US 9762639

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 9762639:

Title: Dynamic manifest generation based on client identity
Assignee: Adeia Media Holdings Inc. (current), Brightcove Inc. (original)
Inventors: Albert John McGowan, Michael M. Gordon
Filing Date: October 28, 2016
Issue Date: September 12, 2017
Abstract: The patent describes techniques for dynamically rewriting timestamps in media streams that transition between different sources, such as live content and on-demand content, to ensure error-free streaming for the client. This is achieved by coordinating the creation of a client manifest with the dynamic generation of media segments ("chunks") to apply continuous timestamps across the transition.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Please note: The provided patent text does not include the numbered "Claims" section. Instead, it describes "An example method," "An example server," and "An example non-transitory computer-readable medium" within its "Definitions" and "Brief Summary of the Invention" sections. These descriptions typically correspond to the independent claims in a patent. The following overviews are based on these exemplary descriptions.

• Example Method Claim (Method of Providing Media Streaming):
  This method involves a system receiving a live media stream and its timing information. When a request to stream this live content is received, the system creates a manifest file. This manifest file is unique because it contains information for streaming parts of the live media and parts of a separate media file (like an advertisement). Crucially, the manifest includes "offset information" derived from the live stream's timing to ensure that the distinct media file segments are presented with continuous timestamps, thereby preventing playback errors during transitions between live and non-live content. The manifest file is then sent to the requesting client.

• Example Server Claim (Server for Providing Media Streaming):
  This claim describes a server equipped with a communications interface, memory, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to perform the actions outlined in the example method. Specifically, it receives live media content, obtains its timing information, and responds to a request to stream this content by creating a manifest file. This manifest file, as described above, includes information for both live and distinct media segments, along with offset information for continuous timestamps. The server then sends this manifest file.

• Example Computer-Readable Medium Claim (Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium):
  This claim covers a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., storage device) containing instructions. When a computer executes these instructions, it performs the steps of the example method. These steps include receiving live media, obtaining its timing data, receiving a streaming request, and then creating and sending a manifest file that facilitates continuous timestamp playback for mixed live and distinct media content using offset information.

Litigation Information:

Based on the provided patent information, US9762639B2 is currently active.

• A PTAB case, IPR2026-00054, was filed and has a status of "Procedural Termination".
• A US case was filed in the Delaware District Court, case number 1:24-cv-01231.

No CAFC 2026 dockets specifically citing US9762639B2 were found in a live search at this time.## US Patent 9762639: Dynamic Manifest Generation Based on Client Identity

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 9762639, "Dynamic manifest generation based on client identity":

Title: Dynamic manifest generation based on client identity
Assignee: Adeia Media Holdings Inc. (current assignee as of June 4, 2024), Brightcove Inc. (original assignee)
Inventors: Albert John McGowan, Michael M. Gordon
Filing Date: October 28, 2016
Issue Date: September 12, 2017
Abstract: The patent describes techniques for dynamically rewriting timestamps in streams of media that transition from one media source to another (e.g., live content to on-demand content, or vice versa) to ensure error-free streaming by the client. This is achieved by coordinating the creation of a client manifest with the dynamic creation of requested media segments ("chunks") to determine how to rewrite timestamps, ensuring they remain continuous throughout the transition.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The provided patent text does not explicitly list numbered claims, but instead details "An example method," "An example server," and "An example non-transitory computer-readable medium" in its summary sections, which typically correspond to the independent claims. These overviews are derived from those exemplary descriptions within the patent text.

• Example Method Claim (Method of Providing Media Streaming):
  A method for streaming media involves receiving a live media data stream and obtaining its timing information. Upon receiving a request to stream this live content, a processing unit creates a manifest file. This manifest file is unique because it includes information for streaming both segments of the live media content and segments of a distinct media file (e.g., an advertisement). Crucially, the manifest file also contains "offset information" based on the live media's timing, which is used to ensure that the timestamps of the distinct media file segments are rewritten to be continuous with the live content, preventing playback errors during transitions. The manifest file is then sent to the client.

• Example Server Claim (Server for Providing Media Streaming):
  This describes a server designed for media streaming, comprising a communications interface, memory, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to perform the functions of the example method: receiving a live media data stream, obtaining its timing information, and receiving a request to stream the live content. It then creates a manifest file that includes information for streaming segments of both live media and a distinct media file, incorporating offset information to maintain continuous timestamps during transitions. Finally, the server sends this manifest file via its communications interface.

• Example Computer-Readable Medium Claim (Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium):
  This claim pertains to a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a storage device) with embedded instructions. When a computer executes these instructions, it performs the steps of the example method. These steps include receiving live media content, obtaining its timing information, receiving a request to stream the live content, and then creating and sending a manifest file that facilitates continuous timestamp playback for mixed live and distinct media content using offset information.

Litigation Information:

The patent US9762639B2 is currently active.

• A PTAB case, IPR2026-00054, was filed and subsequently marked with a "Procedural Termination" status.
• A US case (1:24-cv-01231) was filed in the Delaware District Court.

As of April 26, 2026, a search for US9762639B2 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any direct results.

Known litigation involving US patent 9762639 includes the following:

1. PTAB Case

   • Case Number: IPR2026-00054
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but typically the Petitioner in an IPR. "Unified Patents PTAB Data" is cited as the source for the petitioner.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated, but would be the patent owner (Adeia Media Holdings Inc.).
   • Filing Date: 2026-00-00 (Year is 2026, but specific date is not provided in the text; indicated as "IPR2026-00054 filed").
   • Outcome or Current Status: Procedural Termination.

2. US Case filed in Delaware District Court

   • Case Number: 1:24-cv-01231
   • Jurisdiction: Delaware District Court
   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Active.

3. First Worldwide Family Litigation

   • Case Information: General indication of litigation filed for the patent family.
   • Jurisdiction: Worldwide (as it refers to "First worldwide family litigation").
   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Active.

Proceedings Overview

Only one AIA trial proceeding, IPR2026-00054, has been filed against US patent 9762639, and it has been terminated. As no claims were invalidated, the patent's claims remain untested by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), indicating that an IPR-based defense has not yet been successful against this patent.

IPR2026-00054 — Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC v. Albert John McGowan et al

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-11-05
• Status: Terminated (Procedural Termination) — This status indicates that the proceeding ended without the PTAB issuing a Final Written Decision on the merits of patentability.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific Administrative Patent Judge (APJ) panel for this proceeding is not publicly available given the procedural termination.
• Petition grounds: The specific claims challenged, prior art cited, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) for the petition are not publicly detailed in the available information.
• Institution decision: A formal institution decision on the merits was not issued. The proceeding was terminated before reaching this stage.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): No Final Written Decision on the merits of patentability was issued for this IPR.
• Settlement / termination: The IPR was terminated on March 28, 2026. This "procedural termination" likely occurred due to either a settlement between Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC and the patent owner, Adeia Media Holdings Inc., in their concurrent district court litigation, or a discretionary denial of institution by the PTAB under new policies that became effective around March 2026. The terms of any settlement would typically be confidential.
• Appeal: No appeal was made to the Federal Circuit as there was no Final Written Decision on the merits to appeal.
• Defensive value: This IPR did not result in the invalidation of any claims of US9762639. Therefore, from this proceeding alone, a defendant facing assertion of this patent cannot claim that any specific claims are canceled. The patent claims remain presumptively valid as far as PTAB proceedings are concerned.

Strategic Summary

All claims of US9762639 remain untested and sustained by the PTAB, as the sole IPR filed against it, IPR2026-00054, was terminated procedurally without a decision on the merits. This means the patent has not been narrowed through PTAB challenges.

Regarding estoppel, since IPR2026-00054 was terminated prior to a Final Written Decision, § 315(e)(2) estoppel does not apply to the petitioner (Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC) or its privies. This implies that Disney or related entities could potentially raise the same or new prior-art grounds in other forums (e.g., district court) against US9762639.

A clear pattern signal is that Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC, a defendant in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Adeia Media Holdings Inc. (the current assignee of US9762639), filed this IPR. This indicates a defensive strategy using PTAB challenges in response to litigation. The procedural termination, occurring shortly after new PTAB policies were announced in March 2026, could suggest an influence from those policies (e.g., discretionary denial) or a confidential settlement of the underlying litigation.

Recommended Next Steps

As a defendant, it's important to note that no claims of US9762639 have been invalidated by the PTAB.

The patent US9762639 is currently being asserted in active litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, case number 1:24-cv-01231, filed by Adeia Technologies Inc., Adeia Guides Inc., and Adeia Media Holdings LLC against The Walt Disney Company and several subsidiaries. This litigation, initiated on November 7, 2024, asserts "one or more claims" of the '639 patent, among others. Any defensive strategy should account for the ongoing district court proceedings.

It would be prudent to attempt to obtain the specific order or filing that led to the procedural termination of IPR2026-00054 from the USPTO PTAB E2E system to understand the precise reason for termination, especially if it was a discretionary denial under new rules or a settlement. This information could offer insights into the patent owner's strategies or the PTAB's current approach to similar petitions.

Inventors

• Albert John McGowan (Brightcove Inc.)
• Michael M. Gordon (Brightcove Inc.)

No unusual patterns detected; both inventors were employed by the original assignee, Brightcove Inc., at the time of filing.

Original assignee

Brightcove Inc. was the original assignee named on US9762639B2. Brightcove's primary line of business is providing cloud-based solutions for video streaming and publishing. As of today's date (2026-05-26), Brightcove Inc. is an operating company. It ships products embodying the claims, specifically its video streaming platform.

Assignment timeline

• 2017-04-10 (executed) / recorded 2017-05-18 — Reel 039403/0091

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: MCGOWAN, ALBERT JOHN and GORDON, MICHAEL M.
  • Assignee: BRIGHTCOVE INC.
  • Correspondent: Matthew B. Dernier, Nutter McClennen & Fish, LLP, Seaport West, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02210
  • Context: Original assignment from inventors to operating company.

• 2024-06-04 (executed) / recorded 2024-06-11 — Reel 060596/0200

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: BRIGHTCOVE INC.
  • Assignee: ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC
  • Correspondent: Ropes & Gray LLP, PRAS Office, 800 Boylston Street, Prudential Tower, Boston, MA, 02199
  • Context: Transfer to a holding company.

• 2025-05-28 (executed) / recorded 2025-06-03 — Reel 061909/0001

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: ADEIA GUIDES INC., ADEIA HOLDINGS INC., ADEIA IMAGING LLC, ADEIA INC. (F/K/A XPERI HOLDING CORPORATION), ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC., ADEIA MEDIA LLC, ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC., ADEIA PUBLISHING INC., ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC., ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC., ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC, ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS LLC, ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ADEIA SOLUTIONS LLC, ADEIA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
  • Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: Robert M. Gumerlock, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, One International Place, Boston, MA, 02110
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Adeia entities.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9762639
    2016 : Application filed by Brightcove Inc
    2017 : Issued to Brightcove Inc
         : Assigned inventors to Brightcove Inc
    2024 : Assigned to Adeia Media Holdings LLC
    2025 : Security interest to Bank of America NA

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present. The transfer from Brightcove Inc. (an operating company) to Adeia Media Holdings LLC (Reel 060596/0200) suggests a shell entity, as "Holdings LLC" is a common suffix for licensing-focused entities. Adeia Media Holdings LLC is part of the Adeia intellectual property licensing business.

2. Known asserter in the chain — present. Adeia Media Holdings Inc. (and related Adeia entities) are known intellectual property licensors. Unified Patents lists Adeia Inc. (f/k/a Xperi Holding Corporation) as an NPE. The current assignee, Adeia Media Holdings LLC, is a subsidiary of Adeia Inc..

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. The correspondents for the inventor assignment, the transfer to Adeia, and the security interest are all different.

4. Cascading transfers — not present. There are not multiple consecutive assignments through chained LLCs in under 24 months.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. While the patent family has litigation, the exact date of the first infringement suit naming this specific patent is not immediately available from the provided data to compare against the transfer date to Adeia Media Holdings LLC (2024-06-04).

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. Brightcove Inc. is an active operating company, and there is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings.

7. Privateering — unclear. While Adeia acts as a licensor, whether Brightcove transferred this specific patent to Adeia to assert on its behalf against competitors (privateering) cannot be definitively determined from the provided records without further SEC filings or public reporting.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain ends with Adeia Media Holdings LLC, which is identified as an NPE, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence. The transfer from Brightcove Inc., an operating company, to Adeia Media Holdings LLC (Reel 060596/0200, recorded 2024-06-11) is a strong signal of a shell-entity transfer. Furthermore, Adeia Inc. (the parent company of Adeia Media Holdings LLC) is identified as a known NPE by Unified Patents. This combination of a shell entity transfer to a known NPE provides high confidence for this verdict.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center search for US9762639: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html?qs=9762639

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 9762639, "Dynamic manifest generation based on client identity," based on the patent's own citations. The primary innovation of US9762639 relates to generating a manifest file that includes offset information for distinct media segments (e.g., advertisements) based on the timing of a live media stream, to ensure continuous timestamps during transitions for a client. The patent also describes optional inclusion of discontinuity tags based on client type.

The independent claims of US9762639 (Claims 1, 7, and 13, representing a method, a server, and a computer-readable medium, respectively) fundamentally cover:

• Receiving a live media content stream.
• Obtaining timing information for this stream.
• Receiving a request to stream the live content.
• Creating a manifest file that includes:
  • Information for streaming live media segments.
  • Information for streaming distinct media file segments (e.g., ads).
  • Offset information for the distinct media file segments, based on the timing information of the live media stream.
• Sending the manifest file.

The most relevant prior art are those documents that significantly overlap with these features, especially those related to dynamic manifest generation, mixing live and on-demand content, and addressing timing synchronization.

Here are the patent citations identified from the text of US9762639, along with their details and potential for anticipation:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US9762639

1. U.S. Pat. No. 9,197,688 B2

   • Full Citation: US 9,197,688 B2, titled "Dynamic chunk manipulation for streaming mixed live and on-demand media: application programming interface," issued November 24, 2015.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed November 21, 2013 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/086,801). Patent issued November 24, 2015.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes methods and systems for dynamically manipulating chunks of media for streaming mixed live and on-demand content, specifically through the use of an application programming interface (API). US9762639 explicitly states it is a continuation of the application that led to this patent (Ser. No. 14/086,801).
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given its direct ancestral relationship and title, US9197688B2 is highly likely to anticipate the core elements of US9762639. If US9197688B2 discloses the creation of manifest files containing information for both live and on-demand content, and critically, a mechanism (potentially through its API) to include or derive "offset information" within the manifest to ensure continuous timestamps during transitions between these content types, it could potentially anticipate independent claims 1, 7, and 13 of US9762639. It might also anticipate dependent claims related to the API (claims 2, 8, 14) and potentially discontinuity indications if discussed in the context of seamless transitions.

2. U.S. Pat. No. 9,332,047 B2

   • Full Citation: US 9,332,047 B2, titled "Dynamic chunk manipulation for streaming mixed live and on-demand media: dynamic permutation layer," issued May 3, 2016.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed November 21, 2013 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/086,822). Patent issued May 3, 2016.
   • Brief Description: This patent focuses on the dynamic permutation layer (DPL) and its role in manipulating chunks for streaming mixed live and on-demand media. US9762639 describes the DPL as capable of dynamically creating requested chunks and rewriting timestamps based on offset information received, for example, via URLs in the client manifest.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is extremely relevant due to its focus on the DPL and "dynamic chunk manipulation for streaming mixed live and on-demand media." If US9332047B2 describes the DPL receiving instructions (e.g., from an API or manifest) that include offset information to rewrite timestamps for continuous playback when combining live and on-demand content, it could directly anticipate independent claims 1, 7, and 13 of US9762639. Specifically, if it covers the interplay between manifest generation and the DPL's timestamp rewriting function, it would be highly anticipatory.

3. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2014/0122650 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2014/0122650 A1, titled "Live advertising processing engine service," published May 1, 2014.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed November 1, 2013 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/069,961). Publication date May 1, 2014.
   • Brief Description: This application details a "Live Advertising Processing Engine Service (APES)" that provides advanced functionality for advertising during the consumption of live content. US9762639 states that its techniques can be found in conjunction with this application.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given its explicit focus on "Live Advertising Processing," US20140122650A1 is highly likely to address the problem of integrating advertisements (on-demand content) into live streams. If this publication describes the detection of ad breaks in live content, the selection and preparation of ad content, and particularly, mechanisms to handle timestamp discrepancies or ensure continuous playback when inserting ads into live streams, it could strongly anticipate independent claims 1, 7, and 13. Any disclosure of generating manifest files that include both live and ad content with timing adjustments would be highly relevant. Claims related to receiving ad indications (claims 6, 12, 18) are also likely anticipated.

4. U.S. Pat. No. 8,145,782 B2

   • Full Citation: US 8,145,782 B2, titled "Dynamic chunking for media streaming," issued March 27, 2012.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed December 22, 2010 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/976,883). Patent issued March 27, 2012. It claims priority to Australian Patent Application Serial No. 2010202741, filed June 30, 2010.
   • Brief Description: This patent outlines techniques for "Dynamic Chunking For Media Streaming," including processing media files or live streams into smaller chunks for storage and serving to a client. It is a foundational patent mentioned for dynamic chunking and indexing. US9762639 shares its earliest priority date (June 30, 2010, via AU2010202741).
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a foundational patent in the dynamic chunking family and sharing the earliest priority date, US8145782B2 is crucial. If it discloses how manifest files are created to facilitate streaming of dynamically chunked media, and particularly if it discusses the challenge of combining different media sources (e.g., live and on-demand) and any mechanisms to maintain continuous timing information or prevent playback errors during transitions, it could potentially anticipate independent claims 1, 7, and 13. The extent of anticipation depends on whether it explicitly teaches the inclusion of "offset information" in the manifest to resolve timestamp mismatches.

5. U.S. Pat. No. 8,301,733 B2

   • Full Citation: US 8,301,733 B2, titled "Dynamic chunking for delivery instances," issued October 30, 2012.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed March 26, 2012 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/430,081). Patent issued October 30, 2012.
   • Brief Description: This patent also concerns "Dynamic chunking for delivery instances" and is referenced in US9762639 for additional details regarding the functionality of the CHIMPS 110 (Cloud-Hosted Integrated Multi-Node Pipelining System).
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US8301733B2 builds upon dynamic chunking concepts. If it details methods for preparing and delivering media chunks from different sources in a way that requires managing timing information for seamless delivery instances, it could broadly anticipate the "creating a manifest file" step and the need for continuity. However, its anticipation of the specific "offset information for streaming... based on the timing information of the stream of data" in a manifest for distinct media types, which is central to US9762639, would depend on the specificity of its disclosure regarding explicit timestamp adjustment mechanisms.

6. U.S. Pat. No. 8,327,013 B2

   • Full Citation: US 8,327,013 B2, titled "Dynamic index file creation for media streaming," issued December 4, 2012.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed May 26, 2011 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/116,423). Patent issued December 4, 2012.
   • Brief Description: This patent focuses on "Dynamic Index File Creation for Media Streaming" and is cited in US9762639 for providing additional detail on chunking and indexing, and dynamically creating chunks and manifest files.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US8327013B2's focus on "dynamic index file creation" directly relates to the "creating... a manifest file" step in US9762639. If this patent describes generating manifest files that accommodate segments from different media sources (e.g., live and on-demand) and includes any form of metadata or instructions within the manifest to handle timing synchronization or continuity across these transitions, it could potentially anticipate independent claims 1, 7, and 13 of US9762639. The key would be the level of detail regarding explicit "offset information" for timestamp rewriting.

7. Australian Patent Application Serial No. 2010202741 A1

   • Full Citation: AU 2010202741 A1, titled "Dynamic chunking for media streaming," published July 22, 2010.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed June 30, 2010. Publication date July 22, 2010.
   • Brief Description: This is the earliest priority document for the patent family, filed June 30, 2010, which US9762639 also claims priority from. Its title is "Dynamic chunking for media streaming."
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As the earliest priority document, AU2010202741A1 serves as critical prior art for any new matter introduced in US9762639. If this application fully discloses the concepts of dynamic chunking for media streaming, the generation of manifest files, and particularly, the specific solution of using "offset information" within the manifest to reconcile timestamps between different media sources (like live content and inserted on-demand content) to ensure continuity, it would directly anticipate independent claims 1, 7, and 13 of US9762639.

Other Cited Prior Art

These documents are also cited within US9762639 and contribute to the overall technical landscape, but may be less directly anticipatory of the specific timestamp rewriting aspect than those listed above:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 8,645,504 B2

   • Full Citation: US 8,645,504 B2, titled "Dynamic chunking for delivery instances," issued February 4, 2014.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed September 21, 2012 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/624,029). Patent issued February 4, 2014.
   • Brief Description: Deals with dynamic chunking for various delivery instances. US9762639 is a continuation-in-part of an application in this lineage.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While covering dynamic chunking, its focus might be broader than the specific timestamp rewriting in manifests for mixed content. It could anticipate generic manifest generation but is less likely to anticipate the specific offset information for timestamp continuity without more detailed disclosures.

2. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2016/0100236 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2016/0100236 A1, titled "Dynamic Chunk Manipulation for Streaming Mixed Media: Application Programming Interface," published April 7, 2016.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed October 20, 2015 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/918,368). Publication date April 7, 2016.
   • Brief Description: A continuation-in-part of the application for US9197688B2, further elaborating on the API's role in dynamic chunk manipulation for mixed media.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Published before US9762639 but after its earliest priority date. It would be prior art for any new matter in US9762639 not covered by earlier priority. As a continuation-in-part, it's likely to build upon and further detail the API aspects of mixed media streaming, potentially including how timing is managed for seamless transitions, which could anticipate various claims of US9762639.

3. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2013/0080268 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2013/0080268 A1, titled "Multi-platform media syndication customization," published March 28, 2013.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed December 29, 2011 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/339,680). Publication date March 28, 2013.
   • Brief Description: Focuses on customizing media syndication across multiple platforms.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While relevant to media distribution, its general focus on "customization" and "multi-platform syndication" makes it less likely to directly anticipate the specific technical solution of timestamp rewriting using offset information in a manifest for continuity between live and distinct on-demand content.

4. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2013/0080267 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2013/0080267 A1, titled "Single-URL content delivery," published March 28, 2013.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed September 26, 2011 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/245,372). Publication date March 28, 2013.
   • Brief Description: Describes methods for delivering various media content, possibly dynamically, through a single URL.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Its focus is on content access via a single URL. While it may involve manifest files for dynamic content, it is less likely to specifically detail the timestamp offset logic in the manifest for seamless transitions between live and distinct on-demand content as claimed in US9762639.

5. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2013/0246663 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2013/0246663 A1, titled "Dynamic chunking for delivery instances," published September 19, 2013.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Application filed March 8, 2013 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/791,789). Publication date September 19, 2013.
   • Brief Description: A continuation-in-part of earlier dynamic chunking patents, further developing concepts for delivery instances.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to its parent patents, this application would cover aspects of dynamic chunking. Its potential to anticipate US9762639 would lie in any specific disclosures regarding the handling of timing information for mixed content sources within delivery instances, rather than general chunking strategies.

It is important to note that the actual anticipatory effect of any of these prior art documents would require a detailed claim-by-claim comparison against the full disclosure of each prior art document. The analysis above is based on the titles, descriptions within US9762639, and general understanding of their fields.

Under 35 U.S.C. § 103, an invention is considered obvious if "the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains." An obviousness analysis requires identifying prior art, showing that all limitations of the claim are present in the prior art, and demonstrating a motivation for a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) to combine the references to achieve the claimed invention.

For US Patent 9762639, the core inventive concept, as outlined in the abstract and summary, involves "dynamically rewriting the timestamps in streams of media that transition from one media source to another (such as from live content to on-demand content, and vice versa)" to ensure continuous timestamps and prevent playback errors. This is achieved by coordinating the creation of a client manifest, which includes "offset information... based on the timing information of the stream of data," with the dynamic creation of media segments.

We will analyze the obviousness of Claim 1, which broadly covers this method:

1. A method of providing media streaming via a data communications network, the method comprising:
   • receiving a stream of data representing live media content;
   • obtaining timing information of the stream of data;
   • receiving, via the data communications network, a request to stream the live media content;
   • creating, with a processing unit, a manifest file, wherein the manifest file includes:
     • information for streaming one or more segments of the live media content via the data communications network;
     • information for streaming one or more segments of a media file, distinct from the live media content; and
     • offset information for streaming the one or more segments of the media file, the offset information based on the timing information of the stream of data; and
   • sending, via the data communications network, the manifest file.

Combination of Prior Art References

A PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine the teachings of:

1. US 8,145,782 B2 ("Dynamic Chunking For Media Streaming"): This patent, which shares the same earliest priority date of June 30, 2010, with US9762639, serves as valid prior art. It teaches methods for processing media streams into smaller "chunks" and storing them for serving to a client. It further describes that a client can request a manifest file (also known as an index file) from a system (e.g., CHIMPS 110), which indicates the locations (e.g., URLs) of each media chunk. The client then uses this manifest file to stream media content by sequentially requesting and receiving multiple manifest files, especially for live media where the stream is still being processed when the client requests the manifest. Thus, US 8,145,782 B2 clearly teaches the dynamic chunking of live media, the creation and sending of manifest files, and the inclusion of information for streaming segments of live media.
2. The "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US9762639 B2 itself: This section explicitly identifies a known technical problem in the art. It states: "The insertion of ads and other on-demand content into a stream of live content can be difficult... because live content can be generated for hours, weeks, or longer, the timestamps associated with live will not be synchronized with the timestamps of ads (or other on-demand content) inserted into the stream of live content. This can cause problems for some clients during playback." This establishes that the issue of timestamp mismatches between live and on-demand content, leading to playback errors, was a recognized problem in the field prior to the claimed invention.

Obviousness Analysis

A PHOSITA in the field of media streaming, familiar with the techniques for dynamic chunking and manifest generation as taught by US 8,145,782 B2, would also be aware of the practical difficulties and playback issues arising from integrating on-demand content (like advertisements) into live media streams, as articulated in the background of US9762639 B2.

The motivation to combine these references would stem from the desire to overcome the acknowledged problem of timestamp discontinuities and the resulting playback errors, thereby providing a seamless and error-free streaming experience for users. Given that US 8,145,782 B2 already describes a system capable of dynamically generating manifest files for live media, it would be a logical and obvious step for a PHOSITA to enhance this system to address the identified timestamp synchronization problem.

Specifically, to address the "timestamps associated with live will not be synchronized with the timestamps of ads (or other on-demand content) inserted into the stream of live content" problem, a PHOSITA would naturally consider how to reconcile these differing timestamps. The most straightforward approach would be to calculate and apply an "offset." The "timing information of the stream of data" (e.g., presentation timestamp (PTS) values, as mentioned in US9762639 B2), which is readily available in a system handling live media, would provide the necessary basis for determining this offset.

Therefore, a PHOSITA would be motivated to modify the manifest generation process described in US 8,145,782 B2 to include "offset information" within the manifest file when inserting segments of a distinct media file (e.g., an advertisement) into the live stream. This offset information would be "based on the timing information of the stream of data" to ensure continuity of timestamps during the transition between live and on-demand content. The API (Application Programming Interface), which is explicitly discussed in US9762639 B2 as being responsible for creating the client manifest and receiving client requests, would be the logical component to perform the calculation of this offset and embed it into the manifest. This modification would be a predictable solution to a known problem, utilizing existing mechanisms of dynamic manifest generation and readily available timing data.

Regarding dependent claims, such as those related to providing a "discontinuity tag" based on client type (e.g., claims 5 and 6), these would also be obvious. The patent itself notes that "some clients may require the discontinuity tag while others may not," and that the API can "determine the type of client... and provide a discontinuity tag if the determined client is of a type that would need such a tag." Given the objective of seamless playback for diverse client devices, it would be a routine matter of engineering and client compatibility for a PHOSITA to conditionally include such a tag in the manifest based on the capabilities or requirements of the requesting client.