Patents Examined by Matthew R. Demicco
  • Patent number: 6892391
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for dynamically generating digital video streams without an equivalent analog stream. The apparatus includes a configuration manager. The configuration manager presents configuration options to a user. User selections are recording as user preferences. The configuration manager is coupled to a media generator, which generates intermediate digital content based upon the user preferences. The media generator may be coupled to a local storage for storing electronic audio and visual information. The intermediate digital content is transferred to an encoder, which encodes the intermediate digital content to a digital format specified by in the user preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Inventor: Stefan Jones
  • Patent number: 6798838
    Abstract: There is disclosed a wireless communication device capable of receiving an incoming RF data signal and generating therefrom a base layer data stream and at least one enhancement layer data stream. The wireless communication device comprises: 1) a base layer decoder, 2) at least one enhancement layer decoder, 3) a variable mode receiver for demodulating the RF incoming RF data signals in a plurality of physical modes, such as BPSK, QPSK, QAM, and the like, and at a plurality of code rates and 4) a receiver mode controller for controlling the physical modes of the variable mode receiver. The receiver mode controller causes a first demodulated output signal of the variable mode receiver to be transferred to the base layer decoder when the variable mode receiver is operating in a first physical mode and causes a second demodulated output signal of the variable mode receiver to be transferred to the at least one enhancement layer decoder when the variable mode receiver is operating in a second physical mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Chiu Yeung Ngo
  • Patent number: 6718551
    Abstract: A method and system for providing targeted advertisements over a networked media delivery system, especially interactive television networks, the system comprising tracking and storing viewer selections, analyzing the selections, and delivering targeted advertisements that appeal to the particular subscriber making the selections, the system including a merge processor, a file server, a profile processor, and a broadcast server contained in a head end in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes through a distribution network. Based on a subscriber's viewing habits and account information, the present invention delivers different, customized advertisements to different viewers watching the same program or channel. The present invention delivers the advertisements as either still frame bit maps or as video streams advertisement insertion in a playlist or a broadcast media program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Scott R. Swix, John R. Stefanik, John C. Batten
  • Patent number: 6564380
    Abstract: An Internet-based video feed management system controls, manages, and efficiently administers the commercial distribution of live video feeds from on-site video cameras as well as other sources of video feeds to production companies at other locations. The system employs a network of local video-propagation servers located in different localities for receiving the video feeds from the different source locations, and a master authorization server for receiving and granting requests via Internet from requesting parties for access to any of the video feeds transmitted to the video-propagation servers. The master server issues an access code to the requesting party and establishing a unique publishing point for the requested video feed from the video-propagation server handling the feed. The on-site video cameras can supply live video feeds to the requesting parties, or the video feeds can be transmitted to a video-propagation server for storage and later re-transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Pixelworld Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Murphy