Patents by Inventor Mitchell B. Wasden

Mitchell B. Wasden 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: 9225939
    Abstract: A system for delivering satellite signals to a plurality of display platforms. A system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a first transmission system for delivering the satellite signals to a first display platform via at least one satellite, and a second transmission system, coupled to the first transmission system, for delivering at least a portion of the satellite signals to at least one second display platform, the first transmission system and the second transmission system transmitting in a substantially simultaneous manner, wherein the second transmission system transmits a data stream formatted for compatibility with the at least one second display platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Deanna R. Kidd, Michael R. Munsell, An P. Vuong, Darren J. Wolford, Mitchell B. Wasden, Howard M. Buckley
  • Patent number: 9060096
    Abstract: A communication system includes a content repository 274 storing a content file and a video transport processing system 273 in communication with the content repository 274. The video transport processing system 273 receives a plurality of conditional access information, stores a relative time of arrival of each of the plurality of conditional access information and encrypts the content file using the plurality of conditional access information and the relative time of arrival to form an encrypted content file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Munsell, Mitchell B. Wasden, James A. Michener, Raynold M. Kahn, Maria G. Popoli
  • Patent number: 9055316
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for generating an output signal includes a receiving system 160 generating a plurality of signals having a first format, an encoder 182 encodes the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams and a multiplexer 210. A local area network 130 routes the plurality of transport streams to the multiplexer 210. The multiplexer 210 combines the transport streams to form a combined signal and inserts a digital video effect into the combined signal. A modulator 214 modulates the combined signal to form a modulated signal. A system 202 forms the output signal from the modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Munsell, Carl Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Patent number: 9049037
    Abstract: A system and method for collecting signals includes an IP network, a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network. The local collection facility receives channel signals, encoding the channel signals into respective IP signals, communicating the respective IP signals through an IP network to the remote facility. The remote facility controls an antenna switch at the local collection facility to communicate a first channel signal of the channel signals to a monitoring receiver circuit module. The local collection facility generates a monitoring signal at the monitoring receiver circuit module and communicates the monitoring signal through to a remote facility through the IP network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Patent number: 9049354
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility having a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules with a first receiver circuit module and a back-up receiver module. The local collection facility includes the first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a first IP signal. The first receiver has a first multicast group. The back-up receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forming a second signal. The back-up receiver has a second multicast group. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the first IP signal. The primary decoder belongs to the first multi-cast group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Patent number: 9037074
    Abstract: A method and system of collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules comprising a first receiver circuit module. The first receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forms an IP signal. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is in communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the IP signal. A primary encoder within the remote facility in communication with the primary decoder forms a first encoded signal from the decoded signal. A multiplexer in the remote facility multiplexes the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal. The multiplexed signal may provide an output signal used for uplinking or other type of distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Patent number: 9003465
    Abstract: A communication system 10 includes a content processing system 12 and a distribution system 14. The content processing system 12 receives content and stores the content in a first file format in the content repository 40. A workflow system 54 determines a target for the content and routes the content to a content converter 64 corresponding to the target. The content converter 60 converts the content and forms a second file in a second format different than the first format. The content repository 40 stores the second file therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitch C. Jacobs, Mitchell B. Wasden, Hanno Basse, Ranny Q. Sue
  • Patent number: 8988986
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility. The local facility has a plurality of receivers receiving a plurality of channel signals and a plurality of encoders generating a plurality of encoded signals from the plurality of channel signals. The local collection facility includes a primary multiplexer multiplexing the plurality of encoded signals to form a first multiplexed signal and communicates the first multiplexed signal to the remote facility. A monitoring system at a remote facility commanding switching to a back-up multiplexer at the local collection facility. The back-up multiplexer multiplexing the plurality of encoded signals to form a second multiplexed signal and communicating the second multiplexed signal to the remote facility. The remote facility generating an output signal in response to the second multiplexed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Mitchell B. Wasden, Carl Ostrom
  • Patent number: 8756636
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a plurality of local channel signals that includes a monitoring system for receiving the plurality of local channel signals and for converting channel signals into RF signals. The system also includes a combiner for combining the RF signals with national signals to form a combined signal and an integrated receiver decoder and a router communicating at least one of the combined signals to an input of the integrated receiver decoder. A display associated with the integrated receiver decoder displays at least one of one of the RF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Darren M. St. Laurent, Charles S. Tellez
  • Patent number: 8724635
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a plurality of receivers receiving a plurality of channel signals, a plurality of encoders generating a first plurality of encoded signals from the plurality of channel signals, a multiplexer multiplexing the first plurality of encoded signals at a multiplexer to form first multiplexed signals, an ATM switch forming a primary ATM circuit between the local collection facility and the remote facility, and an ATM network adapter forming first ATM cells from the multiplexed signals and communicating the first ATM cells to a remote facility through the primary ATM circuit and the ATM switch. The system also includes a remote facility that includes a monitoring system generating control signals to tear down the primary ATM circuit and communicating the control signal to tear down the primary ATM circuit to the local collection facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Patent number: 8619822
    Abstract: A system and method of generating an output signal includes a receiving system generating a plurality of signals having a first format, an encoder 162 encoding the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams and a multiplexer 210. The system also includes a local area network 130 routing the plurality of transport streams to the multiplexer 210 to form a combined signal, a modulator 214 modulating the combined signal to form a modulated signal and a system 202 forming the output signal from the modulated signal. In one aspect, the output signals may be satellite uplink signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Munsell, Hanno Basse, Daniel M. Miner, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Patent number: 8479234
    Abstract: A system of local television signals includes a plurality of local collection facilities. Each a local collection facilities includes a plurality of primary receiver decoder circuit modules comprising a first receiver decoder circuit module. The first receiver decoder circuit module receives a first channel signal and forms a first decoded signal. The local collection facility also includes an encoder in communication with the first receiver decoder circuit module forming an encoded signal. A multiplexer multiplexing the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal and a network switch communicating the multiplexed signal through a network. Collectively, the plurality of local collection facilities communicates a plurality of multiplexed signals through the network. The system also includes a remote collection facility in communication with the plurality of local collection facilities that generate an output signal in response to the plurality of multiplexed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Patent number: 8239913
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for generating an output signal includes a receiving system 160 generating a plurality of signals having a first format and communicating the plurality of signals simultaneously through a primary path and a secondary path. A digital video effects module 240 inserting a digital video effect into at least a first signal of the plurality of signals in a primary path. An encoder 182 encoding the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams and a multiplexer. A local area network 130 routes the plurality of transport streams to the multiplexer to form a combined signal. A modulator 210 modulates the combined signal to form a modulated signal and a system 202 forms the output signal from the modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Munsell, Carl Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Patent number: 8077706
    Abstract: A remote facility and method for operating the same includes a signal processing system including a primary multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form a multiplexed signal, a primary modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a primary modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal, a backup multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Patent number: 7861270
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver. The system also includes a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility. A back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility. The monitoring system displays the back-up receiver signal. The remote facility switches the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Publication number: 20090109883
    Abstract: A system and method for collecting signals includes an IP network, a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network. The local collection facility receives channel signals, encoding the channel signals into respective IP signals, communicating the respective IP signals through an IP network to the remote facility. The remote facility controls an antenna switch at the local collection facility to communicate a first channel signal of the channel signals to a monitoring receiver circuit module. The local collection facility generates a monitoring signal at the monitoring receiver circuit module and communicates the monitoring signal through to a remote facility through the IP network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090110052
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility having a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules with a first receiver circuit module and a back-up receiver module. The local collection facility includes the first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a first IP signal. The first receiver has a first multicast group. The back-up receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forming a second signal. The back-up receiver has a second multicast group. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the first IP signal. The primary decoder belongs to the first multi-cast group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090109836
    Abstract: A remote facility and method for operating the same includes a signal processing system including a primary multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form a multiplexed signal, a primary modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a primary modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal, a backup multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090113490
    Abstract: A method and system of collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules comprising a first receiver circuit module. The first receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forms an IP signal. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is in communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the IP signal. A primary encoder within the remote facility in communication with the primary decoder forms a first encoded signal from the decoded signal. A multiplexer in the remote facility multiplexes the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal. The multiplexed signal may provide an output signal used for uplinking or other type of distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090067433
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a plurality of receivers receiving a plurality of channel signals a plurality of encoders generating a first plurality of encoded signals from the plurality of channel signals, a multiplexer multiplexing the first plurality of encoded signals at a multiplexer to form first multiplexed signals, an ATM switch forming a primary ATM circuit between the local collection facility and the remote facility, and an ATM network adapter forming first ATM signals from the multiplexed signals and communicating the first ATM signals to a remote facility through the primary ATM circuit and the ATM switch. The system also includes a remote facility that includes a monitoring system generating control signals to tear down the primary ATM circuit and communicating the control signal to tear down the primary ATM circuit to the local collection facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden