receive media content and information associated with a customer and may transmit the media content and the information to a device of a manager for approval. After the media content and the information are transmitting to the device of the manager, the processor may receive the approval of the media content and the information from the device of the manager. The processor may then proceed to interrupt currently displayed media content on a display device to display video content including the media content and the information associated with the customer.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Brothers Media Group, LLCInventor: Jerry D. Daniels
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Patent number: 9226009Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a program distribution schedule information receiver configured to receive program distribution schedule information; a program-associated information acquirer configured to acquire, for each program listed in the program distribution schedule information, information for identifying content associated with the program and program-associated information including information for identifying a recording media to which the content is recorded; and a display controller configured to control displaying of a program guide by allocating a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for controlling a command for reproducing the content corresponding to the program into each display box of the program on the basis of the received program distribution schedule information and the acquired program-associated information.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Akihiko Kinoshita, Takashi Kanao, Hiroyuki Chiba, Tsuyoshi Honma, Hirofumi Kouda
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Patent number: 9219941Abstract: A secondary stream of rich media packets defining scene states of a sub-portion of a scene representable by a primary stream or rich media packets. Local random access data defining instructions for enabling creation, when being processed, of a starting state of the scene sub-portion without affecting the scene state of scene portions is provided. The local random access data is packed into at least one rich media packet, which is inserted into the secondary stream and transmitted to at least one user terminal. The local random access data can be used by terminals for tuning-in to the secondary stream and/or for error recovery relating to the secondary stream.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)Inventors: Clinton Priddle, Per Fröjdh
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Patent number: 9215606Abstract: A method is provided for transfer of content-related data of an Over-the-top (OTT) provider to a telecommunications device using a telecommunications network. The method includes: receiving, by the OTT provider, a request for content-related data; transmitting the content-related data of the OTT provider to a content delivery interface device of the telecommunications network; and transmitting the content-related data of the OTT provider to a content delivery functionality of the telecommunications network and transmitting the content-related data of the OTT provider from the content delivery functionality of the telecommunications network to the telecommunications device at a predetermined time or in a predetermined time interval. The telecommunications network includes a radio interface and a further radio interface for transmission of the content-related data of the OTT.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AGInventor: Stephan Blicker
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Patent number: 9210476Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supplying unbound applications with data via in-band program channel signaling are described. Unbound applications are STB or other customer premise device applications which continue to run when a tuner in the device changes between program channels. Applications executed in a STB, in accordance with the present invention, e.g., eBIF applications, continue to run despite changes in program channels with data being supplied via in-band signaling, out of band signaling, or a combination of in-band and out of band signaling. The methods and apparatus are well suited for supporting delivery of program catalog information relevant to an individual program channel using in-band signaling reducing or eliminating the need to delivery a multi-channel program catalog via out of band signaling to support various VOD applications.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLCInventors: David W. Chen, Vipul Babubhai Patel, Mehul Shah, Jian Yu
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Patent number: 9204079Abstract: A method for automatically providing an appreciation object based on a user's interest and a video apparatus using the method are provided. The method includes providing the appreciation object if it is determined that a user is less interested in a viewing object currently being provided. Therefore, it is possible to promote appreciation of the appreciation object created based on currently stored content, and to provide the user with entertainment through appreciation of the appreciation object.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2009Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hye-jeong Lee, Ji-hye Chung, Byuk-sun Kim
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Patent number: 9204186Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to buffering and presenting content. Multiple pause buffers may be created and maintained so that users can jump within the content of a channel. If buffered content is not available, the user may be offered similar content that is available as on-demand content, or as other recorded content, for example, stored on a digital video recorder. If a commercial is playing when the new channel is selected, a buffered portion corresponding to an earlier portion of the content may be presented instead of the commercial.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventors: John Kirk Harvey, Ross Gilson
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Patent number: 9203917Abstract: A user's interactions with a media player during the playing of a media file may provide a variety of information regarding the user's interests in the media file, or in any objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes expressed or described therein. A media player or the software operating thereon may be modified to receive interactions from the user and/or to analyze such interactions in order to associate the user with such objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes. The user's interactions may also be analyzed by a media service, an online marketplace or any external location in order to identify any items related to such objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes, or for any other purpose.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2015Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael Allen Swift
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Patent number: 9204181Abstract: A personalized content overlay is generated and sent for display to a subscriber. The content overlay may be generated in response to a request by the subscriber, such as a request to watch a program. The content overlay can include personalized information tailored to the subscriber based on subscriber information. The content overlay can also include information obtained from a third party, such as an advertiser, that has a preexisting relationship with the subscriber. The content overlay can include one or more triggers that, when activated by the subscriber, enable interactivity between the subscriber and a third party.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: GENBAND US LLCInventors: David P. Ress, Dominic Goodwill
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Patent number: 9191712Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive a call request from a set top box that is remote from the server where the call request identifies a telephone number that is presented from video content presented by the set top box where the telephone number is detected based on a combination of image pattern recognition and speech recognition and where the telephone number is associated with a marketing entity, establish a voice communication with a first telephone device associated with the set top box, and establish the voice communication with a second telephone device associated with the telephone number and the marketing entity if the first telephone device accepts the voice communication. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LPInventors: Haifeng Bi, Xiaolian Bi
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Patent number: 9189806Abstract: There is provided a system and method for dynamically generated client side streaming playlists. There is provided a method comprising receiving a request to stream a video asset for playback, retrieving, from a network, a video asset playlist corresponding to the video asset and an ad campaign playlist, generating a consolidated video playlist including the video asset playlist and the ad campaign playlist, and processing the consolidated video playlist using a media playback framework to stream a plurality of video files from the network for decoding and output to a display. Discontinuity tags within the video asset playlist may be utilized as insertion points for portions of the ad campaign playlist. The consolidated video playlist may be accessed through a local HTTP web server, advantageously allowing the use of commonly installed media playback framework models such as QuickTime X to trigger adaptive bitrate support through HTTP Live Streaming.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Giuseppe Manzari, Robert Longwell, Chang Liu, Andrew Bauch, David Brueck
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Patent number: 9179168Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method of providing video to attendees of a live concert. Video of different views of the live concert is captured. A plurality of video streams are provided to attendees of the live concert while the live concert is occurring. The plurality of digital video streams enable an attendee of the live concert to select which of the plurality of digital video streams to view using a portable digital device associated with that attendee such that the attendee may choose from among the different views of the live concert.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Live Nation Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Michael D. Abrams
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Patent number: 9179270Abstract: The present application discloses methods and devices for intercommunication between mobile terminals based on digital networks. A first mobile terminal may connect to a uniquely identified server based on a first terminal identifier corresponding to the first mobile terminal. In addition, the first mobile terminal may connect to the server through a default connection setup embedded in the first terminal identifier. By acquiring terminal identifiers corresponding to interacting mobile terminals, the first mobile terminal may establish communication channels with the interacting mobile terminals. After adding the terminal identifiers of the interacting mobile terminals to the contact lists of the first mobile terminal, different regions of the first mobile terminal may be designated to the interacting mobile terminals so that the regions may display the status of communication and serve as interfaces to control receiving, playing, recording, and transmitting digital contents encoding voice messages.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: TECENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Yuejun Liu, Kai Liu, Liangliang Fan, Chenglin Liu, Yi Dan
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Patent number: 9179192Abstract: A system and method for associating videos with geographic locations is disclosed. The system comprises a communication module, a location module, a tagging module and a database association module. The communication module receives a video uploaded by a content provider and a set of video data describing the video. The location module determines that the video describes a geographic location included in a geographic map based at least in part on the video data. The tagging module determines one or more travelling tags for the video based at least in part on the video data. The database association module associates the video and the one or more travelling tags with the geographic location so that the video with the one or more travelling tags is included in the geographic map.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Huazhong Ning, Hrishikesh Aradhye
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Patent number: 9172978Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system to communicate primary and secondary content streams to at least one remote unit, for example, via a television channel in a targeted television environment. The secondary content stream comprises a plurality of tertiary content streams (e.g., video streams) providing commercials, advertisements or any other content. The tertiary content streams are included in the secondary content stream as a mosaic so that each tertiary content stream is a subset or portion of an active display area or frame provided by the single secondary content stream. In one exemplary embodiment, the method and system provide targeted or specific commercial advertisements to demographically selected audiences.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: OpenTV, Inc.Inventor: Joel Zdepski
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Patent number: 9165060Abstract: The present application provides a system for creating content for a first entity. In one aspect of the application, content creation and management system defines a virtual content channel, wherein the virtual content channel comprises content sources in the combined set of content sources that are above a similarity threshold based on the similarity score.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Percolate Industries, Inc.Inventor: Erik Dies
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Patent number: 9167295Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are provided for providing content to a user. In some embodiments the content may be transmitted using a first transmission technique. In some embodiments, when the user “catches up to” the content as it is being received via the first transmission technique, a switch may be made to obtain the content via a second transmission technique, allowing reception of the content via the first transmission technique to be terminated. In some embodiments, a user equipment device may include a buffer that may be used to store the content received via the second transmission technique, which may support earlier termination with respect to receiving content via the first transmission technique. In some embodiments, the buffer may support a rewind operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLCInventor: Amit Garg
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Patent number: 9160975Abstract: A system includes a service provider network configured to communicate with a plurality of television-based user devices. The system also includes a database storing a status of user activity with respect to each of the plurality of television-based user devices and storing indicators of user-defined relationships between respective users of the plurality of television-based user devices. The system further includes a dedicated channel accessible to a group of users of the plurality of television-based user devices. The dedicated channel is arranged to enable interactive activity between members of the group.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventor: Sanjay Macwan
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Patent number: 9161099Abstract: Described herein is a system and method of ad targeting that automatically matches advertisements to media based on the demographic signatures of each. The method and system include calculating a match score between historical buyer demographics and media demographics. Media which is similar to the demographic of the product buyers is targeted for advertising.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Lucid Commerce, Inc.Inventors: Brendan Kitts, Brian Burdick, Dyng Au, Tyson Roberts
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Patent number: 9158437Abstract: An interactive media management server that facilitates management of interactive media and delivery of such interactive media. It comprises a first interface to an interactive media distribution server communicatively coupled to a plurality of mobile devices, and a second interface to a service provider system or a content provider system. It comprises a manager module for managing creation, distribution and tracking of a plurality of interactive media. The manager module, via the second interface, manages the delivery of the plurality of interactive media from the service provider system or the content provider system, and the communication of user responses to the plurality of interactive media to the corresponding service provider system or content provider system.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Inventor: Bindu Rama Rao
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Patent number: 9137582Abstract: A system for performing closed captioning enables a caption prepared remotely by a captioner to be repositioned by someone other than the captioner, such as by a program originator. This capability is particularly useful when, for example, the program originator wishes to include a banner in a video but also wishes to avoid having a closed caption interfere with the banner. In one illustrative system, the program originator is a broadcast station that includes a conventional encoder and a broadcast station computer. In one arrangement, control data generated at the station computer is incorporated into the caption data by the station computer. In another arrangement, the control data is sent from the station computer to the captioner computer, which incorporates the control data into the caption data.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Caption Colorado, LLCInventors: Umberto Lenzi, Wesley Long
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Patent number: 9131282Abstract: A computer system automatically identifies, in response to receipt of first electronic data indicating selected advertisements are desired for a set-top box, certain television programs/channels that permit or desire selected advertisements, and automatically makes available to a device a set of selected television advertisements. The programs/channels are identified using second electronic data. The programs/channels are available for viewing in a time slot during which the first electronic data was received. Each selected advertisement corresponds to an identified television program/channel. The device has access to third electronic data indicating which program/channel is currently being presented via the set-top box, so that a selected television advertisement can be presented via the set-top box while the corresponding program/channel is being presented. The computer system selects and makes available the first set of television advertisements without access to the third electronic data.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: INTENT IQ, LLCInventor: Roy Shkedi
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Patent number: 9124937Abstract: A content manager receives a request to display a content guide of available content. In response to receiving the request, the content manager initiates display of the content guide on a display screen. In the displayed content guide, the content manager initiates display of multiple selectable content viewing options. A first selectable channel viewing option of the multiple content viewing options can be configured to correspond to a television channel from which to view content originating from a content sponsor. A second channel viewing option of the multiple content viewing options can be configured to correspond to an auxiliary channel with respect to the television channel from which to access available over-the-top content associated with the content originating from the content sponsor. Accordingly, a user can be easily notified of the availability of content on a television channel and over-the-top content associated with the television channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLCInventor: Peter Stern
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Patent number: 9124949Abstract: Method and system for creating one or more advertising avail sections (subavails) and thereupon aggregating the subavails to form one or more groups of subavails. The advertisement opportunities (avails) may be divided into sections (subavails) with each section being directed at a particular target audience (group). The subavails are then aggregated into one or more groups of subavails so that the groups of subavails can be sold to the advertisers. The grouping of subavails is generally based on a correlation wherein the subavails are characterized based on one or more characteristics. The groups of subavails are formed based on one or more shared characteristics. The advertiser has an option to buy a group of subavails (rather than an avail in prior art), whereby the advertiser may reach a targeted group of an audience.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: PRIME RESEARCH ALLIANCE E, INC.Inventors: Charles A. Eldering, Gregory C. Flickinger, John P. Blasko
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Patent number: 9124908Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may perform operations including, for example, receiving a plurality of user-generated comments associated with media content where the plurality of user-generated comments are temporally associated with a portion of the media content during a presentation of the media content at a group of communication devices, and identifying from the plurality of user-generated comments a cluster of comments associated with a segment of the media content based on a frequency of the user-generated comments. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LPInventors: Linda Roberts, E-Lee Chang, Ja-Young Sung, Natasha Barrett Schultz, Robert King
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Patent number: 9113488Abstract: A multi-radio device, such as User Equipment (UE), may experience coexistence issues among various ones of its constituent radio devices that operate at the same time. Various aspects of the disclosure provide techniques to mitigate coexistence issues in multi-radio devices, where significant in-device coexistence problems can exist. In particular, a method for coexistence of multi-radio devices is described. The method includes identifying, at an upper layer of a multi-radio UE, a type of incoming broadcast stream data. The method further includes determining a coexistence policy for operation of communication resources within the multi-radio UE based on the type of the incoming broadcast stream data. The method also includes arbitrating, at a lower layer of the multi-radio UE, between the communication resources based on the coexistence policy.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Seyfullah Halit Oguz, Tamer Adel Kadous, Ashok Mantravadi, Prasanna Kannan
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Patent number: 9113228Abstract: A method of addressing on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV services provider includes listing a title for a host TV program on an electronic program guide and upon a TV service subscriber selecting the title by input on their TV remote control unit to the set top box for the TV display equipment, delivering the host TV program for display on the TV using a templated display that includes video content for the TV host program running along with selectable menu options for viewing subordinate TV programs associated with the host TV program. Upon the TV service subscriber selecting a menu option, the selected subordinate TV program is displayed. The host TV and/or any subordinate TV programs may be updated by uploading host or subordinate TV programs from an external web-based video content management system for converting video content and delivering formatted on-demand TV programs to the TV services platform.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2009Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Broadband iTV, Inc.Inventor: Milton Diaz Perez
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Patent number: 9106964Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products are provided to enhance viewing of an entertainment content in the presence of advertisements. At a compliant device, an indication is received that the entertainment content is associated with a content policy information relating to presentation of advertisements during, or prior to, presentation of the entertainment content. A further indication is received that the entertainment content is associated with an advertisement award program. An advertisement award program message provides that the advertisements may be presented in a modified form in exchange for a specific number of award points. Upon receiving an indication agreeing to such an exchange, advertisements are allowed to be presented in a modified form.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Verance CorporationInventor: Jian Zhao
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Patent number: 9100629Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting interactive content, to members of an audience having visible access to a common display screen, as part of a pre-show that precedes presentation of featured display content. Social network messages are received at a server. Each of the messages originates at, and is received from, one of a plurality of mobile devices executing a client application. The server forwards at least some of the received messages to a projector, which in turn projects the messages to the display screen as posts within a social network “page”. Concurrently, the received messages are transmitted over a wireless local area network to mobile terminals executing the client application. The client application initiates display of the messages within a corresponding social network page. A resource identifier (e.g. HTML link) within a message enables viewing of supplemental content at the discretion and initiative of each individual mobile terminal user.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: KINO LLCInventors: John T. Brenden, Dmitry Kozko
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Patent number: 9100618Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream and in response, displays the first video stream. The device allocates, in accordance with a bandwidth allocation, available bandwidth for receiving data at the device between receiving the first video stream and preloading one or more other, non-displayed, video streams. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the device preloads at least a portion of one or more non-displayed video streams based on the bandwidth allocation. After the preloading, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the second video stream on the display using a preloaded portion of the second video stream that was preloaded in accordance with the bandwidth allocation.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: SPOTIFY ABInventors: Eric Hoffert, Mike Berkley, Kevin Faaborg, Gustav Soderstrom
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Patent number: 9094721Abstract: The invention relates, in various aspects, to systems and methods for linking content stored on a computer network with content broadcast over a television network. The system includes a database, a trigger mechanism, a communications interface, and a packet generator. The database stores tokens representative of links to the stored content and delivery information representative of at least a duration for delivering the token. The trigger mechanism indicates an instruction to deliver a token over the television network, generating a signal indicating a respective one of the stored tokens and a time for starting the delivery of the respective token. The communications interface has a channel in communication with a television set top box device for transferring the respective token to the television set top box device. The packet generator generates packets within a stream of television content to be broadcast over the television network.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.Inventors: Michael Kokernak, Madeleine Noland, Colin Campbell, Gordon Bechtel
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Patent number: 9094718Abstract: Techniques described herein automatically identifies, in a multimedia content, an advertiser from which an advertisement in the multimedia content originates and/or a brand to which the advertisement pertains. The system determines whether the identified advertiser and/or identified brand is specified in a not to be displayed list and if so, performs at least one of: presents alternative content during the time interval that the advertisement occupies in the multimedia content or skips over the advertisement in the multimedia content.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: James M. Barton, Brian Beach, Margret Schmidt, Robert F. Poniatowski, Shelly Glennon
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Patent number: 9094694Abstract: An apparatus integrates a plurality of television signal sources into a cohesive audio/video environment. Internal provisions include a standard broadcast-frequency tuner, cable tuner as well as other optional inputs such as for a direct-broadcast satellite, previously recorded video material, etc. In the preferred embodiment, means are provided whereby a main or primary program channel may be linked to additional channels providing supplementary information to enhance resolution, sound quality, or to facilitate special effects.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Videa, LLCInventors: Barry H. Schwab, John G. Posa
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Patent number: 9094802Abstract: A method for targeted advertising is disclosed. The method includes accessing at least one piece of demographic information associated with a user of a portable device, selecting an advertisement to be delivered to the user based at least in part on the demographic information, and initiating communication of a version of the advertisement configured for presentation at the portable device.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLCInventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
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Patent number: 9087343Abstract: One embodiment of a system (3) that provides more than one technique for delivering media and advertisements to consumers (26a) and consumers (26b) over a network (23) and, where a technique permits, measuring the exposure of consumers (26a) and (26b) to the media and advertisements with precision and, where a technique does not permit, using exposure information from other techniques to demonstrate consumer (26a) and (26b) exposure to the media and advertisements. Advantageously, offline consumer (26b) exposure to downloaded media content and advertisements can be demonstrated, which significantly increases the attractiveness of downloaded media content to advertiser (5).Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: ART19, Inc.Inventors: Sean Abram Carr, Johannes Vetter, William Matthew Ridley