Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dang Van Tran

Praveen Kashyap

Toshiro Ozawa

Yingnan Zhu

Andrew Shelansky

Esther Zheng

Xing Zheng

Fabio M Gava

Daniel P Gicklhorn

Jaffar Khoshgozaran

Sun Hong Ahn

Richard Whitney

Fei Xie

Jason Rowe

Stephane Haziza

Michael Lovelace

Andrew R Shelansky

Fabio Gava

A method and system for multi-user, multi-device content access metering and control is provided. In one embodiment, a system implements a method such that in response to user login requests, the system controls login access by providing multiple users login access to plural electronic devices capable of communicating via a communication system. Further, in response to user content access actions, the system controls access to content by selectively providing content to said one or more users via said one or more electronic devices based on content access policies.

Method and system for multi-user, multi-device login and content access control and metering and blocking

Methods and systems for determining and utilizing spatial correlative information relating to two or more devices to determine device positioning are described. Using audio signals emitted from stereo speakers, for example, associated with a first device and a microphone associated with the second device, the distance and angle between the two devices and as their relative positions can be determined. No other sensors or specialized accessories are needed on either device to calculate the distance and angles. The devices need only be loaded with the appropriate software which, when executed, is able to carry out steps of the present invention. The usefulness of one or both of the devices may be enhanced by knowing the distance and angle data between the devices. For example, one device may be a TV having stereo speakers and the other device may be a handheld device, such as a smartphone, having a microphone.

Position determination of devices using stereo audio

Embodiments of keyframe analysis and distribution from broadcast television are disclosed. For example, embodiments include methods and systems of sharing video frame data over a data network to provide features that may include improved program guides, parental or other monitoring of televisions or other video receivers, and sharing of user identified frames or scenes of video programs.

System and method for keyframe analysis and distribution from broadcast television

Multiple user, multiple login access to electronic devices in a communication system is provided. In response to user login requests, login access is controlled by providing multiple users login access to plural electronic devices capable of communicating via the communication system. Each electronic device allows multiple users to be logged on or logged off the electronic device concurrently. User profiles and activity are shared between the plural electronic devices.

Method and system for providing users login access to multiple devices via a communication system

A method includes retrieving content playing or to be played by a full-app and/or a micro-app. Additional context information is determined for the content. The content is augmented with the additional context information. The augmented context information is sent to a first micro-app for use in retrieving additional content to play or display along with the content.

Middle partners

A system and method for dynamically changing the display parameters of a display device. The system includes a server that obtains information about display content, environmental factors and user preferences affecting the display device. This information is used to generate initial display parameters which can be downloaded to the display device. The display device can use the initial display parameters to select final display parameters based upon sensed real-time information about the display device, the user preferences and environmental factors affecting the display device.

Video entertainment picture quality adjustment

Embodiments include systems and methods for user login to a multimedia system. In one embodiment, a method of logging in one or more user profiles on a multimedia system includes associating one or more actuation sequences of one or more buttons on a remote control device each with a user profile, each user profile having one or more characteristics for outputting multimedia content, the characteristics affecting multimedia content provided by a multimedia system to personalize the user's multimedia experience, communicating a first signal corresponding to one of the one or more actuation sequences from the remote control device to a multimedia system to identify a first user profile for login, logging in the first user profile as an active user profile on the multimedia system based on the first signal, and controlling multimedia content provided to an output system of the multimedia system based on the active user profile.

System and method for user login to a multimedia system using a remote control

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for enhancing full-app content playing on a first device, the method comprising: receiving a first selection of a first item from a first micro-app; receiving a second selection of a second item from a second micro-app, wherein the second micro-app is different than the first micro-app and the second selection is in a different format than the first selection; retrieving item context information regarding the first item; retrieving item context information regarding the second item; issuing a query to a micro-app partner based upon both the item context information regarding the first item and the item context information regarding the second item; receiving results from the micro-app partner; and causing at least a portion of the results to be displayed or played.

Multi-user discovery

Various disclosed embodiments included systems and methods which allow two persons in different locations to enjoy a synchronized and shared viewing experience of original content that has been edited differently for broadcast in each location. Closed captioning text data to identify synchronization points in the broadcasts and used to provide synchronization services between the two broadcasts.

System and method for real-time video content sharing with synchronization via closed-caption metadata

A system and method of maintaining login state information is disclosed. In one embodiment a system comprises a memory configured to store login state information, a camera configured to capture an image, and a processor configured to determine, based at least in part on the image data, a location of a central object associated with the user, to determine, based at least in part on the image data, a location of a satellite object associated with the central object, to determine, based at least in part on the location of the central object and the location of the satellite objection, an angle, and to modify, based at least in part on the angle, the login state information to indicate that the user has logged in.

System and method for logging in multiple users to a consumer electronics device by detecting gestures with a sensory device

Systems and method which allow for user interaction with and control of televisions and other media device are disclosed. A television set is provided with a face and/or palm detection device configured to identify faces and/or palms and map them into coordinates. The mapped coordinates may be translated into data inputs which may be used to interact with applications related to the television. In some embodiments, multiple faces and/or palms may be detected and inputs may be received from each of them. The inputs received by mapping the coordinates may include inputs for interactive television programs in which viewers are asked to vote or rank some aspect of the program.

System and method for interacting with a media device using faces and palms of video display viewers

Usage of televisions or other media devices is controlled, including controlling access to content on such devices. Access to multimedia content is controlled. Multimedia content to be accessed is identified, a viewer of the content is identified, data for the identified viewer that specifies a usage quota associated with the viewer and a usage rate associated with the viewer for the content is accessed, and the content to the viewer based on the usage quota and usage rate data is provided.

System and method for control of television usage

Systems and method which allow for control of televisions and other media device are disclosed. A television set is provided with a gesture capture device configured to receive a gesture input directed to at least one of a plurality of predefined areas related to the television set. The television set further includes a user interaction interface configured to generate data indicative of the gesture input directed toward the at least one of the predefined areas and control the television based at least in part on the generated data.

System and method for television control using hand gestures

A method and system for presenting TV channels to a viewer is provided. One or more channel lists are generated based on selection criteria. The channel shuffle scanning is performed by presenting per channel content to a viewer from a channel list, for user viewing within a pre-selected period of time until the viewer picks a channel.

Growing community of inventors

Laguna Niguel, CA, United States of America

Dang Van Tran