Christopher J Dow

US Patent:

7735104, Jun 8, 2010

Filed:

Mar 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/393599

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - Palo Alto CA, US
Bruce A. Garcia - San Jose CA, US
Adam Briggs - San Francisco CA, US
Tai-Ming Chen - Los Gatos CA, US
Chuang-Chun Liu - San Jose CA, US
Patrick M. Ellis - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

The DirecTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/10
H04N 5/445
G06F 13/00
G06F 3/00

US Classification:

725 52, 725 32, 725 37, 725 42, 386 45, 386 69, 386 70, 386125

Abstract:

Systems and methods for providing enhanced navigation of stored digital video content based upon a content-based index. Includes generation and storage of an index, as well as navigation based on the segments defined by the index. An example system is embodied in a digital video recorder that generates an index for locating commercial groups interleaved with program content in a video presentation recorded from a television broadcast. The commercial groups may be viewed without the intervening program content or otherwise navigated based upon information in the index and one or navigation functions. Example user interfaces and several navigation functions are also provided.

US Patent:

8155498, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/133184

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - Palo Alto CA, US
Bruce Garcia - San Jose CA, US
Adam Briggs - San Francisco CA, US
Tai-Ming Chen - Los Gatos CA, US
Chuang-Chun Liu - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/932
H04N 5/14
H04N 5/76
H04N 5/77
H04N 5/78
H04N 5/84
H04N 5/93
H04N 5/765
H04N 5/783
H04N 5/917
H04N 7/00
H04N 7/16
H04N 7/173
H04N 9/80
H04J 3/04
H04J 3/24
G06F 15/16
G11B 19/02
G11B 21/08

US Classification:

386221, 386200, 386225, 386241, 386247, 386250, 386251, 386280, 386293, 386314, 386329, 386334, 386346, 386356, 3482316, 348466, 348700, 360 69, 360 71, 360 722, 369 3007, 370474, 370535, 709231, 709246, 725 8, 725133, 726 32

Abstract:

Systems and methods for providing enhanced navigation of stored digital video content based upon an event index. Includes generation and storage of an event index, as well as navigation based on events in the event index. An example system is embodied in a digital video recorder that detects and stores black field and silent frame events for use in locating commercial groups. The commercial groups may be skipped or otherwise navigated based upon data pointers linking the stored events to corresponding locations in the video data file.

US Patent:

8561104, Oct 15, 2013

Filed:

Mar 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/436130

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - San Francisco CA, US
Eric Grab - San Diego CA, US
Walt Klappert - Los Angeles CA, US
Jim Theberge - Santa Clara CA, US
Paul T. Stathacopoulos - San Carlos CA, US

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/10
G06F 13/00
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 34, 725 46, 725110

Abstract:

Embodiments provide methods and systems for presenting advertisements associated with a particular media. The advertisement may have several versions, any one of which may be presented, based on several factors, including the length of time between transmission and receipt of any particular version. The transmission of the advertisements and related media content is optimize in order seamlessly transition between advertisements and media content.

US Patent:

20030202772, Oct 30, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/132968

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - Palo Alto CA, US
Adam Briggs - San Francisco CA, US
Jateen Parekh - San Francisco CA, US
Chris Coley - Morgan Hill CA, US
Tai-Ming Chen - Los Gatos CA, US
Chuang-Chun Liu - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

H04N005/76
H04N007/00

US Classification:

386/046000, 348/700000

Abstract:

Systems and methods for providing enhanced navigation of stored digital video content based upon an event index. Includes generation and storage of an event index, as well as navigation based on events in the event index. An example system is embodied in a digital video recorder that detects and stores black field and silent frame events for use in locating commercial groups. The commercial groups may be skipped or otherwise navigated based upon data pointers linking the stored events to corresponding locations in the video data file. Generation of the event index may involve comparing a luminance value for each frame to a luminance threshold value for a video presentation. The luminance threshold value may be based upon a transition point between a first group of luminance values corresponding to video content and a second group of luminance values corresponding to transition events, such as black fields.

US Patent:

20040190853, Sep 30, 2004

Filed:

Mar 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/396230

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - Palo Alto CA, US
Philippe Pignon - Palo Alto CA, US

International Classification:

H04N005/781

US Classification:

386/046000, 386/125000

Abstract:

The present invention provides for gathering and aggregating data related to the functionality of digital video recorders (DVRs) and transmitting updated instructions to the DVRs. During its operation, a DVR gathers data that is relevant to the detection of commercials such as luminance values, commercial patterns, and user input and stores this information in its internal storage. A central server receives updated instructions from administrators and generates new instructions in response to data aggregated from individual DVRs. The central sever transmits the updated instructions to remote DVRs.

US Patent:

20110125585, May 26, 2011

Filed:

Nov 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/623096

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - Palo Alto CA, US
Gevorg Gevorgyan - Glendale CA, US
Gareth White - Groveland MA, US

Assignee:

Rovi Technologies Corporation - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
G06F 17/30
G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 1466, 707769, 709217, 707E17014

Abstract:

A computer-implemented system and method for enabling content recommendation in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment includes: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; receiving user behavior information from a user platform via a clickstream processing system; processing the content information, using a data processor, to provide a searchable database of processed content information, the processed content information including a recommendation for processed content information that is likely of interest to a user based on the user behavior information received from the user platform; providing a service, accessible via the data network, to enable the user platform to request the recommendation for processed content information and to identify a selected content item; and directing at least one content source to provide the selected content item directly to the user platform.

US Patent:

20110125753, May 26, 2011

Filed:

Nov 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/622766

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - Palo Alto CA, US
Gevorg Gevorgyan - Glendale CA, US
Gareth White - Groveland MA, US

Assignee:

Rovi Technologies Corporation - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707740, 707E17033, 707749

Abstract:

A computer-implemented system and method for enabling data delivery in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment include: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; processing the content information, using a data processor, to associate particular items of content information with content catalogs; storing the processed content information into a database with information identifying associated content catalogs; and providing a service, accessible via the data network, to enable a user platform to search the processed content information in the database based on a content catalog identifier.

US Patent:

20110125774, May 26, 2011

Filed:

Nov 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/622787

Inventors:

Christopher Dow - Palo Alto CA, US
Gevorg Gevorgyan - Glendale CA, US
Gareth White - Groveland MA, US

Assignee:

Rovi Technologies Corporation - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30
H04N 5/445

US Classification:

707769, 725 39, 707E17108

Abstract:

A computer-implemented system and method for enabling content integration in a content browsing and recommendation system are disclosed. The system and method in an example embodiment includes: gathering available content information related to particular items of content from a plurality of content sources via a data network; processing the content information, using a data processor, to provide a searchable database of processed content information; providing a service, accessible via the data network, to enable a user platform to request a search of the processed content information and identify a selected content item; and directing at least one content source to provide the selected content item directly to the user platform.