Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100195975 | System and method for semantic trick play - A semantic based trick play method and system in a media player is provided in which a semantic trick play command is received from a user while the user is experiencing a current content of a media item. Metadata is detected with respect to a current playback position of the media item, and at least one further playback position is determined in the current content of the media item or a related content in another media item. The further playback position is semantically related to the metadata of the current playback position. Playback is then moved to the at least one further playback position, so that the user experiences a media content of the at least one further playback position. | 08-05-2010 |
20100197219 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED LOCATION-BASED WIDGETS - Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, a mobile device obtains a list of applications associated with a current or anticipated location of the mobile device from a centralized or distributed application service. One or more desired applications to be activated are either manually or automatically selected from the list of applications associated with the current location or the anticipated location of the mobile device. The mobile device then activates the one or more desired applications. Optionally, for each desired application that has been activated, the desired application may be deactivated once one or more deactivation criteria are satisfied. | 08-05-2010 |
20100197319 | MODIFYING A USER'S CONTRIBUTION TO AN AGGREGATE PROFILE BASED ON TIME BETWEEN LOCATION UPDATES AND EXTERNAL EVENTS - A system and method that maintain current locations for users of a number of mobile devices and compute confidence levels for the current locations of the users are provided. In one embodiment, the confidence levels of the users are computed as a function of amounts of time since location updates were received for the users. In addition, detection of location confidence events may be used to modify the confidence levels for the current locations of the users. The location confidence events may include positive location confidence events that result in an increase in the confidence levels of the current locations of corresponding users, negative location confidence events that result in a decrease in the confidence levels of the current locations of corresponding users, or both. Once computed, the confidence levels of the current locations of the users may then be utilized in a desired manner. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199295 | Dynamic video segment recommendation based on video playback location - A system and method for dynamically providing video segment recommendations to a user based on video metadata, current playback position within the video, and/or the user's previous viewing history or patterns. The system/method also provides the user with a simple mechanism to enable/disable receipt of these recommendations with the click of a button within the display interface. | 08-05-2010 |
20110158402 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR SCRAMBLED COMMUNICATION OF DATA TO, FROM, OR OVER A MEDIUM - The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable medium for scrambled communication of data to, from, or over a medium. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating data in scrambled form to or over a medium. The method includes receiving analog or digital data to be transmitted to or over a medium. The method further includes modulating samples representing at least signal using the analog or digital data to produce data modulated signal samples. The method further includes scrambling the data modulated signal samples using a predetermined scrambling algorithm. The method further includes transmitting the scrambled data modulated signal samples to or over the medium. The method further includes descrambling samples received from the medium using the inverse of the predetermined scrambling algorithm to obtain the unscrambled modulated signal samples, which can then be demodulated to retrieve original data. | 06-30-2011 |
20120039578 | System and method for distributed trick play resolution using user preferences - A media system and method for distributed trick play resolution using user preferences. The method of distributed trick play resolution in a distributed media group network, includes: determining trick play preferences at each of a plurality of peer nodes in the distributed media group network with respect to a media item; and resolving conflicting trick play preferences between the peer nodes based on the determined trick play preferences. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-16-2012 |
20120046068 | AUTOMATICALLY PERFORMING USER ACTIONS BASED ON DETECTED CONTEXT-TO-USER-ACTION CORRELATIONS - A system and method are provided for automatically performing user actions at a device based on a context of the user device. In one embodiment, user actions taken by a user of a user device and corresponding contexts of the user device at times at which the user actions were taken are monitored to detect context-to-user-action correlations. Each context-to-user-action correlation defines a context of the user device and a user action historically taken by the user of the user device for when the device is in that context. Subsequently, a current context of the user device is obtained and compared to the stored context-to-user-action correlations to identify a matching context-to-user-action correlation. The user device then automatically performs the user action that is correlated to the current context as defined by the matching context-to-user-action correlation. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046936 | System and method for distributed audience feedback on semantic analysis of media content - A system and computer implemented method of distributed audience feedback of media content in real time or substantially real time, including: semantically analyzing, at a semantic speech analysis engine, media content from a media program and identifying relevant topic data; distributing, at a topic data publisher, the identified relevant topic data to an audience of the media program; collecting, at a server, audience opinions on the identified relevant topic data; and processing the collected audience opinions. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-23-2012 |
20120047119 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND NAVIGATING ANNOTATED HYPERLINKS BETWEEN VIDEO SEGMENTS - Systems and methods are provided for linking and playing media content from one or more media items. Linking items may be stored with a plurality of other linking items and associated with one or more media items. The linking items define media fragments within the media items and media segments linked to the media items. By selecting linking items associated with a particular media item, a user can dynamically select the media segments linked to the media item. | 02-23-2012 |
20120063427 | CROWD FORMATION BASED ON WIRELESS CONTEXT INFORMATION - Systems and methods are disclosed for forming crowds of users based on wireless contexts of corresponding mobile devices of the users. In general, wireless contexts of mobile devices of a number of users are obtained. For each mobile device, the wireless context of the mobile device includes a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) context of the mobile device, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) context of the mobile device, or both. The wireless contexts of the mobile devices of the users are then utilized to form crowds of users. More specifically, in one embodiment, users of mobile devices having sufficiently similar wireless contexts are determined to be in the same crowd of users. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063603 | HOME THEATER COMPONENT FOR A VIRTUALIZED HOME THEATER SYSTEM - The present disclosure relates to a Wide Area Network (WAN) based home theater system. In one embodiment, a home theater at a subscriber premises includes multiple home theater components, which include multiple audio playback components and a video playback component. Each home theater component is enabled to receive data from and send data to a virtualized home theater service via a WAN. In operation, each home theater component receives an appropriate media content stream for the home theater component from the virtualized home theater service via the WAN and provides playback of the media content stream according to the absolute playback timestamps for the media content stream. | 03-15-2012 |
20120066138 | USER AFFINITY CONCENTRATIONS AS SOCIAL TOPOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for generating a social topography map based on user affinity concentrations are disclosed. In general, locations and aggregate profiles are obtained for a number of crowds of users that are relevant to a geographic bounding region for a desired social topography map. Each aggregate profile includes information regarding an affinity between a corresponding crowd and a defined user profile. The defined user profile may be a user profile of a requesting user, or a select subset thereof, or a target user profile. Social topography data for the desired geographic bounding region is then generated based on the locations and aggregate profiles of the relevant crowds. The social topography data defines user affinity concentrations across the desired geographic bounding region. A social topography map may then be generated and presented to a requesting user based on the social topography data generated for the desired geographic bounding region. | 03-15-2012 |
20120066312 | AD-HOC MICRO-BLOGGING GROUPS - Systems and methods are disclosed for distributing micro-blog posts to ad-hoc micro-blogging groups. In one embodiment, a micro-blog post of a user is obtained. A crowd in which the user is located is determined, where the crowd is a group of spatially proximate users. The micro-blog post of the user is tagged with a crowd identifier of the crowd in which the user is located such that the micro-blog post includes a crowd identifier tag. Publication of the micro-blog post including the crowd identifier tag is then effected. | 03-15-2012 |
20120066316 | STATUS UPDATE PROPAGATION BASED ON CROWD OR POI SIMILARITY - Systems and methods are provided for following status updates of users. In one embodiment, a requestor selects a crowd of users. In response, one or more crowds of users that match the selected crowd of users to at least a predefined threshold degree are identified. Status updates sent by users in at least one of the one or more matching crowds of users are then delivered to the requestor. In another embodiment, a requestor selects a Point of Interest (POI). In response, one or more POIs that match the selected POI to at least a predefined threshold degree are identified. Status updates sent by users located at one or more POIs of the one or more matching POIs are delivered to the requestor. | 03-15-2012 |
20120066711 | VIRTUALIZED HOME THEATER SERVICE - The present disclosure relates to a Wide Area Network (WAN) based home theater system. In one embodiment, a home theater at a subscriber premises includes multiple home theater components, which include multiple audio playback components and a video playback component. Each home theater component is enabled to receive data from and send data to a virtualized home theater service via a WAN. In operation, the virtualized home theater service processes multimedia content to provide a separate content stream for each home theater component. The virtualized home theater service also provides absolute playback timestamps for the media content streams. The absolute playback timestamps are preferably provided to substantially synchronize playback of the media content streams by the home theater components as well as to accommodate for network delays. | 03-15-2012 |
20120072611 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE SEGMENT PREFETCHING OF STREAMING MEDIA - Systems and methods are provided for obtaining look-ahead segments for a streaming media item during playback such that the viewer can easily skip to the look-ahead segments without experiencing any substantial interruption or delay in playback. In general, a streaming media source begins streaming a media item to a streaming media client for playback. In one embodiment, the streaming media client selects one or more segments of the media item as one or more look-ahead segments to prefetch from the streaming media source. Then, while the media item is being streamed to the streaming media client for playback, the streaming media client prefetches the one or more look-ahead segments of the media item from the streaming media source. The look-ahead segments are thereafter utilized to enable the viewer to skip ahead in playback without experiencing a substantial interruption or delay in playback. | 03-22-2012 |
20120078612 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATING ELECTRONIC TEXTS - Disclosed herein are systems and methods for navigating electronic texts. According to an aspect, a method may include determining text subgroups within an electronic text. The method may also include selecting a text seed within one of the text subgroups. Further, the method may include determining a similarity relationship between the text seed and one or more adjacent text subgroups that do not include the selected text seed. The method may also include associating the text seed with the one or more adjacent text subgroups based on the similarity relationship to create a text cluster. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078613 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR GRAPHICALLY DISPLAYING RELATED TEXT IN AN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT - Disclosed herein are systems and methods for navigating electronic texts. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving search criteria for searching an electronic text. Further, the method may include determining text subgroups within the electronic text. The method may also include determining, for each text subgroup, a similarity relationship between the search criteria and the text subgroup. Further, the method may include presenting, for each text subgroup, a graphic representing the similarity relationship between the text subgroup and the search criteria. | 03-29-2012 |
20120079372 | METHoD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR DETECTING RELATED SUBGROUPS OF TEXT IN AN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT - Disclosed herein are systems and methods for navigating electronic texts. According to an aspect, a method may include determining that a user non-linearly navigates between text subgroups within electronic text. The method may also include linking the text subgroups in response to determining that the user non-linearly navigates between the text subgroups. Further, for example, text subgroups within an electronic text may be determined. In this example, a similarity relationship between content of each text subgroup and one or more other text subgroups may be determined for linking the text subgroups. | 03-29-2012 |
20120117221 | PREVIEW-BASED CONTENT MONITORING AND BLOCKING SYSTEM - Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling an administrator to monitor and control usage of media content in a locale. In one embodiment, the locale includes one or more media devices that have access to media content from one or more local and/or remote content sources. Usage data defining usage of the media content by a user is obtained. A pattern including two or more media segments consumed by the user is detected based on the usage data and one or more predefined pattern detection rules. The administrator is then enabled to review the pattern and choose whether to block usage. Usage of at least one of the media segments included in the pattern is then blocked at the one or more media devices at the locale in response to the administrator choosing to block usage of the at least one of the media segments included in the pattern. | 05-10-2012 |
20120117339 | FLEXIBLE CONTENT STORAGE MANAGEMENT FOR DVRS - A media broker comprises a communication interface and a controller associated with the communication interface configured to receive a request from a user to record a requested media item. The media broker proceeds to query an aggregated stored content list (ASCL) including information indicative of each of the media items stored on one or more media storage device communicatively coupled to the media broker to determine if the requested media item is stored on the one or more media storage devices. If it is determined that the requested media item is stored on the one or more media storage devices the user that requested the media item is informed and the media item is stored on the one or more media storage devices. Conversely, if it is determined that the requested media item is not stored on the one or more media storage devices, the requested media item is recorded. | 05-10-2012 |
20120117488 | DISTRIBUTED AGGREGATED CONTENT GUIDE FOR COLLABORATIVE PLAYBACK SESSION - A system and method are disclosed for enabling a distributed group of users to collaboratively select a media item for a collaborative playback session. In one embodiment, a distributed group of users for a collaborative playback session is formed, where the distributed group of users includes a number of users located at a number of geographically distributed user sites. Each user site includes one or more media controllers having access to media content and one or more renderers that operate to render the media content. A distributed aggregate guide that includes a listing of media content accessible to the media controllers at all of the user sites is generated and utilized by users at the user sites to suggest media items for the collaborative playback session. Based on the suggestions of the users, a media item for the collaborative playback session is selected. | 05-10-2012 |
20120117632 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTHENTICATING A DATA STREAM - A method and apparatus for obtaining digital content. A credential is extracted from a first data stream that corresponds to a media item. The credential is provided to a content provider. If the credential is authenticated, the content provider sends a second data stream that corresponds to the media item. | 05-10-2012 |
20120123830 | USER GENERATED PHOTO ADS USED AS STATUS UPDATES - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. More specifically, first, one or more photo ad templates are obtained for the user, where each photo ad template includes one or more photo wells. A photo advertisement is then generated based on one of the photo ad templates such that a filler image of a different one of one or more participants identified for the photo advertisement is inserted into each of the one or more photo wells in the photo ad template. The photo advertisement is then used as a status update for the user. In another embodiment, the photo advertisement is stored and subsequently used to serve ad requests. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123871 | SERVING AD REQUESTS USING USER GENERATED PHOTO ADS - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a computer server obtains and stores user-created photo advertisements. Each of the user-created photo advertisements is generated based on a corresponding photo ad template having one or more photo wells such that filler images of one or more participants are inserted into the one or more photo wells. For each user-created photo advertisement, the one or more participants include at least a user by which the photo advertisement was created. In addition, the computer server effects use of the stored user-created photo advertisements as sponsored advertisements. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123875 | USER GENERATED ADS BASED ON CHECK-INS - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo check-in process is performed for a user located within a geographic check-in zone which results in a photo advertisement that is utilized as a photo check-in for the user. In another embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. In another embodiment, photo advertisements are created by users and stored for subsequent use in serving ad requests. | 05-17-2012 |
20120135716 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSOCIATING CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION AND A CONTACT ENTRY WITH A COMMUNICATION ORIGINATING FROM A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION - Disclosed herein are methods and systems for associating contextual information with data identifying a geographic location. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication originating from the geographic location may be received at a computing device. In response to receiving the communication originating from the geographic location, the contextual information may be presented to the user. | 05-31-2012 |
20120135718 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INITIATING COMMUNICATIONS WITH CONTACTS BASED ON A COMMUNICATION SPECIFICATION - Disclosed herein are methods and systems for initiating communications with contacts based on a communication specification. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving a communication specification. The communication specification may include identification of one or more contacts, a communication persistence parameter, a geographic location, an event, a date, and a communication channel. The method may also include determining one or more contacts based on the communication specification. Further, the method may include initiating multiple communications with the contacts via at least one communication channel. A communication channel may be a telephone call, an email, a text message, an instant message, and the like. | 05-31-2012 |
20120206472 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUGGESTING A PAUSE POSITION WITHIN ELECTRONIC TEXT - Systems and methods for suggesting a pause position within electronic text are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving identification of a current user position within electronic text residing on an electronic device. For example, a current user position may be a page of an e-book that is currently being displayed to a reader or user. The method may include determining a suggested pause position within the electronic text based on the current user position. For example, the suggested pause position may be determined based on the reader's profile, a reading behavior of other readers, metadata, or combinations thereof. The method may also include presenting the suggested pause position on a user interface of the electronic device. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207294 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING A CALLEE AND A CALLER IN ESTABLISHING TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATIONS - Systems and methods are disclosed to assist a caller and a callee in establishing successful telephonic communications. In embodiments of the systems and methods, a telephonic call set-up network node or a callee user device of the callee may receive a call set-up request to establish a telephonic call between the caller user device of the caller and the callee user device. If the call-set up request is determined to be unsuccessful, one or more proximate user devices nearby the callee user device may be identified. Another telephonic call may be induced, this time between the caller user device and one of the proximate user devices identified to be nearby the callee user device. In this manner, success telephonic communications may be established despite the callee not being able to answer the callee user device during the original telephonic call set-up request. | 08-16-2012 |
20120208559 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING DESTINATION INFORMATION FROM PROXIMATE DEVICES BASED ON TIME AND HEADING INFORMATION - Methods and systems of operating a personal navigation device (PND) are disclosed. In particular, the methods and systems allow for the PND to obtain location data for each of one or more destinations from a destination source device over a wireless network link. In one embodiment, the destination source device is a server computer on a network or a mobile communications device (MCD) that is in proximity with the PND. | 08-16-2012 |
20120209910 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING RELATIONSHIP INFORMATION FROM A SOCIAL NETWORK TO ENABLE MOBILE DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS IN A PRIVACY ENHANCED NETWORK - This disclosure relates to systems and methods of operating a mobile communications device (MCD) associated with a user utilizing social relationships defined on a social network. In one embodiment, the MCD detects other MCDs that are in proximity with the MCD. A determination may then be made that indicates which of the users associated with the other MCDs have a defined affinity with the user of the MCD on the social network. As a result of the determination, the MCD may then communicate over wireless local area networking links with the other MCDs. | 08-16-2012 |
20120210203 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING A CONTENT SUMMARY OF A MEDIA ITEM TO A USER BASED ON A POSITION WITHIN THE MEDIA ITEM - Systems and methods for presenting a content summary of a media item to a user based on a position within the media item are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving identification of a position within a media item residing on an electronic device. For example, the identified position may be a bookmarked position within an e-book residing on an e-book reader. The method may also include generating a content summary for a portion of the media item based on the identified position. For example, an electronic device may dynamically generate a content summary based on content of the e-book that precedes a bookmarked position. The method may also include presenting the content summary to a user of the electronic device. For example, a display of an electronic device may be controlled to present a content summary to a reader of an e-book. | 08-16-2012 |
20130005360 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED LOCATION-BASED WIDGETS - Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, a mobile device obtains a list of applications associated with a current or anticipated location of the mobile device from a centralized or distributed application service. One or more desired applications to be activated are either manually or automatically selected from the list of applications associated with the current location or the anticipated location of the mobile device. The mobile device then activates the one or more desired applications. Optionally, for each desired application that has been activated, the desired application may be deactivated once one or more deactivation criteria are satisfied. | 01-03-2013 |
20130165155 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSOCIATING COMMUNICATION INFORMATION WITH A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION-AWARE CONTACT ENTRY - Disclosed herein are systems and methods for associating communication information with a geographic location-aware contact entry. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include identifying a geographic location. The method may also include receiving a communication including identification information and originating from the geographic location. Further, the method may include associating the identification information with a contact entry. | 06-27-2013 |
20130223821 | System And Method For Distributed Trick Play Resolution Using User Preferences - Distributed trick play resolution in a distributed video viewing group network includes determining trick play preferences for each of a plurality of peer nodes in the distributed video viewing group network with respect to a video item. Conflicting trick play preferences between the peer nodes is determined based on one or more of a group consisting of: user rankings, user voting, trick play ranking, and owner resolution. The determined conflicting trick play preferences are resolved. | 08-29-2013 |
20130227401 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING A CONTENT SUMMARY OF A MEDIA ITEM TO A UESR BASED ON A POSITION WITHIN THE MEDIA ITEM - Systems and methods for presenting a content summary of a media item to a user based on a position within the media item are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving identification of a position within a media item residing on an electronic device. For example, the identified position may be a bookmarked position within an e-book residing on an e-book reader. The method may also include generating a content summary for a portion of the media item based on the identified position. For example, an electronic device may dynamically generate a content summary based on content of the e-book that precedes a bookmarked position. The method may also include presenting the content summary to a user of the electronic device. For example, a display of an electronic device may be controlled to present a content summary to a reader of an e-book. | 08-29-2013 |
20130232566 | COLLABORATIVE FIREWALL FOR A DISTRIBUTED VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - A virtual environment firewall receives a message having a request from a virtual environment entity intended for a virtual environment controller. The virtual environment firewall determines whether the request complies with one or more governance rules of the virtual environment controller. If the request does not comply with the one or more governance rules, the virtual environment firewall processes the message to prevent the request from being processed by the virtual environment controller. | 09-05-2013 |
20130340014 | Home Theater Component For A Virtualized Home Theater System - The present disclosure relates to a Wide Area Network (WAN) based home theater system. In one embodiment, a home theater at a subscriber premises includes multiple home theater components, which include multiple audio playback components and a video playback component. Each home theater component is enabled to receive data from and send data to a virtualized home theater service via a WAN. In operation, each home theater component receives an appropriate media content stream for the home theater component from the virtualized home theater service via the WAN and provides playback of the media content stream according to the absolute playback timestamps for the media content stream. | 12-19-2013 |
20130346220 | User Generated Photo Ads Used As Status Updates - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and utilizing photo advertisements (“ads”). In one embodiment, a photo advertisement is posted as a status update for a user via a social networking service. A plurality of filler images representing one or more participants is associated with a photo ad template having one or more photo wells. A photo advertisement based on the photo ad template is generated by an electronic device such that the associated plurality of filler images are inserted into the one or more photo wells in the photo ad template. A status update that includes the photo advertisement for presentation with the status update is initiated responsive to generating the photo advertisement. | 12-26-2013 |
20140073359 | System And Method For Automated Location-Based Widgets - Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, location-based application service obtains a current location of a mobile device and determines whether the current location of the mobile device is associated with one of a plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with an establishment. An application identifier associated with the plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with the establishment is provided based on the determination, where the application identifier at least one of identifies an application for the mobile device to activate and references a remote source for the mobile device to obtain the application. | 03-13-2014 |
20140223468 | Preview-Based Content Monitoring And Blocking System - Systems and devices are disclosed for monitoring and controlling usage of media content by blocking usage of media segments. In one embodiment, usage data defining usage, or consumption, of the media content is obtained. A pattern in media segments in the media content based on the usage data is detected when the media segments satisfy at least one defined criterion and are consumed at least a predefined threshold amount. Usage of at least one of the media segments is blocked. In one embodiment, one or more additional media segments accessible to the one or more media devices that are similar to the at least one of the one or more media segments for which usage is blocked at the one or more media devices is identified. Usage of at least one of the one or more additional media segments at the one or more media devices is blocked. | 08-07-2014 |
20140235277 | Crowd Formation Based On Wireless Context Information - Systems and methods are disclosed for forming crowds of users based on wireless contexts of corresponding mobile devices of the users. In general, wireless contexts of mobile devices of a number of users are obtained. For each mobile device, the wireless context of the mobile device includes a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) context of the mobile device, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) context of the mobile device, or both. The wireless contexts of the mobile devices of the users are then utilized to form crowds of users. More specifically, in one embodiment, users of mobile devices having sufficiently similar wireless contexts are determined to be in the same crowd of users. | 08-21-2014 |
20140310805 | Gesture-to-Password Translation - Systems and methods related to advanced user experiences and interactions with devices are disclosed, specifically, for translating gesture inputs to text manipulation actions to facilitate password input on mobile devices. In one embodiment, a device detects the presence of a password input field on a user interface; receives user inputs from means such as a touchscreen; recognizes gestures based on the user inputs; determines text manipulation actions associated with recognized gestures; and applies the determined text manipulation actions to the contents of the password input field for each recognized gesture. | 10-16-2014 |
20140341378 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR SCRAMBLED COMMUNICATION OF DATA TO, FROM, OR OVER A MEDIUM - The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable medium for scrambled communication of data to, from, or over a medium. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating data in scrambled form to or over a medium. The method includes receiving analog or digital data to be transmitted to or over a medium. The method further includes modulating samples representing at least signal using the analog or digital data to produce data modulated signal samples. The method further includes scrambling the data modulated signal samples using a predetermined scrambling algorithm. The method further includes transmitting the scrambled data modulated signal samples to or over the medium. The method further includes descrambling samples received from the medium using the inverse of the predetermined scrambling algorithm to obtain the unscrambled modulated signal samples, which can then be demodulated to retrieve original data. | 11-20-2014 |
20140349679 | Modifying A User's Contribution To An Aggregate Profile Based On Time Between Location Updates And External Events - A server that obtains current locations of a plurality of mobile devices and compute confidence levels for the current locations is provided. In one embodiment, the server obtains current locations of the plurality of mobile devices. A crowd is formed based on at least a subset of the plurality of mobile devices and crowd data regarding the crowd is generated. A confidence level of the current location of at least one of the plurality of mobile devices is computed based on an amount of time since a location update for the current location of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices was received. The confidence level of the current location of the at least one mobile device is utilized to perform an action associated with the crowd data. | 11-27-2014 |
20150023654 | System And Method For Distributed Trick Play Resolution Using User Preferences - Distributed trick play resolution in a distributed video viewing group network includes determining trick play preferences for each device of a plurality of nodes in the distributed video viewing group network with respect to a video item. Conflicting trick play preferences between the nodes is determined based on one or more of a group consisting of: user rankings, user voting, trick play ranking, and owner resolution. The determined conflicting trick play preferences are resolved. | 01-22-2015 |
20150074214 | Status Update Propagation Based On Crowd Or POI Similarity - Systems and methods are provided for following status updates of users. In one embodiment, a requestor selects a Point of Interest (POI). In response, one or more POIs that match the selected POI to at least a predefined threshold degree are identified. Status updates sent by users located at one or more POIs of the one or more matching POIs are delivered to the requestor. | 03-12-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090037822 | CONTEXT-AWARE SHARED CONTENT REPRESENTATIONS - Systems and methods for providing context-aware content representations are disclosed. In general, the context-aware content representations are visual representations presented in association with a content representation host representative of a user or, alternatively, some other entity. The context-aware content representations are indicative of content made accessible by the user or of interest to the user and are additionally influenced by context. The context may be, for example, topics of social interactions such as text-based or voice-based conversations, device information descriptive of a device on which the accessible content is stored or through which the content is accessible, physical location, location within a virtual world, content access information related to content accessed by the user or entity represented by the content representation host or accessed by another user through the content representation host, or the like. | 02-05-2009 |
20090265737 | PUBLISHING KEY FRAMES OF A VIDEO CONTENT ITEM BEING VIEWED BY A FIRST USER TO ONE OR MORE SECOND USERS - Systems and methods for obtaining key frames of video content items being viewed by first users and publishing the key frames of the video content items to second users are provided. In general, either prior to playback of a video content item by a first user or during playback of the video content item by the first user, key frame information providing, referencing, or identifying key frames of the video content item is obtained. Each key frame is representative of a segment of the video content item. The key frame information for the video content item is then published such that each key frame is presented to one or more second users while the first user views the corresponding segment of the video content item. | 10-22-2009 |
20090288112 | INSERTING ADVANCE CONTENT ALERTS INTO A MEDIA ITEM DURING PLAYBACK - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing advance content alerts during playback of a media item. In one embodiment, advance content alerts are inserted into the media item during playback. In general, while playing a media item, the media player identifies upcoming content for which the user desires an advance content alert. In response, the media player generates an advance content alert and inserts the advance content alert into the media item during playback. The user may then take an action in response to the advance content alert. In one embodiment, the user may provide input via a remote control of the media player or a mobile device registered with the media player in order to cause a desired action to be taken by the media player in response to the advance content alert. | 11-19-2009 |
20090288131 | PROVIDING ADVANCE CONTENT ALERTS TO A MOBILE DEVICE DURING PLAYBACK OF A MEDIA ITEM - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing advance content alerts during playback of a media item. In one embodiment, the advance content alerts are provided to a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone, of an associated user. More specifically, a user registers his or her mobile device with a media player and configures the types of content for which the user would like to receive advance content alerts. Thereafter, during playback of a media item, the media player identifies upcoming content for which the user desires an advance content alert. In response, the media player generates an advance content alert and sends the advance content alert to the mobile device of the user via, for example, a local wireless communication link. | 11-19-2009 |
20090292819 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE SEGMENT PREFETCHING OF STREAMING MEDIA - Systems and methods are provided for obtaining look-ahead segments for a streaming media item during playback such that the viewer can easily skip to the look-ahead segments without experiencing any substantial interruption or delay in playback. In general, a streaming media source begins streaming a media item to a streaming media client for playback. In one embodiment, the streaming media client selects one or more segments of the media item as one or more look-ahead segments to prefetch from the streaming media source. Then, while the media item is being streamed to the streaming media client for playback, the streaming media client prefetches the one or more look-ahead segments of the media item from the streaming media source. The look-ahead segments are thereafter utilized to enable the viewer to skip ahead in playback without experiencing a substantial interruption or delay in playback. | 11-26-2009 |
20100017474 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLAYBACK POSITIONING OF DISTRIBUTED MEDIA CO-VIEWERS - Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining and presenting information to a user playing a media item identifying playback positions of a number of other users also playing the media item. In one embodiment, a first user begins playback of a media item. Information identifying playback positions of a number of second users also playing the media item is obtained from a playback information broker and presented to the first user. The first user may then provide user input identifying a desired action to take with respect to one or more of the second users. In response, the desired action is effected. | 01-21-2010 |
20130061263 | Publishing Key Frames Of A Video Content Item Being Viewed By A First User To One Or More Second Users - Systems and methods for obtaining key frames of video content items being viewed by first users and publishing the key frames of the video content items to second users are provided. In general, either prior to playback of a video content item by a first user or during playback of the video content item by the first user, key frame information providing, referencing, or identifying key frames of the video content item is obtained. Each key frame is representative of a segment of the video content item. The key frame information for the video content item is then published such that each key frame is presented to one or more second users while the first user views the corresponding segment of the video content item. | 03-07-2013 |
20140033039 | System And Method For Playback Positioning Of Distributed Media Co-Viewers - Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining and presenting information to a user playing a media item identifying playback positions of a number of other users also playing the media item. In one embodiment, playback information is maintained for each of a plurality of users, the playback information identifying a media item being played by the user and information identifying a playback position of the user in playback of the media item. The playback information is filtered automatically in response to one or more user provided criteria thereby resulting in playback information for each of a subset of users from the plurality of users. Playback information is provided to a user device, the playback information for one or more second users of the subset of users playing a select media item such that the playback information for the one or more second users is presented to the first user. | 01-30-2014 |
20140366075 | Publishing Key Frames Of A Video Content Item Being Viewed By A First User To One Or More Second Viewers - A device receives key frame information for each of a plurality of key frames of a video content item and sends the key frame information from the device to a recipient while a corresponding segment of the video content item is being rendered by the device. The key frame information may include key frames of the video content item, references to the key frames of the video content item stored by one or more remote sources, or information identifying the key frames of the video content item to enable extraction of the key frames by a recipient device. Each key frame is representative of a segment of the video content item. The key frame information for the video content item is then sent to second users while the first user views the corresponding segment of the video content item. Advertisements may be sent with, or replace, the key frame information. | 12-11-2014 |