TVWORKS, LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160088354 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ITV APPLICATION BEHAVIORS THROUGH THE USE OF APPLICATION PROFILE FILTERS - Controlling the admission of interactive television iTV applications to an iTV application distribution system is accomplished through the use of iTV application profiles that enumerate sets of allowed functions and behaviors for the iTV applications within the distribution system. In general, the profiles comprise filters that enable various functions within the distribution system, and may be applied to the iTV applications according to any of a number of bases. The distribution system includes an interface or console adapted to permit a system operator to create the application profiles and establish rules for attaching the profiles to the iTV applications, and an application profile engine configured to automatically validate the iTV applications against the profiles according to those rules. | 03-24-2016 |
20140379855 | Method and System for Transforming Content for Execution on Multiple Platforms - A method and system are disclosed for acquiring and transforming existing content (e.g., Hyper Text Markup Language HTML content) for display and execution on multiple platforms and architectures. In one embodiment, capture templates are created to harvest content from disparate content sources on multiple platforms. Data is extracted from the content from the disparate content sources using the created capture templates that drives extracting process. A standardized data stream is generated from the extracted data. The standardized data stream is provided for display on one or more different type of platforms. | 12-25-2014 |
20140366064 | Contextual Navigational Control for Digital Television - A contextual navigational control for digital television is described. An apparatus, comprises a contextual navigation control interface (CNCI). The CNCI includes a first area that represents a plurality of cable television programs having a first level of relevance. A second area represents a first group of the plurality of programs having a second level of relevance. A third area represents a first subgroup of the first group having a third level of relevance. A fourth area represents a second subgroup of the first group having a fourth level of relevance. There may be additional areas representing additional sub-groups of relevance to the current viewing context. | 12-11-2014 |
20140189500 | Method and System for Transforming Content for Execution on Multiple Platforms - A method and system are disclosed for acquiring and transforming existing content (e.g., Hyper Text Markup Language HTML content) for display and execution on multiple platforms and architectures. In one embodiment, capture templates are created to harvest content from disparate content sources on multiple platforms. Data is extracted from the content from the disparate content sources using the created capture templates that drives extracting process. A standardized data stream is generated from the extracted data. The standardized data stream is provided for display on one or more different type of platforms. | 07-03-2014 |
20140150024 | Programming Contextual Interactive User Interface for Television - A user interface for interactive television services is represented as a visual overlay that provides a viewer with knowledge of a library of available content relating to a currently tuned to television channel and navigation options for selecting desired portions of the available content from the library, the available content being designated according to business rules specified by a provider of the interactive television services. The visual overlay may be displayed over full-screen or embedded television programming, which may be broadcast television programming or on-demand television programming. | 05-29-2014 |
20140101687 | Imprint Client Statistical Filtering - A method, system API and computer product for adapting reverse data channel (RDC) utilization by selectively restricting the reporting of statistics data from client devices using a client-side filter adapted in response to configuration data from a file or other source file. | 04-10-2014 |
20140075474 | GRAPHICALLY RICH, MODULAR, PROMOTIONAL TILE INTERFACE FOR INTERACTIVE TELEVISION - A user interface arranged as hierarchical grid of tiles configurable to be individually and dynamically programmed for both content type and content placement according to a set of rules defining content placement and display specified by a content controller. | 03-13-2014 |
20140026165 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ITV APPLICATION BEHAVIORS THROUGH THE USE OF APPLICATION PROFILE FILTERS - Controlling the admission of interactive television iTV applications to an iTV application distribution system is accomplished through the use of iTV application profiles that enumerate sets of allowed functions and behaviors for the iTV applications within the distribution system. In general, the profiles comprise filters that enable various functions within the distribution system, and may be applied to the iTV applications according to any of a number of bases. The distribution system includes an interface or console adapted to permit a system operator to create the application profiles and establish rules for attaching the profiles to the iTV applications, and an application profile engine configured to automatically validate the iTV applications against the profiles according to those rules. | 01-23-2014 |
20130312047 | Transmitting Timing Information for Content in a Data Stream - The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution. | 11-21-2013 |
20130312025 | Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Data in a Data Stream - The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution. | 11-21-2013 |
20130298164 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, DELIVERY AND DISPLAY OF ITV APPLICATIONS THAT BLEND PROGRAMMING INFORMATION OF ON-DEMAND AND BROADCAST SERVICE OFFERINGS - A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface. | 11-07-2013 |
20130291045 | Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Data in a Data Stream - The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution. | 10-31-2013 |
20130283042 | Trust Information Delivery Scheme for Certificate Validation - A unique TIO based trust information delivery scheme is disclosed that allows clients to verify received certificates and to control Java and Javascript access efficiently. This scheme fits into the certificate verification process in SSL to provide a secure connection between a client and a Web server. In particular, the scheme is well suited for incorporation into consumer devices that have a limited footprint, such as set-top boxes, cell phones, and handheld computers. Furthermore, the TIO update scheme disclosed herein allows clients to update certificates securely and dynamically. | 10-24-2013 |
20130268338 | Electronic Commerce Using Streaming Media - The disclosure provides for electronic commerce using streaming media. (1) E-commerce opportunities are combined with incentives (e.g., random, pseudo-random, skill-based, or responsive to aggregate buying) for participation by recipients, enhancing the likelihood of responses from recipients and the value of distribution of the promotional information. (2) Techniques are applied to a server associated with e-commerce opportunities, to avoid unduly burdening that server. An applet may conduct the interactive process with the recipient and present results to the server, implement the incentives, conduct e-commerce transactions with the recipient, and select one or more recipients for an incentive reward. (3) The promotional material is associated with elements of the streaming media being presented, such as an actor or object. Presentation of promotional material at a device can be responsive to information about the recipient, gleaned from, for example: demographic information, preferences, fuzzy searching, or collaborative filtering. | 10-10-2013 |
20130227617 | System and Method for Construction, Delivery and Display of iTV Content - iTV content is created and deployed using a server component adapted to allow content developers to create applications according to an authoring specification that describes a framework for same; a transport component including an operator-deployed application management system configured to optimize and deliver the applications to one or more clients; and a client component adapted to render the applications through a television so as to permit user interaction therewith. The authoring specification provides for the presentation of content through one or more templates defined therein, allowing application definition and behavior to remain common across multiple client device types, middleware platforms, and/or iTV operating environments. The framework for applications accommodates advertising, promotions, content placement packages and/or programming campaign definitions, so as to permit a selection of a specific advertisement, promotion or content at a time of preparation of the iTV content by the server, and/or a time of execution of the applications by the client. | 08-29-2013 |
20130198784 | INTERACTIVE USER INTERFACE FOR TELEVISION APPLICATIONS - An iTV user interface includes a navigable menu area through which a user can select from among a variety of services and a content display area in which formatted data associated with a selected menu service are displayed to the user. The formatted data is displayed in a rotating or ticker fashion having both a passive mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence independent of any selection operations by a television viewer, and active mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence that depends on selection operations by the television viewer. Advertisements and/or promotions may be interspersed among the content items. The navigable menu area and the content display area may be displayed to the viewer at the same time as television programming is displayed on the television. | 08-01-2013 |
20130191863 | Channel Family Surf Control - An interface for an interactive television application includes a graphical representation of a channel changing apparatus and is configured such that in response to a channel change request a channel change event limited to a channel change within a designated family of television channels is initiated. The graphical element may be labeled so as to indicate the presently viewed family of television channels. In various embodiment, the channel content may be scaled to fit within a window or may be full screen, in which latter case the interface may be overlaid on top of the full screen video. In one example, the graphical representation of the channel changing apparatus resembles a pair of channel up/down buttons. | 07-25-2013 |
20130139201 | INTERACTIVE USER INTERFACE FOR TELEVISION APPLICATIONS - An iTV user interface includes a navigable menu area through which a user can select from among a variety of services and a content display area in which formatted data associated with a selected menu service are displayed to the user. The formatted data is displayed in a rotating or ticker fashion having both a passive mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence independent of any selection operations by a television viewer, and active mode, in which the formatted data is displayed in a sequence that depends on selection operations by the television viewer. Advertisements and/or promotions may be interspersed among the content items. The navigable menu area and the content display area may be displayed to the viewer at the same time as television programming is displayed on the television. | 05-30-2013 |
20130031584 | Programming Contextual Interactive User Interface for Television - A user interface for interactive television services is represented as a visual overlay that provides a viewer with knowledge of a library of available content relating to a currently tuned to television channel and navigation options for selecting desired portions of the available content from the library, the available content being designated according to business rules specified by a provider of the interactive television services. The visual overlay may be displayed over full-screen or embedded television programming, which may be broadcast television programming or on-demand television programming. | 01-31-2013 |
20130019260 | Combining Television Broadcast and Personalized/Interactive Information - The invention provides an improved method and system for interactive broadcast and web information browsing. In embodiments of the invention, web information is presented in conjunction with a broadcast television image, either at an edge of the image screen or overlaid with the image screen in an opaque, transparent or translucent image. The presented web information is fully interactive and can be interacted with by the user using all known features of interactive web presentation. | 01-17-2013 |
20130014192 | Method and System to Provide Interactivity Using an Interactive Channel Bug - A method and system are disclosed to provide interactivity using an interactive channel bug. The interactive channel bug (e.g., an “interactive broadcast channel branding logo”) allows a television user to access a variety of interactive services. The interactive broadcast channel branding logo may be configured to launch a functionality determined by a broadcaster. This functionality may change over time. The form of the interactive broadcast channel branding logo may also change over time in which the availability of new interactive services is indicated. | 01-10-2013 |
20120254912 | System and Method for Construction, Delivery and Display of iTV Content - iTV content is created and deployed using a server component adapted to allow content developers to create applications according to an authoring specification that describes a framework for same; a transport component configured to optimize and deliver the applications to one or more clients; and a client component adapted to render the applications through a television so as to permit user interaction therewith. The authoring specification provides for the presentation of content through one or more templates defined therein, allowing application definition and behavior to remain common across multiple client device types, middleware platforms, and/or iTV operating environments. The framework for applications accommodates advertising, promotions, content placement packages and/or programming campaign definitions, so as to permit a selection of a specific advertisement, promotion or content at a time of preparation of the iTV content by the server, and/or a time of execution of the applications by the client. | 10-04-2012 |
20120246682 | System and Method for Preferred Placement Programming of iTV Content - Preferred placement of programming content is provided by a system and method to organize or sequence the display of a set of programmable content elements of an iTV application to a viewer, using business rules that describe the preferred placement conditions or criteria. Such criteria include brand, content owner, application location, current channel, current channel family, current channel category, time of day, content category, current program, current program genre, current iTV application, current content type, and/or subscriber and set-top box profile and behavior data. In one implementation, the present invention allows for managing the ‘shelf space’ within and for iTV applications. | 09-27-2012 |
20120224501 | Upstream Bandwidth Management Methods and Apparatus - A system and method for managing bandwidth of an upstream communications channel in a communications system. | 09-06-2012 |
20120110611 | MULTI-CHANNEL AUDIO ENHANCEMENT FOR TELEVISION - A comprehensive mechanism is provided for broadcasting and accessing multiple audio sources in connection with the viewing of a television program. Audio is collected through the use of standard audio capture techniques. Next, the audio is distributed by either of in-band via broadcast or out-of-band techniques. In-band audio is preferably provided via an MPEG stream associated with the current television program. Out-of-band (OOB) audio can be broadcast as well, although it is preferable to select which channel is distributed upstream first, rather than broadcast all channels downstream and consume bandwidth for unselected audio. The viewer operates a set top box to select the appropriate audio channel(s) for reproduction. | 05-03-2012 |
20120023328 | Trust Information Delivery Scheme for Certificate Validation - A unique TIO based trust information delivery scheme is disclosed that allows clients to verify received certificates and to control Java and Javascript access efficiently. This scheme fits into the certificate verification process in SSL to provide a secure connection between a client and a Web server. In particular, the scheme is well suited for incorporation into consumer devices that have a limited footprint, such as set-top boxes, cell phones, and handheld computers. Furthermore, the TIO update scheme disclosed herein allows clients to update certificates securely and dynamically. | 01-26-2012 |
20110282992 | Method and Apparatus for Usage Estimation and Prediction in Two-Way Communication Networks - Methods, apparatus, and network oriented systems are discussed for estimating system, e.g. web site, usage removed from the web site, as well as scheduling and directing a data broadcast source to provide content based on web site usage estimates and predictions in a broadcast data stream. | 11-17-2011 |
20110258659 | System and Method for Construction, Delivery and Display of iTV Content - iTV content is created and deployed using a server component adapted to allow content developers to create applications according to an authoring specification that describes a framework for same; a transport component configured to optimize and deliver the applications to one or more clients; and a client component adapted to render the applications through a television so as to permit user interaction therewith. The authoring specification provides for the presentation of content through one or more templates defined therein, allowing application definition and behavior to remain common across multiple client device types, middleware platforms, and/or iTV operating environments. The framework for applications accommodates advertising, promotions, content placement packages and/or programming campaign definitions, so as to permit a selection of a specific advertisement, promotion or content at a time of preparation of the iTV content by the server, and/or a time of execution of the applications by the client. | 10-20-2011 |
20110214150 | Imprint Client Statistical Filtering - A method, system API and computer product for adapting reverse data channel (RDC) utilization by selectively restricting the reporting of statistics data from client devices using a client-side filter adapted in response to configuration data from a file or other source file. | 09-01-2011 |
20110191667 | Method and System for Transforming Content for Execution on Multiple Platforms - A method and system are disclosed for acquiring and transforming existing content (e.g., Hyper Text Markup Language HTML content) for display and execution on multiple platforms and architectures. In one embodiment, capture templates are created to harvest content from disparate content sources on multiple platforms. Data is extracted from the content from the disparate content sources using the created capture templates that drives extracting process. A standardized data stream is generated from the extracted data. The standardized data stream is provided for display on one or more different type of platforms. | 08-04-2011 |
20110179457 | Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Data in a Data Stream - The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution. | 07-21-2011 |
20110179438 | Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Data in a Data Stream - The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution. | 07-21-2011 |
20110173669 | Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Data in a Data Stream - The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution. | 07-14-2011 |
20110167453 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, DELIVERY AND DISPLAY OF ITV APPLICATIONS THAT BLEND PROGRAMMING INFORMATION OF ON-DEMAND AND BROADCAST SERVICE OFFERINGS - A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface. | 07-07-2011 |
20110134323 | Extending Data Records for Dynamic Data and Selective Acceptance Based on Hardware Profile - A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes. | 06-09-2011 |
20110093881 | System Method and Apparatus for Portable Digital Identity - Two-way digital media devices typically store digital identifying data that identify the user to providers of content and interactive data. In the case of a Web browser of a personal computer, the digital identity is stored in the form of a plurality of cookies that are used by respective web sites to personalize the web site experience for each particular user. When a user is at a different computer, the digital identifying data is not available. In addition, other types of interactive devices, such as CATV settop boxes, cell phones, PDAs and the like, may not have enough non-volatile memory (persistent storage) to store the digital identifying data. In order to provide users with a portable digital identity, a digital identity server is provided as a server node on the Internet, which retrieves digital identifying data and downloads such digital identifying data to any device upon request. In such manner, the user's digital identity is portable and available at any computer or other digital device that is being used. The system digital identity server permits devices without sufficient non-volatile memory storage to download a digital identity for temporary storage in volatile memory, thereby providing a digital identity in devices without non-volatile memory. | 04-21-2011 |
20110040755 | APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE COMBINING ASSET LISTINGS - A system, method and API for processing and providing a unified list of the content offerings of multiple content sources. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040712 | Extensions to Semantic Net - A semantic network includes a number of nodes are interconnected to one another through links (e.g., in a subject/verb/target form) representing relationships between the nodes and one or more of the links have one or more variants representing qualifications of the relationships between the nodes. For each link having one or more variants, the variants may be ordered in configurations. Such ordering of the variants in the configurations may be self-described within the semantic network and may determine precedence of those links belonging to the variants. Some of the links of the network may be nodes of others of the links. The interconnection of at least some of the nodes may define a meta-meta model that defines terms in which particular meta models can be defined, each meta model comprising meta facts regarding the nodes of the semantic network. | 02-17-2011 |
20100333153 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSFORMING CONTENT FOR EXECUTION ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS - A method and system are disclosed for acquiring and transforming existing content (e.g., Hyper Text Markup Language HTML content) for display and execution on multiple platforms and architectures. In one embodiment, capture templates are created to harvest content from disparate content sources on multiple platforms. Data is extracted from the content from the disparate content sources using the created capture templates that drives extracting process. A standardized data stream is generated from the extracted data. The standardized data stream is provided for display on one or more different type of platforms. | 12-30-2010 |
20100312862 | Method and Apparatus for Usage Estimation and Prediction in Two-Way Communication Networks - Methods, apparatus, and network oriented systems are discussed for estimating system, e.g. web site, usage removed from the web site, as well as scheduling and directing a data broadcast source to provide content based on web site usage estimates and predictions in a broadcast data stream. | 12-09-2010 |
20100229200 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, DELIVERY AND DISPLAY OF ITV APPLICATIONS THAT BLEND PROGRAMMING INFORMATION OF ON-DEMAND AND BROADCAST SERVICE OFFERINGS - A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface. | 09-09-2010 |
20100192082 | Targeted Advertising - Systems and methods for providing advertisements to users based on usage of goods and/or services are described. In some examples, the advertisements are tied to the actual goods and/or services used. In other examples, the advertisements relate to complementary goods or services. In yet further examples, the advertisements are not necessarily based on the consumption of goods or services in an individual household but may be tied to a related household or a designated user or group of users. | 07-29-2010 |
20100161826 | NEWS ARCHITECTURE FOR iTV - A system and method for acquiring media content is disclosed. A capture platform may allow users to create customized templates for the automatic capture of web-based media, such as news. Captured content may be normalized for optimized access by a plurality of different device platforms, and may also be customized for individual users. One or more chained transformer plug-ins may be used to provide the customization. | 06-24-2010 |
20090235319 | Video on Demand Gateway - A video on demand (VOD) gateway allows multiple incompatible and non-interoperable VOD systems to function as a single unified VOD system. A VOD gateway system includes a VOD asset gateway, a VOD session gateway, a VOD transaction gateway and a generic VOD client software program. The generic VOD client software resides in a CATV set-top box. The VOD asset gateway at the headend aggregates video inventory from multiple VOD vendor's equipment. The VOD session gateway at the headend translates a subscriber request in a generic protocol for VOD program into the proprietary protocol for a specific VOD system. The VOD transaction gateway at the headend aggregates embodiment, a VOD gateway permits operators of multiple CATV systems to use multiple incompatible and non-interoperable VOD systems in each plurality of separate CATV systems. | 09-17-2009 |
20090043838 | Imprint Client Statistical Filtering - A method, system, API and computer product for adapting reverse data channel (RDC) utilization by selectively restricting the reporting of statistics data from client devices using a client-side filter adapted in response to configuration data from a file or other source file. | 02-12-2009 |