Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090217356 | Electronic permission slips for controlling access to multimedia content - An administrator controls viewer access to restricted multimedia programs using electronic permission slips. In response to a viewer's request to view a restricted multimedia program, the viewer may initiate the generation of an electronic permission slip that is sent to an electronic device associated with the administrator. The electronic permission slip may include text-based information, graphical information, audio information, and the like. The electronic permission slip may enable input of permission data regarding whether the viewer is allowed to receive the blocked program. In response to the administrator granting permission, a service provider network allows the viewer to access the restricted multimedia program. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222853 | Advertisement Replacement System - An advertisement replacement system monitors a multimedia stream containing digital television content and advertisements for indicators of objectionable advertisement content. Replacement content is substituted for all or part of an advertisement that has at least one indicator (or a threshold level) of objectionable content. Analysis of stored content may also be performed and stored objectionable content may be replaced with approved content. Blank screens, user-provided photographs, user-provided videos, advertiser-provided still images, and substitute advertisements are examples of replacement content. | 09-03-2009 |
20090282438 | Community Content Ratings System - Community content ratings are provided to users for one or more multimedia programs. The community content ratings are generated from appropriateness data collected from members of one or more community groups. The members of the community groups may be selected automatically based on stored profiles that include demographic data. Alternatively, community group membership may occur by choice and at the request of potential members. The community content ratings may be presented using appropriateness indicators (e.g., checkmarks or numerical scores) that are presented to a user in response to the user selecting the multimedia program from an electronic programming guide. | 11-12-2009 |
20090300671 | Controlling Access to Multimedia Content - A disclosed access control application and an associated method for managing access to multimedia content include enabling an administrator, e.g., a parent, to create a user account for a user, e.g., a child, and a password and a profile for the user account. The method further includes assigning an access level to the user and generating an initial set of content access indicator (CAIs) based on the access level. The initial CAI influences or determines the user's ability to access content associated with the access level. The method further includes modifying at least one of the CAIs in response to a request from the administrator. When a user subsequently send a navigation signal or command while the user account is active, the navigation signal is processed based at least in part on the CAIs to prevent the user from accessing content that the applicable CAI indicates as being restricted. | 12-03-2009 |
20090328093 | Multimedia Content Filtering - A disclosed method for facilitating automated and user-specific filtering of multimedia content includes a backend server receiving a content identifier from a user's multimedia handling device (MHD), e.g., a set top box. The content identifier indicates of a program of multimedia content (PMC) requested or otherwise desired by a user. The disclosed method includes identifying or otherwise locating an index file associated with the requested PMC. The index file includes data that indicates portions of the PMC containing potentially objectionable content. Content filtering (CF) settings associated with the user are retrieved or otherwise accessed. The CF settings define at least one type of content that is objectionable to the user. The CF settings are applied to the index file to identify a portion of the PMC containing content objectionable to the user. Content location information that indicates the identified portion of the PMC is then sent to the MHD. | 12-31-2009 |
20100162345 | DISTRIBUTED CONTENT ANALYSIS NETWORK - A distributed content analysis network uses the processing capabilities of customer-premises equipment as subordinate nodes for analyzing multimedia programs. A master node selects a program and identifies subordinate nodes that are available for analysis, which may include both nodes tuned to the program and idle nodes. The master node divides the program into segments for analysis and instructs each subordinate node to analyze a segment. The subordinate nodes then provide analysis results back to the master node, which may build a metadata profile for the program based on the analysis. | 06-24-2010 |
20100223660 | PROVIDING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT WITH TIME LIMIT RESTRICTIONS - Users are provided limited access to multimedia programs. An administrator may require users to log in to begin a multimedia distribution session (e.g., a television program viewing session). The administrator may designate that certain users may access multimedia content only for an allotted amount of time during an approved viewing period. The administrator may also designate that a maximum amount of rollover time is carried to a future tracking period if an allotted amount of viewing time is not fully used for any tracking period. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223673 | PROVIDING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT WITH ACCESS RESTRICTIONS - Users are provided limited access to multimedia programs. An administrator may require users to log in to begin a multimedia distribution session. Further, administrators may permit certain users to access selected multimedia programs only for a limited number of views. In addition, an administrator may designate that users have a limited amount of time or a limited period to exercise the limited number of views of the multimedia programs. For example, an administrator may designate that a user can access a multimedia program for a single view, that the user may take three hours to exercise the single view, and that the single view must take place within next three days. | 09-02-2010 |
20100333127 | Shared Multimedia Experience Including User Input - Systems provide shared multimedia content to a plurality of members of a collaboration group, request input related to the multimedia content from a portion of the plurality of members, modify the shared multimedia content to include an indication of a portion of the input, and provide the modified shared multimedia content to the plurality of members. The shared multimedia content may include a television program, a movie, or a real-time event. The requested input may include a prediction or a trivia answer related to the shared multimedia content. | 12-30-2010 |
20110010742 | ENHANCED NETWORK SEARCH - A set-top box (STB) suitable for use with a multimedia distribution network is also provided with a broadband network connection to a server operated by the multimedia provider. The server contains electronic programming guide (EPG) information, and provides a highly-functional search interface accessible by the STB. Under normal conditions, when a user attempts to search EPG data, the STB will access the search interface and provide results to the user. The STB also has the ability to detect the status of the broadband network connection. If the broadband network connection is in a disconnected state, the STB will provide a reduced-functionality localized EPG search. | 01-13-2011 |
20110151929 | SIMPLIFIED CONTROL INPUT TO A MOBILE DEVICE - A method and system for operating a mobile device includes interpreting a user-defined pattern detected by at least one of a touch interface and a motion sensor included with the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be interpreted as at least one of: a polygon, an ellipse, a curve, a line segment, an alphanumeric character, and a movement of the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be a two-dimensional pattern traced by the user on the touch interface. When the user-defined pattern is recognized, a wireless communication command may be executed by the mobile device. The wireless communication command may be a telephone command or a remote control command for a remote-controlled device. | 06-23-2011 |
20130091586 | Electronic Permission Slips for Controlling Access to Multimedia Content - An administrator controls viewer access to restricted multimedia programs using electronic permission slips. In response to a viewer's request to view a restricted multimedia program, the viewer may initiate the generation of an electronic permission slip that is sent to an electronic device associated with the administrator. The electronic permission slip may include text-based information, graphical information, audio information, and the like. The electronic permission slip may enable input of permission data regarding whether the viewer is allowed to receive the blocked program. In response to the administrator granting permission, a service provider network allows the viewer to access the restricted multimedia program. | 04-11-2013 |
20130312023 | DISTRIBUTED CONTENT ANALYSIS NETWORK - A distributed content analysis network uses the processing capabilities of customer-premises equipment as subordinate nodes for analyzing multimedia programs. A master node selects a program and identifies subordinate nodes that are available for analysis, which may include both nodes tuned to the program and idle nodes. The master node divides the program into segments for analysis and instructs each subordinate node to analyze a segment. The subordinate nodes then provide analysis results back to the master node, which may build a metadata profile for the program based on the analysis. | 11-21-2013 |
20150087367 | Shared Multimedia Experience Including User Input - Systems provide shared multimedia content to a plurality of members of a collaboration group, request input related to the multimedia content from a portion of the plurality of members, modify the shared multimedia content to include an indication of a portion of the input, and provide the modified shared multimedia content to the plurality of members. The shared multimedia content may include a television program, a movie, or a real-time event. The requested input may include a prediction or a trivia answer related to the shared multimedia content. | 03-26-2015 |