Patents by Inventor John R. Stefanik
John R. Stefanik 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: 11202031Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a controllability indicator at a portable communication device, the controllability indicator received from a stationary communication device. The controllability indicator indicates whether a trickplay feature is available for controlling a presentation of multimedia content, and is determined from a characterization of the multimedia content. The method further includes presenting a trickplay indicator at the portable communication device according to the controllability indicator to indicate whether the trickplay feature is available. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr., John R. Stefanik
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Patent number: 10455274Abstract: Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description may include control data for controlling a device. The control data may thus be executed to alter a presentation of the multimedia content.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, George A. Durden
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Patent number: 10194207Abstract: Content titles are electronically arranged in different groups. An electronic wrapper surrounds all the titles in each group. The electronic wrapper displays content information that is common to all the titles in each group.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: David K. Steading, John R. Stefanik
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Patent number: 9767657Abstract: Methods, systems, and products disclose a remote control device that controls multiple consumer electronics devices based on orientation.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2013Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventor: John R. Stefanik
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Publication number: 20170195711Abstract: Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description may include control data for controlling a device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, George A. Durden
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Patent number: 9635415Abstract: Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description may include control data for controlling a device. The control data may thus be executed to alter a presentation of the multimedia content.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, George A. Durden
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Patent number: 9621865Abstract: A user is able to select a multimedia stream from a plurality of multimedia streams available at a multimedia receiver. The availability of one or more trickplay features for the selected multimedia stream is determined in response to the selection of the multimedia stream. A visual indicator, an audible indicator, or both are selectively provided for display/output based on the determined availability status of the corresponding trickplay feature. The selective provision of a trickplay indicator can include providing a first trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is available and providing a second, different trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is unavailable. Alternately, the selective provision of a trickplay indicator includes providing the trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is unavailable and omitting provision of the trickplay indicator when the trickplay feature is available, or vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: RAKUTEN, INC.Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr., John R. Stefanik
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Publication number: 20170048478Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a controllability indicator at a portable communication device, the controllability indicator received from a stationary communication device. The controllability indicator indicates whether a trickplay feature is available for controlling a presentation of multimedia content, and is determined from a characterization of the multimedia content. The method further includes presenting a trickplay indicator at the portable communication device according to the controllability indicator to indicate whether the trickplay feature is available. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, SR., John R. Stefanik
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Patent number: 9516273Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a controllability indicator at a portable communication device, the controllability indicator received from a stationary communication device. The controllability indicator indicates whether a trickplay feature is available for controlling a presentation of multimedia content, and is determined from a characterization of the multimedia content. The method further includes presenting a trickplay indicator at the portable communication device according to the controllability indicator to indicate whether the trickplay feature is available. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2012Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr., John R. Stefanik
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Publication number: 20160191986Abstract: Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description may include control data for controlling a device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2016Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, George A. Durden
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Patent number: 9294730Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system having a controller to present a merchant a graphical user interface (GUI) for entering advertisement information, receive from the merchant advertisement information, generate an advertisement GUI for presenting the received advertisement information, identify a plurality of users of the IPTV system that demographically correlate to the advertisement information, and direct the advertisement GUI to one or more set-top boxes of the identified plurality of users. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, E-Lee Chang, Charles Patrick Bradley, Tuck Seng Tan, Darnell Clayton, Madhur Khandelwal
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Patent number: 9294797Abstract: Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description includes control data for controlling an external device. The control data is stripped therefrom and sent to the external device to alter a presentation of the multimedia content.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, George A. Durden
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Patent number: 9172768Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television system having a controller to receive an identification of a first presentation device, select a webpage graphical user interface (GUI) template from a library according to the identification of the first presentation device, receive a request to present a customization of the webpage GUI template at a second presentation device, identify an adaptation process to accommodate presentation of the customization of the webpage GUI template at the second presentation device, customize the webpage GUI template according to one or more directives received from the first presentation device, thereby generating a customized webpage GUI, adapt the customized webpage GUI according to the adaptation process, present the customized webpage GUI at the first presentation device, and present the adapted customized webpage GUI at the second presentation device. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, E-Lee Chang, Charles Patrick Bradley, Tuck Seng Tan, Darnell Clayton, Madhur Khandelwal
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Publication number: 20150229999Abstract: Content titles are electronically arranged in different groups. An electronic wrapper surrounds all the titles in each group. The electronic wrapper displays content information that is common to all the titles in each group.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: David K. Steading, John R. Stefanik
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Publication number: 20140101696Abstract: Methods, systems, and products target content to a device. Recently entered commands entered at the device are associated to an advertisement. The advertisement is then sent to the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, Robert A. Koch
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Publication number: 20140059639Abstract: Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description includes control data for controlling an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, George A. Durden
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Patent number: 8640158Abstract: Methods, systems, and products modify and/or block content. A program is received, along with a default rating of the program and dynamic ratings of portions of the program. A preference is received from memory to at least one of block and modify the program. When a dynamic rating is missing for a portion of the program, then revert to the default rating and block the portion of the program from presentation.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: George A. Durden, John R. Stefanik, Scott R. Swix
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Patent number: 8640160Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed that target content to a subscriber. One such device has a processor communicating with memory. The processor receives a library of content associated with a demographic and stores the library in memory. The processor receives an instruction to retrieve particular content from the library of content and inserts the particular content in an insertion slot.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: John R. Stefanik, Robert A. Koch
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Patent number: 8607298Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for automated control of devices. A tag is received with Electronic Programming Guide data, and the tag includes control data. The tag is stripped from the Electronic Programming Guide data and communicated to a device.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: George A. Durden, John R. Stefanik
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Patent number: 8544039Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box (STB) having a controller to present a plurality of advertisement categories, detect a selection of one of the plurality of advertisement categories, present an advertisement template associated with the selected advertisement category, detect a plurality of entries in the advertisement template for constructing a consumer classified advertisement, generate an advertisement graphical user interface (GUI) corresponding to the entries, detect one or more demographic patterns in the plurality of entries, identify a plurality of users of a media communication system from which the STB operates according to the detected one or more demographic patterns, and provide the plurality of users of the media communication system accessibility to the advertisement GUI. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2008Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: E-Lee Chang, John R. Stefanik, Charles Patrick Bradley, Tuck Seng Tan, Darnell Clayton, Madhur Khandelwal