Patents by Inventor Clyde Robbins

Clyde Robbins 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).

  • Publication number: 20230267824
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for pairing a remote control with a controllable device using audio to confirm device pairings. The controllable device and remote control may communicate using low power protocols such as, for example, RF4CE, WiFi and/or Bluetooth low energy (BLE). The controllable device and the remote control may record and/or fingerprint audio. Corresponding audio and/or fingerprints may indicate proximity and cause the devices to initiate a pairing sequence. The audio may be any kind of audio, including for example, ambient noise, TV audio, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Rekstad, Clyde Robbins, Michael Sallas
  • Publication number: 20230104808
    Abstract: A reduced-complexity Internet of Things sensor is disclosed. An example apparatus comprises memory storing one or more sensor event messages, a radio configured to determine a sensor event, a counter configured to output incremental counter states, and a control circuitry. The control circuitry may be in communication with the memory, the radio, and counter, and the sensor. The control circuitry may be configured to determine, based on the sensor event, a select sensor event message of the one or more sensor event messages. The control circuitry may be further configured to output, via the radio signal, a packet comprising the select event message and an indication of a counter state associated with the sensor event message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: William Carroll VerSteeg, Clyde Robbins, Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 11509507
    Abstract: A reduced-complexity Internet of Things sensor is disclosed. An example apparatus comprises memory storing one or more sensor event messages, a radio configured to determine a sensor event, a counter configured to output incremental counter states, and a control circuitry. The control circuitry may be in communication with the memory, the radio, and counter, and the sensor. The control circuitry may be configured to determine, based on the sensor event, a select sensor event message of the one or more sensor event messages. The control circuitry may be further configured to output, via the radio signal, a packet comprising the select event message and an indication of a counter state associated with the sensor event message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: William Carroll VerSteeg, Clyde Robbins, Ross Gilson
  • Publication number: 20190116071
    Abstract: A reduced-complexity Internet of Things sensor is disclosed. An example apparatus comprises memory storing one or more sensor event messages, a radio configured to determine a sensor event, a counter configured to output incremental counter states, and a control circuitry. The control circuitry may be in communication with the memory, the radio, and counter, and the sensor. The control circuitry may be configured to determine, based on the sensor event, a select sensor event message of the one or more sensor event messages. The control circuitry may be further configured to output, via the radio signal, a packet comprising the select event message and an indication of a counter state associated with the sensor event message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: William Carroll VerSteeg, Clyde Robbins, Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 9936456
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate power consumption management of a station by enabling and disabling wireless chains. A station may determine minimal QoS requirements for supporting a WLAN service at the station. The station may determine and utilize a minimal number of WLAN chains needed to support the WLAN service while meeting the minimal QoS requirements. In embodiments, an internal temperature of the station may be monitored, and when the internal temperature of the station exceeds a temperature threshold, one or more WLAN chains of the station may be disabled to reduce power consumption by the station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Carroll, Clyde Robbins
  • Patent number: 6807676
    Abstract: A method of formatting data to maximize the readability of song identification (ID) information displayed on a monitor screen and a method of formatting data to maximize the amount of song ID information displayed on a limited number of lines on the monitor screen. The monitor screen is used to view in-band audio broadcast channel song ID information and out-of-band audio broadcast channel song ID information. The in-band ID information is associated with a song that is currently being played on a selected one of a plurality of channels. The out-of-band ID information is associated with all of the plurality of channels. To maximize readability, in-band ID information is abbreviated if the amount of information exceeds a maximum number of lines determined for the in-band ID information. To maximize the amount of in-band ID information, wraparound and abbreviation techniques are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde Robbins, John F. Maraska, John Kamieniecki, Douglas W. Palmer, Tony Nasuti, Robert C. Stein
  • Patent number: 6147713
    Abstract: A television converter uses digital signal processing (DSP) to provide compatibility with different television standards including NTSC and PAL video standards and FM, BTSC, DIN, Home Theatre, NICAM and independent digital audio standards. Audio processing is accomplished without passing the audio through a Nyquist filter used for video. This eliminates AM to PM conversion improving luminance linearity and differential gain and phase. It also prevents video information from phase modulating the audio intercarrier, thereby eliminating video "buzz" components in the audio. The audio processing includes a synchronous FM demodulator and a separate synchronous FM/QPSK demodulator for handling the different audio standards. Handling historical analog TV standards with DSP also enables the advantageous combination of analog and digital television reception within a single digital VLSI ASIC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde Robbins, Robert Friedman, Muhammad Fazili
  • Patent number: 5796423
    Abstract: The cable television digital audio system of the present invention provides seamless reception and integration of analog video and audio programs and digital audio programs. The system comprises a settop terminal with a digital audio module for receiving an RF modulated digital data stream. The settop terminal permits the simultaneous reception of analog video and audio broadcasts and digital audio broadcasts. The digital audio module may include a separate frequency agile RF tuner enabling both the settop terminal and digital audio module to be tuned to and reproduce separate programs. A television monitor receiver displays normal video programming from the settop terminal and also provides on-screen display (OSD) of channel selection and program information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde Robbins, John F. Maraska, John Kamieniecki, Douglas W. Palmer, Tony Nasuti
  • Patent number: 5784095
    Abstract: The improved settop terminal of the present invention utilizes a subscriber's television as the preferred graphical interface to simultaneously provide channel in-band and out-of-band program information to a subscriber. A subscriber may tune, view and select from among a plurality of digital audio channels and analog video channels. In-band and out-of-band information is integrated into a multi-page program guide displayed on a subscriber's television. This integration permits subscribers to visually scan and view information about currently playing selections available on other channels without having to switch to them. While listening to a music selection, the subscriber may navigate through the program guide. Program information such as the title of a song, artist and record label are also displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde Robbins, John F. Maraska, John Kamieniecki, Douglas W. Palmer, Tony Nasuti, Robert C. Stein
  • Patent number: 5293633
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting, receiving, and reproducing digital audio signals as discrete carriers similar to standard FM broadcast signals. An audio signal is digitized using, for example, adaptive delta modulation techniques. Several channels of audio information, such as left and right stereo channels and a second audio program ("SAP") channel can all be digitized and incorporated onto the digital broadcast signal carrier. The digitized audio signal may be modulated using multiphase modulation of the carrier of an FM broadcast band or cable television band signal. A plurality of audio channels may be digitized and transmitted over the airwaves, or over a cable transmission network. Channels of nondigitized audio channels may be interspersed with the digitized audio channels in the Fm broadcast band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Clyde Robbins
  • Patent number: 5220602
    Abstract: A NICAM compatible baseband television signal converter is provided. A television signal including a NICAM digital audio subcarrier is converted to baseband and the NICAM subcarrier is filtered therefrom. The video and analog audio portions of the baseband television signal are demodulated. The demodulated video is descrambled and the demodulated analog audio is descrambled and/or volume controlled. The demodulated video and analog audio signals are then remodulated onto respective video and analog carriers. The filtered NICAM digital audio subcarrier is mixed with the video carrier to provide a modulated NICAM carrier. The remodulated video and analog audio signals are combined with the modulated NICAM carrier for output to a video appliance such as a television or video recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde Robbins, Leonard Taupier
  • Patent number: 5173900
    Abstract: A system for transmitting different categories of data in a single data stream generates program data, receiver control data, and program specific tag data for insertion into a single data stream. Program data is combined with receiver control data to form data groups. Headers are generated containing tag data. Each successive header is combined with a plurality of data groups to form a plurality of units. The data stream is constructed by joining successive units for transmission. A receiver for receiving the data stream detects the receiver control data and the tag data, and recovers the program data in response thereto. A program is reproduced from the recovered program data. The system runs off a master clock having a fixed frequency. Program data is sampled at a first rate that is a function of the master clock frequency. The receiver control data is sampled at a second rate that is a function of the first sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Miller, Marc W. Kauffman, Clyde Robbins
  • Patent number: 5146496
    Abstract: The scrambling security of a sync suppressed television signal is enhanced by eliminating the fixed time relationship between the normal color burst component and synchronization information in successive lines of the television signal. Transmission of a first plurality of television lines is delayed to achieve a cumulative delay corresponding at least to the duration of a color burst component of the television signal. The transmission of a second plurality of television lines is subsequently accelerated to reduce the cumulative delay. By repeating the delaying and accelerating steps, the location of the color burst component is varied within the television signal over time. Derivation of a substitute horizontal synchronization pulse from the color burst component is thereby prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Westerfer, Clyde Robbins, Anthony M. Radice
  • Patent number: 5117195
    Abstract: A data referenced demodulator is provided for recovering differentially encoded multiphase modulated digital data such as QPSK modulated audio data. An analog carrier containing the differentially encoded QPSK data is converted to a digital waveform at an intermediate frequency that is a multiple of the QPSK bit frequency. The digital waveform is delayed in a shift register that samples the waveform at a clock rate which is a multiple of the intermediate frequency. Different stages of the shift register output the digital waveform one bit time earlier plus 45.degree. and one bit time earlier minus 45.degree.. These outputs of the shift register are multipled with the digital waveform using exclusive OR gates to provide differential QPSK detection. The shift register sampling clock is phase locked to a system master clock, which in turn is locked to the received data. In an illustrated embodiment, the sampling clock is 24 times the intermediate frequency, providing 15.degree. phase resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Clyde Robbins
  • Patent number: 5038402
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transmitting, receiving, and reproducing digital audio signals as discrete carriers similar to standard FM broadcast signals. An audio signal is digitized using, for example, adaptive delta modulation techniques. Several channels of audio information, such as left and right stereo channels and a second audio program ("SAP") channel can all be digitized and incorporated onto the digital broadcast signal carrier. The digitized audio signal may be modulated using multiphase modulation of the carrier of an FM broadcast band signal. A plurality of audio channels may be digitized and transmitted over the airwaves, or over a cable transmission network. Channels of nondigitized audio channels may be interspersed with the digitized audio channels. Source material for the digitized audio channels may be provided to a cable headend over the cable transmission network outside the FM band, and rebroadcast over the cable transmission network in the FM band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Clyde Robbins
  • Patent number: 4956862
    Abstract: In order to provide secure access to the audio portion of a television signal, the audio portion of a TV signal is modulated at a frequency that is offset from the standard carrier frequency. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the audio portion of the TV signal is modulated with a nonstandard 4.75 Mhz carrier that is offset from the standard 4.5 Mhz carrier. In order that a standard TV receiver cannot receive the offset audio signal, the TV signal further contains an unmodulated carrier signal at 4.5 Mhz to "blank" unauthorized reception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde Robbins, John Schilling
  • Patent number: D954673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Stefans, Zhe Zhang, Michael Jou, Neil Epstein, Henry Homza, Nicholas Stefano, Clyde Robbins, Michael Lacek, Charles Grugan
  • Patent number: D954674
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Stefans, Zhe Zhang, Michael Jou, Neil Epstein, Henry Homza, Nicholas Stefano, Clyde Robbins
  • Patent number: D954675
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Stefans, Zhe Zhang, Michael Jou, Neil Epstein, Henry Homza, Nicholas Stefano, Clyde Robbins, Michael Lacek, Charles Grugan
  • Patent number: D954676
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Stefans, Zhe Zhang, Michael Jou, Neil Epstein, Henry Homza, Nicholas Stefano, Clyde Robbins, Michael Lacek, Charles Grugan