IP Library Granted Patent US 10,880,593
Granted Patent B2
US 10,880,593 · App. 15/611,468 · Granted Dec 29, 2020

Methods and systems for content control

Inventor: Ross Gilson (Philadelphia, PA)
Assignee: Tivo Corporation
H04N21/4122H04N21/23406H04N21/23611H04N21/234345H04N21/234381H04N21/2401H04N21/242H04N21/4302H04N21/47202H04N21/8456H04N21/85406
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,880,593
App. No.
15/611,468
Granted
Dec 29, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices.

Claims (40)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

encode, based on an offset between a first content transmission associated with a first user device and a second content transmission associated with a second user device, at least a portion of the first content transmission at a playback speed, wherein the playback speed is based on one or more of a first buffer size estimate of the first user device or a second buffer size estimate of the second user device, wherein one or more of the first buffer size estimate or the second buffer size estimate is based on a previous request for content;

determine one or more error events associated with playback of the first content transmission at the playback speed;

encode, based on the one or more error events, the at least the portion of the first content transmission at another playback speed; and

cause, based on the another playback speed, the first user device to buffer at least another portion of the first content transmission to synchronize playback of the first content transmission to playback of the second content transmission.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more error events comprise an artificial buffering event.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to send an indication of the one or more error events to the first user device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to cause display of the synchronized first content transmission and second content transmission.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the previous request for the content comprises a request for the content at the playback speed.

6. A method comprising:

encoding, based on an offset between a first content transmission associated with a first user device and a second content transmission associated with a second user device, at least a portion of the first content transmission at a playback speed, wherein the playback speed is based on one or more of a first buffer size estimate of the first user device or a second buffer size estimate of the second user device, wherein one or more of the first buffer size estimate or the second buffer size estimate is based on a previous request for content;

determining one or more error events associated with playback of the first content transmission at the playback speed;

encoding, based on the one or more error events, the at least the portion of the first content transmission at another playback speed; and

causing, based on the another playback speed, the first user device to buffer at least another portion of the first content transmission to synchronize playback of the first content transmission to playback of the second content transmission.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising sending an indication of the one or more error events to the first user device.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more error events comprises an artificial buffering event.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising causing display of the synchronized first content transmission and second content transmission.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the previous request for the content comprises a request for the content at the playback speed.

11. A system comprising:

a first user device configured to:

receive a first content transmission;

a second user device configured to:

receive a second content transmission;

a computing device configured to:

encode, based on an offset between the first content transmission and the second content transmission, at least a portion of the first content transmission at a playback speed, wherein the playback speed is based on one or more of a first buffer size estimate of the first user device or a second buffer size estimate of the second user device, wherein one or more of the first buffer size estimate or the second buffer size estimate is based on a previous request for content,

determine one or more error events associated with playback of the first content transmission at the playback speed, and

encode, based on the one or more error events, the at least the portion of the first content transmission at another playback speed; and

wherein the first user device is further configured to:

buffer at least another portion of the first content transmission to synchronize playback of the first content transmission to playback of the second content transmission.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to send an indication of the one or more error events to the first user device.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first user device is further configured to receive the indication of the one or more error events.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more error events comprises an artificial buffering event.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the previous request for content comprises a request for the content at a playback speed that is different from the playback speed and the another playback speed.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more error events comprises one or more indications that one or more portions of the content are unavailable.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to generate data indicative of the one or more error events that causes one or more retransmissions of one or more portions of the first content transmission.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein one or more of first buffer size estimate of the first user device or the second buffer size estimate of the second user device is further based on an indication of a decreasing buffer size within a time window.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein one or more of first buffer size estimate of the first user device or the second buffer size estimate of the second user device is further based on an indication of an increasing buffer size within a time window.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the previous request for the content comprises a request for the content at the playback speed.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 31, 2026
From: ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC
To: ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 075303/0980 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: TIVO CORPORATION
To: TIVO LLC
Reel/Frame 069083/0240 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: TIVO LLC
To: ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 069083/0318 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2023
From: ADEIA GUIDES INC.; ADEIA IMAGING LLC; ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC; ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ADEIA SOLUTIONS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063529/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2020
From: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
To: TIVO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054588/0731 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2020
From: GILSON, ROSS
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053278/0529 →