Edward A Skolarus

US Patent:

20170287250, Oct 5, 2017

Filed:

Apr 18, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/490678

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
David B. Wertheimer - Los Angeles, CA
Edward A. Skolarus - Manhattan Beach CA, US
William Bradford - Westlake Village CA, US
Matthew Moroz - Venice CA, US
Nicole H. Ruby - Los Angeles CA, US
Ori Nakar - Culver City CA, US
Bryan J. Gonzalez - Culver City CA, US

Assignee:

Fox Broadcasting Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

G07C 13/00
H04H 60/33

Abstract:

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for allocating and committing votes in a variety of voting paradigms is described. In one embodiment, the method describes a system applicable in a plurality of time zones and comprises determining if an allocation of at least a portion of N1 votes among one or more candidates is received from a first user via a first device during a first period, accepting and storing the allocation of votes, only if the allocation is received during the first period, receiving a user command committing the stored allocation of the N1 votes among the plurality of candidates, determining if the command is received during a second period, and committing the stored first user allocation of N1 votes among the one or more candidates only if the command is received during the second period.

US Patent:

20160191964, Jun 30, 2016

Filed:

Aug 12, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/912062

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
William K. Bradford - Westlake Village CA, US
Edward A. Skolarus - Manhattan Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Fox Broadcasting Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/254
H04N 21/2668
H04N 21/475
H04N 21/81
H04H 20/38
H04H 60/33

Abstract:

A system and method for generating or increasing viewership of a broadcast of an episode of a series by an affiliate to a plurality of receiver stations is disclosed. A live prefacing media program is transmitted to users within an affiliates market in such a way that does not conflict with the affiliate's exclusive right to transmit a media program within that market. The live prefacing media program includes media program clips from previous episodes of a series, and users can vote on their favorite media program clips. Such votes alter the content presented in the live prefacing media program. Transmission of the live prefacing media program terminates when the affiliates broadcast of the next episode of the series begins, thus encouraging or “throwing” viewers to view that episode.

US Patent:

20160007089, Jan 7, 2016

Filed:

Feb 28, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/771186

Inventors:

Joseph B. EARLEY - Los Angeles CA, US
David B. WERTHEIMER - Los Angeles CA, US
Edward SKOLARUS - Manhattan Beach CA, US
William BRADFORD - Westlake Village CA, US
Matthew MOROZ - Venice CA, US
Nicole H. RUBy - Los Angeles CA, US
Ori NAKAR - Culver City CA, US
Bryan J. GONZALEZ - Culver City CA, US
- Los Angeles CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 21/475
H04N 21/41

Abstract:

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for allocating and committing votes in a variety of voting paradigms is described. In one embodiment, the method describes a system applicable in a plurality of time zones and comprises determining if an allocation of at least a portion of N1 votes among one or more candidates is received from a first user via a first device during a first period, accepting and storing the allocation of votes, only if the allocation is received during the first period, receiving a user command committing the stored allocation of the N1 votes among the plurality of candidates, determining if the command is received during a second period, and committing the stored first user allocation of N1 votes among the one or more candidates only if the command is received during the second period.