Christopher S Harrison

US Patent:

7953255, May 31, 2011

Filed:

May 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/113704

Inventors:

Brian Scott Amento - Morris Plains NJ, US
Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US
Larry Stead - Upper Montclair NJ, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382118, 382173

Abstract:

Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment.

US Patent:

8098905, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

May 24, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/114879

Inventors:

Brian Scott Amento - Morris Plains NJ, US
Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US
Larry Stead - Upper Montclair NJ, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382118, 382173

Abstract:

Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment.

US Patent:

8099315, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Jun 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/810395

Inventors:

Brian Amento - Morris Plains NJ, US
Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US
Larry Stead - Upper Montclair NJ, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 729, 705 731, 705 732, 705 267

Abstract:

A user interest profile, which indicates a portion-varying level of user interest toward a first streaming media item, is determined. The user interest profile is based on a plurality of ratings inputted by a user for a plurality of respective portions of the first streaming media item. A second streaming media item is recommended to the user based on the user interest profile.

US Patent:

8230458, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Jun 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824479

Inventors:

Brian Amento - Morris Plains NJ, US
Larry Stead - Upper Montclair NJ, US
Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

H04H 60/33
H04N 7/173
G06F 15/16

US Classification:

725 13, 725110, 725115, 709203

Abstract:

A method of providing video content commentary is disclosed that includes sending video content to a first set-top box device at a first time, where the first set-top box device is associated with a first subscriber. The method also includes receiving data corresponding to a comment submitted by the first subscriber. The comment relates to a particular portion of the video content. Further, the method includes sending the video content to a second set-top box device at a second time, where the second set-top box device is associated with a second subscriber. The video content sent to the second set-top box device includes a graphical representation of the comment.

US Patent:

8311295, Nov 13, 2012

Filed:

Nov 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/308335

Inventors:

Brian Scott Amento - Morris Plains NJ, US
Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US
Larry Stead - Upper Montclair NJ, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06K 9/34

US Classification:

382118, 382173

Abstract:

Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment.

US Patent:

8392238, Mar 5, 2013

Filed:

Dec 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/326909

Inventors:

Brian Amento - Morris Plains NJ, US
Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US
Larry Stead - Upper Montclair NJ, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 729, 705 731, 705 732, 705 267

Abstract:

A method includes receiving at least one criterion to identify at least one media item. The method includes determining one or more media items that satisfy the at least one criterion. The method includes determining a group interest profile for each of the one or more media items. A particular group interest profile indicates a portion-varying level of group interest toward the at least one media item. The particular group interest profile is based on a plurality of ratings input by a plurality of members of a group for a plurality of portions of the at least one media item. The method includes determining a plurality of high-interest portions of the at least one media item based on the plurality of group interest profiles. The method also includes creating a high-interest media item that combines the plurality of high-interest portions.

US Patent:

8549575, Oct 1, 2013

Filed:

Apr 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/113028

Inventors:

Brian Scott Amento - Morris Plains NJ, US
Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US
Larry Stead - Upper Montclair NJ, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725116, 725 54, 725 85, 725 86

Abstract:

A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR.

US Patent:

20070283261, Dec 6, 2007

Filed:

Jun 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/422468

Inventors:

Christopher Harrison - Mount Kisco NY, US

International Classification:

G06F 9/00

US Classification:

715700, 715863, 715764

Abstract:

A method for allowing a computer user to allocate additional computing resources to a specified priority process comprises indicating with a pointing device a specified priority process by a predetermined user gesture using the pointing device. The motion of the pointing device is detected and the predetermined user gesture is associated associates with the specified priority process. Additional computing resources are removed from other background running applications and dedicated to the specified priority process.