Patents by Inventor David H. Sprogis

David H. Sprogis 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: 7657402
    Abstract: A method of communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, presentation components in theatres is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data representative of equipment status in a central computer storage unit, transmitting data representative of equipment status from each of a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to the central computer storage unit, receiving data representative of equipment status, providing a job scheduling report, and providing fault data. The data representative of equipment status is received at each remote computer storage unit from a plurality of presentation components associated with a plurality of theatres. The a job scheduling report includes data regarding complete instances of jobs scheduled to play at shows at a first set of the plurality of theatres, and data regarding incomplete instances of jobs scheduled to play at shows at a second set of the plurality of theatres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: CineCast, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Sprogis, Dan U. Zehme
  • Publication number: 20090112664
    Abstract: A method of communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, presentation components in theatres is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data representative of equipment status in a central computer storage unit, transmitting data representative of equipment status from each of a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to the central computer storage unit, receiving data representative of equipment status, providing a job scheduling report, and providing fault data. The data representative of equipment status is received at each remote computer storage unit from a plurality of presentation components associated with a plurality of theatres. The a job scheduling report includes data regarding complete instances of jobs scheduled to play at shows at a first set of the plurality of theatres, and data regarding incomplete instances of jobs scheduled to play at shows at a second set of the plurality of theatres.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: CINECAST, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Sprogis, Dan U. Zehme
  • Patent number: 7379850
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining equipment status based upon data representative of movie theater equipment state changes. The method includes the step of retrieving and storing data representative of theater equipment status in a central computer storage unit that includes known status data representative of a plurality of state change patterns representing known status. The method also includes the steps of receiving status data representative of a status of each of a plurality of items of theater equipment at each of a plurality of remote theater screen assemblies over a plurality of instances during a period of time, comparing a first state change pattern representative of equipment state changes in state of a theater audio processing unit to the known status data in the central computer storage unit, providing comparison data, providing alert condition data responsive to the comparison data, and receiving the comparison data and storing the comparison data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: CineCast, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Sprogis, Dan U. Zehme
  • Patent number: 7143010
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, movie theatre equipment in theatres. The system includes a central computer storage unit for receiving and storing data representative of equipment state and status, and a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to the central computer storage unit for transmitting data representative of equipment state and status. Each of the plurality of remote computer storage units includes a first remote computer storage unit coupled to at least one theatre automation unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of automation equipment state and status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: CineCast, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Sprogis, Dan U. Zehme
  • Patent number: 6983225
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, movie theatre equipment in theatres. The system includes a central computer storage unit for receiving and storing data representative of equipment state and status, and a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to the central computer storage unit for transmitting data representative of equipment state and status. Each of the plurality of remote computer storage units includes a first remote computer storage unit coupled to at least one theatre automation unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of automation equipment state and status. The first remote computer storage unit is also coupled to at least one theatre projection unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of projection equipment state and status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: CineCast LLC
    Inventors: David H. Sprogis, Dan U. Zehme
  • Publication number: 20040249613
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, movie theatre equipment in theatres. The system includes a central computer storage unit for receiving and storing data representative of equipment state and status, and a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to the central computer storage unit for transmitting data representative of equipment state and status. Each of the plurality of remote computer storage units includes a first remote computer storage unit coupled to at least one theatre automation unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of automation equipment state and status. The first remote computer storage unit is also coupled to at least one theatre projection unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of projection equipment state and status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: David H. Sprogis, Dan U. Zehme
  • Publication number: 20040093608
    Abstract: A digital network system is disclosed, that includes a central server, a sub-net server, a plurality of digital projector assemblies, a schedule unit and a production unit. The central server includes a computer storage unit for receiving and storing digital content data representative of text and video information, and digital context data representative of contexts associated with said digital content data. The central server is coupled to a wide area network and to an intra-site network. The sub-net server is coupled to the central server via the intra-site network, and coupled to a local area network. The digital projector assemblies are coupled to the local area network, and each digital projector assembly includes a processing unit and a digital projector. The schedule unit is for accessing a subset of said stored digital content data in the computer storage unit responsive to the associated digital context data and the show schedule information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: David H. Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20040078269
    Abstract: A video exposure reporting system is disclosed that includes a computer storage unit, a plurality of digital projectors, a production unit, an audience feedback unit, and an exposure log generation unit. The computer storage unit is for storing digital video data representative of video information. The plurality of digital projector assemblies is coupled to the central computer storage unit. The production unit is for assembling first presentation data to be shown at a first digital projector assembly. The audience attendance feedback unit is for receiving first attendance data representative of information regarding a number of people comprising a first audience in an environment associated with the first digital projector assembly at a first show time. The exposure log generation unit is for recording first log data that is representative of the display of the first presentation data to the first audience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: David H. Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20040078268
    Abstract: A video data scheduling system is disclosed that includes a computer storage unit, a plurality of digital projector assemblies including a first digital projector, a-schedule unit, and a production unit. The computer storage unit is for storing digital video data representative of video information. The digital video data includes content data regarding the content of the video information, and context data regarding a scheduling context in which said video information is desired to be presented. The plurality of digital projector assemblies is coupled to the computer storage unit. The schedule input unit is for receiving show schedule information including a plurality of start times and locations at which each of a plurality of shows are scheduled to begin. The schedule unit is for accessing a subset of the content data in the computer storage unit responsive to the context data and the show schedule information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: David H. Sprogis