Patents by Inventor J. Eric Townsend

J. Eric Townsend 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: 7933950
    Abstract: A method providing secure control of features of a digital device. In one embodiment, the method comprises sending, from a digital device that participates in a service, to a service provider that provides the service, a request to participate in the service; receiving a digital message that identifies a service state for the digital device, wherein the digital message is encoded uniquely for the digital device, wherein the digital message is unusable at a different digital device; based on the digital message, determining a plurality of control values that collectively define the service state within the digital device; and providing the control values to one or more applications hosted by the digital device that deliver a service experience associated with the service, or a feature, to an end user of the digital device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Barton, Richard Lee, J. Eric Townsend, Adam Feder, Timothy Davison, Paul Stevens, James Barton