Patrick George Downes

Title: Inventor Spotlight: Patrick George Downes

Introduction

Patrick George Downes is an innovative inventor based in San Diego, California. With an impressive portfolio of six patents, Downes has made significant contributions to the field of dynamic ad insertion and media playback technology. His work focuses on enhancing user experience through advanced watermarking techniques and content management systems.

Latest Patents

Downes' latest patents showcase his expertise in watermark-based dynamic ad insertion and content timeline tracking. One of his remarkable inventions is a watermark-based dynamic ad insertion technique that allows different advertisements to be presented to users based on their viewing profiles. This method addresses interoperability through a multiplexing technique that ensures DAI watermarks do not interfere with existing ones, such as ATSC 3.0 watermarks. Additionally, reliability and security are emphasized through matched filtering and mutual authentication techniques.

Another significant patent involves a system and method for tracking content timelines in media playback systems. This invention facilitates the replacement of content, like dynamic ad insertion, by tracking video watermarks from content streams. It utilizes a Detector Engine to extract essential data from video frames and tracks changes in playback rates caused by user interactions with digital video recorders (DVRs). This allows the playback of auxiliary content synchronized with the watermark timeline, even with non-linear playback rate changes, ensuring a seamless viewing experience.

Career Highlights

Downes has had a noteworthy career, working with Verance Corporation, where his innovations have contributed to advancements in the media technology sector. His experience in developing cutting-edge solutions has positioned him as a valuable asset in the field.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Patrick George Downes has collaborated closely with fellow innovators such as Rade Petrovic and Joseph M Winograd. Their joint efforts have led to the development of several impactful technologies in the realm of media and advertisement.

Conclusion

Patrick George Downes exemplifies the spirit of innovation through his significant contributions to dynamic ad insertion and media timeline management. His patents not only highlight his technical expertise but also his commitment to improving user experiences in content consumption. With a promising future ahead, Downes continues to be a key figure in shaping the evolution of media technologies.