Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090112930 | PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE - A process of displaying program information on a viewing screen may include: providing an electronic programming guide, the electronic program guide divided into timeslots containing program information; displaying program information from the displayed timeslots on a viewing screen; providing a link to additional information, the link associated with the program information of a particular timeslot; and displaying the additional information upon receiving a user input while displaying the program information of a particular timeslot. A related system may include: a client device configured to receive and display audio-visual programs; an electronic programming guide including a link to additional information associated with the program information of a particular timeslot; and a processor configured to display program information from the displayed timeslots on a viewing screen and to display the additional information on the viewing screen upon receiving a user input while the program information of the particular timeslot is displayed. | 04-30-2009 |
20100130141 | Account Tracking System - The present invention is directed to a system and method for identifying and responding to missing or absent receivers. The invention includes determining, at a particular receiver that is a member of a group of receivers, that one member of the group is currently or was at a particular time missing, absent or otherwise unresponsive. Embodiments of the invention are directed to notifying a service provider of a receiver status or absence, which, in response, may take one of a number of predetermined actions. | 05-27-2010 |
20100131968 | Account-Specific Encryption Key - One embodiment takes the form of a method and apparatus for creating a customer-specific encryption key for encrypting digital information. The encryption key may be based on a customer number and may be associated with several devices such that the devices may encrypt and decrypt the digital information. Because each device may have the same encryption key, the encrypted data may be encrypted by a first device, transferred from the first device to a second device and decrypted and read by the second device. Thus, encrypted digital information may be shared between devices that generate a customer-specific encryption key from a common customer number. In one embodiment, the customer-specific encryption key may be utilized by a set-top box of a television system to encrypt and decrypt a digitally recorded television program. | 05-27-2010 |
20100325649 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUDITING AUTHORIZATION OF A SERVICE USING DISPLAYED WATERMARKS - Auditing systems and methods detect access authorization of a media device for a service during an audit. An exemplary embodiment receives an audit trigger at a media device communicating the service to a media presentation device, determines whether the media device is authorized to communicate the service to the media presentation device, and communicates a security watermark from the media device to the media presentation device. The security watermark is displayed on a display of the media presentation device and indicates authorization to access the service to an auditor performing the audit. | 12-23-2010 |
20120137318 | Tracking User Interaction from a Receiving Device - Measuring and tracking user interaction with a television receiver, such as a set top box or cable box. The television receiver may create and display a matrix code that includes temporal information, user identification information, geographic information, and/or a user selection. The matrix code may be captured by a matrix reading device and transmitted to a monitoring entity. Optionally, the matrix reading device may decode the matrix code and transmit associated data to the monitoring entity. The monitoring entity may use the code or data to track and distinguish between user interactions at different points in time. | 05-31-2012 |
20120175416 | Performing Social Networking Functions Using Matrix Codes - A matrix code reader may detect a matrix code (such as a QR code), which may be displayed along with content and include information identifying the content. The matrix code reader may obtain user information associated with a social networking service and, based at least on the content information and the user information, may transmit an instruction to the social networking service to perform a social networking service function. The matrix code reader may obtain the user information and/or the instruction to perform the social networking service function from information included in the matrix code, from a non-transitory storage medium of the matrix code reader, from a user, and so on. In some implementations, the matrix code reader may determine that additional information or a confirmation to transmit the instructions is needed and may prompt a user for the additional information or confirmation. | 07-12-2012 |
20120215830 | Matrix Code for Use in Verification of Data Card Swap - A content receiver receives an update to a memory unit contained therein utilizing data stored in a data card inserted or incorporated into the content receiver. The content receiver dynamically generates a matrix code based on the updates received in the memory and on information uniquely identifying the content receiver. The matrix code is transmitted to a content display device for display, and a matrix code reader detects the displayed matrix code and transmits information contained within the matrix code to a content provider for updating a user's account associated with the updated content receiver. The content provider may transmit a message to the content receiver for display on the content display device indicating the update to the user's account. The content provider may transit a similar message to the matrix code reader. | 08-23-2012 |
20130068838 | PERFORMING SOCIAL NETWORKING FUNCTIONS USING MATRIX CODES - A matrix code reader may detect a matrix code (such as a QR code), which may be displayed along with content and include information identifying the content. The matrix code reader may obtain user information associated with a social networking service and, based at least on the content information and the user information, may transmit an instruction to the social networking service to perform a social networking service function. The matrix code reader may obtain the user information and/or the instruction to perform the social networking service function from information included in the matrix code, from a non-transitory storage medium of the matrix code reader, from a user, and so on. In some implementations, the matrix code reader may determine that additional information or a confirmation to transmit the instructions is needed and may prompt a user for the additional information or confirmation. | 03-21-2013 |
20140158762 | PERFORMING SOCIAL NETWORKING FUNCTIONS USING MATRIX CODES - A matrix code reader may detect a matrix code, which may be displayed along with content and include information identifying the content. The matrix code reader may obtain user information associated with a social networking service and, based at least on the content information and the user information, may transmit an instruction to the social networking service to perform a social networking service function. The matrix code reader may obtain the user information and/or the instruction to perform the social networking service function from information included in the matrix code, from a non-transitory storage medium of the matrix code reader, from a user, and so on. In some implementations, the matrix code reader may determine that additional information or a confirmation to transmit the instructions is needed and may prompt a user for the additional information or confirmation. | 06-12-2014 |
20140188590 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPON DISPENSING BASED ON MEDIA CONTENT VIEWING - The present disclosure relates to dispensing coupons to viewers of media content and in particular, providing coupons to an individual to buy the product just after having viewed a commercial or other media program featuring that product. | 07-03-2014 |
20140189733 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GATHERING AND USING GEOCODED INFORMATION FROM MOBILE DEVICES - Methods and apparatus for using geocoding information from a user's mobile device to determine program and advertising media content to deliver to the user. | 07-03-2014 |
20140189734 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO USE GEOCODING INFORMATION IN BROADCAST CONTENT - Methods and apparatus to acquire and use geocoding information included in broadcast content to enhance content presentation to the user. | 07-03-2014 |
20150026583 | MEDIA CONTENT BOARDS - A system, comprising a media device that includes a processor and a memory, is configured to receive from a first remote site a first set of data concerning a plurality of items of media content. Each of the plurality of items of media content is determined at the first remote site at least in part according to a descriptor provided from the first media device and data from a second remote site. The media device is configured to display a graphical user interface identifying each of the plurality of items of media content. | 01-22-2015 |