Netflix, Inc.

United States of America

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IPC Class
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements 15
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments 11
H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs 9
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs 8
H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion 7
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1.

AUTOMATED WORKFLOWS FROM MEDIA ASSET DIFFERENTIALS

      
Document Number 03144796
Status Pending
Filing Date 2021-07-19
Open to Public Date 2022-01-20
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Wang, Yadong
  • Wu, Chih-Wei
  • Tacke, Kyle
  • Rao, Shilpa Jois
  • Sekh, Boney
  • Swan, Andrew
  • Senapati, Raja

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) accessing a first media data object and a different, second media data object that, when played back, each render temporally sequenced content, (2) comparing first temporally sequenced content represented by the first media data object with second temporally sequenced content represented by the second media data object to identify a set of common temporal subsequences between the first media data object and the second media data object, (3) identifying a set of edits relative to the set of common temporal subsequences that describe a difference between the temporally sequenced content of the first media data object and the temporally sequenced content of the second media data object, and (4) executing a workflow relating to the first media data object and/or the second media data object based on the set of edits. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G11B 27/031 - Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
  • H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
  • G11B 27/10 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
  • G10L 19/00 - Speech or audio signal analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocoders; Coding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis

2.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CORRELATING SPEECH AND LIP MOVEMENT

      
Document Number 03146707
Status Pending
Filing Date 2021-06-22
Open to Public Date 2021-12-30
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Wang, Yadong
  • Rao, Shilpa Jois

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes analyzing, by a speech detection system, a media file to detect lip movement of a speaker who is visually rendered in media content of the media file. The method additionally includes identifying, by the speech detection system, audio content within the media file, and improving accuracy of a temporal correlation of the speech detection system. The method may involve correlating the lip movement of the speaker with the audio content, and determining, based on the correlation between the lip movement of the speaker and the audio content, that the audio content comprises speech from the speaker. The method may further involve recording, based on the determination that the audio content comprises speech from the speaker, the temporal correlation between the speech and the lip movement of the speaker as metadata of the media file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G10L 25/78 - Detection of presence or absence of voice signals
  • G11B 27/02 - Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
  • G10L 15/25 - Speech recognition using non-acoustical features using position of the lips, movement of the lips or face analysis

3.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING APPLICATION FUNCTIONALITY TO RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS

      
Document Number 03160886
Status Pending
Filing Date 2021-02-01
Open to Public Date 2021-08-05
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Gopalakrishnan, Shyamsundar
  • Suresh, Chethan
  • Bronkie, Maria
  • Johnson, Ben
  • Thakur, Amritanshu
  • Galassi, Michael
  • Steger, Christopher
  • Richards, Tom
  • Pan, Sam

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include identifying an application, on an electronic device, with a minimum requirement for a resource of the electronic device. The method may also include determining that an available amount of the resource of the electronic device does not meet the minimum requirement of the application. Additionally, the method may include selecting, based on the determination, an alternative user-interface mode of the application with a lower minimum requirement for the resource. Furthermore, the method may include instantiating the alternative user-interface mode of the application. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 9/50 - Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]

4.

TECHNIQUES FOR TRANSPARENTLY EMULATING NETWORK CONDITIONS

      
Document Number 03165210
Status Pending
Filing Date 2021-01-19
Open to Public Date 2021-07-29
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Pean, Gregoire
  • Fontaine, Benoit

Abstract

In various embodiments, a network emulation application emulates network conditions when testing a software application. In response to a request to emulate a first set of network conditions for a first client device that is executing the software application, causing a kernel to implement a first pipeline and to automatically input network traffic associated with the first client device to the first pipeline instead of a default bridge. In response to a request to emulate a second set of network conditions for a second client device that is executing the software application, causing the kernel to implement a second pipeline and to automatically input network traffic associated with the second client device to the second pipeline instead of the default bridge. Each of the pipelines perform one or more traffic shaping operations on at least a subset of the network traffic input into the pipeline.

IPC Classes  ?

5.

SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MIXING AUDIO FOR ACOUSTIC SCENES

      
Document Number 03160724
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-12-31
Open to Public Date 2021-07-08
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Wang, Yadong
  • Rao, Shilpa Jois
  • Parthasarathi, Murthy
  • Tacke, Kyle

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include obtaining an audio sample from a content source, inputting the obtained audio sample into a trained machine learning model, obtaining the output of the trained machine learning model, wherein the output is a profile of an environment in which the input audio sample was recorded, obtaining an acoustic impulse response corresponding to the profile of the environment in which the input audio sample was recorded, obtaining a second audio sample, processing the obtained acoustic impulse response with the second audio sample, and inserting a result of processing the obtained acoustic impulse response and the second audio sample into an audio track. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06N 3/02 - Neural networks
  • G10L 21/003 - Changing voice quality, e.g. pitch or formants
  • G10L 25/30 - Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups characterised by the analysis technique using neural networks
  • G10L 15/16 - Speech classification or search using artificial neural networks
  • G10L 21/02 - Speech enhancement, e.g. noise reduction or echo cancellation
  • G11B 27/031 - Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
  • G11B 27/28 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel by using information detectable on the record carrier by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording

6.

GLOBAL APPROACH TO BUFFERING MEDIA CONTENT

      
Document Number 03162411
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-12-11
Open to Public Date 2021-06-24
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Watson, Mark

Abstract

In various embodiments, a graph streaming application computes a first distance along a first potential playback path between a first playback position and a first media content block. The graph streaming application then computes a first score for the first media content block based on the first distance and a first probability associated with the first potential playback path. Similarly, the graph streaming application computes a second score for a second media content block based on a second playback position, a second potential playback path, and a second probability associated with the second potential playback path. The graph streaming application compares the first score and the second score to determine that the first media content block should be buffered by a client device. The graph streaming application then causes the first media content block to be stored in a playback buffer for subsequent playback on the client device.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 65/61 - Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
  • H04N 21/231 - Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers or prioritizing data for deletion

7.

WATERMARK-BASED TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGE-DATA-CAPTURE

      
Document Number 03159538
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-12-11
Open to Public Date 2021-06-24
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Andreakis, Andreas
  • Papapanagiotou, Ioannis

Abstract

Various embodiments set forth systems and techniques for concurrent log and dump processing. The techniques include selecting, from a datastore, a chunk comprising one or more rows of data; comparing the one or more rows of data in the chunk with a first set of log events in a change log associated with the datastore, wherein each log event included in the first set of log events occurs after a first log event in the change log and prior to a second log event in the change log; selecting, based on the comparison, one or more non-conflicting rows in the chunk; and transmitting, to an output, one or more log events associated with the one or more non-conflicting rows in the chunk prior to processing a second set of log events in the change log, wherein the second set of log events occur after the second log event.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 16/23 - Updating
  • G06F 16/21 - Design, administration or maintenance of databases
  • G06F 16/27 - Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

8.

MULTIMEDIA CONTENT STEERING

      
Document Number 03157766
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-09-30
Open to Public Date 2021-06-10
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Deek, Lara
  • Shastri, Ishaan
  • Vora, Mohit

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes accessing information related to a playback session in which at least a portion of requested multimedia content is streamed over a network to a client electronic device. The method further includes accessing network topology information for the network to identify which route through the network was used to provide the requested multimedia content during the playback session, including indicating which end node was used to provide the multimedia content. Still further, the method includes accessing network steering factors that indicate why the requested multimedia content was steered through the identified network route, determining, based on the network steering factors, which end node would have been more suited to providing the requested multimedia content for the playback session, and then transferring the requested multimedia content to the determined end node for provisioning during subsequent playback sessions. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 45/02 - Topology update or discovery
  • H04W 40/02 - Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
  • H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
  • H04L 45/24 - Multipath

9.

TECHNIQUES FOR AUTOMATICALLY EXTRACTING COMPELLING PORTIONS OF A MEDIA CONTENT ITEM

      
Document Number 03159203
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-11-17
Open to Public Date 2021-05-27
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Kansara, Apurvakumar Dilipkumar

Abstract

In various embodiments, a clip application computes a set of appearance values for an appearance metric based on shot sequences associated with a media content item. Each appearance value in the set of appearance values indicates a prevalence of a first character in a different shot sequence associated with the media content item. The clip application then performs one or more clustering operations on the shot sequences based on the set of appearance values to generate a first shot cluster. Subsequently, the clip application generates a clip for the media content item based on the first shot cluster. The clip application transmits the clip to an endpoint device for display. Advantageously, relative to primarily manual approaches, the clip application can more efficiently and reliably generate clips for media content items.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06V 20/40 - Scenes; Scene-specific elements in video content
  • G06V 10/762 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using clustering, e.g. of similar faces in social networks
  • G11B 27/031 - Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals

10.

AUTOMATIC TRAILER DETECTION IN MULTIMEDIA CONTENT

      
Document Number 03155314
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-11-12
Open to Public Date 2021-05-20
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Liu, Dong
  • Wang, Lezi
  • Puri, Rohit

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing media segments that correspond to respective media items. At least one of the media segments may be divided into discrete video shots. The method may also include matching the discrete video shots in the media segments to corresponding video shots in the corresponding media items according to various matching factors. The method may further include generating a relative similarity score between the matched video shots in the media segments and the corresponding video shots in the media items, and training a machine learning model to automatically identify video shots in the media items according to the generated relative similarity score between matched video shots. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06V 20/40 - Scenes; Scene-specific elements in video content
  • H04N 21/8549 - Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer
  • G06N 20/00 - Machine learning
  • G06V 10/44 - Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components
  • G06V 10/74 - Image or video pattern matching; Proximity measures in feature spaces
  • G11B 27/031 - Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals

11.

PAGE SIMULATION SYSTEM

      
Document Number 03155227
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-11-05
Open to Public Date 2021-05-14
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Gevorkyan, David
  • Yilmaz, Mehmet
  • More, Ajinkya
  • Basilico, Justin
  • Padmanabhan, Prasanna
  • Kaushal, Vivek
  • Agrawa, Gaurav
  • Wellington, Richard

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing updated data structures that are to be included in a user interface functionality test, where the updated data structures contribute to a user interface. The method may also include accessing live or snapshotted data captured from services running in a production environment, initiating generation of a first user interface instance using the updated data structures and using the accessed live or snapshotted data, and initiating generation of a second user interface instance using a different version of the data structures and using the same accessed live or snapshotted data. The method further includes comparing the first user interface instance to the second user interface instance to identify differences and then determine which outcome-defining effects the updated data structures had on the user interface based on the identified differences between the user interfaces. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 11/34 - Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation
  • G06N 20/20 - Ensemble learning

12.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STREAMLINING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT ACQUISITION

      
Document Number 03150211
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-10-26
Open to Public Date 2021-04-29
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Gala, Shyam
  • Shi, Katheryn
  • Gray, Christopher
  • Rangarajan, Suudhan
  • Correa, Manuel
  • Pissanetzky, Pablo
  • Mollinier Toublet, Bertrand
  • Ghate, Niranjan
  • Walsh, Raymond
  • Barker, Edward

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include receiving, from a client device, a request for multimedia content, where the request includes both a manifest request that includes client identification data and a license request that includes a license challenge. The method may further include validating the received request for multimedia content using the client identification data in the manifest request and generating a manifest response that includes an identification of a specified multimedia content stream that is to be provided to the client device. The method may also include acquiring at least one license in response to the license request, where the license includes a response to the license challenge having various content keys, and then providing the specified multimedia content stream, including the generated manifest response and the acquired license, to the client device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material

13.

AUDIO METADATA SMOOTHING

      
Document Number 03147190
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-09-22
Open to Public Date 2021-04-01
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Zheng, Weiguo
  • Ching, Rex
  • Ni, Weibo
  • Miyagi, Kensuke
  • Munday, Sean
  • Tao, Teresa

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method for smoothing audio gaps using adaptive metadata identifies an initial audio segment and a subsequent audio segment that follows the initial audio segment. The method accesses a first set of metadata that corresponds to a last audio frame of the initial audio segment and accesses a second set of metadata that corresponds to the first audio frame of the subsequent audio segment. The first and second sets of metadata include audio characteristic information for the two audio segments. The method then generates a new set of metadata that is based on both sets of audio characteristics. The method further inserts a new audio frame between the last audio frame of the initial audio segment and the first audio frame of the subsequent audio segment and applies the new set of metadata to the new audio frame. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/236 - Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator ] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
  • G11B 27/02 - Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/242 - Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
  • G10L 19/16 - Vocoder architecture
  • G10L 21/0316 - Speech enhancement, e.g. noise reduction or echo cancellation by changing the amplitude
  • G10L 21/0356 - Speech enhancement, e.g. noise reduction or echo cancellation by changing the amplitude for synchronising with other signals, e.g. video signals
  • G10L 21/055 - Time compression or expansion for synchronising with other signals, e.g. video signals

14.

IMPROVED AUDIO TRANSITIONS WHEN STREAMING AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA TITLES

      
Document Number 03153650
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-09-11
Open to Public Date 2021-03-18
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Watson, Mark

Abstract

A playback application is configured to analyze audio frames associated with transitions between segments within a media title to identify one or more portions of extraneous audio. The playback application is configured to analyze the one or more portions of extraneous audio and then determine which of the one or more corresponding audio frames should be dropped. In doing so, the playback application can analyze a topology associated with the media title to determine whether any specific portions of extraneous audio are to be played outside of a logical ordering of audio samples set forth in the topology. These specific portions of extraneous audio are preferentially removed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N 5/92 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback

15.

AUTOMATIC PREPROCESSING FOR BLACK BOX TRANSLATION

      
Document Number 03152958
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-09-04
Open to Public Date 2021-03-11
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Mehta, Sneha
  • Bihani, Ballav
  • Bonaci, Victoria
  • Chen, Boris Anthony
  • Kumar, Ritwik Kailash
  • Misra, Vinith
  • Saluja, Avneesh Singh
  • Semeniakin, Marianna

Abstract

Various embodiments set forth systems and techniques for training a sentence preprocessing model. The techniques include determining, using a machine translation system, a back translation associated with a ground truth translation of a source sentence in a source language to a target language, wherein the back translation comprises a translation of the ground truth translation from one or more target languages to the source language; determining, using the sentence preprocessing model, a simplified sentence associated with the source sentence; and updating one or more parameters of the sentence preprocessing model based on the simplified sentence and the back translation.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 40/58 - Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
  • G06F 40/289 - Phrasal analysis, e.g. finite state techniques or chunking

16.

TECHNIQUES FOR INTERFACING BETWEEN MEDIA PROCESSING WORKFLOWS AND SERVERLESS FUNCTIONS

      
Document Number 03152775
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-08-31
Open to Public Date 2021-03-11
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • San Miguel, Francisco J.
  • Vasani, Ameya
  • Vasilyev, Dmitry
  • Lin, Chih Hao
  • Liu, Xiaomei
  • Mareddy, Naveen
  • Ye, Guanhua
  • Manohara, Megha
  • Moorthy, Anush

Abstract

In various embodiments, a function build application compiles source code to generate an executable version of a function that has a first function signature. The function build application then replaces a first data type of a first parameter included in the first function signature with a second data type to generate a second function signature for a client stub function. Subsequently, the function build application generates a remote procedure call (RPC) client that includes the client stub function. Notably, the RPC client causes the function to execute when the client stub function is invoked. Advantageously, unlike conventional techniques that require manual generation of strongly typed functions, the function build application automatically customizes the RPC client for the function.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 9/448 - Execution paradigms, e.g. implementations of programming paradigms
  • G06F 8/41 - Compilation
  • G06F 9/54 - Interprogram communication

17.

TECHNIQUES FOR STEERING NETWORK TRAFFIC TO REGIONS OF A CLOUD COMPUTING SYSTEM

      
Document Number 03153238
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-09-03
Open to Public Date 2021-03-11
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Fedorov, Sergey
  • Williams, Phelps Watson
  • Behnam, Niosha

Abstract

In various embodiments, domain name system (DNS) servers are implemented on a content distribution network (CDN) infrastructure in order to facilitate centralized control of traffic steering. Each server appliance in the CDN infrastructure acts as both an authoritative DNS nameserver and a dynamic request proxy, and each such server appliance is assigned to one of multiple cloud computing system regions. The assignment of server appliances to cloud regions is based on latency measurements collected via client application probes and an optimization that minimizes an overall latency experienced by the client applications subject to constraints that the maximum traffic to each cloud region is less than a capacity constraint for that region, the maximum deviation of traffic to each cloud regions at any point in time is less than a given percentage, and the maximum deviation of traffic between direct and indirect paths is less than a given percentage.

IPC Classes  ?

18.

HIGH EFFICIENCY INTERACTIVE TESTING PLATFORM

      
Document Number 03146476
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-08-26
Open to Public Date 2021-03-04
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Wong, Jeffrey
  • Mcfarland, Colin
  • Wardrop, Matthew
  • Diamantopoulos, Nikolaos
  • Lacerda De Miranda, Pablo
  • Mao, Tobias
  • Forsell, Eskil
  • Beckley, Julie

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes accessing data that is to be used as part of a test implementation that has multiple potential outcomes. The method also includes determining that the test implementation is to be carried out using specified testing algorithms that test for at least one of the potential outcomes. The method next includes identifying portions of the accessed data that are to be used in the specified testing algorithms, and compressing the identified portions of the accessed data to remove portions of the accessed data that are unused in the specified testing algorithms. The method also includes executing the test implementation using the specified testing algorithms with the compressed accessed data. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 11/36 - Preventing errors by testing or debugging of software
  • H03M 7/30 - Compression; Expansion; Suppression of unnecessary data, e.g. redundancy reduction

19.

IDENTITY DATA OBJECT MANAGEMENT

      
Document Number 03147769
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-08-14
Open to Public Date 2021-02-25
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Nelson, Travis
  • Ryan, Justin
  • Singh, Sunny

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present application set forth a computer-implemented method that includes receiving, by a first service operating within a computing system, a modified identity data object from a second service operating within the computing system, where the modified identity data object includes at least one identifier associated with a client of the computing system determining, by the first service, that the second service performed a first action on an identity data object to generate the modified identity data object, and validating the modified identity data object based on whether the second service is authorized to perform the first action.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system

20.

COMPARING VIDEO ENCODERS/DECODERS USING SHOT-BASED ENCODING AND A PERCEPTUAL VISUAL QUALITY METRIC

      
Document Number 03149806
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-08-12
Open to Public Date 2021-02-25
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Katsavounidis, Ioannis
  • Guo, Liwei

Abstract

In various embodiments, an encoder comparison application compares the performance of different configured encoders. In operation, the encoder comparison application generates a first global convex hull of video encode points based on a first configured encoder and a set of subsequences included in a source video sequence. Each video encode point is associated with a different encoded version of the source video sequence. The encoder comparison application also generates a second global convex hull of video encode points based on a second configured encoder and the subsequences. Subsequently, the encoder configuration application computes a performance value for an encoding comparison metric based on the first global convex hull and the second global convex hull. Notably, the first performance value estimates a difference in performance between the first configured encoder and the second configured encoder.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/00 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals

21.

FRAME RATE CONVERSION

      
Document Number 03143499
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-08-06
Open to Public Date 2021-02-11
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Zheng, Weiguo
  • Ching, Rex Yik Chun

Abstract

The disclosed method includes accessing video content encoded at a specified frame rate, and determining a refresh rate for an electronic display on which the video content is to he presented. The method next includes specifying a time interval for the video content over which frame rate conversion is to he applied to synchronize the video content frame rate with the electronic display refresh rate. The method also includes presenting the video content on the electronic display where the playback speed is adjusted for a first part of the interval. At this adjusted speed, the interval is played back using original video frames and multiple frame duplications. The presenting also adjusts playback speed of a second part of the interval. At the adjusted speed, the interval is played back using the original frames and a different number of frame duplications. Various other methods, systems, and computer -readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 7/01 - Conversion of standards
  • H04N 21/4402 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display

22.

EXTENSION FOR TARGETED INVALIDATION OF CACHED ASSETS

      
Document Number 03145582
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-07-16
Open to Public Date 2021-01-21
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Newton, Christopher

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a computer-implemented method of receiving an invalidation command that includes a first asset identifier, and a set of extension value fields, identifying a first file that is stored in a first cache device and is associated with an identifier matching the first asset identifier, comparing attributes of the first file to the set of extension value fields, and upon determining that, for each extension value field, at least one attribute of the first file matches at least one value of the extension value field, causing the first file in the first cache device to be preserved, or upon determining that, for at least one extension value, at least one attribute of the first file does not match at least one value of the extension value field, causing the first file to be invalidated.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 67/5682 - Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

23.

ATTACK MITIGATION IN A PACKET-SWITCHED NETWORK

      
Document Number 03141368
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-07-01
Open to Public Date 2021-01-07
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Stewart, Randall

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes applying transport protocol heuristics to selective acknowledgement (SACK) messages received at a network adapter from a network node. The transport protocol heuristics identify threshold values for operational functions that are performed when processing the SACK messages. The method further includes determining, by applying the transport protocol heuristics to the SACK messages received from the network node, that the threshold values for the transport protocol heuristics have been reached. In response to determining that the threshold values have been reached, the method includes identifying the network node as a security threat and taking remedial actions to mitigate the security threat. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

24.

AUTOMATED VIDEO CROPPING USING RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFIED OBJECTS

      
Document Number 03138218
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-06-17
Open to Public Date 2020-12-30
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Kansara, Apurvakumar Dilipkumar
  • Holsapple, Sanford
  • Westadt, Arica
  • Bisla, Kunal
  • Shah, Sameer

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include receiving, as an input, segmented video scenes, where each video scene includes a specified length of video content. The method may further include scanning the video scenes to identify objects within the video scene and also determining a relative importance value for the identified objects. The relative importance value may include an indication of which objects are to be included in a cropped version of the video scene. The method may also include generating a video crop that is to be applied to the video scene such that the resulting cropped version of the video scene includes those identified objects that are to be included based on the relative importance value. The method may also include applying the generated video crop to the video scene to produce the cropped version of the video scene. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/4728 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content for selecting a ROI [Region Of Interest], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
  • G11B 27/02 - Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
  • H04N 1/387 - Composing, repositioning or otherwise modifying originals
  • H04N 5/45 - Picture in picture

25.

DISTRIBUTED GLOBAL OBJECT STORAGE

      
Document Number 03143040
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-06-15
Open to Public Date 2020-12-24
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Kasi, Kishore
  • Papapanagiotou, Ioannis
  • Madappa, Shashi Shekar
  • Enugula, Sridhar
  • Jayaraman, Deva
  • Yelevich, Victor
  • Chen, Shunfei
  • Ginter, Christopher
  • Johansson, Olof
  • Birari, Shailesh

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present application set forth a computer-implemented method for accessing data comprising receiving, by a first storage controller at a first spoke network and from an entity remote to the first spoke network, a message identifying a first content item, where the first content item is identified based on a task that is to be performed by accessing the first content item, determining, by the first storage controller, a first storage partition that stores the first content item, where the first storage partition is included in a tiered group of storage partitions accessible by the first spoke network, retrieving, by the first storage controller from the first storage partition, the first content item, and causing, by the first storage controller, the first content item to be transmitted to a second spoke network for storage in a second storage partition accessible by the second spoke network.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 16/182 - Distributed file systems
  • H04L 67/1097 - Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
  • G06F 3/06 - Digital input from, or digital output to, record carriers

26.

MACHINE-ASSISTED TRANSLATION FOR SUBTITLE LOCALIZATION

      
Document Number 03142940
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-06-11
Open to Public Date 2020-12-17
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Bihani, Ballav
  • Rickard, Matthew James
  • Semeniakin, Marianna
  • Shetty, Ranjith Kumar
  • Smith, Allison Filemyr
  • Pearson, Patrick Brendon
  • Shah, Sameer

Abstract

One embodiment of the present disclosure sets forth a technique for generating translation suggestions. The technique includes receiving a sequence of source-language subtitle events associated with a content item, where each source-language subtitle event includes a different textual string representing a corresponding portion of the content item, generating a unit of translatable text based on a textual string included in at least one source-language subtitle event from the sequence, translating, via software executing on a machine, the unit of translatable text into target-language text, generating, based on the target-language text, at least one target-language subtitle event associated with a portion of the content item corresponding to the at least one source-language subtitle event, and generating, for display, a subtitle presentation template that includes the at least one target-language subtitle event.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 40/58 - Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation

27.

TECHNIQUES FOR TEXT RENDERING USING FONT PATCHING

      
Document Number 03141516
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-06-02
Open to Public Date 2020-12-10
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Navarro, Pedro

Abstract

Various embodiments disclose a computer-implemented method that includes receiving, subsequent to a first font file being stored in read-only memory, a first font patch file for storage in read-write memory, where each of the first font file and the first font patch file is associated with a first font and includes a different set of glyphs used to render characters for display, and a first set of glyphs included in the first font file is static, determining that a first text string includes a first set of characters to be rendered, retrieving, from at least one of the first font file and the first font patch file depending on whether a first glyph is included in the first set of glyphs, the first glyph corresponding to a first character included in the first set of characters, and rendering a portion of the first text string using the first glyph.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 40/109 - Font handling; Temporal or kinetic typography
  • G06F 40/106 - Display of layout of documents; Previewing
  • G06F 3/14 - Digital output to display device

28.

TECHNIQUES FOR FILE VERSIONING TO PROTECT AGAINST FILE CORRUPTION

      
Document Number 03142504
Status In Force
Filing Date 2020-06-04
Open to Public Date 2020-12-10
Grant Date 2024-04-09
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Blair, John David
  • Bakken, Anders Grindal

Abstract

Various embodiments disclose a method for maintaining file versions in volatile memory. The method includes storing, in volatile memory for at least a first portion of a first sync interval, a first version of a file that is not modifiable during the at least the first portion of the first sync interval. The method also includes storing, in volatile memory for at least a second portion of the first sync interval, a second version of the file that is modifiable during the at least the second portion of the first sync interval. The method also includes subsequent to the first sync interval, replacing in nonvolatile memory, a third version of the file with the first version of the file stored in volatile memory. Further, the method includes marking the second version of the file as not modifiable during at least a first portion of a second sync interval.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 16/178 - Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
  • G06F 21/64 - Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures

29.

REDUCING CACHE INTERFERENCE BASED ON FORECASTED PROCESSOR USE

      
Document Number 03141319
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-05-28
Open to Public Date 2020-12-03
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Rostykus, Benoit
  • Hartmann, Gabriel

Abstract

In various embodiments, a predictive assignment application computes a forecasted amount of processor use for each workload included in a set of workloads using a trained machine-learning model. Based on the forecasted amounts of processor use, the predictive assignment application computes a performance cost estimate associated with an estimated level of cache interference arising from executing the set of workloads on a set of processors. Subsequently, the predictive assignment application determines processor assignment(s) based on the performance cost estimate. At least one processor included in the set of processors is subsequently configured to execute at least a portion of a first workload that is included in the set of workloads based on the processor assignment(s). Advantageously, because the predictive assignment application generates the processor assignment(s) based on the forecasted amounts of processor use, the isolation application can reduce interference in a non-uniform memory access (NUMA) microprocessor instance.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 9/46 - Multiprogramming arrangements
  • G06F 12/0842 - Multiuser, multiprocessor or multiprocessing cache systems for multiprocessing or multitasking
  • G06F 9/50 - Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]

30.

FIRE-AND-FORGET OFFLOAD MECHANISM FOR NETWORK-BASED SERVICES

      
Document Number 03139917
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-05-15
Open to Public Date 2020-11-26
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Girbal, Antoine Jean

Abstract

In various embodiments, a proxy application processes requests associated with a network-based service. In operation, the proxy application determines that a first request received from a client application indicates that a response to the first request can be offloaded from a server machine. Prior to transmitting the first request to the server machine, the proxy application transmits a response to the first request to the client application. The response indicates that the server machine has successfully processed the first request. Advantageously, upon receiving the response, the client application is able to initiate a second request irrespective of the server machine.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 69/085 - Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
  • H04L 69/16 - Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

31.

TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING THE ISOLATION OF WORKLOADS WITHIN A MULTIPROCESSOR INSTANCE

      
Document Number 03136666
Status In Force
Filing Date 2020-04-24
Open to Public Date 2020-10-29
Grant Date 2024-03-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Rostykus, Benoit
  • Hartmann, Gabriel

Abstract

In various embodiments, an isolation application determines processor assignment(s) based on a performance cost estimate. The performance cost estimate is associated with an estimated level of cache interference arising from executing a set of workloads on a set of processors. Subsequently, the isolation application configures at least one processor included in the set of processors to execute at least a portion of a first workload that is included in the set of workloads based on the processor assignment(s). Advantageously, because the isolation application generates the processor assignment(s) based on the performance cost estimate, the isolation application can reduce interference in a non-uniform memory access (NUMA) microprocessor instance.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 9/48 - Program initiating; Program switching, e.g. by interrupt
  • G06F 12/084 - Multiuser, multiprocessor or multiprocessing cache systems with a shared cache
  • G06F 9/50 - Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]

32.

ADAPTIVE RETRIEVAL OF OBJECTS FROM REMOTE STORAGE

      
Document Number 03129680
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-02-21
Open to Public Date 2020-08-27
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Alon, Barak
  • Simic, Zoran
  • Denlinger, Darrell
  • Vasani, Ameya
  • Wong, Rick

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present application set forth a computer-implemented method for accessing data comprising identifying a first set of read operations occurring during a first time period, where each read operation included in the set of read operations is associated with retrieving a different portion of at least one object from a storage system, determining a byte density associated with the set of read operations, where the byte density indicates a size of contiguous portions of the at least one object that were retrieved during the first time period, and determining, based on the byte density, a pre-buffering block size for a read operation during a second period, where the pre-buffering block size specifies a size of a portion of at least one object that is to be retrieved from the storage system.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 3/06 - Digital input from, or digital output to, record carriers

33.

TECHNIQUES FOR ADVANCING PLAYBACK OF INTERACTIVE MEDIA TITLES IN RESPONSE TO USER SELECTIONS

      
Document Number 03128407
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-02-11
Open to Public Date 2020-08-20
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Watson, Mark

Abstract

A playback application seamlessly advances playback of and interactive media title in response to user selections in a manner that minimizes latency and preserves user immersion in a narrative. The playback application buffers an interstitial segment included in the interactive media title and feeds portions of the interstitial segment to a media player only when those portions are needed for display. When the user selects an option displayed during the interstitial segment, the playback application begins buffering a subsequent media segment and stops feeding portions of the interstitial segment to the media player. The playback application starts feeding blocks of the subsequent media segment to the media player and then seamlessly advances playback to the subsequent media segment.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
  • H04N 21/8541 - Content authoring involving branching, e.g. to different story endings

34.

TECHNIQUES FOR EFFICIENTLY PERFORMING SUBSEQUENCE-BASED ENCODING FOR A MEDIA TITLE

      
Document Number 03127216
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-02-04
Open to Public Date 2020-08-13
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Wallendael, Glenn Van
  • Aaron, Anne
  • Swanson, Kyle
  • De Cock, Jan
  • Guo, Liwei
  • Bhaskar, Sonia

Abstract

In various embodiments, an interpolation-based encoding application encodes a first subsequence included in a media title at each encoding point included in a first set of encoding points to generate encoded subsequences. Subsequently, the interpolation-based encoding application performs interpolation operation(s) based on the encoded subsequences to estimate a first media metric value associated with a first encoding point that is not included in the first set of encoding points. The interpolation-based encoding application then generates an encoding recipe based on the encoded subsequences and the first media metric value. The encoding recipe specifies a different encoding point for each subsequence included in the media title. After determining that the encoding recipe specifies the first encoding point for the first subsequence, the interpolation-based encoding application encodes the first subsequence at the first encoding point to generate at least a portion of an encoded version of the media title.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/179 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a scene or a shot
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 19/115 - Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
  • H04N 19/147 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output according to rate distortion criteria
  • H04N 19/149 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output by estimating the code amount by means of a model, e.g. mathematical model or statistical model

35.

INTERACTIVE INTERFACE FOR IDENTIFYING DEFECTS IN VIDEO CONTENT

      
Document Number 03102274
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-12-18
Open to Public Date 2020-08-06
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Soni, Abhishek
  • Prakash, Adithya
  • Ladda, Shraddha
  • Mack, Thomas E.

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing defect identification data that identifies defects in frames of video content. The method may also include generating, as part of the interactive user interface, an interactive element that presents the frames of video content. The method may further include generating, as part of the interactive user interface, another interactive element that presents selectable metadata items associated with the identified defects in the frames of video content. At least one of the selectable metadata items may include an associated user interface action. Then, upon receiving an input selecting one of the selectable metadata items, the method may include performing the associated user interface action. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
  • H04N 21/854 - Content authoring
  • H04N 17/00 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details

36.

BRANCHING LOGIC IN A PLAYBACK ENVIRONMENT

      
Document Number 03102150
Status Pending
Filing Date 2020-01-30
Open to Public Date 2020-08-06
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Lee, Kevin Pei-Wen
  • Jones, Lawrence E., Jr.
  • Lea, Joseph Peyton Iv

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing a pre-rendered multimedia item. The pre-rendered multimedia item may have branching logic associated with it, where the branching logic includes branching points that direct non-sequential playback of the pre-rendered multimedia item. The method may also include initializing playback of the pre-rendered multimedia item and accessing, at the branching points, various trigger conditions that direct playback order of different segments of the pre-rendered multimedia item. The method may then include updating, based on the trigger conditions, at least some portion of custom state data. The method may further include playing back the segments of the pre-rendered multimedia item according to the updated state data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/8541 - Content authoring involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

37.

OPTIMIZING ENCODING OPERATIONS WHEN GENERATING A BUFFER-CONSTRAINED VERSION OF A MEDIA TITLE

      
Document Number 03125607
Status In Force
Filing Date 2020-01-08
Open to Public Date 2020-07-16
Grant Date 2023-11-28
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Katsavounidis, Ioannis

Abstract

In various embodiments, a buffer-based encoding application generates a first convex hull of subsequence encode points based on multiple encoding points and a first subsequence associated with a media title. The buffer-based encoding application then generates a first global convex hull of media encode points based on a transmission buffer constraint, the first convex hull, and a second global convex hull of media encode points. Notably, the second global convex hull is associated with a portion of the media title that occurs before the first subsequence in a playback order for the media title. Subsequently, the subsequence-based encoding application selects a first media encode point included in the first global convex hull based on a media metric and determines a first encoded media sequence based on the selected media encode point. The first encoded media sequence is subsequently streamed to an endpoint device during playback of the media title.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
  • H04N 19/146 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output
  • H04N 19/147 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output according to rate distortion criteria
  • H04N 19/149 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output by estimating the code amount by means of a model, e.g. mathematical model or statistical model
  • H04N 19/15 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output by monitoring actual compressed data size at the memory before deciding storage at the transmission buffer
  • H04N 19/152 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output by measuring the fullness of the transmission buffer

38.

CACHE WARMING: AGILITY FOR A STATEFUL SERVICE

      
Document Number 03102145
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-11-25
Open to Public Date 2020-06-11
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Jayaraman, Deva
  • Madappa, Shashi
  • Enugula, Sridhar
  • Papapanagiotou, Ioannis

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes receiving an indication that cache data is to be copied from an originating cluster having a specified number of replica nodes to a destination cluster having an arbitrary number of replica nodes. The method further includes copying the cache data to a cache dump and creating a log that identifies where the cache data is stored in the cache dump. The method further includes copying the cache data from the cache dump to the replica nodes of the destination cluster. The copying includes writing the copied data in a distributed manner, such that at least a portion of the copied data is distributed over each of the replica nodes in the destination cluster. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 67/10 - Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
  • H04L 67/1095 - Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
  • H04L 67/1097 - Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
  • H04L 67/5682 - Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

39.

TECHNIQUES FOR IDENTIFYING SYNCHRONIZATION ERRORS IN MEDIA TITLES

      
Document Number 03119042
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-11-19
Open to Public Date 2020-05-28
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Puri, Rohit
  • Khosravan, Naji
  • Behrostaghi, Shervin Ardeshir

Abstract

A neural network system that is trained to identify one or more portions of a media title where synchronization errors are likely to be present. The neural network system is trained based on a first set of media titles where synchronization errors are present and a second set of media titles where synchronization errors are absent. The second set of media titles can be generated by introducing synchronization errors into a set of media titles that otherwise lack synchronization errors. Via training, the neural network system learns to identify specific visual features included in one or more video frames and corresponding audio features that should be played back in synchrony with the associated visual features. Accordingly, when presented with a media title that includes synchronization errors, the neural network can indicate the specific frames where synchronization errors are likely to be present.

IPC Classes  ?

40.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE STREAMING OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT

      
Document Number 03106369
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-11-12
Open to Public Date 2020-05-22
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Sharma, Sean
  • Du Pontavice, Guillaume

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method includes determining that audio quality is to be adjusted for a multimedia streaming connection over which audio data and video data are being streamed to a content player. The audio data is streamed at a specified audio quality level and the video data is streamed at a specified video quality level. The method also includes determining that a specified minimum video quality level is to be maintained while adjusting the audio quality level. Still further, the method includes dynamically adjusting the audio quality level of the multimedia streaming connection while maintaining the video quality level of the multimedia streaming connection at at least the specified minimum video quality level. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/2381 - Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an IP [Internet Protocol] network
  • H04N 21/2385 - Channel allocation; Bandwidth allocation
  • H04N 21/239 - Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client requests
  • H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities

41.

IDENTIFYING IMAGE AESTHETICS USING REGION COMPOSITION GRAPHS

      
Document Number 03102017
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-11-07
Open to Public Date 2020-05-14
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Liu, Dong
  • Kamath, Nagendra
  • Puri, Rohit
  • Bhattacharya, Subhabrata

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include generating a three-dimensional (3D) feature map for a digital image using a fully convolutional network (FCN). The 3D feature map may be configured to identify features of the digital image and identify an image region for each identified feature. The method may also include generating a region composition graph that includes the identified features and image regions. The region composition graph may be configured to model mutual dependencies between features of the 3D feature map. The method may further include performing a graph convolution on the region composition graph to determine a feature aesthetic value for each node according to the weightings in the node's weighted connecting segments, and calculating a weighted average for each node's feature aesthetic value to provide a combined level of aesthetic appeal for the digital image. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

42.

TECHNIQUES FOR ENCODING A MEDIA TITLE VIA MULTIPLE ENCODERS

      
Document Number 03118547
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-11-01
Open to Public Date 2020-05-07
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Katsavounidis, Ioannis

Abstract

In various embodiments, a subsequence-based encoding application generates subsequences based on a source sequence associated with a media title. The subsequence-based encoding application then encodes both a first subsequence and a second subsequence across each of multiple configured encoders and at least one rate control value to generate, respectively, a first set of encoded subsequences and a second set of encoded subsequences. Notably, each configured encoder is associated with a combination of an encoder and a configuration, and at least two configured encoders are different from one another. Subsequently, the subsequence-based encoding application generates encoded media sequences based on the first set of encoded subsequences and the second set of encoded subsequences. Finally, the application selects a first encoded media sequence from the encoded media sequences based on a first target value for a media metric to subsequently stream to a first endpoint device during playback of the media title.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/23 - Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
  • H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N 21/854 - Content authoring

43.

TECHNIQUES FOR RECOMMENDING ITEMS TO USERS

      
Document Number 03118083
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-10-30
Open to Public Date 2020-05-07
Grant Date 2024-02-27
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Steck, Harald

Abstract

In various embodiments, a training application generates a preference prediction model based on an interaction matrix and a closed-form solution for minimizing a Lagrangian. The interaction matrix reflects interactions between users and items, and the Lagrangian is formed based on a constrained optimization problem associated with the interaction matrix. A service application generates a first application interface that is to be presented to the user. The service application computes predicted score(s) using the preference prediction model, where each predicted score predicts a preference of the user for a different item. The service application then determines a first item from the items to present to the user via an interface element included in the application interface. Subsequently, the service application causes a representation of the first item to be displayed via the interface element included in the application interface.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
  • G06Q 30/0601 - Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

44.

VIDEO PLAYBACK IN AN ONLINE STREAMING ENVIRONMENT

      
Document Number 03118140
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-11-01
Open to Public Date 2020-05-07
Grant Date 2023-10-03
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Ciuca, Bogdan Joseph
  • Casparro, Tony James
  • Grunewald, Corey James
  • Jaquish, Matthew Jeffrey

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of displaying video content includes, based on an input to transition playback of a video content item from a first media player that is instantiated in a user interface to a second media player that is instantiated in the user interface, determining a current value of a first state descriptor associated with the first media player; setting a value of a second state descriptor associated with the second media player to match the current value of the first state descriptor; and after setting the value of the second state descriptor, causing the second media player to begin playback of the video content item, wherein the second media player begins playing the video content item based on the value of the second state descriptor.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
  • H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content

45.

DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTING TEXT STRINGS BASED ON MACHINE TRANSLATION FEEDBACK

      
Document Number 03102012
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-08-01
Open to Public Date 2020-03-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Brandall, Tim
  • Xu, Shawn

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing a string of text that includes characters written in a first language. The method may next include translating the text string into different languages using machine translation The method may next include identifying, among the translated text strings, a shortest string and a longest string. The method may also include calculating a customized string length adjustment ratio for adjusting the length of the accessed text string based on the shortest translated string length and the longest translated string length. Furthermore, the method may include dynamically applying the calculated customized string length adjustment ratio to the accessed text string, so that the length of the accessed text string may be dynamically adjusted according to the customized string length adjustment ratio. The method may also include presenting the adjusted text string in the user interface. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 40/106 - Display of layout of documents; Previewing
  • G06F 9/451 - Execution arrangements for user interfaces
  • G06F 40/58 - Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation

46.

DYNAMIC TOPOLOGY GENERATION FOR BRANCHING NARRATIVES

      
Document Number 03106982
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-07-25
Open to Public Date 2020-01-30
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Cheung, Maxine
  • Watson, Mark
  • Fisher, Carla Christine
  • Lee, Kevin Pei-Wen
  • Raimond, Yves

Abstract

A playback application is configured to dynamically generate topology for an interactive media title. The playback application obtains an initial topology and also collects various data associated with a user interacting with the feature. The playback application then modifies the initial topology, based on the collected data, to generate a dynamic topology tailored to the user. The dynamic topology describes the set of choices available to the user during playback as well as which options can be selected by the user when making a given choice. In addition, the playback application also selectively buffers different portions of the interactive media title, based on the collected data, in anticipation of the user selecting particular options for available choices.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
  • H04N 21/8541 - Content authoring involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
  • H04N 21/8545 - Content authoring for generating interactive applications

47.

DYNAMIC TOPOLOGY GENERATION FOR BRANCHING NARRATIVES

      
Document Number 03106825
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-07-19
Open to Public Date 2020-01-30
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Cheung, Maxine
  • Watson, Mark
  • Fisher, Carla Christine
  • Lee, Kevin Pei-Wen
  • Raimond, Yves

Abstract

A playback application is configured to dynamically generate topology for an interactive media title. The playback application obtains an initial topology and also collects various data associated with a user interacting with the feature. The playback application then modifies the initial topology, based on the collected data, to generate a dynamic topology tailored to the user. The dynamic topology describes the set of choices available to the user during playback as well as which options can be selected by the user when making a given choice. In addition, the playback application also selectively buffers different portions of the interactive media title, based on the collected data, in anticipation of the user selecting particular options for available choices.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/8541 - Content authoring involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
  • H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
  • H04N 21/4725 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots

48.

TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING AN UPPER BOUND ON VISUAL QUALITY OVER A COMPLETED STREAMING SESSION

      
Document Number 03106628
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-07-15
Open to Public Date 2020-01-23
Grant Date 2023-08-29
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Li, Zhi
  • Huang, Te-Yuan

Abstract

In various embodiments, a hindsight application computes a hindsight metric value for evaluation of a video rate selection algorithm. The hindsight application determines a first encoding option associated with a source chunk of a media title based on a network throughput trace and a buffer trellis. The hindsight application determines that the first encoding option is associated with a buffered duration range. The buffered duration range is also associated with a second encoding option that is stored in the buffer trellis. After determining that the first encoding option is associated with a higher visual quality than the second encoding option, the hindsight application stores the first encoding option instead of the second encoding option in the buffer trellis to generate a modified buffer trellis. Finally, the hindsight application computes a hindsight metric value associated with a sequence of encoded chunks of the media title based on the modified buffer trellis.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/24 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth or upstream requests
  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs

49.

DIFFERENCING ENGINE FOR DIGITAL FORENSICS

      
Document Number 03105888
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-07-17
Open to Public Date 2020-01-23
Grant Date 2023-12-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Monsen, Forest
  • Glisson, Kevin

Abstract

In various embodiments, a forensic scoping application analyzes host instances in order to detect anomalies. The forensic scoping application acquires a snapshot for each host instance included in an instance group. Each snapshot represents a current operational state of the associated host instance. Subsequently, the forensic scoping application performs clustering operation(s) based on the snapshots to generate a set of clusters. The forensic scoping application determines that a first cluster in the set of clusters is associated with fewer host instances than at least a second cluster in the set of clusters. Based on the first cluster, the forensic scoping application determines that a first host instance included in the instance group is operating in an anomalous fashion. Advantageously, efficiently determining host instances that are operating in an anomalous fashion during a security attack can reduce the amount of damage caused by the security attack.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 21/56 - Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
  • G06N 20/00 - Machine learning

50.

TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING A VIDEO RATE SELECTION ALGORITHM OVER A COMPLETED STREAMING SESSION

      
Document Number 03099935
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-05-17
Open to Public Date 2019-11-28
Grant Date 2023-10-17
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Huang, Te-Yuan
  • Ekanadham, Chaitanya
  • Berglund, Andrew J.
  • Li, Zhi

Abstract

In various embodiments, a hindsight application computes a total download size for a sequence of encoded chunks associated with a media title for evaluation of at least one aspect of a video streaming service. The hindsight application computes a feasible download end time associated with a source chunk of the media title based on a network throughput trace and a subsequent feasible download end time associated with a subsequent source chunk of the media title. The hindsight application then selects an encoded chunk associated with the source chunk based on the network throughput trace, the feasible download end time, and a preceding download end time associated with a preceding source chunk of the media title. Subsequently, the hindsight application computes the total download size based on the number of encoded bits included in the first encoded chunk. The total download size correlates to an upper bound on visual quality.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/184 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being bits, e.g. of the compressed video stream
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

51.

DETECTING CREDENTIAL COMPROMISE IN A CLOUD RESOURCE

      
Document Number 03097671
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-05-08
Open to Public Date 2019-11-14
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Bengtson, William
  • Behrens, Scott
  • Mcpeak, Travis

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include initializing a server instance using a specified network address and an associated set of credentials, logging the network address of the initialized server instance as well as the associated set of credentials in a data log, analyzing network service requests to determine that a different server instance with a different network address is requesting a network service using the same set of credentials, accessing the data log to determine whether the second server instance is using a network address that is known to be valid within the network and, upon determining that the second server instance is not using a known network address, preventing the second server instance from performing specified tasks within the network. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

52.

TECHNIQUES FOR SCHEDULED ANTI-ENTROPY REPAIR DESIGN

      
Document Number 03095033
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-03-27
Open to Public Date 2019-10-03
Grant Date 2023-03-28
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Chella, Vinay
  • Lynch, Joseph
  • Upadhyay, Ajay

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein provide techniques for performing distributed anti-entropy repair procedures across a plurality of nodes in a distributed database network. A node included in a plurality of nodes within the distributed database network determines, before all other nodes included in the plurality of nodes, that a first anti-entropy repair procedure has ended. The node determines that a second anti-entropy repair procedure is ready to begin. The node generates a schedule for executing one or more operations associated with the second anti-entropy repair procedure. The node writes the schedule to a shared repair schedule data structure to initiate the second anti-entropy repair procedure across multiple nodes included in the plurality of nodes. Each of the nodes included in the plurality of nodes then performs a node repair based on the schedule.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 9/48 - Program initiating; Program switching, e.g. by interrupt
  • G06F 16/27 - Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

53.

QUANTIFYING PERCEPTUAL QUALITY MODEL UNCERTAINTY VIA BOOTSTRAPPING

      
Document Number 03094357
Status Pending
Filing Date 2019-03-20
Open to Public Date 2019-09-26
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Bampis, Christos
  • Li, Zhi
  • Sharan, Lavanya
  • Novak, Julie
  • Tingley, Martin

Abstract

In various embodiments, a bootstrapping training subsystem performs sampling operation(s) on a training database that includes subjective scores to generate resampled dataset. For each resampled dataset, the bootstrapping training subsystem performs machine learning operation(s) to generate a different bootstrap perceptual quality model. The bootstrapping training subsystem then uses the bootstrap perceptual quality models to quantify the accuracy of a perceptual quality score generated by a baseline perceptual quality model for a portion of encoded video content. Advantageously, relative to prior art solutions in which the accuracy of a perceptual quality score is unknown, the bootstrap perceptual quality models enable developers and software applications to draw more valid conclusions and/or more reliably optimize encoding operations based on the perceptual quality score.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N 19/147 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output according to rate distortion criteria
  • H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
  • G06N 20/20 - Ensemble learning
  • H04N 17/00 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details

54.

TECHNIQUES FOR PREDICTING PERCEPTUAL VIDEO QUALITY BASED ON COMPLEMENTARY PERCEPTUAL QUALITY MODELS

      
Document Number 03089584
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-02-07
Open to Public Date 2019-08-15
Grant Date 2023-09-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Li, Zhi
  • Bampis, Christos

Abstract

In various embodiments, an ensemble prediction application computes a quality score for re-constructed visual content that is derived from visual content. The ensemble prediction application computes a first quality score for the re-constructed video content based on a first set of values for a first set of features and a first model that associates the first set of values with the first quality score. The ensemble prediction application computes a second quality score for the re-constructed video content based on a second set of values for a second set of features and a second model that associates the second set of values with the second quality score. Subsequently, the ensemble prediction application determines an overall quality score for the re-constructed video content based on the first quality score and the second quality score. The overall quality score indicates a level of visual quality associated with streamed video content.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
  • H04N 19/136 - Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
  • G06N 3/02 - Neural networks
  • G06T 7/00 - Image analysis

55.

TECHNIQUES FOR GENERATING SUBTITLES FOR TRAILERS

      
Document Number 03089105
Status In Force
Filing Date 2019-01-14
Open to Public Date 2019-07-25
Grant Date 2023-04-18
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Parthasarathi, Murthy
  • Wang, Yadong
  • Sekh, Boney

Abstract

In various embodiments, a subtitle application generates a subtitle list for a trailer. In operation, the subtitle application performs matching operation(s) between trailer audio associated with a trailer and source audio associated with an audiovisual program. The subtitle application then maps a subtitle associated with the source audio from a source timeline associated with the source audio to a trailer timeline associated with the trailer audio to generate a mapped subtitle. Subsequently, the subtitle application generates a trailer subtitle list based on the mapped subtitle and at least one additional mapped subtitle. Because the subtitle application generates the trailer subtitle list based on audio comparisons, the subtitle application ensures that the proper subtitles are included in the trailer subtitle list without requiring a subtitler to view the trailer.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/8549 - Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer
  • H04N 21/233 - Processing of audio elementary streams
  • H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
  • G11B 27/00 - Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel

56.

TECHNIQUES FOR OPTIMIZING ENCODING TASKS

      
Document Number 03084977
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-12-11
Open to Public Date 2019-06-20
Grant Date 2023-02-14
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Moorthy, Anush
  • Manohara, Megha

Abstract

In various embodiments, a shot collation application causes multiple encoding instances to encode a source video sequence that includes at least two shot sequences. The shot collation application assigns a first shot sequence to a first chunk. Subsequently, the shot collation application determines that a second shot sequence does not meet a collation criterion with respect to the first chunk. Consequently, the shot collation application assigns the second shot sequence or a third shot sequence derived from the second shot sequence to a second chunk. The shot collation application causes a first encoding instance to independently encode each shot sequence assigned to the first chunk. Similarly, the shot collation application causes a second encoding instance to independently encode each shot sequence assigned to the second chunk. Finally, a chunk assembler combines the first encoded chunk and the second encoded chunk to generate an encoded video sequence.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
  • H04N 19/146 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output
  • H04N 19/436 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation using parallelised computational arrangements
  • H04N 19/85 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression

57.

SCALABLE TECHNIQUES FOR EXECUTING CUSTOM ALGORITHMS ON MEDIA ITEMS

      
Document Number 03073519
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-08-31
Open to Public Date 2019-03-07
Grant Date 2022-09-06
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • San Miguel, Francisco J.
  • Mareddy, Naveen
  • Wong, Rick

Abstract

In various embodiments, a workflow engine executes a custom algorithm on a media item. In operation, the workflow engine generates split specifications based on a split function included in a container image. Each split specification is associated with a different portion of the media item. Subsequently, the workflow engine generates map output files based on the split specifications and a map function included in the container image. The workflow engine then generates one or more final output file(s) based on the map output files and a collect function included in the container image. The final output file(s) are subsequently used to perform at least one of an evaluation operation on, a modification operation on, and a representation operation with respect to the media item.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 9/448 - Execution paradigms, e.g. implementations of programming paradigms
  • G06F 9/455 - Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines

58.

TECHNIQUES FOR SYNTHESIZING FILM GRAIN

      
Document Number 03072753
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-08-22
Open to Public Date 2019-02-28
Grant Date 2023-05-16
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Norkin, Andrey

Abstract

In various embodiments, a reconstruction application generates reconstructed video content that includes synthesized film grain. The reconstruction application performs scaling operation(s) on first unit noise based on a piecewise linear scaling function and the brightness component of the decoded video content to generate a brightness component of synthesized film grain. The reconstruction application then generates a brightness component of reconstructed video content based on the brightness component of the synthesized film grain and the brightness component of the decoded video content. Finally, the reconstructed application performs operation(s) related to saving the reconstructed video content to a file and/or further processing the reconstructed video content. Advantageously, the synthesized film grain reliably represents the film grain included in source video content from which the decoded video content was derived.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/85 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression

59.

IDENTIFYING PREVIOUSLY STREAMED PORTIONS OF A MEDIA TITLE TO AVOID REPETITIVE PLAYBACK

      
Document Number 03069853
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-07-10
Open to Public Date 2019-01-24
Grant Date 2022-09-06
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Kansara, Apurvakumar Dilipkumar

Abstract

A sequence analyzer compares different episodes of an episodic serial to identify portions of a current episode of the serial that have already been played back to a user. Those portions may include introductory material such as credits, or a recap section that includes content from previous episodes. The sequence analyzer parses previous episodes of the serial and selects a representative frame for each shot sequence. The sequence analyzer then generates a fingerprint for each shot sequence based on the associated representative frame. The sequence analyzer compares fingerprints associated with a current episode of the serial to fingerprints associated with one or more previous episodes of the serial to identify shot sequences that have already been played. The user may then skip those repeated sequences via a playback interface.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/4545 - Input to filtering algorithms, e.g. filtering a region of the image
  • H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

60.

ENCODING TECHNIQUES FOR OPTIMIZING DISTORTION AND BITRATE

      
Document Number 03069875
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-07-16
Open to Public Date 2019-01-24
Grant Date 2022-08-30
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Katsavounidis, Ioannis

Abstract

An encoding engine encodes a video sequence to provide optimal quality for a given bitrate. The encoding engine cuts the video sequence into a collection of shot sequences. Each shot sequence includes video frames captured from a particular capture point. The encoding engine resamples each shot sequence across a range of different resolutions, encodes each resampled sequence with a range of quality parameters, and then upsamples each encoded sequence to the original resolution of the video sequence. For each upsampled sequence, the en- coding engine computes a quality metric and generates a data point that includes the quality metric and the resample resolution. The encoding engine collects all such data points and then computes the convex hull of the resultant data set. Based on all convex hulls across all shot sequences, the encoding engine determines an optimal collection of shot sequences for a range of bitrates.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
  • H04N 19/124 - Quantisation
  • H04N 19/147 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output according to rate distortion criteria
  • H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
  • H04N 19/179 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a scene or a shot
  • H04N 19/192 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type used for the adaptive coding the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type being iterative or recursive
  • H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution

61.

TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING MEDIA PLAYBACK ERRORS

      
Document Number 03067700
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-06-25
Open to Public Date 2019-01-03
Grant Date 2023-08-01
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Turmel, Frederic
  • Newell, Nicholas

Abstract

An endpoint device outputs frames of test media during a testing procedure. Each frame of test media includes a test pattern. A test module coupled to the endpoint device samples the test pattern and transmits sample data to a media test engine. The media test engine decodes a binary number from the test pattern and then converts the binary number to an integer value that is associated with the corresponding frame. The media test engine then analyzes sequences of these integer values to identify playback errors associated with the endpoint device.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 17/04 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details for receivers
  • H04N 17/00 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details

62.

ACCELERATION SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING PROCESSING OF API CALLS

      
Document Number 03067056
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-06-19
Open to Public Date 2018-12-27
Grant Date 2022-07-12
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Poitrey, Olivier Jean

Abstract

One embodiment includes acceleration systems that operate as intermediaries between the API processing system and the clients to reduce API call roundtrip latencies. The acceleration systems are a network of interconnected systems that are distributed across the globe. A given acceleration system establishes a network connection with a given client and receives a request for processing an API call over the connection. The programming function associated with the API call is configured in the API processing system. The acceleration system facilitates the processing of the API call over an established connection with the API processing system.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 67/02 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
  • H04L 67/1004 - Server selection for load balancing
  • H04L 67/101 - Server selection for load balancing based on network conditions
  • H04L 67/562 - Brokering proxy services
  • H04L 69/163 - In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures

63.

STAGGERED KEY FRAME VIDEO ENCODING

      
Document Number 03066736
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-06-11
Open to Public Date 2018-12-20
Grant Date 2023-08-01
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Mavlankar, Aditya
  • Katsavounidis, Ioannis
  • Watson, Mark

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for encoding video streams associated with the same digital content such that switch points staggered across two video streams occur at every offset temporal distance. The offset temporal distance is less than the distance between two consecutive key frames in a given video stream. This enables a content player to switch to a video stream having a playback quality up or down one level from a current video stream at the offset temporal distance from the most recently played key frame. In effect, the content player does not wait the entire key frame temporal distance before switching.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/172 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a picture, frame or field
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
  • H04N 21/438 - Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
  • H04N 19/114 - Adapting the group of pictures [GOP] structure, e.g. number of B-frames between two anchor frames

64.

TEMPORAL PLACEMENT OF A REBUFFERING EVENT

      
Document Number 03064557
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-05-21
Open to Public Date 2018-12-06
Grant Date 2022-03-29
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Katsavounidis, Ioannis
  • Watson, Mark
  • Hipple, Aaron
  • Wolcott, Will

Abstract

A method includes receiving, with a computing system, data representing a video item into a buffer. The method further includes outputting the video item from the buffer to a display system. The method further includes determining that utilization of the buffer falls below a predetermined threshold. The method further includes, in response to determining that the utilization of the buffer falls below the predetermined threshold, determining that there is a specified rebuffering point within a predetermined time frame. The method further includes pausing with the computing system, the video item at the specified rebuffering point in response to determining that there is the specified rebuffering point within the predetermined time frame.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs

65.

ITERATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR ENCODING VIDEO CONTENT

      
Document Number 03052657
Status In Force
Filing Date 2018-02-23
Open to Public Date 2018-08-30
Grant Date 2022-01-18
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Katsavounidis, Ioannis

Abstract

In various embodiments, an iterative encoding application encodes a source video sequence. The encoding optimization application generates a set of shot encode points based on a set of encoding points and a first shot sequence included in the source video sequence. Each shot encode point is associated with a different encoded shot sequence. The encoding optimization application performs convex hull operation(s) across the set of shot encode points to generate a first convex hull associated with the first shot sequence. Subsequently, the encoding optimization application generates encoded video sequences based on the first convex hull and a second convex hull associated with a second shot sequence included in the source video sequence. The encoding optimization application computes a new encoding point based on the encoded video sequences and a target value for a first video metric and then generates an optimized encoded video sequence based on the new encoding point.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
  • H04N 19/124 - Quantisation
  • H04N 19/147 - Data rate or code amount at the encoder output according to rate distortion criteria
  • H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
  • H04N 19/179 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a scene or a shot
  • H04N 19/192 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type used for the adaptive coding the adaptation method, adaptation tool or adaptation type being iterative or recursive
  • H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution

66.

PACKET LOSS TOLERANT TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL CONGESTION CONTROL

      
Document Number 03042283
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-11-09
Open to Public Date 2018-07-05
Grant Date 2023-11-21
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Xie, Qiaobing

Abstract

During a Transmission Control Protocol ("TCP") session, a sending endpoint computer monitors amounts of data sent and patterns of data loss as data is sent to a receiving endpoint computer. The sending endpoint computer periodically determines whether data is being sent below, at or above path capacity, based on the monitored amounts of data sent and pattems of data loss observed. The sending endpoint computer periodically dynamically adjusts the rate at which data is sent to the receiving endpoint computer, in response to the determinations whether data is being sent below, at or above path capacity.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 43/0829 - Packet loss
  • H04L 43/0882 - Utilisation of link capacity
  • H04L 45/00 - Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks
  • H04L 47/25 - Flow control; Congestion control with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
  • H04L 47/263 - Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
  • H04L 47/27 - Evaluation or update of window size, e.g. using information derived from acknowledged [ACK] packets
  • H04L 47/32 - Flow control; Congestion control by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames

67.

SOURCE-CONSISTENT TECHNIQUES FOR PREDICTING ABSOLUTE PERCEPTUAL VIDEO QUALITY

      
Document Number 03046198
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-12-06
Open to Public Date 2018-06-21
Grant Date 2023-09-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Li, Zhi
  • Aaron, Anne
  • Moorthy, Anush
  • Bampis, Christos

Abstract

In various embodiments, a perceptual quality application computes an absolute quality score for encoded video content. In operation, the perceptual quality application selects a model based on the spatial resolution of the video content from which the encoded video content is derived. The model associates a set of objective values for a set of objective quality metrics with an absolute quality score. The perceptual quality application determines a set of target objective values for the objective quality metrics based on the encoded video content. Subsequently, the perceptual quality application computes the absolute quality score for the encoded video content based on the selected model and the set of target objective values. Because the absolute quality score is independent of the quality of the video content, the absolute quality score accurately reflects the perceived quality of a wide range of encoded video content when decoded and viewed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
  • H04N 19/00 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
  • H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution

68.

TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SUBJECTIVE DATA

      
Document Number 03042247
Status Pending
Filing Date 2017-11-03
Open to Public Date 2018-05-11
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Li, Zhi

Abstract

In various embodiments, a subjective modeling engine mitigates inaccuracies in subjective content assessments. The subjective modeling engine generates a model that includes the subjective content assessments in addition to parameters for subjective scores and subjective factors. The subjective modeling engine initializes the parameters and then performs optimization operations that increase the likelihood that the optimized subjective scores compensate for the optimized subjective factors. Advantageously, because the subjective modeling engine jointly optimizes the subjective scores and the subjective factors, the optimized subjective scores provide unbiased and consistent digital content assessments.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
  • H04N 17/00 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details

69.

CONSTANT-SLOPE BITRATE ALLOCATION FOR DISTRIBUTED ENCODING

      
Document Number 03041044
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-10-17
Open to Public Date 2018-04-26
Grant Date 2022-08-09
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • De Cock, Jan
  • Aaron, Anne

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a bitrate allocation engine allocates bitrates for distributed encoding of source data. Upon receiving a chunk of source data, the bitrate allocation engine generates a curve based on multiple points that each specify a different visual quality level and corresponding encoding bitrate for encoding the chunk. Subsequently, the bitrate allocation engine computes an optimized encoding bitrate based on the generated curve and an optimization factor that is associated with different visual quality levels and corresponding encoding bitrates for multiple chunks of the source data. The bitrate allocation engine then causes the chunk to be encoded at the optimized encoding bitrate. Advantageously, the resulting encoded chunk is optimized with respect to the optimization factor for multiple chunks of the source data.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments

70.

TECHNIQUES FOR GENERATING SNAPSHOTS OF DATASETS

      
Document Number 03039535
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-10-05
Open to Public Date 2018-04-12
Grant Date 2022-07-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Koszewnik, John Andrew

Abstract

In various embodiments, a write state application generates a snapshot that includes one or more data values associated with a source dataset. In operation, the write state application performs one or more compression operations on the source dataset to generate a first compressed record. The write state application then serializes the first compressed record and a second compressed record to generate a first compressed record list. Finally, the write state application generates the snapshot based on the first compressed record list. When the data values are accessed from the first snapshot, the size of the snapshot is maintained. Advantageously, because the size of the snapshot is smaller than the size of the source dataset, some consumers that are unable to store the entire source dataset in random access memory (RAM) are able to store the entire snapshot in RAM.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
  • G06F 16/70 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of video data

71.

TECHNIQUES FOR GENERATING AND OPERATING ON IN-MEMORY DATASETS

      
Document Number 03039537
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-10-05
Open to Public Date 2018-04-12
Grant Date 2022-08-16
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Koszewnik, John Andrew

Abstract

In various embodiments, a consumer generates and operates with an in-memory dataset. In operation, a read state application copies a snapshot associated with a source dataset from a file store to a random access memory (RAM) to generate an in-memory dataset. Notably, the source dataset has a first size, and the in-memory dataset has a second size that is smaller than the first size. The read state application then performs a read-only operation on the in-memory dataset to access one or more data values that are stored in the in-memory dataset and associated with the source dataset. When the one or more data values are accessed, the second data size of the in-memory dataset is maintained. Advantageously, some consumers that are unable to store the entire source dataset in are able to store the entire snapshot in RAM.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
  • G06F 16/70 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of video data
  • G06F 12/00 - Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures

72.

TECHNIQUES FOR INCORPORATING A TEXT-CONTAINING IMAGE INTO A DIGITAL IMAGE

      
Document Number 03039345
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-10-02
Open to Public Date 2018-04-12
Grant Date 2022-07-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Kansara, Apurvakumar Dilipkumar

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for incorporating a text-containing image into a digital. The technique includes analyzing a digital image to determine one or more text-allowed regions included in the digital image, and, for each of the one or more text-allowed regions, computing a numeric value based on a color contrast between pixels of a text-containing image and pixels of the text-allowed region, wherein the text-containing image is to be incorporated into one of the text-allowed regions included in the digital image. The technique further includes selecting a first text-allowed region based at least in part on the numeric value computed for each text-allowed region, and incorporating the text-containing image into the first text-allowed region included in the digital image.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06T 11/60 - Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

73.

DETECTING SERVICE VULNERABILITIES IN A DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING SYSTEM

      
Document Number 03036924
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-09-27
Open to Public Date 2018-04-05
Grant Date 2021-07-06
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Basiri, Ali
  • Blohowiak, Aaron
  • Hochstein, Lorin
  • Rosenthal, Casey

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for testing microservices in distributed computing systems. The technique includes routing a first traffic sample associated with request traffic from one or more client devices to a first instance of a first service implemented in a distributed computing system, wherein the first instance generates a first plurality of request responses in response to a first plurality of data requests included in the first traffic sample and transmits the first plurality of request responses to a second service included in the sequence of services, and routing a second traffic sample associated with the request traffic to a second instance of the first service, wherein the second instance generates a second plurality of request responses in response to a second plurality of data requests included in the second traffic sample and transmits the second plurality of request responses to the second service.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 9/50 - Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
  • G06F 11/30 - Monitoring

74.

COMPRESSING FORWARDING TABLES

      
Document Number 03033779
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-08-14
Open to Public Date 2018-02-22
Grant Date 2021-05-25
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Bannister, David

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for compressing a forwarding table. The technique includes selecting, from a listing of network prefixes, a plurality of network prefixes that are within a range of a subnet. The technique further includes sorting the plurality of network prefixes to generate one or more subgroups of network prefixes and selecting a first subgroup of network prefixes included in the one or more subgroups of network prefixes. The technique further includes generating a synthetic supernet based on the first subgroup of network prefixes.

IPC Classes  ?

75.

LOCALIZATION PLATFORM THAT LEVERAGES PREVIOUSLY TRANSLATED CONTENT

      
Document Number 03032614
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-08-01
Open to Public Date 2018-02-15
Grant Date 2023-10-03
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Bihani, Ballav
  • Sundaram, Vidyalakshmi Vilathur
  • Bhattacharyya, Prosenjit
  • Moreno, Jose
  • Mathada, Shashidhara

Abstract

The invention provides a computer-implemented method, which includes receiving a request to translate an element of source text from an origin language to a target language. The method further requires searching a database for an element of matching text in the origin language that at least partially matches the element of source text. Then, if an element of matching text is found in the database, then reading from the database an element of previously translated text that is mapped to the element of matching text and includes at least one word that is translated into the target language, transmitting the element of source text, the element of matching text, the element of previously translated text, and a mapping between the element of source text and the element of matching text to a location for translation, or if an element of matching text is not found in the database, then transmitting the element of source text to the location for translation.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 40/47 - Machine-assisted translation, e.g. using translation memory
  • G06F 40/58 - Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation

76.

TECHNIQUES FOR ROBUSTLY PREDICTING PERCEPTUAL VIDEO QUALITY

      
Document Number 03020306
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-04-03
Open to Public Date 2017-10-12
Grant Date 2021-09-07
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Aaron, Anne
  • Li, Zhi
  • Goodall, Todd

Abstract

In various embodiments, a quality trainer trains a model that computes a value for a perceptual video quality metric for encoded video content. During a pre-training phase, the quality trainer partitions baseline values for metrics that describe baseline encoded video content into partitions based on genre. The quality trainer then performs cross-validation operations on the partitions to optimize hyperparameters associated with the model. Subsequently, during a training phase, the quality trainer performs training operations on the model that includes the optimized hyperparameters based on the baseline values for the metrics to generate a trained model. The trained model accurately tracks the video quality for the baseline encoded video content. Further, because the cross-validation operations minimize any potential overfitting, the trained model accurately and consistently predicts perceived video quality for non-baseline encoded video content across a wide range of genres.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/00 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals

77.

PERSPECTIVE CORRECTION FOR CURVED DISPLAY SCREENS

      
Document Number 03016906
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-03-10
Open to Public Date 2017-09-14
Grant Date 2023-03-14
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Russell, Michael

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing perspective correction on one or more test images. The technique includes analyzing a first test image to detect a set of outer points and calculating a geometric plane equation based on the set of outer points. The technique further includes projecting a first set of points associated with a first curved screen model based on the geometric plane equation to generate a second set of points. The technique further includes comparing the second set of points to a set of inner points included in the first test image to determine at least one error value, and determining a screen curvature value based on the at least one error value.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G09G 3/00 - Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
  • H04N 17/00 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details

78.

ONLINE TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSING USER INTERFACE DEPLOYMENTS IN A NETWORK-BASED MEDIA SYSTEM

      
Document Number 03016909
Status In Force
Filing Date 2017-03-08
Open to Public Date 2017-09-14
Grant Date 2024-02-20
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Gomez-Uribe, Carlos A.

Abstract

A system of assessing deployments in a network-based media system is provided herein. The system include a data storage system storing observation vectors, each observation vector being associated with an outcome indicator, and a processing device in communication with the data storage system to receive and store observation vectors and associated outcome indicators. The processing device performs operations including communicating with an endpoint device of a user to obtain information associated with the endpoint device; and transmitting an instance of a variable user interface to the endpoint device for presentation to the user via the endpoint device based on the stored observation vectors, the stored associated outcome indicators, and the obtained information associated with the endpoint device. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 43/10 - Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
  • H04W 8/24 - Transfer of terminal data
  • H04L 41/142 - Network analysis or design using statistical or mathematical methods
  • H04L 67/303 - Terminal profiles
  • H04L 67/75 - Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

79.

HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE COLOR CONVERSION CORRECTION

      
Document Number 03004769
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-11-09
Open to Public Date 2017-05-18
Grant Date 2020-08-04
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Norkin, Andrey

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for correcting color values. The technique includes downsampling first color space values to generate downsampled color space values and upsampling the downsampled color space values to generate second color space values. The technique further includes modifying at least one component value included in the downsampled color space values based on a first component value included in the first color space values, a second component value included in the second color space values, and an approximation of a nonlinear transfer function.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/86 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving reduction of coding artifacts, e.g. of blockiness
  • H04N 19/10 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding

80.

TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING CLIENT-SIDE EFFECTS OF SERVER-SIDE BEHAVIOR USING CANARY ANALYSIS

      
Document Number 03002807
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-10-18
Open to Public Date 2017-04-27
Grant Date 2023-02-14
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Cohen, Michael Lloyd

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a sticky canary router routes each request associated with a service to either a canary cluster of servers that implement a modification to the service or a baseline cluster of servers that do not implement the modification. The sticky canary router implements a mapping algorithm that determines the routing of each request based on a current time, a time window for the routing, and a characteristic of the request. Notably, the mapping algorithm may be implemented such that, for time segments with duration equal to the time window, the sticky canary router routes all requests received from a particular device in a consistent fashion ¨ either to the canary cluster or to a baseline cluster. Configured thusly, the sticky canary router enables the analysis of approximately full sections of client interactions with the canary servers, thereby facilitating identification of client-side effects of the changes.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 11/36 - Preventing errors by testing or debugging of software

81.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURITY AND RISK ASSESSMENT AND TESTING OF APPLICATIONS

      
Document Number 02998749
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-10-04
Open to Public Date 2017-04-13
Grant Date 2021-03-16
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Hoernecke, Andy
  • Chan, Jason

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for monitoring and assessing the security and risk presented by applications deployed in a complex computing environment. An exemplary application security system includes a server having a processing device in communication with storage systems, computing devices executing application instances configured to receive and transmit information over a network, and a security testing system including a first test module that is associated with a first application, which is associated with one or more of the application instances. The processing device of the server retrieves information about the first application, including current dependency information of the first application, calculates a security risk score for the first application based on the information, determines a security priority level associated with first application, and associates the security priority level of the first application with the first application in a database of application security information.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 11/36 - Preventing errors by testing or debugging of software

82.

MITIGATING DRIFT IN AUDIOVISUAL ASSETS

      
Document Number 02997016
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-08-29
Open to Public Date 2017-03-09
Grant Date 2022-05-03
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Chakrovorthy, Sreeram
  • Tiwary, Shinjan
  • Sutherland, Harold
  • Puri, Rohit

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for mitigating drift in audiovisual assets. The technique includes determining that an edit associated with a presentation timeline is within boundaries of a video frame. The technique further includes calculating a temporal drift associated with the edit, where the temporal drift comprises a duration of time between the edit and a boundary of the video frame. The technique further includes determining whether to include the video frame in the presentation timeline based on the temporal drift and an accumulated temporal drift associated with the presentation timeline.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G11B 27/02 - Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/2368 - Multiplexing of audio and video streams
  • H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
  • H04N 21/44 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 5/262 - Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects

83.

DETERMINING NATIVE RESOLUTIONS OF VIDEO SEQUENCES

      
Document Number 02989430
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-06-23
Open to Public Date 2016-12-29
Grant Date 2020-06-02
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Katsavounidis, Ioannis

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a native resolution analyzer generates a log-magnitude spectrum that elucidates sampling operations that have been performed on a scene. In operation, the native resolution analyzer performs a transform operation of a color component associated with a frame included in the scene to generate a frame spectrum. The native resolution analyzer then normalizes the magnitudes associated with the frame spectrum and logarithmically scales the normalized magnitudes to create a log-magnitude frame spectrum. This two dimensional log-magnitude frame spectrum serves as a frequency signature for the frame. More specifically, patterns in the log-magnitude spectrum reflect re-sampling operations, such as a down-sampling and subsequent up-sampling, that may have been performed on the frame. By analyzing the log-magnitude spectrum, discrepancies between the display resolution of the scene and the lowest resolution with which the scene has been processed may be detected in an automated fashion.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06T 7/00 - Image analysis
  • H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs
  • H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
  • H04N 21/2662 - Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities

84.

TECHNIQUES FOR PREDICTING PERCEPTUAL VIDEO QUALITY

      
Document Number 02985771
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-05-09
Open to Public Date 2016-11-17
Grant Date 2020-05-26
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Aaron, Anne
  • Kim, Dae
  • Lin, Yu-Chieh
  • Ronca, David
  • Schuler, Andy
  • Tsao, Kuyen
  • Wu, Chi-Hao

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a quality trainer and quality calculator collaborate to establish a consistent perceptual quality metric via machine learning. In a training phase, the quality trainer leverages machine intelligence techniques to create a perceptual quality model that combines objective metrics to optimally track a subjective metric assigned during viewings of training videos. Subsequently, the quality calculator applies the perceptual quality model to values for the objective metrics for a target video, thereby generating a perceptual quality score for the target video. In this fashion, the perceptual quality model judiciously fuses the objective metrics for the target video based on the visual feedback processed during the training phase. Since the contribution of each objective metric to the perceptual quality score is determined based on empirical data, the perceptual quality score is a more accurate assessment of observed video quality than conventional objective metrics.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
  • H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • G06T 7/00 - Image analysis
  • G06T 7/20 - Analysis of motion

85.

TIERED CACHE FILLING

      
Document Number 02984312
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-04-28
Open to Public Date 2016-11-03
Grant Date 2021-08-10
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Chen, Andrew
  • Brand, Christopher
  • Ellis, Daniel P.
  • Gutarin, Alex

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for replicating a file within a network of servers. The technique includes determining one or more regional master servers included in a regional cluster of servers and causing each regional master sever to retrieve a file from a fill source. The technique further includes, for at least one local cluster of servers included in the regional cluster of servers, determining one or more local master servers included in the at least one local cluster of servers, and causing each local master server to retrieve the file from one of the one or more regional master servers.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 16/182 - Distributed file systems
  • G06F 16/172 - Caching, prefetching or hoarding of files
  • H04L 12/16 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations

86.

GLOBAL RECOMMENDATION SYSTEMS FOR OVERLAPPING MEDIA CATALOGS

      
Document Number 02980326
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-04-05
Open to Public Date 2016-10-13
Grant Date 2021-09-07
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Todd, Michael
  • Elahi, Ehtsham
  • Fenton, Aish
  • Uribe, Carlos Gomez

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and a system for implementation the method are provided. The method includes receiving user activity data for a first set of users of a streaming media system, in which the first set of users having access to a first catalog. Additional user activity data for a second set of users is received. The second set of users has access to a second catalog, which includes media items also present in the first catalog. The second catalog further includes an exclusive media item that is not included in the first catalog. A probability that a user of the first set of users would play the exclusive media item if presented by the streaming media system with the exclusive media item is determined. Information is provided o a user of the second set of users as a recommendation to play the exclusive media item based on the probability.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
  • H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
  • H04N 21/4627 - Rights management

87.

TECHNIQUES FOR OPTIMIZING BITRATES AND RESOLUTIONS DURING ENCODING

      
Document Number 02979680
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-03-10
Open to Public Date 2016-10-06
Grant Date 2020-10-27
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Aaron, Anne
  • Ronca, David
  • Katsavounidis, Ioannis
  • Schuler, Andy

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, an encoding bitrate ladder selector tailors bitrate ladders to the complexity of source data. Upon receiving source data, a complexity analyzer configures an encoder to repeatedly encode the source data-setting a constant quantization parameter to a different value for each encode. The complexity analyzer processes the encoding results to determine an equation that relates a visual quality metric to an encoding bitrate. The bucketing unit solves this equation to estimate a bucketing bitrate at a predetermined value of the visual quality metric. Based on the bucketing bitrate, the bucketing unit assigns the source data to a complexity bucket having an associated, predetermined bitrate ladder. Advantageously, sagaciously selecting the bitrate ladder enables encoding that optimally reflects tradeoffs between quality and resources (e.g., storage and bandwidth) across a variety of source data types instead of a single, "typical" source data type.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/154 - Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion
  • H04N 19/115 - Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
  • H04N 19/124 - Quantisation

88.

DETECTING SEGMENTS OF A VIDEO PROGRAM

      
Document Number 02979177
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-02-11
Open to Public Date 2016-09-22
Grant Date 2021-01-26
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Kansara, Apurvakumar

Abstract

In an embodiment, a data store storing a first video and a second video that is associated with the first video; a computer processor coupled to the data store and programmed to: generate a first model fingerprint of the first video, based on pixels in a first model frame in a first model segment of the first video stored in the data store; generate a first test fingerprint of the second video based on pixels in a first test frame in the second video stored in the data store; determine a first closeness value between the first model fingerprint and the first test fingerprint; determine, based on the first closeness value, whether the first test frame is a first boundary of a first segment in the second video, wherein the first segment in the second video is similar to the first model segment in the first video.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof
  • H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
  • G11B 27/10 - Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel

89.

TECHNIQUES FOR IDENTIFYING ERRORS INTRODUCED DURING ENCODING

      
Document Number 02976246
Status In Force
Filing Date 2016-02-10
Open to Public Date 2016-08-18
Grant Date 2021-11-02
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Aaron, Anne
  • Ma, Zhonghua

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, an encode validator identifies and classifies errors introduced during the parallel chunk-based translation of a source to a corresponding aggregate encode. In operation, upon receiving a source for encoding, a frame difference generator creates a frame difference file for the source. A parallel encoder then distributes per-chunk encoding operations across machines and creates an aggregate encode. The encode validator decodes the aggregate encode and creates a corresponding frame difference file. Subsequently, the encode validator performs phase correlation operations between the two frame difference files to detect errors generated by encoding process faults (i.e., dropping a frame, etc.) while suppressing discrepancies inherent in encoding, such as those attributable to low bit-rate encoding. Advantageously, since the encode validator leverages frame difference files, this indirect verification technique enables efficient debugging of parallel encoding processes in which the complete source is unavailable for post-encode analysis.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 19/436 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation using parallelised computational arrangements
  • H04N 19/176 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being an image region, e.g. an object the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
  • H04N 19/65 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using error resilience
  • H04N 19/89 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression involving methods or arrangements for detection of transmission errors at the decoder
  • H04N 17/00 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details

90.

DISTRIBUTED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUES

      
Document Number 02962228
Status In Force
Filing Date 2015-09-23
Open to Public Date 2016-03-31
Grant Date 2023-09-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Chan, Jason
  • Udupi, Poornaprajna
  • Madappa, Shashi

Abstract

Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for implementing a distributed firewall. In an embodiment, many different computer assets police incoming messages based on local policy data. This local policy data is synchronized with global policy data. The global policy data is generated by one or more separate analyzers. Each analyzer has access to message logs, or information derived therefrom, for groups of computer assets, and is thus able to generate policies based on intelligence from an entire group as opposed to an isolated asset. Among other effects, some of the approaches, techniques, and mechanisms may be effective even in computing environments with limited supervision over the attack surface, and/or computing environments in which assets may need to make independent decisions with respect to how incoming messages should be handled, on account of latency and/or unreliability in connections to other system components.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 67/10 - Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
  • H04L 9/40 - Network security protocols
  • G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions

91.

DISTRIBUTED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUES

      
Document Number 03207248
Status Pending
Filing Date 2015-09-23
Open to Public Date 2016-03-31
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Chan, Jason
  • Udupi, Poornaprajna
  • Madappa, Shashi

Abstract

Various embodiments include storing local policy data describing policies in at least one of a global resource cache, a subject rules cache, or a subject resource cache; receiving one or more messages from one or more client devices that indicate designated actions to be performed; determining one or more policies that are stored in at least one of the global resource cache, the subject rules cache, or the subject resource cache to apply the one or more messages; identifying at least one of a policy¬ based action that is performed instead of designated actions indicated by the one or more messages or a policy-based action that is performed in addition to the designated actions indicated by the one or more messages; transmitting message information logged from the one or more messages to an analyzer component; and updating the local policy data based on policy data generated by the analyzer component.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 67/5682 - Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
  • G06F 21/55 - Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
  • H04L 51/212 - Monitoring or handling of messages using filtering or selective blocking

92.

AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF PREFERENCES FOR SUBTITLES AND DUBBING

      
Document Number 02955363
Status In Force
Filing Date 2015-07-14
Open to Public Date 2016-01-21
Grant Date 2022-09-27
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Wilson, Haley
  • Wu, Eddy
  • Makharia, Ritesh
  • Rahman, Taskin
  • Fisher-Ogden, Philip

Abstract

In an approach, a server computer receives a request from a client computer specifying content for a user, wherein the content is associated with an original language. In response to receiving the request, the server computer selects a preferred audio language and a preferred subtitle language for the content based on a record of a database. The server computer returns data that the client computer uses to obtain the content using the preferred audio language and the preferred subtitle language from a content delivery network (CDN). The server computer receives a message from the client computer that identifies a presented audio language and a presented subtitle language that were presented to the user. In response to a determination that the presented audio language differs from the preferred audio language or that the presented subtitle language differs from the preferred subtitle language, the server computer updates the particular record.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
  • H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N 21/266 - Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system or merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
  • H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
  • H04N 21/485 - End-user interface for client configuration
  • H04N 21/488 - Data services, e.g. news ticker
  • H04N 21/658 - Transmission by the client directed to the server
  • H04N 21/81 - Monomedia components thereof

93.

RELATIONSHIP-BASED SEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS

      
Document Number 02829356
Status In Force
Filing Date 2013-10-04
Open to Public Date 2014-04-04
Grant Date 2017-11-07
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Gomez Uribe, Carlos
  • Sabah, Mohammad
  • Bharadwaj, Vijay
  • Parthasarathy, Sasi
  • Angrish, Siddharth

Abstract

Techniques are described for determining relationships between user activities and determining search results and content recommendations based on the relationships. A plays-related-to-searches application may determine a relationship score between plays of a media title and searches of a query by determining a distance between a projection of the search onto the space of the users and a projection of plays of the media title onto the space of the users. A plays-after-searches application may determine a score for plays of the streaming media title given the search by multiplying a number of times plays of the media title occur after the query is entered by the number of times any play occurs, and dividing by a product of the number of times plays of the media title occur after any query is entered and the number of times plays of any media title occur after the query is entered.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data

94.

RELATIONSHIP-BASED SEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS

      
Document Number 02829359
Status In Force
Filing Date 2013-10-04
Open to Public Date 2014-04-04
Grant Date 2018-02-20
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Gomez Uribe, Carlos
  • Sabah, Mohammad
  • Bharadwaj, Vijay
  • Parthasarathy, Sasi
  • Angrish, Siddharth

Abstract

Techniques are described for determining relationships between user activities and determining search results and content recommendations based on the relationships. A plays-related-to-searches application may determine a relationship score between plays of a media title and searches of a query by determining a distance between a projection of the search onto the space of the users and a projection of plays of the media title onto the space of the users. A plays- after-searches application may determine a score for plays of the streaming media title given the search by multiplying a number of times plays of the media title occur after the query is entered by the number of times any play occurs, and dividing by a product of the number of times plays of the media title occur after any query is entered and the number of times plays of any media title occur after the query is entered.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 

95.

APPLICATION DISCOVERY

      
Document Number 02820342
Status In Force
Filing Date 2013-06-26
Open to Public Date 2013-12-28
Grant Date 2018-06-19
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • White, Jean-Marie
  • Danciu, Daniel

Abstract

The disclosure describes methods or communication protocols that enable second- screen applications, such as smartphones, to discover and launch first-screen applications on first-screen devices, such as Internet enabled high definition televisions. Second-screen devices can search local networks for the presence of discovery servers on first-screen devices. Well-known protocols such as RESTful HTTP services and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) may be leveraged to implement the discovery servers. Once located, the discovery servers may assist communications and interactions between the first-screen and second-screen devices, allowing a specified application to be launched on the first-screen device and controlled from a local application on the second-screen device. The specified application may be installed if not previously installed, and may also be hosted as a web application on a cloud server accessible outside of the local network, for example on the Internet.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies 
  • H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
  • H04L 67/025 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
  • H04L 67/10 - Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
  • H04L 67/51 - Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

96.

UPSTREAM FAULT DETECTION

      
Document Number 02813380
Status In Force
Filing Date 2013-04-18
Open to Public Date 2013-10-19
Grant Date 2017-02-14
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Orzell, Gregory
  • Funge, John
  • Chen, David

Abstract

Techniques are described for detecting faults in media content based on the behavior of users viewing the media content. Embodiments stream a first instance of media content to one or more users. The behavior of the one or more users is monitored while the users are viewing the streaming first instance of media content. Embodiments then determine whether the first instance of media content is faulty, based on the monitored behavior of the one or more users.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04H 60/33 - Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
  • H04N 21/647 - Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load or bridging bet
  • H04L 65/80 - Responding to QoS

97.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING THE RESILIENCY OF A DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING SERVICE BY INDUCING A LATENCY

      
Document Number 02810869
Status In Force
Filing Date 2013-03-26
Open to Public Date 2013-10-12
Grant Date 2017-03-21
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Tseitlin, Ariel
  • Sadhu, Praveen
  • Tonse, Sudhir
  • Kamath, Pradeep

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for validating the resiliency of a networked application made available using a distributed computing infrastructure. In one embodiment, a latency monitoring application observes each active application component and at specified or unspecified intervals, selects one and introduces latency or error messages in one or more messages emanating from the selected active application component. The latency monitoring application then measures the effect of the latency or error messages on other active application components that are dependent on the affected active application component. By observing the effects of the failed server on the rest of the network application, a provider can ensure that each component can tolerate any unexpected latency or error conditions with the distributed computing infrastructure.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04L 69/329 - Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
  • G06F 11/30 - Monitoring
  • H04L 12/16 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations

98.

MERCHANDISING STREAMING VIDEO CONTENT

      
Document Number 02844665
Status In Force
Filing Date 2012-08-08
Open to Public Date 2013-02-14
Grant Date 2019-09-24
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Yellin, Todd Scot
  • Purnell-Fisher, Thomas
  • Marenghi, Matt

Abstract

Techniques are described for merchandising streaming media content to viewers in an engaging manner. A streaming media device may provide a content browsing interface configured to merchandise a set of streaming media titles to a viewer. Rather than rely solely on scrolling lists, titles, box shots, or other metadata associated with the titles available in the streaming media library, the content browsing interface merchandises the library by presenting short merchandising previews of the titles. Doing so creates an engaging content browsing experience where viewers are presented with the actual content of titles available from a streaming media service.

IPC Classes  ?

  • H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfaces; Content or additional data rendering
  • H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
  • H04N 21/8549 - Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer

99.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBFUSCATING INITIATION VALUES OF A CRYPTOGRAPHY PROTOCOL

      
Document Number 02844359
Status In Force
Filing Date 2012-07-19
Open to Public Date 2013-01-31
Grant Date 2018-12-04
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor
  • Zollinger, Mitch
  • Paun, Filip

Abstract

A computer-implemented technique for determining whether a first computing device has the correct version of a software program may be used to provide a secure approach to verifying that a client computing device has a secure and approved version of content player software implemented for consuming downloaded copyright media content. With this technique, copyright media content providers are able to ensure that only secure and approved content players are implemented to access the content.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 21/57 - Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
  • H04L 9/08 - Key distribution
  • H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system

100.

FAST START OF STREAMING DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYBACK WITH DEFERRED LICENSE RETRIEVAL

      
Document Number 02840091
Status In Force
Filing Date 2012-06-22
Open to Public Date 2012-12-27
Grant Date 2017-11-28
Owner NETFLIX, INC. (USA)
Inventor Hunt, Neil D.

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for deferring license retrieval when streaming digital media content. The perceived delay between the time a user selects the protected digital media content to when playback of the protected digital media content begins is reduced because retrieval and playback of an unprotected version of a portion of the digital media content starts before the license and protected version of the digital media content is received. The unprotected version includes fast start streams of audio and video data that may encoded at a lower bit rate than the protected version in order to quickly transfer the fast start streams from the content server to the playback device.

IPC Classes  ?

  • G06F 21/10 - Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material
  • H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N 21/83 - Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
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