Patents by Inventor Robert Acker

Robert Acker 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: 8498568
    Abstract: A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc.
    Inventors: Stelios Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Robert Acker, Kenneth Lerner, Frank Falcone, Gary Parsons
  • Publication number: 20110021136
    Abstract: A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Stelios Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Robert Acker, Kenneth Lerner, Frank Falcone, Gary Parsons
  • Patent number: 7871563
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a process for refurbishing a spent sputtering target. The process includes the step of applying sufficient heat and axial force to the filled sputtering target to hot press the filled sputtering target such that the powdered metal fuses with the un-sputtered metal, producing a refurbished target. The process may be used to refurbish precious metal targets, such as ruthenium targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Williams Advanced Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Acker, Adrish Ganguly, Matthew T. Willson
  • Patent number: 7809326
    Abstract: A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Inc.
    Inventors: Stelios Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Robert Acker, Kenneth Lerner, Frank Falcone, Gary Parsons
  • Publication number: 20090061762
    Abstract: A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Stelios Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Robert Acker, Kenneth Lerner, Frank Falcone, Gary Parsons
  • Publication number: 20090022616
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a process for refurbishing a spent sputtering target. The process includes the step of applying sufficient heat and axial force to the filled sputtering target to hot press the filled sputtering target such that the powdered metal fuses with the un-sputtered metal, producing a refurbished target. The process may be used to refurbish precious metal targets, such as ruthenium targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Acker, Adrish Ganguly, Matthew T. Willson
  • Patent number: 7454166
    Abstract: A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Inc.
    Inventors: Stelios Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Robert Acker, Kenneth Lerner, Frank Falcone, Gary Parsons
  • Patent number: 7263329
    Abstract: A radio receiver and method of controlling the same are provided for use in a digital digital audio radio services system. An improved user interface takes advantage of ancillary data transmitted with a digital broadcast signal to contemporaneously display song titles, artist names, channels categories, and other information on said radio receiver, and to allow a user to select channels based on the ancillary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Acker
  • Publication number: 20040266336
    Abstract: A system and method for time-shifting a live broadcast, and facilitating the purchase of live or time-shifted broadcast content. The device records broadcast content being listened to by user, which gives the user the option to replay content. The device and method also provides a preview service that allows the user to experience fresh media content on a regular basis, even where a live signal is not available. The broadcast source broadcasts new content on a regular basis to avoid providing users with stale content. The user identifies content using the device and data is stored that corresponds to the identified content. The broadcast source or a third-party content provider uses the corresponding data to provide the identified content to the user. In addition to audio content, the device also provides and facilitates the acquisition of video, graphics, text or any other media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Stelios Patsiokas, Paul D. Marko, Robert Acker, Kenneth Lerner, Frank Falcone
  • Patent number: 6755944
    Abstract: An ion beam deposition target source consisting of a removable, centrally located inner insert surrounded by an outer region. The insert can be removed and replaced when eroded, while the outer region of the target source not eroded by the ion beam remains in place attached to a backing plate. The inner insert and the outer region are joined to each other by an interface comprising an interlocking lip or grove structure located on opposing mating surfaces on the inner insert and outer region, thereby forming the deposition target source when these components are united. The deposition target source can be attached by a bonding layer to a backing plate which is installed into an ion beam deposition machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Williams Advanced Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Grohman, Robert Acker, Matthew T. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20040058641
    Abstract: A radio receiver and method of controlling the same are provided for use in a digital digital audio radio services system. An improved user interface takes advantage of ancillary data transmitted with a digital broadcast signal to contemporaneously display song titles, artist names, channels categories, and other information on said radio receiver, and to allow a user to select channels based on the ancillary data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventor: Robert Acker
  • Publication number: 20020053512
    Abstract: An ion beam deposition target source consisting of a removable, centrally located inner insert surrounded by an outer region. The insert can be removed and replaced when eroded, while the outer region of the target source not eroded by the ion beam remains in place attached to a backing plate. The inner insert and the outer region are joined to each other by an interface comprising an interlocking lip or grove structure located on opposing mating surfaces on the inner insert and outer region, thereby forming the deposition target source when these components are united. The deposition target source can be attached by a bonding layer to a backing plate which is installed into an ion beam deposition machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Henry L. Grohman, Robert Acker, Matthew T. Willson