Patent

Method and apparatus for managing personal content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, monitoring access by communication devices of second users to personal content associated with a first user, selecting advertisement content based on the monitoring of the access, and providing the advertisement content for presentation with the personal content when the personal content is accessed by a communication device of a third user.

Jan 21, 2014 US 8634597 B2 patent Link

Apparatus and method for providing media services with telepresence

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining first images that are captured by a first camera system at a first location associated with a live presentation by the first user, transmitting first video content representative of the first images over a network for presentation by a group of other processors that are each at one of a group of other locations associated with corresponding other users, receiving second video content representative of second images that are associated with each of the other users, and presenting the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates each of the other users being present in an audience at the first location. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Nov 19, 2013 US 8587635 B2 patent Link

Systems and methods for remote web query and image selection exchange to video screen

Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to browsing through search results on a handheld communications device, and displaying a desired search result on an external display device. The system includes a handheld communications device having a user interface to search for a plurality of media resources, an application server to deliver the media resources, and a set-top box to receive a request to display a desired media resource on a display device coupled to the set-top box, such as an IPTV. The user interface presents novel methods to send the desired search result to the IPTV via the application server. The user may “throw” the media resource to the set-top box using a hand gesture to invoke an accelerometer in the handheld communications device.

Mar 26, 2013 US 8407756 B2 patent Link

Method and apparatus for presenting media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, presenting a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, receiving information from a viewing apparatus to adjust an intensity of emitted light associated with one of the unassociated media programs, and adjusting the intensity of the emitted light in a manner that is detectable by the viewing apparatus supplying the information. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Mar 19, 2013 US 8402502 B2 patent Link

Method and apparatus for generating media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for broadcasting a wireless signal representing a notice to obtain sensory data, retrieving first sensory information captured by a first sensor device coupled with a first mobile communication device where the first sensory information is associated with an environment of the first mobile communication device, and receiving from a second mobile communication device, second and third sensory information in response to the notice, where the second sensory information is captured by the second mobile communication device, where the third sensory information is captured by a third mobile communication device and provided to the second mobile communication device.

Aug 20, 2013 US 8515399 B2 patent Link

System and method for interacting with social networking in an internet protocol television system

In an Internet protocol television network, a set-top box includes a social network interface module and a remote control interface module. The social network interface module receives a first selection of a content item from the remote control interface module, and receives a second selection of a comment from the remote control interface module. The social network interface module also posts the second selection on a social network system.

Oct 22, 2013 US 8566876 B2 patent Link

Moderated interactive media sessions

Systems and methods to provide interactive moderated collaborative sessions are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving a media stream and associating moderator controls with the media stream to create an interactive media session. The interactive media session enables multiple remote users to interact with one another with respect to the media stream. The moderator controls enable a moderator to facilitate the interaction of the multiple remote users. The method also includes sending display data to display devices of the multiple remote users. The display data is based on moderator control input received via the moderator controls, interactive input received from the multiple remote users, and the received media stream.

Jul 17, 2012 US 8225348 B2 patent Link

Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities

Exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities. A method includes receiving a request for access to a network service from an end user client system associated with an account. Upon determining an issue is associated with the account, the method includes flagging a user profile for the account to reflect the issue. Flagging accounts includes assigning a unique flag for each type of issue for determining a location for routing the request associated with flagged user profiles. The method also includes redirecting the request for access to a web server of the service provider network. Upon successful resolution of the issue, the method includes providing access to the network service for the end user client system.

Nov 29, 2011 US 8069472 B2 patent Link

Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities

Exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities. The method includes receiving a request for access to a network service from a user associated with an account that has been flagged as having an issue. The method also includes redirecting the request for access, transmitting a notification of the issue and instructions for resolving the issue to the user, and deferring further access to network services without terminating the account pending a resolution of the issue.

Sep 8, 2009 US 7587753 B2 patent Link

Methods of resetting passwords in network service systems including user redirection and related systems and computer-program products

Resetting a password for a network service account may include redirecting the user to a password reset tool, wherein the user is blocked from network access other than the password reset tool while being redirected. After redirecting the user to the password reset tool, user entry of verification information may be accepted, and the verification information from the user may be compared with known verification information for the user. User entry of a new password may be accepted if the verification information accepted from the user matches the known verification information for the user; and the new password may be stored as the known password for the user. Related systems and computer-program products are also discussed.

Apr 1, 2008 US 7353536 B1 patent Link

Method and apparatus for managing a presentation of media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to present a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, and cause the single presentation device to present a user interface for one of the plurality of unassociated media programs responsive to detecting a request for the user interface. Each of the plurality of unassociated media programs can be viewable only with a viewing apparatus. The viewing apparatus can be configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Jan 12, 2012 US 20120011546 A1 patent Link

System and method for sending data to end user data delivery vehicles

An embodiment of a method is disclosed, including but not limited to, dividing a reward token in a reward token data base into a plurality of reward token pieces based on a selection of plurality of end user data delivery vehicles on which an advertiser wants to send the reward token pieces to an end user; sensing end user activity on a communication network on at least one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles at one of a plurality of data delivery vehicle servers; sending from a first one of the plurality of data delivery vehicle servers, a first one of the plurality of reward token pieces to the end user on a first one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles; and sending from a second one of the plurality of data delivery vehicle servers, a second one of the plurality of reward token pieces to the end user on a second one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles. A computer program product and system for performing the method are also disclosed.

Oct 21, 2010 US 20100268576 A1 patent Link

Method and apparatus for presenting media content

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, presenting a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, receiving information from a viewing apparatus to adjust an intensity of emitted light associated with one of the unassociated media programs, and adjusting the intensity of the emitted light in a manner that is detectable by the viewing apparatus supplying the information. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Mar 18, 2010 US 20110310221 A1 patent Link

Media Stream Generation Based on a Category of User Expression

Systems and methods of media stream generation based on categories of user expression are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving input selecting at least one category from a plurality of categories of expression. Each of the plurality of categories is descriptive of a type of expression made by users as media content is presented. The method includes selecting a group of segments of the media content. Each of the segments of media content in the group is associated with the selected category. The method further includes generating a stream of media content that includes each of the segments of media content.

Mar 18, 2010 US 20100070992 A1 patent Link

Method and apparatus for controlling multi-experience translation of media content

A method or apparatus for controlling a media device using gestures may include, for example, modifying media content to generate first updated media content according to a comparison of first information descriptive of a first environment of the source device to second information descriptive of a second environment of the recipient device, capturing images of a gesture, identifying a command from the gesture, and modifying the first updated media content to generate second updated media content according to the command. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Feb 14, 2013 US 20130039531 A1 patent Link

Method and apparatus for multi-experience metadata translation of media content with metadata

A method or apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for retrieving a plurality of sensory information from an environment of a device. A digital representation of the environment of the device is identified corresponding to the plurality of sensory information from the environment of the device. A media presentation element of the device associated with media content of the device is identified. A user interface of the media presentation element is adapted to modify a presentation of the media content by the media presentation element of the device according to the digital representation of the environment of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Jan 24, 2013 US 20130024756 A1 patent Link

Method and apparatus for selecting replacement items

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a signal from a radio frequency identifier tag carried by a first item, identifying from the signal information about the first item, determining from the identified information a measure of wear and tear of the first item, determining a strategy to replace the first item according to a monitored behavior of a user of the first item, and identifying at least one replacement item according to the strategy. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Jan 31, 2013 US 20130030822 A1 patent Link

Method and apparatus for marketability assessment

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a processor operable to determine whether a correlation exists between first products or services consumed by a subscriber leader and second products or services consumed by a plurality of subscriber followers. The first and second products or services can be distributed by a media service provider over a communication system and can be consumed by way of one or more media processors. The processor can be further operable to identify a plurality of market sector classifications for each of the second products or services consumed, to assess a plurality of values of consumption for the plurality of market sector classifications, and to determine a plurality of marketable values for the subscriber leader. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Jan 3, 2013 US 20130006703 A1 patent Link

Apparatus and method for presenting three dimensional objects with telepresence

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may capture images using a camera system at a location associated with a user, transmit video content representative of the images over a network for presentation by another media processor at another location, receive at a media processor object content and second video content representative of second images that are associated with the second user, and present at a display device of the location the object content and the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the other user at the location, where at least one of the object content and the video content is presented as three dimensional content or holographic content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Dec 27, 2012 US 20120327178 A1 patent Link

Method and apparatus for multi-experience adaptation of media content

A method or apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for adapting media content of a source device for a recipient device. Characteristics of a first environment of a source device and of a second environment of a recipient can be identified. At least one difference between the characteristics of the first environment of the source device and the characteristics of the second environment of the recipient device can be determined. A presentation of media content can be modified according to the at least one difference between the characteristics of the first environment of the source device and the characteristics of the second environment of the recipient device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Jan 24, 2013 US 20130024774 A1 patent Link

Patents & Intellectual Property

ISSUED U.S. PATENTS

Method and apparatus for managing personal content

Apparatus and method for providing media services with telepresence

Systems and methods for remote web query and image selection exchange to video screen

Method and apparatus for presenting media content

Method and apparatus for generating media content

System and method for interacting with social networking in an internet protocol television system

Moderated interactive media sessions

Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities

Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities

Methods of resetting passwords in network service systems including user redirection and related systems and computer-program products

Method and apparatus for managing a presentation of media content

System and method for sending data to end user data delivery vehicles

Method and apparatus for presenting media content

Media Stream Generation Based on a Category of User Expression

Method and apparatus for controlling multi-experience translation of media content

Method and apparatus for multi-experience metadata translation of media content with metadata

Method and apparatus for selecting replacement items

Method and apparatus for marketability assessment

Apparatus and method for presenting three dimensional objects with telepresence

Method and apparatus for multi-experience adaptation of media content