Patents by Inventor Henry Gregg Martch
Henry Gregg Martch 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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Publication number: 20160309212Abstract: A television receiver may be configured to receive, from a user of the television receiver, a set of viewing rules that define a focus preference of the user. The television receiver may output, to a presentation device, a video mosaic comprising a plurality of pieces of content presented as a plurality of tiles. Each piece of content may be linked with a corresponding audio stream from a plurality of audio streams. The television receiver may select a piece of content for focus from the plurality of pieces of content based on the set of viewing rules defined by the user. The television receiver may output only an audio stream linked with the piece of content being focused on from among the plurality of audio streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Max Stephen Gratton
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Patent number: 9420333Abstract: A television receiver may be configured to receive, from a user of the television receiver, a set of viewing rules that define a focus preference of the user. The television receiver may output, to a presentation device, a video mosaic comprising a plurality of pieces of content presented as a plurality of tiles. Each piece of content may be linked with a corresponding audio stream from a plurality of audio streams. The television receiver may select a piece of content for focus from the plurality of pieces of content based on the set of viewing rules defined by the user. The television receiver may output only an audio stream linked with the piece of content being focused on from among the plurality of audio streams.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Max Stephen Gratton
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Patent number: 9412413Abstract: A first program recording timer may be scheduled to record a particular program broadcast on a particular television channel by a television service provider. A second program recording timer may be scheduled to record a plurality of programs broadcast consecutively on the particular television channel by the television service provider, including the particular program. A first graphical indicator that identifies scheduling of the first program recording timer, and a second graphical indicator that identifies scheduling of the second program recording timer may be simultaneously output for display within a programming guide and in association with a descriptor of the particular program.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventor: Henry Gregg Martch
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Publication number: 20160191913Abstract: Various arrangements for monitoring the signal strength of a programming stream are presented. A tuner in a receiver may be allocated to monitor disruptions and changes to the signal strength of programming streams. Based on the characteristics of the signal strength and changes to additional data such as weather information, a cause of the disruption may be determined. The cause of the disruption may be communicated to a user. Characteristics of the disruption may be unique or localized to specific geographic locations. Based at least in part on the geographic location of a receiver characteristics of disruptions may be used to identify television receivers associated with account packing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Edmund Petruzzelli
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Publication number: 20160191147Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling computing device or system resource sharing between two or more satellite television customers are disclosed. This may be achieved by partitioning resources of a television receiver system such that a first party and at least a second party have access to the various features or functionality in a manner similar to that as if each respective party has a standalone instance of the same. A server system may facilitate the resource sharing between satellite television customers by receiving a request from a first party and identifying a second party within suitable distance from the first party. The server system may send configuration instructions to the television receiver of the hosting party that include instructions as to how the resources of the computing system are to be allocated.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventor: Henry Gregg Martch
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Patent number: 9357159Abstract: A provider transmits instructions to a receiver to record multiple instances of content. The instances of content are included in the same frequency band of a broadcast signal transmitted via a first communication link and encoded utilizing a common encryption. The provider determines to supplement and transmits an instruction to record a supplemental instance of content from a second content provider via a second communication link. The receiver receives the instructions and accordingly receives, decodes, and stores the multiple instances of content and the supplemental content. A recorder in communication with the receiver determines whether a content selection is a member of a content group. The group determination is based on a tag of the content selection. If the content selection is a member of the content group, the recorder presents to a display device the content selection and at least one other member of the content group.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Max S. Gratton
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Patent number: 9351023Abstract: Various arrangements are described for skipping portions of content, such as commercials, from a broadcast television program. The programming content is presented at a reduced presentation rate with the broadcast content being buffered as received. The reduced presentation rate may be less than a broadcast rate at which the content was originally intended to be output for presentation. One or more undesired portions of content may be skipped due to the reduced presentation rate. Commercials may be tagged by a television service provider.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: David Kummer, Henry Gregg Martch
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Patent number: 9293032Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling at least one entertainment device include at least one remote in two-way communication with a base device. Memories of the remote and the base device are operable to store substantially the same data as the other such that if the remote or base device fails, data in the memory of the non-failing device is loaded into a memory of a replacement device. A memory of a second remote may also store the same data as the remote memory such that if either the first remote or the base device fails, data in the memory of the second remote is loaded into a memory of a replacement device.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: John William Linebarger, Jr., Anthony George Dower, III, Henry Gregg Martch, Leslie Ann Harper, Jan Johnson, David Arthur Innes, Joshua Alan Gatewood, Matthew Paul Zenthoefer, William Michael Beals
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Patent number: 9264779Abstract: A method of providing access to a block of stored content includes transmitting a general EPG at a content receiver for display on a presentation device, the EPG including a plurality of channels having a plurality of programs available at a plurality of times, receiving input from a user to display a block guide, and transmitting the block guide wherein, the block guide is associated with the block of stored content for accessing the block of stored content, the block guide including a plurality of channels having a plurality of programs available for a selected airing time.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Morgan Haden Kirby, Henry Gregg Martch
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Publication number: 20160044349Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided to assist users to locate content of interest based on viewer ratings. First information enabling unique identification of a first user may be processed. Indications of ratings of television programming may be processed, the indications being received from a first media device associated with the first user. Ratings information associated with the first user may be retained in repositories, the ratings information being based on the indications. The first user may be matched to a category that represents a classification of a set of viewers and/or of a set of content based on a set of attributes. Descriptive content indicative of the first user and/or content rated by the first user may be selected and may be transmitted via the network to a second media device associated with a second user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Mark Jackson, Henry Gregg Martch
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Patent number: 9232255Abstract: A remote control and method of programming a remote control for controlling components in an entertainment system are disclosed. The remote control may operate in multiple modes including a limited mode that prevents the remote control from sending predetermined commands to one or more components, even when instructed to do so by the user. In addition, the remote control may issue one or more commands to each component in response to a single user input.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: ECHOSTAR CORPORATIONInventors: Charles W. Ergen, Michael T. Dugan, David A. Kummer, William M. Beals, Daniel L. Rudolph, Mark H. Gomez, Henry Gregg Martch, Adam C. Morzos
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Patent number: 9202524Abstract: An indication of user interest of a program of a particular television channel may be identified based on user interaction with a programming guide that displays first content. A selectable icon positioned in association with a descriptor that identifies the particular television channel may be generated in response to identifying the indication of user interest and for display within the programming guide. An interactive pane that identifies at least one particular program that is stored within an omnibus channel file containing a plurality of programs broadcast consecutively on the particular television channel over a predefined period of time may be generated in response to user selection of the selectable icon for display within the programming guide.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Dan Minnick, Morgan Kirby, Mark Templeman, Luke VanDuyn
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Publication number: 20150327092Abstract: A system includes a remote device, a client device, and a server. The server is configured to measure a signal strength of the client device relative to the server and transmit signal strength measurement data representing the signal strength. The remote device is configured to output a representation of the signal strength in accordance with the signal strength measurement data. A method includes measuring a signal strength of a client device relative to a server, transmitting signal strength measurement data representing the signal strength to a remote device, and outputting via the remote device a representation of the signal strength in accordance with the signal strength measurement data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventor: Henry Gregg Martch
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Patent number: 9185331Abstract: Content receivers may simultaneously record multiple instances of content for multiple programming channels based on content provider instructions. Systems and methods utilize the content receivers to record these multiple instances from at least a single transponder. In some instances, multiple transponders may have a common control word so that content carried on each such transponder may be simultaneously received, decoded and recorded. Further, a single demodulator may be associated with multiple tuners, so that the single demodulator processes all content received from transponders with common control words and/or other encryption mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, David A. Kummer, John T. Kennedy
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Publication number: 20150230004Abstract: Various arrangements that permit temporary subscription porting are presented. A temporary subscription port request may be submitted by a subscriber. The temporary subscription port request may include an identifier of a visitor television receiver and authentication information for the subscriber. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a first command to a home television receiver may be transmitted that disables viewing a first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account. In response to the temporary subscription port request, a second command to the visitor television receiver may be transmitted that enables viewing the first set of television channels linked with the subscriber's subscription account.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Luke VanDuyn, Henry Gregg Martch
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Patent number: 9088763Abstract: A method for recording multiple pieces of content with a single tuner. A content delivery network can include multiple channels organized into bands with several channels per band. These bands can be transmitted on an up-link such as to a satellite. The bands can be relayed to receivers at the end user locations. The end user receivers can tune to one, two, or some other fraction of the total number of transmitted bands. When a user selects a program to view and/or record, a tuner of the receiver tunes to the band that includes the channel that includes the program. The method prompts the user regarding the other channels that form the set of channels on that band, and solicits input for recording one or more concurrent programs of the band, which can all be recorded on the single receiving tuner.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, William Beals, Dave Kummer, Mark Jackson, Dan Minnick
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Publication number: 20150181279Abstract: A television receiver may be configured to receive, from a user of the television receiver, a set of viewing rules that define a focus preference of the user. The television receiver may output, to a presentation device, a video mosaic comprising a plurality of pieces of content presented as a plurality of tiles. Each piece of content may be linked with a corresponding audio stream from a plurality of audio streams. The television receiver may select a piece of content for focus from the plurality of pieces of content based on the set of viewing rules defined by the user. The television receiver may output only an audio stream linked with the piece of content being focused on from among the plurality of audio streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C.Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Max Stephen Gratton
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Publication number: 20150181306Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for allowing a user with a Smartphone to pair the Smartphone with another Bluetooth device to receive audio that is played to the user over headphones or through speakers on the Smartphone. Further, an audio processing module is used to modify the audio presented to the user, extract closed captioning text to be displayed to the user, find information relevant to the audio to be displayed to the user, and pause audio content sent to the Smartphone when phone calls or other Smartphone interruptions occur.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: David Innes, Henry Gregg Martch
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Publication number: 20150095948Abstract: Various arrangements are present for targeting content in a television distribution system. A multiregional television channel may be transmitted to television receivers. A plurality of regional television channels may also be transmitted. Each regional television channel of the plurality of regional television channels may be broadcast to geographically smaller regions than the multiregional television channel. Content among the regional television channels may vary. Data may be transmitted to the television receivers that causes the television receivers to output for presentation as a single television channel: content from the multiregional television channel and content from a regional television channel corresponding to the television receiver's location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Applicant: EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C.Inventors: David Kummer, Henry Gregg Martch
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Patent number: 8989562Abstract: An arrangement for grouping multiple television channels for recording is presented. Television channel usage data indicative of television programs being requested by users of the television receivers may be received. The television channel usage data may provide usage data for television channels being transmitted using a plurality of transponders. The television channel usage data may be analyzed to determine a grouping of television channels. Based on the television channel usage data, a television channel may be reassigned from a first transponder to a second transponder for transmission to the plurality of television receivers such that the grouping of television channels are transmitted using the second transponder.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: David Kummer, Henry Gregg Martch, Morgan Kirby, Anand Menon, Germar Schaefer