Patents by Inventor Philip R. Hilmes

Philip R. Hilmes 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: 11044567
    Abstract: Systems and methods for microphone degradation detection and compensation are disclosed. For example, microphones of an electronic device may capture audio and generate corresponding audio data, such as during a period of time where only ambient noise is present. Sound intensity level value differences between audio data from the various microphones may be determined and when one or more of the sound intensity level value differences satisfies a threshold amount, the microphone associated with the variant sound intensity level value may be determined to be degraded. The sound intensity level value difference may be compensated for, such as by utilizing sound boosting techniques and/or modifying parameters of a beamforming component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoxue Li, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Philip R. Hilmes
  • Patent number: 9191710
    Abstract: Near real time downloading and verifying of a subscriber's remote record request is provided to control a DVR using the existing satellite network. The insertion of the programming request into the continuous broadcast stream enables near real time processing of the request by a subscriber IRD to accommodate same day and even last minute remote programming requests. The use of a back channel to verify the request provides the subscriber with assurance that the request has been processed successfully and flexibility to change services on the fly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kuether, Philip R. Hilmes, Heang K. Lim
  • Patent number: 8782711
    Abstract: Near real time downloading and verifying of a subscriber's remote record request is provided to control a DVR using the existing satellite network. The insertion of the programming request into the continuous broadcast stream enables near real time processing of the request by a subscriber IRD to accommodate same day and even last minute remote programming requests. The use of a back channel to verify the request provides the subscriber with assurance that the request has been processed successfully and flexibility to change services on the fly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kuether, Philip R. Hilmes, Heang K. Lim
  • Patent number: 7426246
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving layered modulation for digital signals are presented. An exemplary apparatus comprises a tuner for receiving a layered signal and producing a layered in-phase signal and a layered quadrature signal therefrom, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal and a processor for decoding the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal to produce one or more discrete layer signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Chen, Tiffany S. Furuya, Philip R. Hilmes, Joseph Santoru
  • Patent number: 7426243
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving non-coherent layered modulation signals are presented. An exemplary apparatus comprises a tuner for receiving a layered signal and producing a layered in-phase signal and a layered quadrature signal therefrom, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal, a processor for decoding the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal to produce a single layer in-phase signal and a single layer quadrature signal, a digital-to-analog encoder for converting the single layer in-phase signal and the single layer quadrature signal to a single layer in-phase analog signal and a single layer quadrature analog signal and a modulator for modulating the single layer in-phase analog signal and the single layer quadrature analog signal to produce a single layer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Chen, Tiffany S. Furuya, Philip R. Hilmes, Joseph Santoru
  • Patent number: 7245671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving non-coherent layered modulation signals are presented. An exemplary apparatus comprises a tuner for receiving a layered signal and producing a layered in-phase signal and a layered quadrature signal therefrom, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal, a processor for decoding the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal to produce a single layer in-phase signal and a single layer quadrature signal, a digital-to-analog encoder for converting the single layer in-phase signal and the single layer quadrature signal to a single layer in-phase analog signal and a single layer quadrature analog signal and a modulator for modulating the single layer in-phase analog signal and the single layer quadrature analog signal to produce a single layer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Chen, Tiffany S. Furuya, Philip R. Hilmes, Joseph Santoru
  • Patent number: 7173981
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving layered modulation for digital signals are presented. An exemplary apparatus comprises a tuner for receiving a layered signal and producing a layered in-phase signal and a layered quadrature signal therefrom, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal and a processor for decoding the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal to produce one or more discrete layer signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Chen, Tiffany S. Furuya, Philip R. Hilmes, Joseph Santoru