公开(公告)号：US20230208901A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-29

申请号：US18171103

申请日：2023-02-17

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： MAX S. GRATTON ,  MATTHEW H. POLSON

IPC: H04L65/612 ,  H04L9/40 ,  H04L65/80

CPC classification number: H04L65/612 ,  H04L63/083 ,  H04L63/0853 ,  H04L65/80

Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the authentication of media player devices for media streaming. Specifically, the various embodiments provide a media player device authentication technique that monitors the locations of media player devices to determine a pattern of device co-location with a primary device. The media player devices can then be selectively designated as confirmed devices based on their determined pattern of device co-location with a primary media player device. Those media player devices that are designated as confirmed devices can then be selectively enabled for media streaming. Conversely, media player devices that are not designated as confirmed devices based on a pattern of co-location can be prevented from receiving media streams even when they have the correct login information and password.

公开(公告)号：US20230164384A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-25

申请号：US18157727

申请日：2023-01-20

Applicant: SLING TV L.L.C.

Inventor： R. Drew Major

IPC: H04N21/439 ,  H04N21/478 ,  H04N21/4722 ,  H04N21/422 ,  H04N21/81 ,  H04N21/24 ,  H04N21/462 ,  H04N21/442 ,  H04N21/41

CPC classification number: H04N21/4394 ,  H04N21/47815 ,  H04N21/4722 ,  H04N21/42224 ,  H04N21/42209 ,  H04N21/8173 ,  H04N21/2407 ,  H04N21/812 ,  H04N21/4622 ,  H04N21/44222 ,  H04N21/41265

Abstract: Advertisements in broadcast television programming are digitally replaced with different ads prior to viewing. Replacement can occur in time and/or place shifted content, and can be used to promote a particular advertisement that the viewer has not yet seen, thereby improving the reach of the ad without oversaturation. Data reporting by the playback devices is collected in a database of viewed ads. The information in the database can be used to refresh previously-viewed ads, to increase saturation of particular ads, to replace previously-broadcast but no longer relevant ads, or for other purposes as desired.

公开(公告)号：US20230156296A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-18

申请号：US18054477

申请日：2022-11-10

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel ,  Marc A. Paladino

IPC: H04N21/8355 ,  H04N21/442 ,  H04N21/472

CPC classification number: H04N21/8355 ,  H04N21/44204 ,  H04N21/47211

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for permitting and restricting access to multimedia items based on temporal restrictions associated with certain subscription levels. The subscriptions may be subscriptions to broadcast/satellite television programming and/or Internet-streaming services. The temporal limitations on the subscription may be based on days of the week, time of day, and/or particular types of content that air at certain times. For example, one subscription type may be a weekend-only subscription that permits a user to access certain multimedia items on the weekend but restricts access to those same multimedia items during the week. A machine-learning model that is trained on a user's past viewing history is also disclosed. The system may rely on the machine-learning model to present certain relevant restricted multimedia items to the user that the user can access if the user, e.g., upgrades a subscription and/or remits a one-time fee.

公开(公告)号：US20210329053A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-21

申请号：US16854493

申请日：2020-04-21

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel

IPC: H04L29/06

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for multimodal transition among devices connected to a plurality of different networks. A device may be presenting a multimedia item in a first mode (e.g., an audiovisual mode) on a first device. A transition event may occur, prompting the systems and methods described herein to initiate a transition request to transition the multimedia item from a first device to a second device. The second device may be analyzed to determine the constraints of the device (e.g., storage, hardware/software, connectivity strength, etc.). The first mode of the multimedia item may also be analyzed. Based on the analysis of the multimedia item in the first mode and the second device, the multimedia item may be converted from a first mode to a second mode (e.g., an audio-only mode of the multimedia item) and subsequently displayed on the second device.

公开(公告)号：US20210204032A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-01

申请号：US16727823

申请日：2019-12-26

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel ,  Zachary Orner

IPC: H04N21/482 ,  H04N21/475 ,  H04N21/462 ,  H04N21/442

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for displaying a program source indicator. A program may be selected within an electronic program guide. Metadata associated with the program may be received, wherein the metadata comprises a source identifier. A source identifier may be an Internet-streaming service, a broadband TV service, a satellite TV service, and/or a digital video recorder database. Based on the source identifier, a source indicator may be retrieved. A program source indicator may be a superimposed image, icon, or other visual indicator. The source indicator may then be temporarily overlaid on the program content within the electronic programming guide.

公开(公告)号：US20210204031A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-01

申请号：US16727818

申请日：2019-12-26

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel ,  Zachary Orner

IPC: H04N21/482 ,  H04N21/485 ,  H04N21/475 ,  H04N21/442

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for dynamically displaying a program guide. In some examples, a first program may be playing in a first portion of the display. A first input may be received that activates a program guide, and the program guide may be overlaid on the first program. The program guide may obscure a portion of the program, while the program continues to play in the background. Further selections may be received within the program guide that may cause the program guide to change display (e.g., expand, become more/less translucent, change position, etc.) without disrupting the program playing in the background. A single input may also be received to dismiss the program guide, regardless of the location in the program guide, allowing the currently playing program to be displayed without obstruction of the program guide.

公开(公告)号：US20250063219A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-20

申请号：US18449976

申请日：2023-08-15

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Chandra Nemalipuri

IPC: H04N21/2668 ,  H04N21/231 ,  H04N21/239 ,  H04N21/438 ,  H04N21/44 ,  H04N21/81

Abstract: One example process includes receiving a master manifest for an advertisement, requesting a child manifest for the advertisement from the master manifest, and fetching a first ad segment identified in the child manifest. The master manifest identifies a plurality of child manifests for the advertisement. The child manifest corresponds to a selected bitrate. The method can also include fetching a second ad segment identified in the child manifest during playback of the first ad segment. The child manifest can include a uniform resource locator that resolves to a location of the first ad segment at an edge server. Other examples of related systems, processes, and devices are also disclosed herein.

公开(公告)号：US20250063218A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-20

申请号：US18935307

申请日：2024-11-01

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Robert Drew Major

IPC: H04N21/262 ,  G06Q30/0272 ,  H04H60/37 ,  H04N21/234

Abstract: Systems, devices, and automated processes are described to automatically replace digital advertisements, for example swapping wasted ad slots in a media program. Systems and automated processes may provide identifiers describing advertisements to a playback device, receive an identifier from the playback device indicating an encountered advertisement, determine saturation of the playback device based on the received identifier, replace the identified advertisement. Replacing the identified advertisement may include identifying an advertiser corresponding to the identified advertisement, identifying a different advertiser and a replacement advertisement corresponding to the different advertiser, and transmitting an identifier for the replacement advertisement to the playback device.

公开(公告)号：US12219218B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-04

申请号：US16727818

申请日：2019-12-26

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel ,  Zachary Orner

IPC: H04N21/482 ,  H04N21/442 ,  H04N21/475 ,  H04N21/485

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for dynamically displaying a program guide. In some examples, a first program may be playing in a first portion of the display. A first input may be received that activates a program guide, and the program guide may be overlaid on the first program. The program guide may obscure a portion of the program, while the program continues to play in the background. Further selections may be received within the program guide that may cause the program guide to change display (e.g., expand, become more/less translucent, change position, etc.) without disrupting the program playing in the background. A single input may also be received to dismiss the program guide, regardless of the location in the program guide, allowing the currently playing program to be displayed without obstruction of the program guide.

公开(公告)号：US12170798B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-17

申请号：US18416435

申请日：2024-01-18

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Robert Drew Major ,  Leo Davis ,  Howard Davis

IPC: H04N21/239 ,  H04N21/231 ,  H04N21/274

Abstract: A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.