Patents by Inventor Sheila Renee Crosby
Sheila Renee Crosby 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: 9118972Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Publication number: 20140344865Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Kenneth Wayne MAZE, Jeffrey Philip REAVIS, Robert Howard MILLER, Sheila Renee CROSBY, Hugh Boyd MORRISON, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 8776138Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Publication number: 20130125174Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 8205233Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 7853974Abstract: A video decoder system collates program guide information acquired from a variety of local and remote sources. Program guide information is received from a first source and a selectable program guide menu icon is displayed. A category of program guide information items from the first source is collated by a display attribute in response to selection of the menu icon and the collated program guide information items are displayed. The display attribute allocated to the category of program guide information items is common to both the category of items and to the menu icon. Codes identifying program categories may be converted to other codes using equivalence mapping information for classifying programs according to a master set of program categories. Composite program map information may be formed including new data identifiers allocated to program guide information items for use in retrieving the items from a second source.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Robert Joseph Logan, Robert Skipworth Comer, Sheila Renee Crosby
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Patent number: 7533400Abstract: A video decoder system automatically acquires program guide information from local and remote peripheral devices to form a composite program guide. Program guide information is received from a first source and access data is retrieved from memory. The access data is used to initiate communication automatically between the video decoder and a second source external to the video decoder. Program guide information retrieved from the second source together with program guide information provided by the first source is incorporated into a composite program guide for display. The communication may be initiated upon different conditions and a peripheral device and associated communication protocol may be identified from various sources of configuration information.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: James Edwin Hailey, Michael Wayne Johnson, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Robert Joseph Logan, Robert Skipworth Comer, Sheila Renee Crosby
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Patent number: 7509148Abstract: A message alert system is useful for a communication device (10) having a display (12) and a processor (30). The message alert system includes a computer-readable medium (32) and a routine stored in the computer-readable medium (32) and configured for execution by the processor (30). The routine includes a first routine that receives a message having a message type, and a second routine that generates a display item (40) for the display (12) of the communication device (10) in accordance with the message type such that the display item (40) comprises information indicative of the message type of the received message and whether further messages of the message type have been received by the communication device (10). The routine may further includes a memory check routine that determines whether storing the message in the computer-readable medium (32) would result in exceeding a predetermined amount of the capacity of the computer-readable medium (32).Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2000Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Suthirug Num Pisutha-Arnond, Sheila Renee Crosby, Eric Christensen, Paul Silver, George W. Schaupp, Jr., Keith McConnell, Scott E. Preece
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Publication number: 20090055868Abstract: A video decoder system collates program guide information acquired from a variety of local and remote sources. Program guide information is received from a first source and a selectable program guide menu icon is displayed. A category of program guide information items from the first source is collated by a display attribute in response to selection of the menu icon and the collated program guide information items are displayed. The display attribute allocated to the category of program guide information items is common to both the category of items and to the menu icon. Codes identifying program categories may be converted to other codes using equivalence mapping information for classifying programs according to a master set of program categories. Composite program map information may be formed including new data identifiers allocated to program guide information items for use in retrieving the items from a second source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Robert Joseph Logan, Robert Skipworth Comer, Sheila Renee Crosby
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Patent number: 7496946Abstract: A video decoder system collates program guide information acquired from a variety of local and remote sources. Program guide information is received from a first source and a selectable program guide menu icon is displayed. A category of program guide information items from the first source is collated by a display attribute in response to selection of the menu icon and the collated program guide information items are displayed. The display attribute allocated to the category of program guide information items is common to both the category of items and to the menu icon. Codes identifying program categories may be converted to other codes using equivalence mapping information for classifying programs according to a master set of program categories. Composite program map information may be formed including new data identifiers allocated to program guide information items for use in retrieving the items from a second source.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1997Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Robert Joseph Logan, Robert Skipworth Comer, Sheila Renee Crosby
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Patent number: 7149985Abstract: A system and a method for navigating within a display having one or more display sections are disclosed. A section from the one or more display sections is selected. In response to the selection, a navigational symbol is displayed on a border of the selected section, the symbol corresponding to a direction in which a highlight may be moved. In one embodiment, the highlight is moved in the corresponding direction in response to the selection of the symbol. In another embodiment, the symbol indicates an availability of an adjacent section in the corresponding direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1998Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Sheila Renee Crosby, Steven Todd Barlow, Robert John Strong
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Patent number: 6983483Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 6661437Abstract: A disclosed processing device, including an on-screen User interface display, incorporates a means for generating a display of a plurality of hierarchically ordered menus. The menus include a current menu) and a preceding parent menu showing a selection path from the parent menu to the current menu. Also a menu selection item within the hierarchical menu display provides a User at least one of, a) a display of control information for the device, and b) control parameter data entry capability. The processing device also incorporates a means for updating the on-screen display in response to User menu item selection. The processing device may also include a means for altering the device operation in response to an updated operating parameter value. Also, the selection path may indicate menu entry and exit points separated by at least one intervening menu item.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1999Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Robert Joseph Logan
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Publication number: 20020085017Abstract: A portable electronic device, for example a personal communications device, having a display on which a user may relocate and reorder display items by selecting a display item to be relocated, designating a new display position on the display to which the selected display is to be moved, and inserting the selected display item into the new display position after designating the new position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Inventors: Suthirug Num Pisutha-Arnond, Sheila Renee Crosby, Eric Christensen, Byron Macon Brewer
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Publication number: 20020023082Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 6263502Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting characteristics of a television receiver, such as the video and audio settings, based on characteristics of the program being viewed. The system accesses a pre-defined list of program topics and themes stored in a television database. For each topic and theme, settings for picture quality such as contrast, color and brightness and settings for audio such as audio processor type, bass, and treble are stored. When the system is able to match the currently viewed program with one from the database the audio and video settings are automatically adjusted for that program. If the viewer switches to another program or if one program ends and another begins then the acquisition and adjustment process is repeated. The system can be disabled by the viewer if desired.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Hugh Boyd Morrison, Sheila Renee Crosby, Robert Joseph Logan
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Patent number: 6216264Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1996Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Maze, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown
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Patent number: 5867226Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching for specific television programs which satisfy certain criteria concerning a user's viewing preferences, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus generates a list of such television programs in order to predict for the viewer certain programs which may be of interest. In a first embodiment of the invention the apparatus stores information about the particular television shows which the user watches, as search criteria. In a second embodiment of the invention the search criteria is editable by the viewer to further refine the searches.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1995Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer, Jeffrey Philip Reavis, Robert Howard Miller, Sheila Renee Crosby, Hugh Boyd Morrison, Megan Louise Brown