公开(公告)号：US20210297751A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17198548

申请日：2021-03-11

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel ,  David Vern Mead

IPC: H04N21/81 ,  H04N21/234

Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for managing access to a program during a promotional period are described. A system may include a content system and a user device configured to access the program during the promotion. A content distributor may provide the program to the user device during the promotion. The content system may permit access to the program when the user device satisfies a first technical condition. The first technical condition may specify an end time for the promotion. A second technical condition may specify a start event for the promotion. The content system may permit access to the program during a promotional period defined by the start event and the end time. The end time may be predefined. The start event occurs when the user device communicates an acceptance of the promotion to the content system.

公开(公告)号：US20250024107A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-16

申请号：US18439471

申请日：2024-02-12

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C. ,  DISH Network Technologies India Private Limited

Inventor： Shawn Asuncion ,  Jonathan Lin ,  Amit Kumar ,  Sharat Kumar Shivakumar ,  Seth VanSickel ,  Kevin Holland ,  Gary Schanman

IPC: H04N21/4784 ,  H04N21/478

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing content streaming and arcade game services are provided. An example method includes activating a streaming interface to be presented on a display connected to a user device, receiving streaming content of at least one content item from a service provider connected to the user device, outputting the received streaming content for presentation and playback in the streaming interface, activating an arcade interface and co-presenting the streaming interface and the arcade interface concurrently on the display, receiving gaming content of at least one cloud-hosted game from the service provider, and outputting the received gaming content for presentation and gameplay in the arcade interface.

公开(公告)号：US20240414407A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-12

申请号：US18421822

申请日：2024-01-24

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Kevin Holland ,  Seth VanSickel ,  Jonathan Lin ,  Gilberto Malfabon

IPC: H04N21/482 ,  G06F3/0485 ,  H04N21/431

Abstract: Systems and methods related to channel surfing are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a user request to view presentation of a channel guide on a display, generating a channel guide including a channel list, at least one scroll indicator, and a focus indicator, and communicating the channel guide to the display. The display includes a main display area, a channel list display area overlaid on the main display area, and a focus area. The channel list is displayed in the channel list display area while the primary content of a current channel is being presented in the main display. The method further includes receiving a first user input activating the scroll indicator in a scroll direction, causing the channel identifiers to move in the channel list display area while the primary content continues to be presented in the main display area.

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：US20250024108A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-16

申请号：US18439551

申请日：2024-02-12

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C. ,  DISH Network Technologies India Private Limited

Inventor： Shawn Asuncion ,  Jonathan Lin ,  Amit Kumar ,  Sharat Kumar Shivakumar ,  Seth VanSickel ,  Kevin Holland ,  Gary Schanman

IPC: H04N21/4784

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for tracking reward associated with content consumption are provided. An example method includes receiving streaming content of at least one content item from a content provider, outputting, via an application being executed on the streaming device, streaming content to a display for playback of the output content, periodically generating a plurality of heartbeat messages during execution of the application. Each heartbeat message is timestamped and includes a header containing information about the at least one content item, and one or more entries indicating a current playback state regarding the output of the streaming content when the heartbeat message is generated. The method further includes transmitting the plurality of heartbeat messages to a user engagement tracking device connected to the user device and receiving a notification indicating a total duration of content output to the display during execution of the application.

公开(公告)号：US20230046176A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-16

申请号：US17976433

申请日：2022-10-28

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel ,  Zachary Orner

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

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：US11490166B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-01

申请号：US16727823

申请日：2019-12-26

Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.

Inventor： Seth VanSickel ,  Zachary Orner

IPC: H04N7/10 ,  H04N21/482 ,  H04N21/442 ,  H04N21/462 ,  H04N21/475

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.