Patents by Inventor Hugh Boyd Morrison
Hugh Boyd Morrison 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: 9213465Abstract: A program guide is displayed which lists the availability of information for a program listed in the guide, where such information is obtained from a source accessible through the Internet, where the guide uses first color to indicate the availability of such information and a second color when such information is not available.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: James Edwin Hailey, Michael Wayne Johnson, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Robert Joseph Logan, Robert Skipworth Comer, Shelia Renee Crosby
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Patent number: 9118972Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Publication number: 20140344865Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Kenneth Wayne MAZE, Jeffrey Philip REAVIS, Robert Howard MILLER, Sheila Renee CROSBY, Hugh Boyd MORRISON, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 8776138Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Publication number: 20130125174Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 8205233Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 7917927Abstract: A video processing apparatus may be controlled in response to selecting an advertisement displayed in connection with a productivity or communication application software program being operated on a video processing apparatus. The advertisement includes control information, which is used by the video processing apparatus to control an operating mode thereof. The control information may include both time and channel data as well as a recording data for programming a timer. Alternately, the control information may only include program data, which is passed to the electronic program guide to determine the time and channel information associated with the program data.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Hugh Boyd Morrison, Anthony Edward Stuart, Robert Joseph Logan, Charles Bryan Hunt, Megan Louise Brown, Jill Suzanne Allen
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Publication number: 20090178079Abstract: A system and a method is disclosed which allows both advertisement and program information to be shown on a channel banner, while user changes channel. In another embodiment, an “advertisement channel” is inserted into an active channel list (e.g., scan list), so that when a user is changing channel, a selected ad will be displayed. In yet another embodiment, a method for tracking and collating advertisement display activity in a video system supporting composite display of image data associated with different multimedia functions and advertisements is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2009Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Mike Arthur Derrenberger, John Frederick Teskey, Thomas Herman Hamilton, Steven Charles Rhoads, Michael Eugene Willcox, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Robert Joseph Logan, Jill Suzanne Allen
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Patent number: 7533400Abstract: A video decoder system automatically acquires program guide information from local and remote peripheral devices to form a composite program guide. Program guide information is received from a first source and access data is retrieved from memory. The access data is used to initiate communication automatically between the video decoder and a second source external to the video decoder. Program guide information retrieved from the second source together with program guide information provided by the first source is incorporated into a composite program guide for display. The communication may be initiated upon different conditions and a peripheral device and associated communication protocol may be identified from various sources of configuration information.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: James Edwin Hailey, Michael Wayne Johnson, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Robert Joseph Logan, Robert Skipworth Comer, Sheila Renee Crosby
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Patent number: 7493640Abstract: A system and a method is disclosed which allows both advertisement and program information to be shown on a channel banner, while user changes channel. In another embodiment, an “advertisement channel” is inserted into an active channel list (e.g., scan list), so that when a user is changing channel, a selected ad will be displayed. In yet another embodiment, a method for tracking and collating advertisement display activity in a video system supporting composite display of image data associated with different multimedia functions and advertisements is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Mike Arthur Derrenberger, John Frederick Teskey, Thomas Herman Hamilton, Steven Charles Rhoads, Michael Eugene Willcox, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Robert Joseph Logan, Jill Suzanne Allen
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Publication number: 20080199144Abstract: A program guide is displayed which lists the availability of information for a program listed in the guide, where such information is obtained from a source accessible through the Internet, where the guide uses first color to indicate the availability of such information and a second color when such information is not available.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: THOMSON LICENSING LLCInventors: James Edwin Hailey, Michael Wayne Johnson, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Robert Joseph Logan, Robert Skipworth Comer, Shelia Renee Crosby
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Patent number: 6983483Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 6601238Abstract: A method and a system for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on an electronic program guide (EPG) is described. A matched program and its respective program source is first determined. This first matched program from the respective program source is then highlighted in the EPG. Additionally, an icon for a respective program source is displayed indicating a future or a previously matched program from the respective program source.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1998Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Hugh Boyd Morrison, Mark Sheridan Westlake
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Patent number: 6591292Abstract: An interface and a method for incorporating program information into an electronic message are provided. According to the method, a menu of programs is generated by displaying program identifiers on a display device. At least one of the program identifiers representing a program of interest is selected. An electronic message display is generated with program text indicative of that program incorporated into a message portion of the electronic message display. The message portion is sent by electronic message to a recipient, with the program text in the message portion. Preferably, selection of the program text by a recipient of the electronic message causes the respective program to be implemented or causes certain choices on how to implement the program to be presented to the recipient.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Hugh Boyd Morrison, Mark Sheridan Westlake, Robert Joseph Logan
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Publication number: 20030093815Abstract: A television signal receiver is operative to allow the assigning of a home channel and to tune to that home channel upon power-up of the television signal receiver. The home channel may be selected according to a channel label that identifies the broadcaster, broadcast affiliate or broadcast channel type regardless where the channel is assigned in the area or system of the receiver. The channel label is transmitted as auxiliary data. In one form, the manufacturer of the television signal receiver selects or sets the home channel, which may or may not be changeable by a user of the television signal receiver. In another form, the user of the television signal receiver selects or sets the home channel. The home channel feature may be disabled if desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2001Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventor: Hugh Boyd Morrison
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Patent number: 6546091Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically establishing a data connection includes a telephone line interface circuit coupled to a subscriber telephone line, and a modulator and demodulator circuit coupled to the telephone line interface circuit. A control circuit is coupled to the modulator and demodulator circuit and conditions the modulator and demodulator circuit to establish a connection to the subscriber telephone line and comprises circuitry to determine whether a central office to which the subscriber telephone line is connected is a tone-dial central office or a pulse-dial-only central office, whether a dialing prefix is necessary to access the subscriber telephone line, and whether the call waiting feature is activated on the subscriber telephone line.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1998Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Daniel Robert Crupi, Hugh Boyd Morrison
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Publication number: 20020073427Abstract: a method and a system for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on an electronic program guide (EPG) is described. A matched program and its respective program source is first determined. This first matched program from the respective program source is then highlighted in the EPG. Additionally, an icon for a respective program source is displayed indicating a future or a previously matched program from the respective program source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 1998Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: HUGH BOYD MORRISON, MARK SHERIDAN WESTLAKE
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Patent number: 6359580Abstract: A system and method allows a television viewer to select a channel without having to pre-select the source of the television signal received. If a conflict occurs in that multiple sources such as a satellite system, high definition television (HDTV), or cable TV all utilize the desired channel, then the system informs the viewer on the television display of the conflict and prompts the viewer for the desired source for the selected channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Hugh Boyd Morrison
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Publication number: 20020023082Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 6263502Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting characteristics of a television receiver, such as the video and audio settings, based on characteristics of the program being viewed. The system accesses a pre-defined list of program topics and themes stored in a television database. For each topic and theme, settings for picture quality such as contrast, color and brightness and settings for audio such as audio processor type, bass, and treble are stored. When the system is able to match the currently viewed program with one from the database the audio and video settings are automatically adjusted for that program. If the viewer switches to another program or if one program ends and another begins then the acquisition and adjustment process is repeated. The system can be disabled by the viewer if desired.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Hugh Boyd Morrison, Sheila Renee Crosby, Robert Joseph Logan