Dish Network LLC

Echostar Technologies Corporation

Dish Technologies L.l.c.

Other

Yunfeng Yang

Mark Templeman

Seth Byerley

Gowtham Ram Ramkumar

Mark John Sokald

John D Barbieri

John Huynh

Jason Paul Carlson

John S Todd

Steven Michael Casagrande

Danny Jean Minnick

Germar Schaefer

William Joseph Ivanich

Bin Xu

Kranti Kilaru

Manuel Novoa, Iii

John D Hamrick, Jr

Michael Cavanaugh

Jay P Carlson

XinHua Yang

Rui Ding

Denise Carlson-Todd

Dan J Minnick

Robert F Percival

Mi Chen

Dan Minnick

Manuel Iii Novoa

John D Hamrick

John D Hamrick Jr

Iii Manuel Novoa

Methods and systems for utilizing satellite signals to dynamically adjust how content receivers store log data to diagnose errors. A content distributor selects content receivers having at least one error in an error group and selects an error-logging level to diagnose the at least one error in the selected content receivers based on the error group. The content distributor selects a key-value pair for the error-logging level and generate metadata that identifies the selected content receivers and the key-value pair. The content distributor then transmits a satellite signal with the metadata to the selected content receivers. Each selected content receiver receives the satellite signal with the metadata. The content receivers extract the metadata from the satellite signal and determines the key-value pair from the extracted metadata. The content receivers then set the error-logging level based on the key-value pair and store logs of operational data based to the error-logging level.

Dynamic utilization of satellite signal metadata to control error log tracking of content receivers

Improved technical functionality is provided to dynamically select and seamlessly play advertisements immediately before playing of a recorded program upon selection of the recorded program for playing, or upon other detected events and conditions associated with the set-top-box (STB) or user. In some embodiments, this is performed by using metadata which may be delivered to and stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) prior to recording the program, providing a technical solution to enable opportunities for additional advertisement impressions. Playing of the advertisement may also or instead occur upon the recorded program finishing playing. Thus, the technical solution provides the additional opportunity for the content creator and/or the satellite television or cable service provider to sell advertising spots in addition to those already sold for breaks within the recorded program.

Systems and methods for selecting and restricting playing of media assets stored on a digital video recorder

Systems and methods for playing media assets stored on a digital video recorder based on a determined beginning of a recorded program

Systems, devices, and process described facilitate use of a first user device communicatively coupled to a local area network (LAN) The first user device may include a first hardware processor configured to execute first, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a first seamless DVR engine configured to identify a first content. A second user device is also coupled to the LAN. The second user device may include a second hardware processor configured to execute second, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a second seamless DVR configured to identify a second content. Each of the seamless DVR engines may be configured to generate a common universal directory identifying the first content and the second content as being available for use by each of the first user device and the second user device. User devices may independently populate the common universal directory. The universal directory may identify a distinct status for the content.

Seamless DVRs

According to principles of the disclosure, audio/video programs are dynamically and concurrently displayed to a user in a first window and a second window ('picture-in-picture display') based on the user's identified demographic characteristics. At least one of the audio/video programs is previously transmitted and saved to a memory of a set-top box and is loaded for display on demand. By storing a plurality of content with relevance to the user locally, the system may rapidly respond to breaks in an audio/video program the user is watching by initiating picture-in-picture display. The audio/video programs displayed in the first window and second window may be advertisements or any other audio/video program suitable for display.

Using picture-in-picture window to play content when needed

According to principles of the disclosure, additional information about a subject of interest appearing in an audio/video program is conveyed to a user. The user, interacting with various features of a control device, provides one or more commands to a computing device acting as a source for audio/video content. The one or more command is interpreted by the computing device to identify the user's subject of interest. Once the user's subject of interest is determined, an appropriate database is searched for additional information about the subject of interest. Search results are processed and conveyed to the user through a display, speaker, or other appropriate means.

Smart content search from audio/video captures while watching tv content itself

Systems and methods for efficient processing and presentation of advertisement based on content re-encoding are provided. An example method includes receiving, by a receiving device, the program content stream and determining, by the receiving device, encoding information of the program content stream. The example method also includes determining timing for presenting a target advertisement, responsive to determining the timing for presenting the target advertisement, initiating re-encoding of content of the target advertisement to generate re-encoded advertisement content based on the encoding information, and enabling playback of the re-encoded advertisement content in accordance with the timing for presenting the target advertisement.

Systems and methods for efficient processing and presentation of advertisement based on content re-encoding

Various embodiments of apparatus, systems and/or methods are described for independently controlling an audio stream relative to a video stream in audio trick mode. In one example, an audio stream and a video stream is received, where the audio stream comprises frames that correspond to corresponding frames of the video stream. The audio and video streams are played from a first time to a second time at a first speed. An input to time shift the audio stream independent of the video stream is received, and after receiving such, the audio stream is time shifted to the first time. Then, the audio stream may be re-played from the first time to the second time at a second speed different from the first speed.

Audio trick mode

Systems and methods for playing media assets stored on a digital video recorder

Devices, systems, and processes for facilitating seamless use of tuners across multiple devices within a LAN are described and may include use of a first user device, communicatively coupled to the LAN, that includes a first hardware processor configured to execute first, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a first seamless tuner engine configured to identify at least one first tuner. A second user device, communicatively coupled to the LAN, may include a second hardware processor configured to execute second, non-transient, computer instructions for facilitating a second seamless tuner configured to identify at least one second tuner. At least one of, if not each, of seamless tuner engines may be configured to generate a universal tuner directory identifying availability of each the tuners. The universal tuner directory may be populated and tuners allocated based upon an emergency broadcast, auto-tune, PPV, original content, re-run, or Joey request type.

Devices, systems and processes for facilitating seamless use of tuners across multiple devices within a local area network

Devices, systems, and processes are described for seamless use of timers across multiple user devices on a LAN. A system may include a first user device, communicatively coupled to the LAN, having at least one first tuner and a first hardware processor configured for facilitating a first timer manager. A second user device communicatively coupled to the LAN may include at least one second tuner and a second hardware processor configured for facilitating a second timer manager. Each of the first timer manager and the second timer manager may be configured to populate a universal timer schedule that identifies at least one of a future availability and a future use for each of the at least one first tuner and the at least one second tuner. The universal timer schedule is populated based upon a request type, such as an auto-tune, PPV, original content, rerun, and a Joey request type.

Devices, systems and processes for facilitating seamless use of timers across multiple devices within a local area network

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, CO, United States of America

Yunfeng Yang