{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852776","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9852776","title":"Application tune manifests and tune state recovery","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2015-06-02T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G11B","G06F","G11B","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N"],"num_claims":18,"abstract":"In accordance with one or more aspects, a request to run an application is received. The application has an associated tune manifest that identifies one or more resources that the application may use. The tune manifest is compared to a device resource record, and a check is made, based at least in part on the comparing, whether the one or more resources identified in the tune manifest can be satisfied by the device. If the one or more resources identified in the tune manifest can be satisfied by the device, then the application is run; otherwise, a notification of a conflict between the application and the device is presented. Additionally, when the application exits, a device tune state that identifies a content source to which the device was tuned prior to running the application can be retrieved and the device restored to this device tune state."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery patent (US-9852776) introduces a pivotal innovation for managing application interactions within devices, particularly those handling content sources. At its core, this technology addresses two significant challenges: preventing resource conflicts when launching applications and ensuring a seamless return to a prior device state upon application exit.\n\nThe invention's primary mechanism involves an 'application tune manifest,' a declarative blueprint that outlines the specific resources an application requires (e.g., tuners, content inputs). When an application requests to run, the device intelligently compares this manifest against its current 'device resource record.' This proactive comparison allows the system to determine if the application's resource demands can be met. If resources are available, the application proceeds; otherwise, a notification of conflict is presented to the user, preventing potential errors or a degraded experience.\n\nBeyond conflict resolution, the patent excels in its 'tune state recovery' feature. Upon an application's termination, especially one that has altered the device's content source, the system retrieves a previously saved 'device tune state.' This state captures the exact content source (e.g., a specific TV channel, radio station, or HDMI input) the device was tuned to before the application took over. The device is then automatically restored to this original state, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and significantly enhancing user continuity.\n\nThis technology provides immense business value by improving user experience, reducing customer support issues related to device state management, and enabling more robust, intelligent device interactions. It opens market opportunities for device manufacturers in smart TVs, automotive infotainment, and integrated home systems to differentiate their products with superior application management and seamless transitions. Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery represents a strategic advancement for any platform where multiple applications contend for shared content-related resources, promising higher user satisfaction and operational efficiency.","layman_explanation":"### What Problem Does This Solve?\nImagine you're watching your favorite TV show, and then you decide to open a streaming app to quickly check something. When you close the app, your TV is often left on the streaming app's input, forcing you to manually navigate back to your original show. Or, perhaps an app tries to use a resource (like a specific tuner) that's already in use by another application, leading to a crash or a frozen screen. These seemingly small inconveniences create significant user frustration and lead to a perception of 'dumb' or unreliable technology. They're a common headache for anyone interacting with modern smart devices that juggle multiple content sources and applications, from smart TVs to car infotainment systems. Existing solutions are often reactive, dealing with problems after they occur, or rely on clunky manual interventions.\n\n### How Does It Work?\nThe Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery patent introduces an intelligent, proactive approach. Think of it like a smart concierge for your device. When you ask to run an application, that application comes with a 'tune manifest' – essentially a polite, clear list of all the device's resources it might need, like a specific video input or a particular type of tuner. The device's operating system, acting as the concierge, then quickly reviews this list and compares it against what's currently available and what other apps are using. If everything looks good, the app launches smoothly. If there's a conflict – for example, the app needs a tuner that's already busy – the system will notify you *before* the problem occurs, allowing you to make an informed decision.\n\nThe second brilliant aspect is 'tune state recovery.' Let's go back to our TV example. Before that streaming app launches, the concierge takes a mental snapshot of exactly what your TV was doing – what channel, what volume, what input. When you're done with the streaming app and close it, the concierge automatically restores your TV to that exact snapshot. It's like your device has a perfect memory for your content, eliminating the need for you to manually re-tune or find your place again. It focuses on the 'what' – what state the device should be in – rather than the 'how' – the complex technical steps.\n\n### Why Does This Matter?\nThis innovation matters because it fundamentally elevates the user experience. For businesses, this translates directly into higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. Devices powered by this technology become genuinely intuitive, reducing the friction consumers often encounter. This leads to fewer customer support calls related to device state management or application conflicts, resulting in tangible cost savings for manufacturers. In competitive markets like smart TVs or automotive infotainment, a superior, seamless user experience can be a critical differentiator, allowing companies to command premium pricing and capture greater market share. It enables more robust and reliable products, enhancing brand reputation and fostering trust.\n\n### What's Next?\nThe principles behind Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery are foundational for the next generation of smart, connected devices. We can expect to see this technology integrated into a wider array of products, from advanced smart home hubs that orchestrate complex media environments to sophisticated in-vehicle systems. Its adoption will likely accelerate as consumers demand increasingly intelligent and 'invisible' technology that anticipates their needs. For investors, this patent represents a strategic asset, enabling companies to build more resilient ecosystems and secure leadership in the evolving landscape of digital content consumption and device interaction.","technical_analysis":"The Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery patent (US-9852776) describes a sophisticated architectural approach to dynamic resource management and state persistence within computing devices, particularly those with 'tune states' related to content sources. The core innovation lies in its two-phase process: proactive resource validation via tune manifests and reactive state restoration upon application termination.\n\n**Technical Architecture:** The system fundamentally operates within a device's operating system or a dedicated resource management layer. Key components include:\n1.  **Application Request Handler:** Intercepts requests to launch applications.\n2.  **Tune Manifest Parser:** Extracts resource requirements from an application's associated tune manifest.\n3.  **Device Resource Record Manager:** Maintains a dynamic, real-time inventory of all available, allocated, and constrained device resources (e.g., tuners, HDMI ports, network interfaces, audio pipelines, content sources).\n4.  **Comparison Logic Engine:** Compares the parsed tune manifest against the device resource record to determine resource satisfaction.\n5.  **Conflict Notification Module:** Generates user-facing or programmatic alerts when resource conflicts are detected.\n6.  **Tune State Storage:** A persistent or volatile memory component used to store the device's 'tune state' prior to an application's execution.\n7.  **Tune State Recovery Module:** Responsible for retrieving a stored tune state and issuing commands to restore the device to that state.\n\n**Implementation Details:** The 'tune manifest' itself would likely be an XML, JSON, or similar structured data file bundled with the application. It would explicitly define resource types (e.g., `type: 'tuner'`, `standard: 'ATSC'`, `frequency_range: '54-860MHz'`) and content source identifiers (e.g., `source_id: 'HDMI_1'`, `channel_preset: 'CBS'`). The comparison logic would involve a series of conditional checks. For instance, if an application requests 'Tuner 1' and the resource record shows 'Tuner 1' as 'allocated to App B (priority: high),' the comparison logic would flag a conflict. Prioritization schemes or user override options could be integrated here.\n\n**Algorithm Specifics:** The resource satisfaction algorithm could be represented as a boolean function `CanSatisfy(tuneManifest, deviceResourceRecord)`. This function iterates through each resource specified in `tuneManifest` and queries `deviceResourceRecord` for availability and compatibility. If any required resource is unavailable or incompatible, the function returns `false`. If all are satisfied, it returns `true`. The tune state recovery algorithm is simpler: `SaveTuneState(deviceState)` captures current content source, channel, volume, etc., before app launch. `RestoreTuneState(savedState)` retrieves this data and issues API calls to the device's hardware abstraction layer to revert settings.\n\n**Integration Patterns:** This system would integrate deeply with the device's operating system kernel or a middleware layer. Applications would likely use a standardized API (e.g., `launchApp(appID, tuneManifest)`) which the resource manager intercepts. Hardware drivers for tuners, display controllers, and audio processors would expose APIs for querying and setting their 'tune states' to the `Device Resource Record Manager` and `Tune State Recovery Module`.\n\n**Performance Characteristics:** The overhead of parsing the tune manifest and comparing it against the device resource record should be minimal, ideally sub-millisecond, to avoid perceived latency during application launch. The state storage and retrieval mechanisms would need to be highly optimized for speed and reliability, possibly using lightweight serialization for tune state data. The primary performance benefit is realized in avoiding costly resource contention and system reconfigurations or user interventions after an application exits, leading to a smoother overall user experience rather than raw computational speed.\n\n**Code-Level Implications:** Developers would need to author `tune manifests` for their applications. OS developers would implement the resource management and state recovery modules, including robust error handling and potentially user-facing UI for conflict resolution. This paradigm promotes a more declarative and less imperative approach to application-device interaction, leading to more predictable system behavior and easier debugging of resource-related issues.","business_analysis":"The Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery patent (US-9852776) addresses fundamental friction points in device-application interaction, offering substantial commercial implications and market opportunities across various sectors. This innovation provides a clear pathway for businesses to enhance product value, streamline operations, and gain competitive advantages.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:** The target market for this technology is vast, encompassing virtually all smart devices that manage multiple applications and content sources. This includes smart televisions, set-top boxes, automotive infotainment systems, smart home hubs, professional AV equipment, and even some industrial control systems. With the global smart home market alone projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars, and automotive technology rapidly advancing, the underlying need for seamless application and content management is immense. This patent positions itself as a foundational technology to power the next generation of intuitive connected devices.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:** Companies that license or implement this technology can achieve significant competitive differentiation. The ability to guarantee seamless application transitions, proactively resolve resource conflicts, and automatically restore device states directly translates to a superior user experience. This reduces user frustration, improves brand loyalty, and can be a powerful marketing tool in crowded markets. Competitors relying on older, reactive resource management strategies will find their products perceived as less polished and more cumbersome.\n\n**Revenue Potential:** Revenue generation can stem from several avenues:\n1.  **Licensing:** Patent holders can license the technology to OEMs and software developers for integration into their products and applications.\n2.  **Product Differentiation:** OEMs can command premium pricing for devices that offer this enhanced user experience.\n3.  **Reduced Support Costs:** By minimizing user-generated issues related to content state loss or app conflicts, companies can significantly reduce customer service overheads, directly impacting the bottom line.\n4.  **Platform Value:** For companies building ecosystems (e.g., smart TV platforms, automotive OS), integrating this patent can make their platform more attractive to application developers and device manufacturers, fostering a richer ecosystem.\n\n**Business Models:** Potential business models include:\n*   **Software Licensing:** Offering SDKs and APIs for developers to create tune manifests and integrate with the recovery system.\n*   **Hardware Integration Partnerships:** Collaborating with chip manufacturers or device OEMs to embed the technology at a hardware or firmware level.\n*   **Subscription Services:** For platforms, offering 'premium' application management features enabled by this patent.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:** This patent allows businesses to strategically position themselves as leaders in user experience innovation and intelligent device design. It shifts the focus from merely 'running apps' to 'orchestrating experiences.' For companies like Samsung, LG, Google (Android TV), Apple (tvOS), or automotive giants, integrating this technology could solidify their dominance in their respective ecosystems by providing a frictionless user journey.\n\n**ROI Projections:** While specific ROI depends on implementation, the benefits are clear. Reduced customer churn due to frustration, lower support costs, and the ability to command higher prices for premium products contribute to a strong return. For a device selling millions of units, even a marginal increase in customer satisfaction or a slight reduction in support calls per unit can translate into millions of dollars in savings and increased revenue. The long-term value lies in building a reputation for reliability and user-centric design, which is invaluable in today's market.","faqs":[{"answer":"Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery is a patented technology (US-9852776) designed to enhance the user experience on devices that run multiple applications and manage various content sources. At its core, this innovation provides a structured way for applications to declare their resource needs and for the device to intelligently manage those resources.\n\nSpecifically, it involves an 'application tune manifest,' which is a blueprint detailing the resources an application may use, such as specific tuners, content inputs, or network capabilities. The device then uses this manifest to proactively check for resource availability and prevent conflicts before an application even launches.\n\nBeyond resource management, a key aspect of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery is its 'tune state recovery' feature. This means that when an application that has taken over a content source exits, the device automatically restores itself to the exact content source (e.g., a specific TV channel or input) it was on prior to the application's launch, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted user experience. This intelligent system makes devices more intuitive and reduces manual adjustments.","question":"What is Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery?"},{"answer":"The functionality of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery operates in a two-phase process: proactive resource validation and automatic state restoration.\n\nFirst, when a request is made to run an application, the device accesses the application's 'tune manifest.' This manifest contains a detailed list of the resources the application requires. The device then compares these requirements against its current 'device resource record,' which is a real-time inventory of its available and allocated resources. This comparison determines if all necessary resources can be satisfied without conflict. If they can, the application proceeds to run; if not, the user receives a notification of the conflict.\n\nSecond, before an application that might alter the device's content source is launched, the system saves the device's current 'tune state.' This state is a snapshot of the active content source, such as a specific TV channel, radio station, or HDMI input. When the application exits, the Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery system retrieves this saved tune state and automatically restores the device to that exact configuration. This ensures that the user is seamlessly returned to their previous viewing or listening context without any manual intervention.","question":"How does Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery work?"},{"answer":"Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery primarily solves the prevalent problems of resource contention among applications and the loss of device context, or 'tune state,' when switching between applications. In many smart devices, applications often compete for shared resources like tuners, display outputs, or network bandwidth, leading to conflicts that can cause applications to crash, freeze, or perform poorly.\n\nAdditionally, a common user frustration arises when an application takes over a device's content source (e.g., a streaming app switching a TV to its input), and upon closing the app, the device remains in that altered state. Users are then forced to manually navigate back to their original content source, interrupting their experience. This patent addresses these issues by providing a proactive mechanism to prevent resource conflicts and an automatic system to restore the device to its prior, desired state, thereby creating a much smoother and more intuitive user journey.","question":"What problem does Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery solve?"},{"answer":"The inventors of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery (US-9852776) are not specified in the provided patent abstract or description. However, the patent was filed on 2015-06-02 and published on 2017-12-26, indicating the timeline of its development and public disclosure.\n\nWhile specific individual inventors are not listed, it's common for such innovations to emerge from teams within technology companies. The assignee, also not specified in the provided data, would typically be the company or organization that owns the patent rights. This type of invention is characteristic of companies involved in consumer electronics, media platforms, or operating system development, where managing complex application interactions and user experiences is paramount.","question":"Who invented Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery?"},{"answer":"The key benefits of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery are multifaceted, impacting both end-users and device manufacturers.\n\nFor users, the primary advantages include a dramatically improved and seamless experience. Proactive resource management via 'tune manifests' prevents application conflicts and crashes, leading to greater device stability. The 'tune state recovery' feature ensures that users never lose their place, automatically returning the device to its previous content source after an application exits, eliminating manual adjustments and reducing frustration.\n\nFor device manufacturers and platform providers, this technology offers significant competitive advantages. It enables the creation of more reliable and intuitive products, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. By reducing instances of user-generated errors related to resource conflicts or lost context, it can also significantly lower customer support costs. Furthermore, it simplifies application development by providing a standardized framework for resource declaration, fostering a more robust and harmonious ecosystem of applications.","question":"What are the key benefits of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery?"},{"answer":"Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery differentiates itself from prior art by shifting from reactive, often ad-hoc resource management to a proactive, intelligent, and user-centric approach.\n\nPrior art typically involved applications attempting to acquire resources without a centralized, intelligent arbitration system, often resulting in 'last-app-wins' scenarios, resource contention, or manual conflict resolution by the user. Device states, particularly content 'tune states,' were rarely automatically preserved and restored, leaving users to manually reconfigure their devices after an application changed the input or channel.\n\nIn contrast, this patent introduces 'tune manifests' for declarative resource needs, allowing the device to *proactively* check for compatibility and notify of conflicts *before* an app launches. Crucially, it also systematically *saves* and *restores* the device's exact tune state upon application exit. This combination of proactive conflict prevention and automatic state recovery is a significant advancement, providing a level of seamlessness and intelligence largely absent in previous device management paradigms.","question":"How is Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery different from prior art?"},{"answer":"Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery is poised to significantly impact several industries where devices manage multiple applications and diverse content sources.\n\nThe **Consumer Electronics** industry, particularly smart TVs, set-top boxes, and media streaming devices, will see a profound transformation in user experience, making transitions between live TV, streaming services, and gaming seamless. The **Automotive** sector, especially in infotainment and advanced driver-assistance systems, will benefit from more reliable and intuitive management of navigation, entertainment, and vehicle status applications.\n\nFurthermore, **Smart Home** ecosystems, with their integrated hubs controlling various media and IoT devices, stand to gain from enhanced resource orchestration. Even **Professional AV and Broadcast** equipment, which deals with complex signal routing and multiple inputs, could leverage this technology for more robust and automated system management. In essence, any industry reliant on complex, multi-application device interactions will find this patent's principles highly valuable.","question":"What industries will Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery impact?"},{"answer":"The patent for Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery (US-9852776) was filed on **June 2, 2015**.\n\nIt was subsequently published and granted on **December 26, 2017**. This timeline indicates a period of approximately two and a half years from filing to publication/grant, during which the patent application underwent examination by the patent office. The publication date marks the point at which the details of the invention became publicly accessible, allowing for widespread understanding and potential licensing or implementation by other entities in the technology sector.","question":"When was Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The commercial applications of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery are extensive, primarily focused on enhancing product value and operational efficiency for technology companies.\n\nDevice manufacturers can integrate this technology into their smart TVs, automotive infotainment systems, and smart home hubs to offer a superior user experience, differentiating their products in a competitive market. This leads to increased customer satisfaction, which can translate into higher sales and brand loyalty. Furthermore, by preventing common user frustrations like lost content states or app crashes, companies can significantly reduce their customer support costs.\n\nFor platform providers, licensing this patent can make their operating systems or ecosystems more attractive to application developers, fostering a richer and more stable app environment. It also opens avenues for licensing revenue for the patent holder. The ability to guarantee seamless transitions and intelligent resource management represents a tangible business advantage in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, providing a pathway to premium product positioning and market leadership.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery?"},{"answer":"The foundational principles of Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery lay the groundwork for exciting future developments in device interaction and intelligent systems.\n\nOne key area is the expansion of 'tune manifests' to encompass a wider array of device resources and capabilities beyond just content sources, potentially including environmental controls (lighting, temperature), sensor configurations, or specific processing units. We can also anticipate the integration of **AI and machine learning** to enable predictive context management, where devices not only remember but anticipate user preferences and pre-allocate resources or pre-load content for even more seamless transitions.\n\nFurthermore, the concept of 'tune state recovery' could evolve into **cross-device state synchronization**, allowing a user's context (e.g., a paused video, a specific app state) to seamlessly follow them across different devices within an ecosystem. This technology could also drive the standardization of resource declaration APIs across the industry, fostering greater interoperability and innovation. Ultimately, Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery is a crucial step towards truly adaptive, context-aware, and invisible computing, where technology intelligently serves user needs without friction.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery?"}],"topics":["Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery","patent US-9852776","device resource management","tune state recovery","seamless user experience","modern","computing","landscape"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery - Patent US-9852776","description":"Discover the Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery patent. Seamless app transitions, intelligent resource management, and automatic device state recovery for superior UX.","keywords":["Application Tune Manifests and Tune State Recovery","patent US-9852776","device resource management","tune state recovery","seamless user experience","application management","smart device technology","content source management","patent innovation","UX improvement","digital friction","proactive resource allocation","media device control"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852776","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852776","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Application tune manifests and tune state recovery\" (US-9852776). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852776","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852776","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9852776","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T09:27:35.192Z"}