ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150215250 | MEDIA APPLIANCE - A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation. | 07-30-2015 |
20140337470 | Method and System for Tunable Distribution of Content - A method and system for tunable distribution of content are disclosed. Preferably, the content comprises digital rights and/or watermark information. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a request from a client. One or more content files related to the request and a user profile of a user are determined. One or more seeders are assigned to start the delivery of the one or more content files. The client is allowed to obtain a plurality of pieces of the one or more content files from the one or more seeders. At least one piece of the plurality of pieces of the one or more content files contains digital rights and/or watermark information. | 11-13-2014 |
20140304310 | MANAGING AND EDITING STORED MEDIA ASSETS - Methods and systems are described for providing editing tools that allow a user to manipulate media provided by a media content source. Media editing tools may include content analysis tools capable of extracting information from the media content itself, and may include segment identification and editing tools. Editing tools may be created by a user, and stored or shared with other users. Users may be able to specify and customize a set of storage space requirements that impose constraints on the type, quantity and content of stored assets. Automatic storage management tools provide tools with which stored and to-be-stored assets may be transformed in order to maintain satisfaction of storage preferences and requirements. | 10-09-2014 |
20140189517 | FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST HIGHLIGHT SEGMENTS SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for providing multimedia highlight segments featuring real-life action related to fantasy sports competition. Links to highlight segments are provided in conjunction with fantasy sports contest information. A Highlight Center is provided with links to compilations of highlight segments featuring the best action culled from a pool of highlight segments. The user may be alerted of newly available highlight segments affecting fantasy scoring while the user watches a fantasy sports related television broadcast. | 07-03-2014 |
20140173760 | MANAGING LICENSES OF MEDIA FILES ON PLAYBACK DEVICES - Embodiments are described herein for managing licenses of media files on playback devices in a media system. In some embodiments, each media file is purchased based on a number of licenses, each license granting permission to store the media file on a single playback device. Each media file may have an associated number of one or more licenses that specifies the maximum number of playback devices on which the media file may be stored at the same time (concurrently). The media system may comprise a home central licensing (HCL) device, a primary storage device, and playback devices coupled via a network. The primary storage device may be used to initially store newly purchased media files. The HCL device may allow or prohibit distribution of the media files on the primary storage device to playback devices by using a license manager data structure storing licensing information for each media file. | 06-19-2014 |
20130291031 | Systems and Methods for Adaptive Streaming with Augmented Video Stream Transitions Using a Media Server - Systems and methods for adaptive streaming with augmented video stream transitions using a media server in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a media server includes multimedia content including a set of alternative streams of video data and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive a request to stream multimedia content, stream a first stream of video data, where the first stream of video data is one of the set of alternative streams of video data contained in the multimedia content, receive a request for a second stream of video data, where the second stream of video data is one of the set of alternative streams of video data contained in the multimedia content, transmit an image in response to the request for the second stream of video data, and stream the second stream of video data. | 10-31-2013 |
20130287092 | Systems and Methods for Adaptive Streaming with Augmented Video Stream Transitions - Systems and methods for adaptive streaming with augmented video stream transitions in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a network client includes memory containing a video decoder application, an image processing application, and a client application and a processor, wherein the video decoder application configures the processor to decode video data for display, wherein the image processor application configures the processor to render an image for display, wherein the client application configures the processor to receive a first stream of video data, play the first stream of video data, detect a change in streaming conditions, request a second stream of video data, render an image for display, receive the second stream of video data, and play the second stream of video data, and coordinates the display of the image between the first stream of video and the second video stream. | 10-31-2013 |
20130247100 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A PROGRAMMING GUIDE VIA MULTIPLE RECEIVING DEVICES - A system utilizing one or more auxiliary or scanning tuners provides real time information for providing programming guides. The one or more auxiliary tuner scans or tunes across the band of television signals to gather information relevant to metadata, programming guides, and or message alerts. For example, this information is converted to text, graphic, and or audio form for displaying or listening. | 09-19-2013 |
20130247086 | Method and apparatus for providing content control via detection of modifications to a signal - A method and apparatus is provided for generating or providing any of various types of modifications purposely made to generally known signals, waveforms, conditions, functions, etc. The modifications are sensed, read, detected or interpreted to provide a content control command indicative of the difference between the original signal, waveform, condition, functions, etc., and the modified signal, waveform, condition, function, etc. The content control command may be used to provide content control for a content control system, which in turn may provide control of a selected compliant device. | 09-19-2013 |
20130178284 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING GRAPHIC ANIMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. | 07-11-2013 |
20130170559 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REGION OF INTEREST VIDEO PROCESSING - Systems and methods for encoding regions of interest within video frames to reduce errors within the regions of interest in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment includes a processor configured by an encoder application, where the encoder application configures the processor to: identify at least one region of interest within a frame of video; assign at least one importance value to a plurality of regions within the frame, where a higher importance value is assigned to identified regions of interest; and apply a first error propagation reduction process to at least one region assigned a first importance value and a second error propagation reduction process to at least one region assigned a second importance value. | 07-04-2013 |
20130138829 | SCALABLE VIDEO CODING OVER REAL-TIME TRANSPORT PROTOCOL - Systems and methods for streaming video data via Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) so that the bitrate of the streamed video adapts in response to measurements of network and decoder performance in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In one embodiment of the invention, a system for streaming data includes a media server configured to stream video data having a first maximum bitrate utilizing RTP, a network client configured to connect to the media server wherein the network client is configured to measure network performance and video decoding performance and to send network and video decoder performance data to the network renderer utilizing the Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP), wherein the network renderer is configured to stream video data having a second maximum bitrate in response to the network and video decoding performance data received from the network client. | 05-30-2013 |
20130055255 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMON APPLICATION PLATFORMS UTILIZING SHARED SERVICES - Systems and methods are disclosed that include a common application platform including a set of shared services that can be utilized by applications executing on top the application platform. One embodiment of the invention includes a user device including a processor configured by an operating system, where the processor is further configured by an application platform including a natively implemented virtual. machine configured to execute non-natively implemented applications; a services container, including at least one natively implemented service configured for utilization by an application executing within the virtual machine, wherein the at least one natively implemented service is a shared service that can be utilized by a plurality of different applications; and at least one handler configured to handle communication via at least one socket between an application executing within the virtual machine and the at least one natively implemented service in the services container. | 02-28-2013 |
20130044821 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENCODING SOURCE MEDIA IN MATROSKA CONTAINER FILES FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING USING HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL - Systems and methods for encoding source media in Matroska container files for adaptive bitrate streaming utilizing Hypertext Transfer Potocol (HTTP) in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a processor configured via a source encoding application to ingest at least one multimedia file containing a source video. In addition, the source encoding application further configures the processor to select a portion of the source video, transcode the selected portion of the source video into a plurality of alternative portions of encoded video, where each alternative portion is encoded using a different set of encoding parameters and commences with an intra frame starting a closed Group of Pictures (GOP), write each of the alternative portions of encoded video to an element of a different EBML container file, where each element is located within an EBML container file that also includes another element that indicates the encoding parameters used to encode the alternative portion of encoded video, and add an entry to at least one index that identifies the location of the element containing one of the alternative portions of encoded video within each of the EBML container files. | 02-21-2013 |
20130011118 | MANAGING AND EDITING STORED MEDIA ASSETS - Methods and systems are described for providing editing tools that allow a user to manipulate media provided by a media content source. Media editing tools may include content analysis tools capable of extracting information from the media content itself, and may include segment identification and editing tools. Editing tools may be created by a user, and stored or shared with other users. Users may be able to specify and customize a set of storage space requirements that impose constraints on the type, quantity and content of stored assets. Automatic storage management tools provide tools with which stored and to-be-stored assets may be transformed in order to maintain satisfaction of storage preferences and requirements. | 01-10-2013 |
20120321279 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN INTERACTIVE AND OR ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE - An interactive or electronic programming guide is provided, wherein a receiving device such as a DVD or Blu-Ray player, PVR, recorder, set top box, etc., receives data or video signals as well as a trigger, flag or bit pattern signal. A processing and or encoding circuit provides programming, enabling, or disabling of a content control signal in response to the trigger, flag, or bit pattern signal and the content control signal is combined with the video signal to provide a content controlled video signal which provides resistance to a circumvention device (e.g., a “black box”). | 12-20-2012 |
20120304071 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING GRAPHIC ANIMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303663 | TEXT-BASED FUZZY SEARCH - An input feature vector is computed from an input text record, the input feature vector comprising one or more features, each feature including a subsequence of characters and a frequency of occurrence of the associated subsequence. A input fingerprint is generated out of the input feature vector by choosing one or more features with non-zero frequencies and alphabetizing the features chosen. One or more input indices are generated by alphabetizing features in the input fingerprint and concatenating features occurring in subsequent locations of the input fingerprint. The input text record is matched against a target text record if (1) one or more of the input indices match a target index corresponding to the target text record and (2) the corresponding input fingerprint matches a target fingerprint corresponding to the target text record. The target text record is outputted as a search result if it matches the input text record. | 11-29-2012 |
20120297032 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TUNABLE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT - A method and system for tunable distribution of content are disclosed. Preferably, the content comprises digital rights and/or watermark information. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a request from a client. One or more content files related to the request and a user profile of a user are determined. One or more seeders are assigned to start the delivery of the one or more content files. The client is allowed to obtain a plurality of pieces of the one or more content files from the one or more seeders. At least one piece of the plurality of pieces of the one or more content files contains digital rights and/or watermark information. | 11-22-2012 |
20120272185 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MIXED-MEDIA CONTENT GUIDANCE - Systems and methods for mixed-media content guidance are provided. One or more interactive tools are provided for searching and/or filtering media content (e.g., music content, movie content, etc.). In some embodiments, these interactive tools may include a two-dimensional selection region, where the two-dimensional selection region is divided into a plurality of sub-regions and defines an intersection between a first criterion and a second criterion. In response to receiving a user selection of a sub-region from the two-dimensional selection region, a subset of a plurality of media identifiers may be determined. At least a portion of the subset of media identifiers may be selected for presentation to the user. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271823 | AUTOMATED DISCOVERY OF CONTENT AND METADATA - A system for discovering content and metadata includes a processor communicatively coupled to a communication network and a database. The processor determines whether an end portion of a portion of content has been received based on the portion of content and/or metadata. The processor generates a content fingerprint based on the portion of content if the end portion has been received. The content fingerprint and/or the metadata are stored in the database. | 10-25-2012 |
20120239690 | UTILIZING TIME-LOCALIZED METADATA - A system includes a processor that receives, via a communication channel, a portion of content associated with time-localized metadata. The time-localized metadata and a tag mode identifier are retrieved from a database. A tag mode associated with the portion of content is determined based on the time-localized metadata and/or the tag mode identifier. The processor implements a feature based on the time-localized metadata and the tag mode. | 09-20-2012 |
20120239689 | COMMUNICATING TIME-LOCALIZED METADATA - A system includes a processor that retrieves, from a first database, a portion of content associated with time-localized metadata. The time-localized metadata and a tag mode identifier are retrieved from a second database. A tag mode associated with the portion of content is determined based on the time-localized metadata and/or the tag mode identifier. The portion of content and/or the time-localized metadata are transmitted to a user device based on the tag mode. In some embodiments, a reconstruction mode associated with the portion of content is determined based on the time-localized metadata and/or a reconstruction mode identifier. The portion of content, the time-localized metadata, attribute information, and/or mapping information are transmitted to the user device based on the reconstruction mode. | 09-20-2012 |
20120231890 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING FANTASY SPORTS CONTESTS BASED ON SUBEVENTS - Fantasy sports contests based on segments of a single sports event. A segment or subevent may be a portion of a single sports event. The users choose a roster of selections to form an fantasy sports contest team roster. Fantasy points are awarded to the user for the real-life performance of the selections on the fantasy sports contest team roster according to rules of the fantasy sports contest. In one embodiment, the user is presented with bonus questions asking for predictions on the outcome of real-life action during a subevent of the a televised competition. Fantasy points may be awarded to users making correct predictions. The bonus questions may supplement fantasy scoring from the users' team rosters, or may be presented as a stand alone interactive sports contest. | 09-13-2012 |
20120215715 | METHOD, MEDIUM, AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A RECOMMENDATION OF A MEDIA ITEM - Providing a recommendation of a media item. Media item identifiers and corresponding nonzero media item attribute strengths for a target media item attribute are retrieved from a database. Each of the retrieved media item attribute strengths are randomized, resulting in randomized media item attribute strengths. One of the media item identifiers is selected according to predetermined selection criteria. A recommendation of a media item corresponding to the selected media item identifier is transmitted to a user device over a network. | 08-23-2012 |
20120210215 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING NETWORKED ASSISTANCE AND FEEDBACK CONTROL FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A computer-implemented method, system, and apparatus for providing networked assistance and feedback control for consumer electronic devices are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment include: gathering user behavior and feedback information collected on a user platform via a data network; processing the user behavior and feedback information, by using a processor, to infer a problem encountered by a user on the user platform in operating a consumer electronic (CE) device of the user platform; activating a user interface on the user platform to offer the user assistance in resolving the problem; and recording the problem as a design hint related to a potential design change corresponding to the CE device. | 08-16-2012 |
20120173751 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING OF MEDIA STORED IN MATROSKA CONTAINER FILES USING HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL - Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of media stored in Matroska container files utilizing Hypertext Transfer Potocol (HTTP) in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor configured, via a client application, to request portions of files from a remote server. In addition, the client application further configures the processor to retrieve top level index data that identifies a plurality of EBML container files and describes at least a maximum bitrate of the alternative streams contained within the EBML container files, parse the top level index data to obtain information identifying the plurality of EBML container files, request a portion of at least one of the EBML container files that contains the at least one element that specifies the encoding parameters of the stream contained within the EBML container file, retrieve an index that references each element containing portions of encoded video within at least one of the EBML container files, utilize the index to request portions of a first EBML container file that includes elements that contain portions of encoded video, receive and buffer the requested elements, decode the encoded video contained within the buffered elements utilizing the encoding parameters, measure current streaming conditions, and select another of the EBML container files from which to retrieve elements containing portions of encoded video for decoding, where the selection is based upon the measured streaming conditions and the description of the bitrate of the alternative stream contained within the top level data. | 07-05-2012 |
20120170915 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SMOOTH VISUAL SEARCH OF MEDIA ENCODED FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING VIA HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL USING TRICK PLAY STREAMS - Systems and methods for performing smooth visual search of media encoded for adaptive bitrate streaming using trick play streams are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes requesting and buffering portions of video from at least one of the alternative streams using a playback device, decoding the buffered portions of video using a decoder on the playback device, receiving at least one user instruction directing the playback device to perform a visual search of the media, requesting and buffering portions of video from the trick play stream using the playback device, and decoding the buffered portions of the trick play stream using a decoder on the playback device. | 07-05-2012 |
20120170906 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING OF MEDIA INCLUDING SUBTITLES - Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of media including subtitles utilizing Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes requesting and buffering portions of video from at least one of the alternative streams using a playback device, requesting information indicative of a font utilized by a font-rendering engine to render text from a selected subtitle stream, downloading at least one font file when the font is not present on the playback device, requesting and buffering at least a portion of the selected subtitle stream, decoding the buffered portions of video using a decoder on the playback device, rendering the portions of the subtitle stream corresponding to the buffered portion of video using a font-rendering engine configured by the at least one downloaded font file, and performing synchronized playback of the decoded video and rendered subtitles using the playback device. | 07-05-2012 |
20120170643 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENCODING MEDIA INCLUDING SUBTITLES FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING - Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of media including subtitles utilizing HTTP in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes selecting a portion of the source media using the source encoder, transcoding the selected portion of the source media into a plurality of alternative portions of encoded video, where each alternative portion is encoded using a different set of encoding parameters and commences with an intra frame at the start of a closed group of pictures (GOP), writing each of the alternative portions of encoded video to a separate container file using the source encoder, writing a subtitle stream segment from each subtitle track corresponding to the selected portion of the source media to a separate container file using the source encoder, and associating a font file with at least one of the container files containing subtitle stream segments. | 07-05-2012 |
20120170642 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENCODING TRICK PLAY STREAMS FOR PERFORMING SMOOTH VISUAL SEARCH OF MEDIA ENCODED FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING VIA HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL - Systems and methods for performing smooth visual search of media encoded for adaptive bitrate streaming using trick play streams are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes transcoding a selected portion of the source video into a portion of trick play stream video for inclusion in a trick play stream using the source encoder, where the portion of trick play stream video is encoded at a lower frame rate and a lower resolution than the source video, writing the trick play stream to a separate container file using the source encoder, and adding an entry to an index that identifies the location of each frame in the portion of trick play stream video within the container file containing the trick play stream. | 07-05-2012 |
20120159534 | SIGNAL MODIFICATION VIA MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION DATA AND/OR METADATA - Data for a programming guide or other type of media guidance application of the type associated with video, such as television Electronic Programming Guides (EPG) or Interactive Programming Guides (IPG), is transported via a digital delivery network such as the Internet to a video receiving or storage device such as a personal video recorder (PVR). The receiving device extracts one or more signals from the media guidance application data for a purpose such as programming of control signals. The receiving device thereby reads or interprets control signals derived from the programming guide data provided via the digital delivery network so as to control subsequent recording (or other storage) of the video programs or other video content assets associated with the media guidance application data. | 06-21-2012 |
20120143986 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DOWNLOADING BY DIFFERENT PROCESSES - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use network connected devices that simultaneously use multiple different download processes to download different portions of a file. One embodiment of the invention includes a network connected device, including: a processor; memory containing a download manager application; where the download manager application configures the processor to utilize a plurality of different download processes to download portions of the same piece of content from at least one download source. | 06-07-2012 |
20120079429 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TOUCH-BASED MEDIA GUIDANCE - Systems and methods are provided for navigating media content information using a media guidance application implemented on a portable device with a touch-sensitive display. A display screen with a media content information region, an availability region, and/or a media source region may be displayed on the touch-sensitive display. The user may interact with these regions and, specifically, with media tiles, a time selector, and a channel selector to navigate the media content information. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078954 | BROWSING HIERARCHIES WITH SPONSORED RECOMMENDATIONS - Browsing content stored in a content source. A hierarchical tree structure is accessed. The hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to at least one query for recommended content that is recommended based on sponsored recommendations. Recommended content stored in the content source is browsed by executing the at least one query for recommended content, the at least one query corresponding to at least one node of the hierarchical tree structure. The browsing is performed in accordance with a hierarchy of the hierarchical tree structure. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078953 | BROWSING HIERARCHIES WITH SOCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS - Browsing content stored in a content source. A hierarchical tree structure is accessed. The hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to at least one query for recommended content that is recommended based on at least one social network service. Recommended content stored in the content source is browsed by executing the at least one query for recommended content, the at least one query corresponding to at least one node of the hierarchical tree structure. The browsing is performed in accordance with a hierarchy of the hierarchical tree structure. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078952 | BROWSING HIERARCHIES WITH PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS - Browsing content stored in a content source. A hierarchical tree structure is accessed. The hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to at least one query for recommended content that is recommended based on a user profile. Recommended content stored in the content source is browsed by executing the at least one query for recommended content, the at least one query corresponding to at least one node of the hierarchical tree structure. The browsing is performed in accordance with a hierarchy of the hierarchical tree structure. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078937 | MEDIA CONTENT RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON PREFERENCES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDIA CONTENT - Browsing content stored in a content source. A hierarchical tree structure is accessed. The hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to at least one query for recommended content of a first content type that is recommended based on a collection of data for content of a second content type, the first content type and the second content type being different. Recommended content, of the first content type, stored in the content source is browsed by executing the at least one query for recommended content, the at least one query corresponding to at least one node of the hierarchical tree structure. The browsing is performed in accordance with a hierarchy of the hierarchical tree structure. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078885 | BROWSING HIERARCHIES WITH EDITORIAL RECOMMENDATIONS - Browsing content stored in a content source. A hierarchical tree structure is accessed. The hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to at least one query for recommended content that is recommended based on editorial recommendations. Recommended content stored in the content source is browsed by executing the at least one query for recommended content, the at least one query corresponding to at least one node of the hierarchical tree structure. The browsing is performed in accordance with a hierarchy of the hierarchical tree structure. | 03-29-2012 |
20120060095 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING PERSONALIZED MEDIA CONTENT EMBEDDING IMAGES OF MULTIPLE USERS - Systems and methods for generating and/or displaying personalized video content are provided. In some embodiments, a video asset made up of a set of frames, including a preliminary frame with an object region, is received at user equipment. A media element is identified and transmitted to a remote server, where it is processed to produce a modified version of the media element and then transmitted back to the user equipment. The video asset is displayed at the user equipment, except that a modified frame incorporating the modified version of the media element is displayed in place of the preliminary frame. The modified version of the media element is incorporated in an area of the modified frame corresponding to the object region of the preliminary frame. | 03-08-2012 |
20120059953 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING PERSONALIZED MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods for generating and/or displaying personalized video content are provided. In some embodiments, a video asset made up of a set of frames, including a preliminary frame with an object region, is received at user equipment. A media element is identified and transmitted to a remote server, where it is processed to produce a modified version of the media element and then transmitted back to the user equipment. The video asset is displayed at the user equipment, except that a modified frame incorporating the modified version of the media element is displayed in place of the preliminary frame. The modified version of the media element is incorporated in an area of the modified frame corresponding to the object region of the preliminary frame. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057850 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AND EMBEDDING PERSONALIZED MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods for generating and/or displaying personalized video content are provided. In some embodiments, a video asset made up of a set of frames, including a preliminary frame with an object region, is received at user equipment. A media element is identified and transmitted to a remote server, where it is processed to produce a modified version of the media element and then transmitted back to the user equipment. The video asset is displayed at the user equipment, except that a modified frame incorporating the modified version of the media element is displayed in place of the preliminary frame. The modified version of the media element is incorporated in an area of the modified frame corresponding to the object region of the preliminary frame. | 03-08-2012 |
20120047166 | USER CONTROLLED MULTI-DEVICE MEDIA-ON-DEMAND SYSTEM - A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device. | 02-23-2012 |
20120036537 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UPDATING INFORMATION IN REAL TIME FOR USE IN A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods are provided for updating a media guidance application with real-time media information for enhancing recording features. In particular, real-time schedule changes, actual and estimated, are provided for updating instructions for a media guidance application operation. | 02-09-2012 |
20120036536 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UPDATING INFORMATION IN REAL TIME FOR USE IN A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods are provided for updating a media guidance application with real-time media information for enhancing recording features. In particular, real-time schedule changes, actual and estimated, are provided for updating instructions for a media guidance application operation. | 02-09-2012 |
20120033943 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UPDATING INFORMATION IN REAL TIME FOR USE IN A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods are provided for updating a media guidance application with real-time media information for enhancing recording features. In particular, real-time schedule changes, actual and estimated, are provided for updating instructions for a media guidance application operation. | 02-09-2012 |
20120020647 | FILTERING REPEATED CONTENT - A fingerprint generator generates at least one fingerprint based on a portion of an input content stream and communicates the at least one fingerprint to a content recognizer. A content stream selector receives a media content identifier from the content recognizer corresponding to the at least one fingerprint and performs filtering on a portion of the input content stream containing a clip, the clip corresponding to the media content identifier. | 01-26-2012 |
20120011226 | USER CONTROLLED MULTI-DEVICE MEDIA-ON-DEMAND SYSTEM - A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008917 | USER CONTROLLED MULTI-DEVICE MEDIA-ON-DEMAND SYSTEM - A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device. | 01-12-2012 |
20110320963 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MULTIPLE USER ACCESS TO MEDIA DEVICES IN A CONNECTED PLATFORM ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods are presented for utilizing multiple communication channels to determine whether a media device is nearby and whether the nearby media device is a media device associated with a user request. In some embodiments, user input devices may be equipped with IR and RF transceivers. IR signals may be used to determine whether the user input device is in the vicinity of a media device. When a user requests an application or screen sharing of a media device different from the local media device, the user input device may activate the RF transceiver to handle the communications with the other media device. In some embodiments, access to a media device may be prevented for one user when the media device is already providing access to a different user. | 12-29-2011 |
20110317634 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING AND COMMUNICATING WITH MEDIA DEVICES IN A CONNECTED PLATFORM ENVIRONMENT USING MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS - Systems and methods are presented for utilizing multiple communication channels to determine whether a media device is nearby and whether the nearby media device is a media device associated with a user request. In some embodiments, user input devices may be equipped with IR and RF transceivers. IR signals may be used to determine whether the user input device is in the vicinity of a media device. When a user requests an application or screen sharing of a media device different from the local media device, the user input device may activate the RF transceiver to handle the communications with the other media device. In some embodiments, access to a media device may be prevented for one user when the media device is already providing access to a different user. | 12-29-2011 |
20110292299 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a controller apparatus for controlling an electronic device by sensing and processing a user's interactions with an object and, particularly, for controlling and interacting with a media guidance application implemented on an interactive user equipment device. The controller apparatus may include a platform, a liquid container, and a stirring rod. The platform may include sensors of various kinds for detecting a user's interactions with any one of the components of the user interface system. The controller apparatus may also include sensors for sensing environmental conditions and use the sensed conditions to interact with the media guidance application or any other applications or electronic devices. | 12-01-2011 |
20110289534 | USER INTERFACE FOR CONTENT BROWSING AND SELECTION IN A MOVIE PORTAL OF A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to a plurality of content items from a plurality of content sources via a data network, the plurality of content items including movie content items from at least two different content sources; processing the content information, using a processor, to provide digital representations of the movie content items in a movie portal; receiving a selection of at least one of the movie content items in the movie portal, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the selected movie content item; and displaying available content information related to the selected movie content item in response to receiving the selection of the movie content item, the displayed available content information including a first user-selectable command option for obtaining an additional level of detailed information related to the selected movie content item, the displayed available content information including a second user-selectable command option for requesting a rendering of the selected movie content item. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289533 | CACHING DATA IN A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for caching data in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering affinity information related to a particular user's affinity for particular types of content; receiving a data object related to a particular item of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources via a data network; assigning, by use of a processor, a weight to the data object based on the affinity information; and flushing the data object from a content/content information cache based on the weight assigned to the data object. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289460 | HIERARCHICAL DISPLAY OF CONTENT - Hierarchical display of content. A hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to queries. A static visual representation of a node that is in a top level of the hierarchical tree structure is displayed such that it is selectable by a user. In response to selection of a static visual representation, a corresponding static query is executed to receive visual representations of stored content, and the received visual representations are displayed such that they are selectable. In response to user selection of a received visual representation, a corresponding dynamic query is executed to receive visual representations of stored content, and the visual representations received from the dynamic query are displayed such that they are selectable. The dynamic query corresponds to a child node of a node that corresponds to a previously executed query. The visual representations received from the dynamic query match the corresponding selected visual representation. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289458 | USER INTERFACE ANIMATION FOR A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources; processing the content information to provide a digital representation of a content item in an animated content grid; receiving a selection of the content item, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the content item; and displaying an expanded dimension of information associated with the selected content item in response to receiving the selection of the content item, the expanded dimension of information including at least one user-selectable display object to obtain an additional level of detailed information related to the selected content item. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289452 | USER INTERFACE FOR CONTENT BROWSING AND SELECTION IN A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources; processing the content information to provide a digital representation of a content item; receiving a selection of the content item, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the content item; and displaying an expanded dimension of information associated with the selected content item in response to receiving the selection of the content item, the expanded dimension of information including at least one user-selectable command option to obtain an additional level of detailed information related to the selected content item. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289445 | VIRTUAL MEDIA SHELF - A computer-implemented system and method for providing a virtual media shelf user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources via a data network; processing the content information, by using a processor, to provide a digital representation of a content item, the digital representation corresponding to a spine of physical media associated with the content item; receiving a selection of the content item, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the spine of physical media associated with the content item; and displaying an expanded set of information associated with the content item in response to receiving the selection of the content item. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289421 | USER INTERFACE FOR CONTENT BROWSING AND SELECTION IN A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources; processing the content information to provide a digital representation of a content item; receiving a selection of the content item, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the content item; and displaying an expanded dimension of information associated with the selected content item in response to receiving the selection of the content item, the expanded dimension of information including at least one user-selectable display object to obtain an additional level of detailed information related to the selected content item. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289414 | GUIDED NAVIGATION - Browsing content stored in a content source. A content source identifier corresponding to the content source, a content type, and a hierarchical structure are received. The hierarchical structure defines a hierarchy of content stored in the content source that is independent of the file structure of the content stored in the content source. A guided browse function is generated based on the content source identifier. The content stored in the content source is searched by using the guided browse function, wherein in response to receiving a request from a presentation module to browse content corresponding to a selected node in the hierarchical structure, the guided browse function searches the content stored in the content source by using a search query corresponding to the selected node, and returns results of the search to the presentation module. The results are presented to a user by using the presentation module. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289199 | DIGITAL MEDIA RENDERER FOR USE WITH A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for implementing a digital media renderer for use with a content system. Embodiments include: providing a digital media renderer including an audio/video transport component, a connection manager component, and a rendering control component; receiving, at the digital media renderer from a control point, a request to play a media content item, the request including information indicative of a media format corresponding to the media content item; executing the connection manager component, by use of a data processor, to determine if the media format is supported by the digital media renderer; executing the audio/video transport component, by use of the data processor, to manage a uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the media content item and to manage the transport of the media content item for rendering; and executing the rendering control component, by use of the data processor, to change a device setting in rendering hardware. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289121 | METADATA MODIFIER AND MANAGER - A system for modifying media content metadata includes a processor that receives, via a graphical user interface, a signal indicating selection of a media item. The processor also receives, via the graphical user interface, a signal indicating selection of a mode from a group of modes including a single-media-item mode, a multiple-media-item mode, and an automatic mode. A fingerprint of the media item is generated. A request for metadata of the media item is transmitted to a recognition server over the communication network, the request including the fingerprint. The metadata of the media item is received over the communication network. At least a portion of the received metadata is stored according to the selected mode. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289094 | INTEGRATING MEDIA CONTENT DATABASES - Media content databases are integrated by comparing metadata from records and determining that the metadata are a match based on the comparison. Alphanumeric strings are generated and assigned to the metadata, and the alphanumeric strings and fields of the records are stored in a data structure. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289084 | INTERFACE FOR RELATING CLUSTERS OF DATA OBJECTS - Data objects are related by comparing attributes of data objects that belong to different clusters and determining that the data objects are an approximate match based on the comparison. Data elements corresponding to assignments of an identifier are generated, and the data elements are stored in a grouping. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289083 | INTERFACE FOR CLUSTERING DATA OBJECTS USING COMMON ATTRIBUTES - Data objects are correlated by comparing attributes of two data objects and determining that the data objects are a match based on the comparison. Data elements corresponding to assignments of an identifier are generated, and the data elements are stored in a cluster. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289073 | GENERATING BROWSING HIERARCHIES - Generation of browsing hierarchies. A hierarchical tree structure is generated. The hierarchical tree structure has nodes that correspond to at least one query. Content stored in the content source is browsed by sequentially executing queries corresponding to nodes of the hierarchical tree structure, in accordance with a hierarchy of the hierarchical tree structure. | 11-24-2011 |
20110289067 | USER INTERFACE FOR CONTENT BROWSING AND SELECTION IN A SEARCH PORTAL OF A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to particular content items from at least one source of a plurality of content sources via a data network; presenting, using a processor, a user interface including a search portal, the search portal being configured to receive a search query from a user platform; comparing the search query with the content information to identify matching content items; providing a digital representation of each of the matching content items; receiving a selection of one or more of the matching content items, the selection being in response to a user action performed on the digital representation corresponding to the one or more matching content items; and displaying an expanded dimension of information associated with the selected one or more matching content items in response to receiving the selection of the one or more matching content items, the expanded dimension of information including at least one user-selectable command option to obtain an additional level of detailed information related to the selected one or more matching content items. | 11-24-2011 |
20110286719 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRIMMING RECORDED CONTENT USING A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for trimming recorded content or segments using a media guidance application are provided. A first program scheduled for recording during one timeslot. A determination is made that the first program will run beyond the scheduled broadcast time. The first program may be rescheduled for recording during a second larger timeslot that overlaps with the scheduled broadcast time of a second program. Content provided by the program source may be recorded during the second timeslot. The recorded content may be trimmed to remove portions of the recorded content that correspond to the second program. | 11-24-2011 |
20110283333 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SENDING MEDIA CONTENT TO A USER DEVICE FROM A NETWORK OF SET-TOP CELLS - Systems and methods for streaming media content on a user device from a wireless network of set-top cells. Set-top cells with overlapping wireless transmission ranges create a network within which a user may roam and receive continuous streaming media content. Each user device and set-top cell in the network is associated with a media account for a user. A user device may be associated with a media account for a user and may be authorized to access media content from the network of set-top cells. The user may use the user device to access media content from a set-top cell in the network associated with a media account for a different user. | 11-17-2011 |
20110283325 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT LISTINGS BY CONTENT PROVIDER - An interactive television program guide method and system is provided in which a viewer may direct a media guidance application to display program listings independent of scheduled broadcast time. Selectable options are presented to viewer on the screen, allowing the user to select a subset of content providers and view associated listings. The media guidance application removes duplicate listings from the listings display, in accordance with the viewer's preference. Listings may be displayed in a variety of arrangements, including alphabetical order by title, by genre, or by day scheduled for broadcast. Listings can also be sorted according to several criteria and displayed for further convenience to the viewer. The viewer may specify a broadcast time interval to further narrow the subset of listings that are displayed. Additional options displayed on the screen allow the viewer to re-sort listings on the display screen. | 11-17-2011 |
20110283322 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT LISTINGS ACCORDING TO A DESTINATION LOCATION - Systems and methods are provided for allowing a user to obtain media content listings associated with a particular geographical location. The media content listings may be selected automatically according to, for example, media consumption data that tracks media content accessed by other users. The media content listings may be those that are associated with the most popular media content accessed in the geographic location by users who are not from that geographic location (e.g., they may be visiting from the same geographic location in which the current user is currently located or resides). | 11-17-2011 |
20110283320 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING A PROGRAM USING INFORMATION FROM A THIRD-PARTY DATA SOURCE - Information corresponding to a user may be received from a third-party data source. A program may be identified using the information received from the third-party data source. Then, it may be determined whether the identified program is scheduled to be broadcast by a first media content source within a pre-determined time period. If the identified program is scheduled to be broadcast by the first media content source within the pre-determined time period, an opportunity may be provided to perform an action on the program. | 11-17-2011 |
20110283311 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEDIA DETECTION AND FILTERING USING A PARENTAL CONTROL LOGGING APPLICATION - Systems and methods for accessing parental control features are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Log entries associated with a set of media assets are retrieved from a log data store. Each log entry defines an attempt to access a media asset and includes information identifying the media asset. The log entries may be presented on a display screen and a user selection of a log entry may be received. In response to the user selection, parental control settings assigned to the media asset associated with the selected log entry may be determined. A user may be allowed to modify the parental control settings assigned to the media asset associated with the selected log entry, and the modified parental control settings may be stored in a parental control data store. | 11-17-2011 |
20110283232 | USER INTERFACE FOR PUBLIC AND PERSONAL CONTENT BROWSING AND SELECTION IN A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method providing a user interface for content browsing and selection in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering available content information related to a plurality of content items from a plurality of content sources via a data network, the plurality of content sources including a public content source and a personal content source; processing the content information, using a processor, to provide digital representations of the plurality of content items, the digital representations including a digital representation of a public content item from the public content source and a digital representation of a personal content item from the personal content source; and displaying available content information related to the selected content item in response to receiving a selection of the content item, the available content information including at least one user-selectable command option for obtaining an additional level of detailed information related to the selected content item. | 11-17-2011 |
20110283209 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHARING INFORMATION BETWEEN WIDGETS OPERATING ON THE SAME USER EQUIPMENT - Information corresponding to a user may be received from a first widget operating on the user equipment. The received information may be made accessible to a second widget operating on that user equipment. The received information may then be used to customize a manner in which the second widget provides content to the user. | 11-17-2011 |
20110283189 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING MEDIA GUIDE INTERACTION MODES - Described herein are systems and methods for recognizing when a user of an interactive application is frustrated and for responding to the user's frustration by changing an interaction mode. In response to detecting a frustration pattern in a user signal, an interaction mode of the application may be adjusted. Adjusting an interaction mode may include adjusting the presentation of any one or more interactive application elements (for example, available options, valid user commands, display characteristics and items presented to the user). | 11-17-2011 |
20110282906 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING A SEARCH BASED ON A MEDIA CONTENT SNAPSHOT IMAGE - Systems and methods are provided for performing a search based on a snapshot image captured from media content presented to a user. The snapshot image contains features of the media content that the user wishes to target for the search. A search system recognizes features of the snapshot image and creates a search query based on the snapshot image. The search query is used to identify features of the snapshot image, and search results related to the identified features are presented to the user. Supplemental data or user input received with the snapshot image may be used in analyzing and identifying features of the snapshot image. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282759 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING AN ACTION ON A PROGRAM OR ACCESSING THE PROGRAM FROM A THIRD-PARTY MEDIA CONTENT SOURCE - A program may be selected from a list of programs that is presented to the user. It may be determined whether the selected program is scheduled to be broadcast by a first media content source within a certain pre-determined time period. If the selected program is scheduled to be broadcast by the first media content source within the pre-determined time period, then the user may be provided with an opportunity to perform a certain action on the program. On the other hand, if the selected program is not scheduled to be broadcast within the pre-determined time period, the user may be provided with an opportunity to access the program from a third-party media content source. | 11-17-2011 |
20110281620 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING A WAGERING OPPORTUNITY RELATED TO AN ATHLETIC COMPETITION BEING BROADCAST TO A USER - A substantially real-time status of an athletic competition may be accessed while it is being broadcast to a user on user equipment. An upcoming event of a pre-determined type in the athletic competition may be detected based on the accessed real-time status. A wagering opportunity may be generated based on the type of the event, where the wagering opportunity may related to an outcome of the upcoming event. The wagering opportunity may be presented to the user via the user equipment. | 11-17-2011 |
20110281568 | MANAGEMENT OF INCOMING TELEPHONY COMMUNICATIONS IN A LOCAL MEDIA NETWORK - Systems and methods are provided for locally managing incoming telephony communication events on a user equipment display. In one embodiment, a user equipment device may include an input/output interface, a notification module, and a display device. The input/output interface may be configured to receive an indication of a communication event directed to a user telephony device over a short-range wireless connection. The notification module may be configured to generate a notification message in response to receiving the indication of a communication event. The indication of the communication event may include sender information, which may be included in the notification message. The display device may be configured to display the notification message so that it overlays a currently displayed video program. | 11-17-2011 |
20110281517 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXECUTING A SOURCE HANDOFF FOR MEDIA CONTENT PRESENTED ON A USER DEVICE FROM A NETWORK OF SET-TOP CELLS - Systems and methods for streaming media content on a user device from a wireless network of set-top cells. Set-top cells with overlapping wireless transmission ranges create a network within which a user may roam and receive continuous streaming media content. A user device may connect with a set-top cell in the network to access media content. When the user leaves the wireless transmission range of the set-top cell, a seamless handoff occurs to a second set-top cell, and the user receives continuous streaming media content. The streaming media content is uninterrupted as long as the user remains within wireless transmission range of at least one set-top cell in the network. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279359 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING MOTION SENSOR SIGNALS AND ADJUSTING INTERACTION MODES - Described herein are systems and methods for recognizing when a user of an interactive application is frustrated and for responding to the user's frustration by changing an interaction mode. Signals arising from motion sensors included in user equipment are monitored for patterns indicative of user frustration. In response to detecting a frustration pattern in a motion sensor signal, an interactive application display is changed. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279311 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT LISTINGS ACCORDING TO POINTS OF INTEREST - Systems and methods are provided for allowing a user to obtain a listing of points of interest and associated media content listings based on the user's current geographic location. The user's current geographic location may be determined using, for example, a GPS transceiver incorporated in the user's user access device. Information may then be communicated from a remote server to the user access device that identifies points of interest associated with the geographic location as well as media content listings associated with the points of interest. | 11-17-2011 |
20110276512 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING A RECOMMENDATION OF A MEDIA ITEM - A processor retrieves, from a database, an identifier of a first media item rated by a target user, user identifiers of users having provided media item ratings for the first media item, and the media item ratings provided by the users, correspondingly. Each of the media item ratings is randomized, resulting in randomized media item ratings. A user identifier corresponding to a maximum of the randomized media item ratings is selected from the user identifiers. Additional media item ratings associated with the selected user identifier are retrieved from the database. Each of the additional media item ratings are randomized, resulting in additional randomized media item ratings. An identifier of a recommended media item corresponding to a maximum of the randomized media item ratings and the additional randomized media item ratings is selected. Metadata associated with the recommended media item is transmitted to a user device over a network. | 11-10-2011 |
20110258661 | INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An interactive television program guide system and method is provided. Time separators are displayed within lists of program listings to allow users to more easily view the program listings. On-screen arrows have their display characteristics changed according to user actions. Similar program listings are displayed only once when using search program listings. Users are provided with an opportunity to view channel information before setting channels as favorites. Information from local information services is provided in program guide display screens that are configurable by a main facility. Users are provided with an opportunity to centrally lock and unlock programs, and to bypass locks when desired. | 10-20-2011 |
20110213825 | DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURABLE CLUSTERS OF APPARATUSES - A dynamically configurable cluster of apparatuses and methods and systems for dynamically configuring the apparatuses are disclosed. At a server computer, a list of identified resources available to the clustered apparatuses may be received from an apparatus of the cluster. The server computer may provide to the apparatus a list of functionalities including functionalities performable by one or more of the clustered apparatuses, based on the list of identified resources. A selection from the list of functionalities may be received from the apparatus. The server computer may provide one or more of the clustered apparatuses with additional resources, based on the selection. Additional systems and methods are disclosed. | 09-01-2011 |
20110213810 | DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURABLE CHAMELEON DEVICE - A dynamically configurable apparatus and methods for dynamically configuring the apparatus are provided. A list of resources available to the apparatus may be identified and communicated to a server computer and a list of functionalities performable by the apparatus, based on the list of resources, may be received from the server computer. A user selects one or more functionalities from the list of functionalities. The server computer may provide the apparatus with additional resources based on the selected functionalities. The apparatus preferably configures itself to perform the selected functionalities by using the additional resources. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed. | 09-01-2011 |
20110173208 | ROLLING AUDIO RECOGNITION - An audio fingerprint is generated by transforming an audio sample of a recording to a time-frequency domain and storing each time-frequency pair in a matrix array, detecting a plurality of local maxima for a predetermined number of time slices, selecting a predetermined number of largest-magnitude maxima from the plurality of local maxima detected by said detecting, and generating one or more hash values corresponding to the predetermined number of largest-magnitude maxima. | 07-14-2011 |
20110173185 | MULTI-STAGE LOOKUP FOR ROLLING AUDIO RECOGNITION - A multi-stage lookup is performed by receiving a query fingerprint of an unknown recording, generating a hash value corresponding to the query fingerprint; generating a list of candidate matches of known recordings by comparing the hash value of the query fingerprint to a hash table containing multiple hash values corresponding to audio fingerprints of the known recordings, comparing maxima of the query fingerprint to the maxima of full-recording fingerprints of the known recordings contained in a full-recording fingerprint table to obtain an identifier corresponding to the unknown recording, and returning metadata based on the identifier. | 07-14-2011 |
20110167447 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A CHANNEL SURFING APPLICATION ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control user equipment and interactive media guidance applications. In an exemplary embodiment, users can access a surfing guide application which allows browsing of screenshots of programs playing on broadcast channels on the wireless communications device. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166939 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING DATA MINING AND OTHER MARKETING TECHNIQUES WITH FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods are provided for integrating quantitative marketing techniques in fantasy sports contest applications and other contest applications to provide personalized advertisements and other marketing related communications and/or content. The fantasy sports contests application may create user profiles to store various information associated with users. Information associated with users may be provided by the users or automatically gathered by the application through various channels such as external consumer databases. The application may employ tests such as personality tests and other types of predictive games to collect additional user information. The application may also link user profiles to users clusters including other users having similar characteristics. | 07-07-2011 |
20110164175 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SUBTITLES ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control user equipment and interactive media guidance applications. In an exemplary embodiment, users can play a program with subtitles in one language on user equipment while simultaneously playing the same program with subtitles in another language on the wireless communications device. | 07-07-2011 |
20110163939 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSFERRING CONTENT BETWEEN USER EQUIPMENT AND A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control user equipment and interactive media guidance applications. In an exemplary embodiment, if the wireless communications device goes outside of a predetermined range from the user equipment, content that was playing on user equipment may automatically be streamed to the wireless communications device. | 07-07-2011 |
20110161999 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY OBSCURING PORTIONS OF MEDIA CONTENT USING A WIDGET - A widget running on user equipment selectively obscures portions of media content according to user and/or service provider defined criteria. Information regarding potentially objectionable content in media content may be stored in databases. Based on the information regarding potentially objectionable content and the defined criteria, the database may provide censor instructions. The instructions may be executed by the widget to obscure the potentially objectionable content in media content that is accessed by the user equipment. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161242 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEARCHING AND BROWSING MEDIA IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods are discussed for providing guidance for media, particularly online video, by searching or browsing for media content based on user selections and user information. Browsing results are diversified using one or more techniques to provide a range of interesting results. | 06-30-2011 |
20110154403 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATING PROGRAM LISTINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYED WITH A PROGRAM IN A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for navigating program listings in a media guidance application are provided. A program listing may be displayed that corresponds to a first time period. A user request to change the first time period may be received. In response to the request to change the time period, a hopscotch display may be provided that gives the user access to a plurality of consecutive time periods from which the user can select to have corresponding program listings displayed. A user selection of one of the displayed time periods may be received and a second program listing corresponding to the selected time period may be displayed. | 06-23-2011 |
20110154402 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATING PROGRAM LISTINGS IN A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for navigating program listings in a media guidance application are provided. A program listing may be displayed that corresponds to a first time period. A user request to change the first time period may be received. In response to the request to change the time period, a hopscotch display may be provided that gives the user access to a plurality of consecutive time periods from which the user can select to have corresponding program listings displayed. A user selection of one of the displayed time periods may be received and a second program listing corresponding to the selected time period may be displayed. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150431 | ENERGY-EFFICIENT MEDIA EQUIPMENT DEVICE - Method and systems for operating a media equipment device having at least a full-power mode and an off-power mode are provided. A voltage supply to the media equipment device may be controlled by the media equipment device itself or by an external power management unit to automatically power-off the media equipment device, and power the device back on a future time. Prior to powering off the media equipment device, a portion of program schedule information stored in the volatile memory of the media equipment device may be mirrored to nonvolatile memory and may be restored on a priority basis after the media equipment device is powered back up. An external power management unit for controlling the media equipment device may also automatically detect and identify devices in the home based on a power signature of the device and manage the operation of the device based on the identification. | 06-23-2011 |
20110138417 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE CONTENT WITH A MEDIA ASSET ON A MEDIA EQUIPMENT DEVICE - Systems and methods for providing interactive content during writing and production of a media asset are provided. A script of a media asset that includes natural language textual annotations that define uniquely interactive content and timing contingencies during which to display the interactive content may be received. After the media asset corresponding to the script is produced, computer language instructions may be generated based on the natural language annotations. The computer language instructions and the media asset may be stored on a master storage medium. The media asset and computer language instructions may be transmitted to a media equipment device. Playback time codes may be transmitted with the media asset. When a playback time code corresponds to an event that identifies interactive content, the media equipment device may display the interactive content represented by the computer language instructions during a time interval defined by the computer language instructions. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137727 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING PROXIMITY OF MEDIA OBJECTS IN A 3D MEDIA ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods for determining proximity of objects in a three-dimensional (3D) media guidance application are provided. A first rank may be associated with a first media object. A second rank lower than the first rank may be associated with a second media object. The first and second media objects may appear at respective first and second distances in 3D space when viewed using a stereoscopic optical device. The first and second distances may correspond respectively to the first and second ranks of the first and second media objects. The first and second ranks may be automatically associated with the first and second media objects using predetermined or viewer-defined criteria. A viewer may input ranking criteria using a user input device having an accelerometer. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135278 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE CONTENT DURING WRITING AND PRODUCTION OF A MEDIA ASSET - Systems and methods for providing interactive content during writing and production of a media asset are provided. A script of a media asset that includes natural language textual annotations that define uniquely interactive content and timing contingencies during which to display the interactive content may be received. After the media asset corresponding to the script is produced, computer language instructions may be generated based on the natural language annotations. The computer language instructions and the media asset may be stored on a master storage medium. The media asset and computer language instructions may be transmitted to a media equipment device. Playback time codes may be transmitted with the media asset. When a playback time code corresponds to an event that identifies interactive content, the media equipment device may display the interactive content represented by the computer language instructions during a time interval defined by the computer language instructions. | 06-09-2011 |
20110126276 | CROSS PLATFORM GATEWAY SYSTEM AND SERVICE - A method, system, and apparatus for delivering content to a user of a registered platform are provided. Assets retrieved from a number of content sources may be stored on a database at a service provider. Information related to a number of content items retrieved from the assets may be presented to the user of the registered platform. In response to a request from the user, a content item associated with a content source may be delivered to the user without a need for user authentication. | 05-26-2011 |
20110126230 | CONTENT INGESTION FOR A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for enabling content information ingestion and processing in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment includes: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; normalizing the gathered content information by using an ingestion engine; processing the content information, using a data processor, to associate particular items of content information with content catalogs; and storing the processed content information into a database with information identifying associated content catalogs. | 05-26-2011 |
20110126104 | USER INTERFACE FOR MANAGING DIFFERENT FORMATS FOR MEDIA FILES AND MEDIA PLAYBACK DEVICES - Described herein is a media manager user interface (UI) application/engine for managing different formats for media files and playback devices in a media system. The media system may include a source device, at least one playback device, and the media manager UI, coupled through a communication system. A source device may store a plurality of media files for various media forms. Each media file and playback device may have a playback format that is specified by values of one or more format parameters. The media manager UI allows users to select media files stored on the source device for downloading onto selected playback devices through the communication system. The media manager UI may automatically determine and store compatibility data indicating format compatibility between different media files and playback devices, the compatibility data being used to automatically convert media files to the formats of the playback devices. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125809 | MANAGING DIFFERENT FORMATS FOR MEDIA FILES AND MEDIA PLAYBACK DEVICES - Described herein are systems and methods for managing different formats for media files and playback devices in a media system. The media system may include a source device, at least one playback device, and a manager device coupled through a communication system. The source device may store a plurality of media files for various media forms (e.g., video, audio, image, or gaming media files). Each media file and playback device may have a playback format that is specified by values of one or more format parameters. The manager device may automatically determine format parameters of each media file and playback device and store to a media data structure. The manager device may also automatically determine and store compatibility data indicating format compatibility between different media files and playback devices, the compatibility data being used to automatically convert media files to the formats of the playback devices. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125774 | CONTENT INTEGRATION FOR A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for enabling content integration in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment includes: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; processing the content information, using a data processor, to provide a searchable database of processed content information; providing a service, accessible via the data network, to enable a user platform to request a search of the processed content information and identify a selected content item; and directing at least one content source to provide the selected content item directly to the user platform. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125753 | DATA DELIVERY FOR A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for enabling data delivery in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; processing the content information, using a data processor, to associate particular items of content information with content catalogs; storing the processed content information into a database with information identifying associated content catalogs; and providing a service, accessible via the data network, to enable a user platform to search the processed content information in the database based on a content catalog identifier. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125585 | CONTENT RECOMMENDATION FOR A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for enabling content recommendation in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment includes: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; receiving user behavior information from a user platform via a clickstream processing system; processing the content information, using a data processor, to provide a searchable database of processed content information, the processed content information including a recommendation for processed content information that is likely of interest to a user based on the user behavior information received from the user platform; providing a service, accessible via the data network, to enable the user platform to request the recommendation for processed content information and to identify a selected content item; and directing at least one content source to provide the selected content item directly to the user platform. | 05-26-2011 |
20110107215 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING MEDIA ASSET CLIPS ON A MEDIA EQUIPMENT DEVICE - Systems and methods for simulating dialog between a user and a media equipment device are provided. Videos of a user selected actor may be retrieved. An opener video of the selected actor may be displayed and based on a verbal response received from the user, a clip of a media asset associated with the selected actor may be retrieved. User reactions to the displayed clip may be monitored and subsequent videos of the actor and clips may be provided based on the user reactions. Clips of a media asset that matches preferences of the user may be retrieved. A clip associated with a mid level rank may be displayed. When the user reacts positively to the clip a clip associated with a low class level rank may be retrieved next otherwise a high class level rank clip may be retrieved next. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106536 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SIMULATING DIALOG BETWEEN A USER AND MEDIA EQUIPMENT DEVICE - Systems and methods for simulating dialog between a user and a media equipment device are provided. Videos of a user selected actor may be retrieved. An opener video of the selected actor may be displayed and based on a verbal response received from the user, a clip of a media asset associated with the selected actor may be retrieved. User reactions to the displayed clip may be monitored and subsequent videos of the actor and clips may be provided based on the user reactions. Clips of a media asset that matches preferences of the user may be retrieved. A clip associated with a mid level rank may be displayed. When the user reacts positively to the clip a clip associated with a low class level rank may be retrieved next otherwise a high class level rank clip may be retrieved next. | 05-05-2011 |
20110087490 | ADJUSTING RECORDER TIMING - A portion of audio content of a multimedia program, such as a television program, is captured from a network. An audio fingerprint is generated based on the portion of audio content, and the audio fingerprint is matched to one of multiple theme song fingerprints stored in a database. An expected theme song time offset associated with the matched theme song fingerprint is retrieved from the database. It is determined whether the program is running on-schedule, based on the time the portion of audio content occurred, a scheduled start time of the program, and/or the expected theme song time offset. If it is determined that the program is running off-schedule, an adjusted start time and/or an adjusted end time of the program are calculated. The program is recorded by a recorder based on the adjusted start time and/or the adjusted end time. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085781 | CONTENT RECORDER TIMING ALIGNMENT - A portion of audio content is captured from a network, and a time of occurrence of the captured portion of audio content is determined. An audio fingerprint is generated based on the captured portion of audio content. The generated audio fingerprint is matched to a program scheduled to be recorded. Based on the time of occurrence of the captured portion of audio content, a determination is made as to whether the program is running on-schedule. In one aspect, if it is determined that the program is not running on-schedule, an adjusted recording start time and/or an adjusted recording end time is calculated. In another aspect, if it is determined that the program is running on-schedule, the program is recorded according to a predetermined recording start time and/or a predetermined recording end time. | 04-14-2011 |
20110083141 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS HAVING POD MODULES AND METHODS FOR USE IN THE SAME - The present invention relates to television, systems and methods, and more particularly, to interactive television systems having user equipment that includes a point of deployment. (“POD”) host device and POD modules for use in conjunction with the POD host device. The interactive televisions systems may have different user equipment arrangements for supporting one or more POD modules. The POD modules may provide a user of the interactive television system with access to various programs and services. The POD module may also implement a back-channel communications link with a service provider. The POD module may also receive modules which may upgrade the hardware or software of the interactive television system. | 04-07-2011 |
20110078747 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING A BLOCKING OVERLAY IN A VIDEO - An overlay application provides users with opportunities to block or cover portions of the display area by displaying an overlay. The overlay application may be used to implement an interactive poker game. An overlay may be displayed to block or cover players' cards on the display screen during e.g., a poker tournament, allowing the viewer to actively participate in the poker game. The overlay may be controlled by a content provider or may be user controlled. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078746 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING A BLOCKING OVERLAY IN A VIDEO - An overlay application provides users with opportunities to block or cover portions of the display area by displaying an overlay. The overlay may be displayed to block or cover PRI or may be used to block or cover any portion of the display area, even in the absence of PRI. The overlay may be displayed automatically based at least in part on the type of program, a particular scene, etc., or upon user request. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078736 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AN OPEN AND COLLABORATIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for an open and collaborative media guidance application are provided. Users may join a distribution list to receive and/or provide modifications to media asset description information. A user may provide a modification to the media asset description information provided that he/she has sufficient authorization. The modification may be transmitted to a central server. The central server may filter the modification for improper information. The central server may update the media asset description information based on the received modification. The central server may transmit the modification or the updated media asset description information to media equipment devices associated with a distribution list. The media equipment devices may receive the modifications and process the modification based on local settings to update the locally stored media asset description information. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078731 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTIPLE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION NAVIGATION - Systems and methods for allowing a user to access media guidance application settings from any given mobile device and centralize the settings using a media equipment device are provided. One or more mobile devices may be detected with a media equipment device. The media equipment device may receive mobile media guidance application settings from the detected mobile devices. The media equipment device may replicate a mobile media guidance application for each of the detected mobile devices based on the received settings. Access to the replicated mobile media guidance applications associated with the detected mobile devices may be provided on the media equipment device. Changes to the settings of the replicated mobile media guidance applications associated with the detected mobile devices may be tracked and transmitted to the corresponding mobile device. The mobile device may modify a mobile media guidance application based on the changes received from the media equipment device. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078726 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING ADVERTISEMENTS USING A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for automatically generating advertisements using a media guidance application are provided. In some embodiments, an advertisement database is searched to identify a stored advertisement for display in an advertisement display region of a media guidance application display screen. Upon determining that the advertisement database does not include a suitable stored advertisement, a new advertisement may be generated for display in the advertisement display region. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078717 | SYSTEM FOR NOTIFYING A COMMUNITY OF INTERESTED USERS ABOUT PROGRAMS OR SEGMENTS - Methods and systems that allow a user to notify other users in a community group about the availability of program segments in which the other users may have an interest are provided. In some embodiments, a user selection of a program segment of interest may be received using user equipment. A network may be searched for the location of the program segment, using the user equipment. A reference associated with the location of the program segment on the network may be created. The reference may be shared with a community of interested users, using the user equipment. The community of interested users may be notified about the program segment using the reference. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078715 | IDENTIFYING A MOVIE OF INTEREST FROM A WIDGET USED WITH MOVIE COMMERICIALS - A user is provided with data and/or other interactive features based on their interaction with a widget running on user equipment. User permissions, user profiles, and other options related to the widget may be aggregated by a central processor. The user may invoke the widget during a movie commercial, and the processor may use the information it has gathered to identify the exact movie related to the movie commercial. This resolution may be based on the time the user invoked the widget, as well as the programming schedule the user watched during broadcast of the movie commercial. The user may be provided with data and/or other interactive features from a third party based on the movie of interest. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078634 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) media guidance application are provided. A first selectable media guidance object may be displayed on a screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a first plane. A second selectable media guidance object may be displayed on the screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a second plane. The first and second planes may be perceived to intersect an axis normal to the display in different locations. A user selection of at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects may be received. An action of moving a cursor in 3D space or selecting one of the selectable media guidance objects displayed in the 3D space may be performed based on the user selection. The user selection may be performed with an input device having an accelerometer. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078628 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING VIEWERSHIP TO ENHANCE A MEDIA LISTING DISPLAY IN A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods are provided for providing listings in a media guidance application based on predicted or real time viewership of a media item. If viewership for a media item is determined to not meet a target viewership, a listing for the media item in the media guidance application is enhanced. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078572 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING CLICKSTREAM DATA - Systems and methods are provided for analyzing clickstream data related to consumption of media items by determining whether clickstream data is missing and using information about the time the media was used, characteristics of the media, and user inactivity and activity thresholds. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078174 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING RECORDINGS USING CROSS-PLATFORM DATA SOURCES - Systems and methods are provided for scheduling media asset actions (e.g., media asset reminders, media asset recordings, etc.) on media assets, based on a user's list of favored artists (e.g., actor/actress, band, celebrity, etc.). A system that obtains a list of artists that are favored by a user is provided. Information is obtained from a website, where the obtained information indicates that one of the artists in the list is scheduled to perform during a particular time. Based on the obtained information, a media asset action is scheduled for the identified media asset. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078019 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECEIVING VENDOR-SPONSORED ACCESS TO MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods for receiving vendor-sponsored access to media content are described. In these systems and methods, a consumer's access to media content is sponsored by vendors with whom the consumer has engaged in a transaction. This sponsorship may take the form of payments provided to a media provider for a media content item or service provided to the consumer. Consumers may access goods and services provided by vendors when they are interested in engaging in a transaction, and may be presented with transaction opportunities according to their preferences. Vendors may selectively target transaction opportunities to consumers and may only sponsor media access for consumers with whom they have completed a transaction. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078005 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING VENDOR-SPONSORED ACCESS TO MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods for providing consumers with vendor-sponsored access to media content are described. In these systems and methods, a consumer's access to media content is sponsored by vendors with whom the consumer has engaged in a transaction. This sponsorship may take the form of payments provided to a media provider for a media content item or service provided to the consumer. Consumers may access goods and services provided by vendors when they are interested in engaging in a transaction, and may be presented with transaction opportunities according to their preferences. Vendors may selectively target transaction opportunities to consumers and may only sponsor media access for consumers with whom they have completed a transaction. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074918 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) media guidance application are provided. A first selectable media guidance object may be displayed on a screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a first plane. A second selectable media guidance object may be displayed on the screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a second plane. The first and second planes may be perceived to intersect an axis normal to the display in different locations. A user selection of at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects may be received. An action of moving a cursor in 3D space or selecting one of the selectable media guidance objects displayed in the 3D space may be performed based on the user selection. The user selection may be performed with an input device having an accelerometer. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074816 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING GRAPHIC ANIMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide play information and other related data to allow a user to generate animated videos using the user's own graphics processing equipment and graphics animation program. | 03-31-2011 |
20110072452 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATIC PARENTAL CONTROL ACTIVATION WHEN A RESTRICTED USER IS DETECTED WITHIN RANGE OF A DEVICE - Systems and methods are presented for detecting users within a range of a media device. A detection region may be defined that is within the range of the media device and smaller than the range. The detection region may be stored. It may be determined whether a user is within the detection region. The media device may be activated and settings associated with the user may be applied when a user is within the detection region. In some embodiments, settings associated with a user may be compared to provided media content when the user is within the detection region. The content may change when the settings conflict with the media content. Reminders may be provided to or directed to a plurality of users within the range of the media device. | 03-24-2011 |
20110070819 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING REMINDERS ASSOCIATED WITH DETECTED USERS - Systems and systems are presented for detecting users within a range of a media device. A detection region may be defined that is within the range of the media device and smaller than the range. The detection region may be stored. It may be determined whether a user is within the detection region. The media device may be activated and settings associated with the user may be applied when a user is within the detection region. In some embodiments, settings associated with a user may be compared to provided media content when the user is within the detection region. The content may change when the settings conflict with the media content. Reminders may be provided to or directed to a plurality of users within the range of the media device. | 03-24-2011 |
20110069940 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING USERS WITHIN DETECTION REGIONS OF MEDIA DEVICES - Systems and methods are presented for detecting users within a range of a media device. A detection region may be defined that is within the range of the media device and smaller than the range. The detection region may be stored. It may be determined whether a user is within the detection region. The media device may be activated and settings associated with the user may be applied when a user is within the detection region. In some embodiments, settings associated with a user may be compared to provided media content when the user is within the detection region. The content may change when the settings conflict with the media content. Reminders may be provided to or directed to a plurality of users within the range of the media device. | 03-24-2011 |
20110069938 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A CONTENT CONTROL SIGNAL IN A MEDIA PLAYER VIA COLOR BURST PHASE MODIFICATIONS - The “color stripe” process is well known in the video field for preventing copying of video by analog video tape recorders, and operates by altering the phase of a portion of the video signal color burst. Here, a weakened version of the color stripe process is installed in a video signal by a digital media player which plays or stores conventional digital media, such as an optical disc (e.g., DVD or CD) player, a hard disc drive, a digital tape drive, or solid state memory. Thereby in an analog video signal output by such a digital media player the color burst phase alterations are reduced or attenuated so there is no copy prevention effect on a conventional downstream (receiving) analog video tape recorder. However the weakened color stripe process is still sufficient to be detectable by a suitable detector located in a downstream compliant device such as a video recorder, so the detected presence of the installed color stripe serves as an encoded indication of copy control or other content control for the video signal by the compliant device. | 03-24-2011 |
20110035035 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING DIGITAL AUDIO FILES - A fingerprint is generated from an unknown audio signal by dividing the unknown audio signal into bins, where each bin includes points representing a feature space. Each of the points is mapped to one of a plurality of predetermined cluster centers based on the distance between each point and the plurality of cluster centers, each cluster center being associated with an element of a codebook. A string of elements is generated based on the mapping and compressed. | 02-10-2011 |
20100333136 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment. | 12-30-2010 |
20100333135 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment. | 12-30-2010 |
20100333032 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment. | 12-30-2010 |
20100332560 | MANAGING AND EDITING STORED MEDIA ASSETS - Methods and systems are described for providing editing tools that allow a user to manipulate media provided by a media content source. Media editing tools may include content analysis tools capable of extracting information from the media content itself, and may include segment identification and editing tools. Editing tools may be created by a user, and stored or shared with other users. Users may be able to specify and customize a set of storage space requirements that impose constraints on the type, quantity and content of stored assets. Automatic storage management tools provide tools with which stored and to-be-stored assets may be transformed in order to maintain satisfaction of storage preferences and requirements. | 12-30-2010 |
20100315426 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING GRAPHIC ANIMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide play information and other related data to allow a user to generate animated videos using the user's own graphics processing equipment and graphics animation program. | 12-16-2010 |
20100293497 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALPHANUMERIC NAVIGATION AND INPUT - Systems and methods for simplifying text entry are provided. A visual keypad may include a plurality of user-selectable buttons corresponding to at least some of the buttons of the alphabet. The layout of the visual keypad may be determined based on an n-gram table. The layout of the visual keypad may be rearranged based at least in part on the most likely next character in response to receiving a user selection of a button on the visual keypad. | 11-18-2010 |
20100262995 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATING A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVE VIEWS - Systems and methods are provided for navigating a media guidance application with multiple perspective views. A first of a plurality of media guidance objects may be displayed in a first perspective view that appears flat on the screen. A second media guidance object may be displayed in a second perspective view that appears to be going into the screen creating the appearance of a fold between the first and second media guidance application objects at a location where the first perspective view changes into the second perspective view. The second media guidance object in the second perspective view may be caused to slide through the fold into the first perspective view. The second media guidance object displayed in the first perspective view may be selected. An action may be performed for a media asset corresponding to the selected media guidance object. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262938 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVE VIEWS - Systems and methods are provided for navigating a media guidance application with multiple perspective views. A first of a plurality of media guidance objects may be displayed in a first perspective view that appears flat on the screen. A second media guidance object may be displayed in a second perspective view that appears to be going into the screen creating the appearance of a fold between the first and second media guidance application objects at a location where the first perspective view changes into the second perspective view. The second media guidance object in the second perspective view may be caused to slide through the fold into the first perspective view. The second media guidance object displayed in the first perspective view may be selected. An action may be performed for a media asset corresponding to the selected media guidance object. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262931 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEARCHING A MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVE VIEWS - Systems and methods are provided for navigating a media guidance application with multiple perspective views. A first of a plurality of media guidance objects may be displayed in a first perspective view that appears flat on the screen. A second media guidance object may be displayed in a second perspective view that appears to be going into the screen creating the appearance of a fold between the first and second media guidance application objects at a location where the first perspective view changes into the second perspective view. The second media guidance object in the second perspective view may be caused to slide through the fold into the first perspective view. The second media guidance object displayed in the first perspective view may be selected. An action may be performed for a media asset corresponding to the selected media guidance object. | 10-14-2010 |
20100211465 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATION - Systems and methods are presented for presenting advertisements to users of a fantasy sports contest application. Advertisements are displayed in conjunction with fantasy sports contest information and may be interactive in nature. The advertisements may be used to inform the user of prizes being awarded for performance in the fantasy sports contest, including prizes being awarded for performing in an instant scoring opportunity based on real-time action in a related sports broadcast. The advertisements may be intelligently scheduled around certain events in a related sports broadcast to take advantage of user purchasing habits. The advertisements may be selected according to a user profile. The user profile may include information on the user's demonstrated interests, which may be determined using the user's preferences in the fantasy contest, prior television viewing habits, and other suitable information. The advertisements may be targeted to the user's specific geographic location. The advertisements may also be used to inform a user of an awarded prize, and to enable the user to claim the awarded prize. | 08-19-2010 |
20100210331 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATION - Systems and methods are presented for presenting advertisements to users of a fantasy sports contest application. Advertisements are displayed in conjunction with fantasy sports contest information and may be interactive in nature. The advertisements may be used to inform the user of prizes being awarded for performance in the fantasy sports contest, including prizes being awarded for performing in an instant scoring opportunity based on real-time action in a related sports broadcast. The advertisements may be intelligently scheduled around certain events in a related sports broadcast to take advantage of user purchasing habits. The advertisements may be selected according to a user profile. The user profile may include information on the user's demonstrated interests, which may be determined using the user's preferences in the fantasy contest, prior television viewing habits, and other suitable information. The advertisements may be targeted to the user's specific geographic location. The advertisements may also be used to inform a user of an awarded prize, and to enable the user to claim the awarded prize. | 08-19-2010 |
20100205634 | Interactive program guide system and method - An interactive television program guide system and method is provided. Time separators are displayed within lists of program listings to allow users to more easily view the program listings. On-screen arrows have their display characteristics changed according to user actions. Similar program listings are displayed only once when using search program listings. Users are provided with an opportunity to view channel information before setting channels as favorites. Information from local information services is provided in program guide display screens that are configurable by a main facility. Users are provided with an opportunity to centrally lock and unlock programs, and to bypass locks when desired. | 08-12-2010 |
20100192180 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING SUBSCRIPTION DATA - A media guidance application is provided by which users can view program listings associated with programming that the user may access using other user equipment devices. The media guidance application, implemented on, for example, a remote system, may determine through communications with television equipment whether or not the television equipment is authorized to provide a particular package of television programming to be viewed by the user. For example, an online program guide application may determine whether or not television equipment allows a user to view particular channels and, based on that determination, proceed to determine what packages of programming the user subscribes to. A customized program guide may then be displayed based on what programming the user subscribes to on various systems. | 07-29-2010 |
20100186034 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE DEVICES - When selecting a television program for recording, a user may configure the delivery of the selected television program and associated data and interactive applications to different user equipment devices in a home network, which may have different capabilities. Because the user equipment devices in the home network may have different capabilities, the user may wish to deliver different types and amount of content, different amounts of data, and different versions of interactive applications to the user equipment devices in the home network. | 07-22-2010 |
20100180304 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH SUPPORT FOR RICH PROGRAM CONTENT - An electronic program guide that assists a user to navigate through a variety of digital and analog feeds made available by digital television technology is provided. Features such as allowing the user to purchase items, allowing the user to choose the content of the display screen, enabling more efficient use of black areas, among others are provided. Default settings based on prior user settings is provided to allow for an automatically customized environment. This automatic customization may entail, for example, the automatic resizing of windows based on the user's prior preferences. Also provided is a feature that allows for the automatic activation of a local or remote application through the user's set-top box based on the content currently being viewed. | 07-15-2010 |
20100180300 | FEATURES FOR USE WITH ADVANCED SET-TOP APPLICATIONS ON INTERACTIVE TELEVISON SYSTEMS - Advanced features for interactive television applications are described, including a back feature, a forward feature, a history feature, a go to feature, an extras feature, a reminder feature, a favorites feature, a parental control feature, and a search feature. Features may be inter-resource. Support for multiple data paths, Internet access, interactive services, and user profiles are also described. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179867 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A FANTASY SPORTS CONTEST APPLICATION - Systems and methods are presented for presenting advertisements to users of a fantasy sports contest application. Advertisements are displayed in conjunction with fantasy sports contest information and may be interactive in nature. The advertisements may be used to inform the user of prizes being awarded for performance in the fantasy sports contest, including prizes being awarded for performing in an instant scoring opportunity based on real-time action in a related sports broadcast. The advertisements may be intelligently scheduled around certain events in a related sports broadcast to take advantage of user purchasing habits. The advertisements may be selected according to a user profile. The user profile may include information on the user's demonstrated interests, which may be determined using the user's preferences in the fantasy contest, prior television viewing habits, and other suitable information. The advertisements may be targeted to the user's specific geographic location. The advertisements may also be used to inform a user of an awarded prize, and to enable the user to claim the awarded prize. | 07-15-2010 |
20100157156 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, STORING AND PROCESSING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DATA FOR ON-SCREEN DISPLAY - A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window. | 06-24-2010 |
20100153999 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH INTELLIGENT NAVIGATION AND DISPLAY FEATURES - Methods and systems are disclosed that allow a user to efficiently navigate media selections in an interactive media guidance application and easily identify media for viewing. The disclosed methods and systems provide an environment wherein video assets are displayed according to a user preference on a mosaic page with multiple cells. A subset of the assets appropriate for display in a particular cell is determined based on the user preference. Relevance scores of the assets meeting the user preference are computed, and the asset having the greatest relevance for the user is selected and displayed the corresponding cell. The relevance scores can be computed based on the user's historic viewing habits, user interaction with a media guidance application, or on specific user input. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153885 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTING WITH ADVANCED DISPLAYS PROVIDED BY AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - An interactive television application is used to provide search results to a user. The user is provided with an opportunity to indicate a desire to search for programs. In response, the interactive television application generates search criteria and searches for programs. The search results that are displayed to the user include mosaic listings associated with programs that match the search criteria. In some embodiments, the interactive television application displays the mosaic listings in a manner that accentuates the different levels of relevance of the search results to the search criteria. | 06-17-2010 |
20100131770 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMBEDDING AND AUTHENTICATING ANCILLARY INFORMATION IN DIGITALLY SIGNED CONTENT - A computer-implemented system and method for embedding and authenticating ancillary information in digitally signed content are disclosed. The method and system include loading digital content containing a digitally signed executable into memory for execution, while checking for the integrity of a digital signature and the contents of the executable; and erasing any non-authenticated regions of the digital content by zeroing out or value-filling memory locations corresponding to the non-authenticated regions. | 05-27-2010 |
20100111493 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROMOTIONS WITH RECORDED PROGRAMS - The invention provides systems and methods for providing promotions with recorded programs. These systems and methods provide for selecting a program to record, selecting a promotion, recording the selected program; and recording the promotion with the program or inserting the promotion during playback of the recorded program. The invention also provides a receiver for receiving signals and/or data (e.g., programs, promotions, program guides, etc.) on a single broadcast channel or on a plurality of broadcast channels, one or more memory storage units for storing signals and/or data, and a processor for selecting a program, selecting a promotion, causing selected programs to be recorded, and controlling the insertion of promotions into a program during recording of the program or during playback of the program. | 05-06-2010 |