Patents by Inventor Christopher Commons

Christopher Commons has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11381958
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and devices for configuring a wireless device using audio data that is transmitted from a mobile device to the wireless device via a wired connection. For example, wireless configuration data may be sent from an audio port of the mobile device to an audio port of the wireless device while the mobile device and the wireless device are temporarily connected via an audio cable. According to an example method, a mobile device may determine wireless configuration data associated with a wireless local area network. The mobile device may then send the wireless configuration data to a wireless device via an audio port of the mobile device, such that the wireless device may be configured to access the wireless local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Peter Thoeming
  • Patent number: 9411942
    Abstract: A device, method, and system for managing authorization for rendering of digital media recordings by a networked rendering device are disclosed. The device includes a processor and a memory. The device receives metadata identifying a recording of a specific audio performance, and searches for a source providing the recording. The device obtains a token authorizing the source to deliver the recording to the rendering device. The device provides the token to the source, receives the recording from the source, and renders the recording. An agent may serve as an intermediary between the rendering device and the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Brendon Stead
  • Publication number: 20160165645
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and devices for configuring a wireless device using audio data that is transmitted from a mobile device to the wireless device via a wired connection. For example, wireless configuration data may be sent from an audio port of the mobile device to an audio port of the wireless device while the mobile device and the wireless device are temporarily connected via an audio cable. According to an example method, a mobile device may determine wireless configuration data associated with a wireless local area network. The mobile device may then send the wireless configuration data to a wireless device via an audio port of the mobile device, such that the wireless device may be configured to access the wireless local area network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Peter Thoeming
  • Publication number: 20150067871
    Abstract: A device, method, and system for managing authorization for rendering of digital media recordings by a networked rendering device are disclosed. The device includes a processor and a memory. The device receives metadata identifying a recording of a specific audio performance, and searches for a source providing the recording. The device obtains a token authorizing the source to deliver the recording to the rendering device. The device provides the token to the source, receives the recording from the source, and renders the recording. An agent may serve as an intermediary between the rendering device and the source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Brendon Stead
  • Patent number: 7856443
    Abstract: An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Piero Madar
  • Publication number: 20080101770
    Abstract: System and method for automatically controlling a media receiver by instructing the media receiver to use a particular receiver connection and to play a selected media unit using one of a plurality of play modes according to characteristics of the media unit. Media units may be encoded using any of a variety of encoding formats. The media management system may interface with a media receiver to select media receiver connections in accordance with the media type of the media unit. The media management system may also interface with the media receiver to set media receiver settings for playing the selected media unit according to the media receiver settings selected for a play mode corresponding to the characteristics of the selected media unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Digital Networks North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Martin Wachter, Robert Bouterse
  • Patent number: 7305694
    Abstract: System and method for automatically controlling a media receiver by instructing the media receiver to use a particular receiver connection and to play a selected media unit using one of a plurality of play modes according to characteristics of the media unit. Media units may be encoded using any of a variety of encoding formats. The media management system may interface with a media receiver to select media receiver connections in accordance with the media type of the media unit. The media management system may also interface with the media receiver to set media receiver settings for playing the selected media unit according to the media receiver settings selected for a play mode corresponding to the characteristics of the selected media unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Marty R. Wachter, Robert A. Bouterse
  • Patent number: 6983289
    Abstract: An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Piero Madar
  • Publication number: 20050100312
    Abstract: System and method for automatically controlling a media receiver by instructing the media receiver to use a particular receiver connection and to play a selected media unit using one of a plurality of play modes according to characteristics of the media unit. Media units may be encoded using any of a variety of encoding formats. The media management system may interface with a media receiver to select media receiver connections in accordance with the media type of the media unit. The media management system may also interface with the media receiver to set media receiver settings for playing the selected media unit according to the media receiver settings selected for a play mode corresponding to the characteristics of the selected media unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: Digital Networks North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Marty Wachter, Robert Bouterse
  • Publication number: 20050019008
    Abstract: An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Piero Madar
  • Publication number: 20050010604
    Abstract: An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Piero Madar
  • Publication number: 20020069195
    Abstract: An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Piero Madar