Patents by Inventor Donald Woodward, Jr.
Donald Woodward, Jr. 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).
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Patent number: 8873929Abstract: Apparatus and corresponding methods for storing video information. The apparatus includes a means for receiving video information, a means for converting the received video information into digital video information, and a means for storing the digital video information. Converting the received video information into digital video information can include converting it into an MPEG-compatible digital format. The apparatus can include an MPEG-compatible digital encoder, which can include separate audio and video MPEG encoders. The digital video information can be stored on an electromagnetically writable disk drive with an optimized MPEG file system (OMFS) configured to receive the digital video information and store the digital video information on the disk drive, where the OMFS is configured to divide the received digital video information into one or more packets, each packet having the same number of bytes as a sector on a disk in the disk drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2003Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Spencer Shanson, Matthew Self, Donald Woodward, Jr., Douglas Shannon, Mark Nudelman, Karl Townsend, Edward Kessler
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Patent number: 8433182Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Donald Woodward, Jr., Edward Kessler, Douglas Shannon, Spencer Shanson, Karl Townsend
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Publication number: 20100266261Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Donald Woodward, JR., Edward Kessler, Douglas Shannon, Spencer Shanson, Karl Townsend
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Publication number: 20100266260Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Donald Woodward, JR., Edward Kessler, Douglas Shannon, Spencer Shanson, Karl Townsend
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Patent number: 7773860Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2003Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Donald Woodward, Jr., Edward Kessler, Douglas Shannon, Spencer Shanson, Karl Townsend
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Patent number: 7509020Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for “instant replays” and “quick skip” functionality in a media playback device. In the case of an instant replay, under user control, the media playback moves temporally backwards. In the case of quick skip, under user control, the media playback moves temporally forward. In one embodiment, the temporal movement is based on a predetermined time (e.g., move back 5 seconds, move forward 30 seconds). In another embodiment, the temporal movement is based on scene change analysis.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Donald Woodward, Jr., Doug Shannon
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Publication number: 20020054752Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 1998Publication date: May 9, 2002Inventors: ANTHONY WOOD, DONALD WOODWARD JR., EDWARD KESSLER
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Patent number: 6360053Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for “instant replays” and “quick skip” functionality in a media playback device. In the case of an instant replay, under user control, the media playback moves temporally backwards. In the case of quick skip, under user control, the media playback moves temporally forward. In one embodiment, the temporal movement is based on a predetermined time (e.g., move back 5 seconds, move forward 30 seconds).Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2000Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: ReplayTV, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Donald Woodward, Jr., Doug Shannon
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Patent number: 6324338Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: ReplayTV, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Wood, Donald Woodward, Jr.
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Publication number: 20010043795Abstract: A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 1998Publication date: November 22, 2001Inventors: ANTHONY WOOD, DONALD WOODWARD, JR