Patents by Inventor Max S. Gratton

Max S. Gratton 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).

  • Publication number: 20240121129
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for configuring structures and environs based on detected users and generic or known itineraries are described. A system may include: a hub having a data store, non-transiently storing computer instructions for a hub tracker engine (THE) and for a hub response engine (HRE) and a processor; a tracker node; and a responding device. The HTE instructs operations including fine or coarse user detection, and tracking operations. The system thereby tracks the user within a structure and determines whether to respond to the user. The HRE configures the responding device as at least one of a current responding device, a next responding device, and a destination responding device. Coarse user detection may include powering-on the tracker node, establishing a tracker link with the hub, communicating a tracker data signal to the hub, and analyzing the tracker data signal for a presence of the user at a location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: DISH Wireless L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher William Krasny Ergen, Charles W. Ergen, Max S. GRATTON
  • Publication number: 20230208901
    Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the authentication of media player devices for media streaming. Specifically, the various embodiments provide a media player device authentication technique that monitors the locations of media player devices to determine a pattern of device co-location with a primary device. The media player devices can then be selectively designated as confirmed devices based on their determined pattern of device co-location with a primary media player device. Those media player devices that are designated as confirmed devices can then be selectively enabled for media streaming. Conversely, media player devices that are not designated as confirmed devices based on a pattern of co-location can be prevented from receiving media streams even when they have the correct login information and password.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.
    Inventors: MAX S. GRATTON, MATTHEW H. POLSON
  • Patent number: 11588869
    Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the authentication of media player devices for media streaming. Specifically, the various embodiments provide a media player device authentication technique that monitors the locations of media player devices to determine a pattern of device co-location with a primary device. The media player devices can then be selectively designated as confirmed devices based on their determined pattern of device co-location with a primary media player device. Those media player devices that are designated as confirmed devices can then be selectively enabled for media streaming. Conversely, media player devices that are not designated as confirmed devices based on a pattern of co-location can be prevented from receiving media streams even when they have the correct login information and password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sling TV L.L.C.
    Inventors: Max S. Gratton, Matthew H. Polson
  • Publication number: 20220166815
    Abstract: Systems, devices and processes are provided to facilitate the authentication of media player devices for media streaming. Specifically, the various embodiments provide a media player device authentication technique that monitors the locations of media player devices to determine a pattern of device co-location with a primary device. The media player devices can then be selectively designated as confirmed devices based on their determined pattern of device co-location with a primary media player device. Those media player devices that are designated as confirmed devices can then be selectively enabled for media streaming. Conversely, media player devices that are not designated as confirmed devices based on a pattern of co-location can be prevented from receiving media streams even when they have the correct login information and password.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Sling TV L.L.C.
    Inventors: MAX S. GRATTON, MATTHEW H. POLSON
  • Publication number: 20220078132
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: MAX S. GRATTON
  • Patent number: 11201833
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Max S. Gratton
  • Publication number: 20210336965
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices to authorize access to a simultaneous media streams are described. After a first media stream is initiated with a first client device, an authorization service receives a request to establish the simultaneous second media stream with a second client device. The service determines whether the second client device is at a geographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, and grants or denies access to the second simultaneous stream accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: MAX S. GRATTON, TIMOTHY ROBERT JEZEK
  • Patent number: 11159837
    Abstract: A media content receiver device and related operating methods are presented here. An exemplary embodiment of a method of operating the receiver device is performed to maintain a value point balance on behalf of a subscriber. The method continues by receiving channel selection instructions at the receiver device. The channel selection instructions identify at least one content delivery channel. The method continues by adjusting the value point balance in accordance with channel subscription points linked to the identified at least one content delivery channel. A conditional authorization module of the receiver device is configured to authorize subscription to the at least one content delivery channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Max S. Gratton
  • Patent number: 11146849
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Dish Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Max S. Gratton
  • Patent number: 11057394
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices to authorize access to a simultaneous media streams are described. After a first media stream is initiated with a first client device, an authorization service receives a request to establish the simultaneous second media stream with a second client device. The service determines whether the second client device is at a geographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, and grants or denies access to the second simultaneous stream accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Max S. Gratton, Timothy Robert Jezek
  • Publication number: 20200228459
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: MAX S. GRATTON
  • Patent number: 10601730
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Max S. Gratton
  • Publication number: 20190297090
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices to authorize access to a simultaneous media streams are described. After a first media stream is initiated with a first client device, an authorization service receives a request to establish the simultaneous second media stream with a second client device. The service determines whether the second client device is at a geographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, and grants or denies access to the second simultaneous stream accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: MAX S. GRATTON, TIMOTHY ROBERT JEZEK
  • Publication number: 20190238479
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: MAX S. GRATTON
  • Patent number: 10320803
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices to authorize access to a simultaneous media streams are described. After a first media stream is initiated with a first client device, an authorization service receives a request to establish the simultaneous second media stream with a second client device. The service determines whether the second client device is at a geographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, and grants or denies access to the second simultaneous stream accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: DISH TECHNOLOGIES LLC, HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Max S. Gratton, Timothy Robert Jezek
  • Publication number: 20190158911
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Max S. Gratton
  • Patent number: 10270708
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Max S. Gratton
  • Patent number: 10231009
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch, Max S. Gratton
  • Publication number: 20170310606
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Max S. Gratton
  • Patent number: 9716668
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide efficient bandwidth allocation on a satellite, mobile telephone or other data connection by allowing nodes to share bandwidth for commonly-requested data. A transmission center, uplink or other gateway suitably recognizes when content requests from multiple different nodes are simultaneously requesting delivery of the same content. When the same content is recognized, the gateway device allocates shared bandwidth on the data transmission link for the requested content that is accessible to both the first and second nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Max S. Gratton