Thomas H Link

US Patent:

20220201345, Jun 23, 2022

Filed:

Mar 8, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/689485

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 21/234
G06Q 30/02
H04L 65/1089
H04L 65/612
H04L 65/60
H04N 21/2187
H04N 21/262
H04N 21/2668
H04N 21/472
H04N 21/81

Abstract:

Receiving a first portion of a live stream of a content item being either prerecorded or being captured from a live event, the content item comprising or to comprise a set of stream-enabled video segments, the first portion of the live stream comprising a first subset of stream-enabled video segments. Identifying insertion point(s) within at least one stream-enabled video segment. Generating a first playlist based on the one or more identified insertion points, the first playlist associated with at least a first sub-subset stream-enabled video segments. Providing the first playlist to a consumer system. Receiving a second portion of the live stream comprising a second subset of stream-enabled video segments. Receiving a second playlist associated with the second portion of the live stream. Updating the first playlist based on the second playlist, and providing the updated first playlist to the consumer system.

US Patent:

20210306686, Sep 30, 2021

Filed:

Oct 26, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/080446

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

SnifferCat, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/234
G06Q 30/02
H04N 21/2668
H04L 29/06
H04N 21/472
H04N 21/262
H04N 21/2187
H04N 21/81

Abstract:

Receiving a first portion of a live stream of a content item being either prerecorded or being captured from a live event, the content item comprising or to comprise a set of stream-enabled video segments, the first portion of the live stream comprising a first subset of stream-enabled video segments. Identifying insertion point(s) within at least one stream-enabled video segment. Generating a first playlist based on the one or more identified insertion points, the first playlist associated with at least a first sub-subset stream-enabled video segments. Providing the first playlist to a consumer system. Receiving a second portion of the live stream comprising a second subset of stream-enabled video segments. Receiving a second playlist associated with the second portion of the live stream. Updating the first playlist based on the second playlist, and providing the updated first playlist to the consumer system.

US Patent:

20190387262, Dec 19, 2019

Filed:

Aug 27, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/552264

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

SnifferCat, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/234
G06Q 30/02
H04N 21/2668
H04L 29/06
H04N 21/472
H04N 21/262
H04N 21/2187
H04N 21/81

Abstract:

Receiving a first portion of a live stream of a content item being either prerecorded or being captured from a live event, the content item comprising or to comprise a set of stream-enabled video segments, the first portion of the live stream comprising a first subset of stream-enabled video segments. Identifying insertion point(s) within at least one stream-enabled video segment. Generating a first playlist based on the one or more identified insertion points, the first playlist associated with at least a first sub-subset stream-enabled video segments. Providing the first playlist to a consumer system. Receiving a second portion of the live stream comprising a second subset of stream-enabled video segments. Receiving a second playlist associated with the second portion of the live stream. Updating the first playlist based on the second playlist, and providing the updated first playlist to the consumer system.

US Patent:

20190222908, Jul 18, 2019

Filed:

Mar 21, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/361111

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

SnifferCat, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/81
H04N 21/845
H04N 21/234
G06Q 30/02
H04L 29/08
H04L 29/06
H04N 21/2668
H04N 21/472

Abstract:

Systems and methods for stitching advertisements in streaming content are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises receiving one or more advertisements. An unmarked content item may be received, the unmarked content item comprising a stream-enabled video including a set of sequential black frames. An insertion point may be identified based on a location of at least one black frame of the set of sequential black frames without requiring user input, the insertion point identified during streaming of the unmarked content item to a consumer system, the insertion point being ahead of a current playback point of the unmarked content item streaming to the consumer system. The one or more advertisements may be stitched in the unmarked content item at the insertion point. The unmarked content item may be streamed to a consumer system until the insertion point is reached, and the one or more advertisements may be streamed to the consumer system when the insertion point is reached.

US Patent:

20180255331, Sep 6, 2018

Filed:

May 7, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/973477

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

SnifferCat, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/234
G06Q 30/02
H04N 21/2668
H04L 29/06
H04N 21/472
H04N 21/262

Abstract:

Receiving a first portion of a live stream of a content item being either prerecorded or being captured from a live event, the content item comprising or to comprise a set of stream-enabled video segments, the first portion of the live stream comprising a first subset of stream-enabled video segments. Identifying insertion point(s) within at least one stream-enabled video segment. Generating a first playlist based on the one or more identified insertion points, the first playlist associated with at least a first sub-subset stream-enabled video segments. Providing the first playlist to a consumer system. Receiving a second portion of the live stream comprising a second subset of stream-enabled video segments. Receiving a second playlist associated with the second portion of the live stream. Updating the first playlist based on the second playlist, and providing the updated first playlist to the consumer system.

US Patent:

20180124440, May 3, 2018

Filed:

Dec 26, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/854608

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

SnifferCat, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/234
H04L 29/06
H04N 21/262
H04N 21/2668
H04N 21/472
G06Q 30/02

Abstract:

A method comprises receiving an unmarked content item comprising stream-enabled video segments, one or more segments including sequential black frames; identifying insertion point(s) for the segments based on location of black frame(s) without requiring user input; discarding segment(s) that do not include black frames; removing black frames from the segments; generating a playlist comprising a first source location associated with segments that do not include black frames, a second source location associated with segments having removed black frames, and a third source location associated with an ad provider system; providing the playlist to the consumer system to allow the consumer system to stream segments that do not include black frames from the first source location, second stream segments having removed black frames from the second source location until a corresponding insertion point is reached, and third stream ad(s) from the third source location when the corresponding insertion point is reached.

US Patent:

20180007405, Jan 4, 2018

Filed:

Feb 21, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/438365

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

SnifferCat, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/234
H04N 21/262
G06Q 30/02
H04L 29/06
H04N 21/472
H04N 21/2668

Abstract:

A method comprises receiving an unmarked content item comprising stream-enabled video segments, one or more segments including sequential black frames; identifying insertion point(s) for the segments based on location of black frame(s) without requiring user input; discarding segment(s) that do not include black frames; removing black frames from the segments; generating a playlist comprising a first source location associated with segments that do not include black frames, a second source location associated with segments having removed black frames, and a third source location associated with an ad provider system; providing the playlist to the consumer system to allow the consumer system to stream segments that do not include black frames from the first source location, second stream segments having removed black frames from the second source location until a corresponding insertion point is reached, and third stream ad(s) from the third source location when the corresponding insertion point is reached.

US Patent:

20180007446, Jan 4, 2018

Filed:

Jul 14, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/650791

Inventors:

- Los Angeles CA, US
Thomas Hamilton Link - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

SnifferCat, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 21/81
H04N 21/2668
H04L 29/08
G06Q 30/02
H04L 29/06
H04N 21/472
H04N 21/234

Abstract:

Systems and methods for stitching advertisements in streaming content are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises receiving one or more advertisements. An unmarked content item may be received, the unmarked content item comprising a stream-enabled video including a set of sequential black frames. An insertion point may be identified based on a location of at least one black frame of the set of sequential black frames without requiring user input, the insertion point identified during streaming of the unmarked content item to a consumer system, the insertion point being ahead of a current playback point of the unmarked content item streaming to the consumer system. The one or more advertisements may be stitched in the unmarked content item at the insertion point. The unmarked content item may be streamed to a consumer system until the insertion point is reached, and the one or more advertisements may be streamed to the consumer system when the insertion point is reached.