IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,341,697

Granted Patent B2

US 10,341,697 · App. 16/018,050 · Granted Jul 2, 2019

Method and system for remotely controlling consumer electronic devices

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,341,697
App. No.: 16/018,050
Granted: Jul 2, 2019
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.

Claims (76)

1. A method comprising:

accessing, at a media system, a sequence of media content;

accessing, at the media system, replacement media content, wherein the replacement media content is selected based on at least a portion of the sequence of media content; and

causing presentation of a displayed sequence of media content that includes at least a portion of the sequence of media content and at least a portion of the replacement media content, the presentation of the displayed sequence of media content including:

interrupting the at least the portion of the replacement media content by causing presentation of a further sequence of media content in response to a first request received during the presentation of the at least the portion of the replacement media content, the further sequence of media content being presented without presenting the replacement media content;

if a second request is received within a predetermined time of the first request, resuming presentation of the replacement media content in response to the second request; and

if the second request is received outside the predetermined time of the first request, presenting the sequence of media content responsive to the second request,

wherein the predetermined time is related to a duration of the replacement media content.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from a server system, a set of reference fingerprints;

after receiving the set of reference fingerprints, generating a comparison fingerprint from the sequence of media content;

performing a comparison of (i) the comparison fingerprint to (ii) respective reference fingerprints of the set of reference fingerprints; and

identifying, based on the comparison, the sequence of media content,

wherein the replacement media content is selected based on the identification of the at least the portion of the sequence of media content.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating an initial fingerprint from the sequence of media content;

sending an initial request, based on the initial fingerprint, for identification of the replacement media content to a server system; and

after sending the initial request, receiving a response comprising an indication of the replacement media content,

wherein the replacement media content indicated in the response to the initial request is selected by the server system based on the initial fingerprint.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting of the displayed sequence of media content comprises:

presenting, for a first period, the portion of the replacement media content without presenting the sequence of media content; and

presenting, for a second period, the portion of the sequence of media content without presenting the replacement media content.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first request comprises a request to change from a first channel to a second channel, and wherein the second request comprises a request to change back to the first channel.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, while causing the presentation of the further sequence of media content, continuing to advance the replacement media content.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the sequence of media content comprises receiving a plurality of sequences of media content, wherein the plurality of sequences of media content includes the sequence of media content and the further sequence of media content.

8. A media system, comprising:

memory storing one or more programs; and

one or more processors configured by the one or more programs to perform operations comprising:

accessing a sequence of media content;

accessing, at the media system, replacement media content, wherein the replacement media content is selected based on at least a portion of the sequence of media content; and

if a second request is received within a predetermined time of the first request, resuming presentation of the replacement media content in response to the second request; and

if the second request is received outside the predetermined time of the first request, presenting the sequence of media content responsive to the second request,

wherein the predetermined time is related to a duration of the replacement media content.

9. The media system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from a server system, a set of reference fingerprints;

after receiving the set of reference fingerprints, generating a comparison fingerprint from the sequence of media content;

performing a comparison of (i) the comparison fingerprint to (ii) respective reference fingerprints of the set of reference fingerprints; and

identifying, based on the comparison, the sequence of media content,

wherein the replacement media content is selected based on the identification of the at least the portion of the sequence of media content.

10. The media system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:

generating an initial fingerprint from the sequence of media content;

sending an initial request, based on the initial fingerprint, for identification of the replacement media content to a server system; and

after sending the initial request, receiving a response comprising an indication of the replacement media content,

wherein the replacement media content indicated in the response to the initial request is selected by the server system based on the initial fingerprint.

11. The media system of claim 8 , wherein presenting of the displayed sequence of media content comprises:

presenting, for a first period, the portion of the replacement media content without presenting the sequence of media content; and

presenting, for a second period, the portion of the sequence of media content without presenting the replacement media content.

12. The media system of claim 8 , wherein the first request comprises a request to change from a first channel to a second channel, and wherein the second request comprises a request to change back to the first channel.

13. The media system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise, while causing the presentation of the further sequence of media content, continuing to advance the replacement media content.

14. The media system of claim 8 , wherein accessing the sequence of media content comprises receiving a plurality of sequences of media content, wherein the plurality of sequences of media content includes the sequence of media content and the further sequence of media content.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions embodied thereon, which when executed by a media system with one or more processors, cause the media system to perform operations comprising:

accessing a sequence of media content;

accessing replacement media content, wherein the replacement media content is selected based on at least a portion of the sequence of media content; and

if a second request is received within a predetermined time of the first request, resuming presentation of the replacement media content in response to the second request; and

if the second request is received outside the predetermined time of the first request, presenting the sequence of media content responsive to the second request,

wherein the predetermined time is related to a duration of the replacement media content.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from a server system, a set of reference fingerprints;

after receiving the set of reference fingerprints, generating a comparison fingerprint from the sequence of media content;

performing a comparison of (i) the comparison fingerprint to (ii) respective reference fingerprints of the set of reference fingerprints; and

identifying, based on the comparison, the sequence of media content,

wherein the replacement media content is selected based on the identification of the at least the portion of the sequence of media content.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

generating an initial fingerprint from the sequence of media content;

sending an initial request, based on the initial fingerprint, for identification of the replacement media content to a server system; and

after sending the initial request, receiving a response comprising an indication of the replacement media content,

wherein the replacement media content indicated in the response to the initial request is selected by the server system based on the initial fingerprint.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein presenting of the displayed sequence of media content comprises:

presenting, for a first period, the portion of the replacement media content without presenting the sequence of media content; and

presenting, for a second period, the portion of the sequence of media content without presenting the replacement media content.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first request comprises a request to change from a first channel to a second channel, and wherein the second request comprises a request to change back to the first channel.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise, while causing the presentation of the further sequence of media content, continuing to advance the replacement media content.

Assignments (10)

SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2024

From: ROKU, INC.

To: CITIBANK, N.A.

Reel/Frame 068982/0377 →

RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023

From: CITIBANK, N.A.

To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC

Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →

RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023

From: CITIBANK, N.A.

To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC

Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →

TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (REEL/FRAME 056982/0194) Recorded Feb 22, 2023

From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.

To: ROKU, INC.; ROKU DX HOLDINGS, INC.

Reel/Frame 062826/0664 →

PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jun 29, 2021

From: ROKU, INC.

To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.

Reel/Frame 056982/0194 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2021

From: GRACENOTE, INC.

To: ROKU, INC.

Reel/Frame 056103/0786 →

PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2021

From: CITIBANK, N.A.

To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.

Reel/Frame 056973/0280 →

CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020

From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.

To: CITIBANK, N.A

Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020

From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.

To: CITIBANK, N.A.

Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2018

From: GORDON, DONALD F.

To: GRACENOTE, INC.

Reel/Frame 046197/0541 →