Patents Assigned to EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
  • Patent number: 9357154
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to retrieve at least a portion of a missed media content event. An exemplary embodiment detects an occurrence of a failed recording of at least a portion of a media content event of interest; transmits a notification of the detected occurrence of the failed recording of the at least the portion of the media content event of interest from a media device to a replacement content device; and receives, at the media device, at least a portion of missed media content corresponding to at least the portion of the media content event of interest that failed to record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Mi Chen
  • Publication number: 20160150258
    Abstract: A method for creating an announcement stream for a geographic region is provided. The method receives, at a designated computer system, characterizing metadata for a first audio/video stream; analyzes a second audio/video stream to obtain characterizing metadata for the second video stream; compares, with the computer system, the characterizing metadata for the first video stream to the characterizing metadata for the second video stream to generate offset data; and calculates timing information corresponding to segment boundaries for the second video stream using the offset data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: David A. Kummer, Steven M. Casagrande
  • Patent number: 9351023
    Abstract: Various arrangements are described for skipping portions of content, such as commercials, from a broadcast television program. The programming content is presented at a reduced presentation rate with the broadcast content being buffered as received. The reduced presentation rate may be less than a broadcast rate at which the content was originally intended to be output for presentation. One or more undesired portions of content may be skipped due to the reduced presentation rate. Commercials may be tagged by a television service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Kummer, Henry Gregg Martch
  • Patent number: 9349412
    Abstract: Arrangements detailed may cause a television channel received via the tuner to be recorded for a period of time to create a channel-specific file. The channel-specific file may include multiple television programs. User input that requests playback of a first television program of the plurality of television programs from the channel-specific file may be received. A front-end adjustment time period for playback of the first television program may be determined. A start time from which playback commences in the channel-specific file may be at least partially based on the front-end adjustment time period and a scheduled start time of the television program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Mark Templeman
  • Patent number: 9350937
    Abstract: Content receivers may be configured to simultaneously record multiple instances of content for multiple programming channels based on content provider instructions. Systems and methods utilize the content receivers to dynamically adjust recording parameters to account for instances of content with a start time and/or end time that falls outside of predefined recording parameters. The dynamically adjusted recording parameters may adjust the number of channels recorded and/or instances of content recorded. The content receiver may compare programming information received at a processing unit with predefined recording parameters and may dynamically adjust the recording parameters based on the comparison. The content receiver may generate on screen display content to include information on the dynamically adjusted recording parameters and may transmit the on screen display content to a content display device for notifying the user of the dynamically adjusted recoding parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: David A. Kummer, Erik J. Swenson
  • Patent number: 9344496
    Abstract: A system and method are provided of minimizing network bandwidth used from an external network by client peers in a local network. The method can include the operation of organizing a plurality of clients each having media streamlets and a client parent in a structure within the local network. Mapping information propagates through the structure. The mapping information represents local streamlet locations as stored by the plurality of clients. Another operation is retrieving a local streamlet from a client identified in the mapping information as having the local streamlet for the requesting client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark B. Hurst, Loren Larson, David S. Anderson, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 9342435
    Abstract: Disclosure is directed to dynamically creating and embedding code and/or data in an electronic device. In one aspect, data objects are checked for conformance with a schema to prevent incorporation of incorrectly functioning data objects. A debugger may be provided to facilitate source level debugging. In another aspect, embedded interfaces are constructed to access the functionality of certain system components. Additionally, schemas may be complied into code header and files and automatically included in code libraries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Riemer Andries Van Rozen
  • Patent number: 9344771
    Abstract: An audio/visual (A/V) transceiver is provided for supplying intent access to a computing device. The A/V receiver comprises a first format module configured to receive and process electronic data in a first format and an Ethernet module configured to transmit electronic data to the computing device in Ethernet format via an Ethernet port. The transceiver further comprises a bridging application executing on a processor, the bridging application configured to convert internet data in the first format into the Ethernet format. A method is also provided for supplying internet access to a computing device over an audio/visual (A/V) receiver. The method comprises receiving an internet signal in a first protocol standard at an A/V receiver, bridging the internet signal in the first protocol standard into a second protocol standard understood by the computing device, and transmitting the internet signal in the second protocol standard to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kyle Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20160134833
    Abstract: Media device systems and methods synchronize video content with audio content presented by a plurality of wireless audio headsets. In an exemplary embodiment, a first time delay corresponds to a first duration of time between communication of the audio content from the media device and presentation of the audio content by a first wireless audio headset. A second time delay corresponds to a second duration of time between communication of the audio content from the media device and presentation of the audio content by a second wireless audio headset, wherein the first time delay is greater than the second time delay. Video content communicated to a display is delayed by the first time delay. Audio content communicated to the second wireless audio headset is delayed by a time delay difference between the first time delay and the second time delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gregory Greene, David Innes
  • Publication number: 20160134926
    Abstract: Various arrangements are presented that may involve receiving from a television service provider, timers that are used to record a managed channel array. Each of these timers define a television channel, a time period, and a date. The received timers may be set at a television receiver. User input may be received that specifies an undesired television channel that is not to be recorded according to the received plurality of timers, the undesired television channel being part of the managed channel array. An amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel may be calculated. Storage space may be allocated based upon the calculated amount of storage space for the managed channel array excluding the undesired television channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Casagrande, Yunfeng Yang, Mark Templeman, Kranti Kumar Kilaru, Germar Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9338391
    Abstract: Media device systems and methods synchronize video content with audio content presented by a plurality of wireless audio headsets. In an exemplary embodiment, a first time delay corresponds to a first duration of time between communication of the audio content from the media device and presentation of the audio content by a first wireless audio headset. A second time delay corresponds to a second duration of time between communication of the audio content from the media device and presentation of the audio content by a second wireless audio headset, wherein the first time delay is greater than the second time delay. Video content communicated to a display is delayed by the first time delay. Audio content communicated to the second wireless audio headset is delayed by a time delay difference between the first time delay and the second time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gregory Greene, David Innes
  • Patent number: 9338523
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for splitting the audio of media content into separate content files without introducing boundary artifacts is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Calvin Ryan Owen
  • Patent number: 9338491
    Abstract: Predicting user-interest in particular media content. Data associated with scheduled program recording timers may be accumulated across accessible subscribing customers of a particular television provider. A ranking parameter may be assigned to particular programs associated with particular ones of the scheduled program recording timers. A list may be presented itemizing particular programs based on assigned ranking values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Sagar Zaveri
  • Patent number: 9338495
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing pairing between a remote device and a plurality of devices including establishing a list of pairing-capable devices, the list comprising a portion of the plurality of devices, measuring a plurality of link qualities between the remote device and the pairing-capable devices, comparing, with a processor, the plurality of link qualities with one another and determining a highest link quality, selecting, by a computing device, an available pairing-capable device having the highest link quality, pairing with the selected device, and controlling a presentation device, the controlling including checking if the selected device is the associated device and where the selected device is not the associated device, relaying commands via the network to the associated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: William R. Reams, Christopher W. Bruhn
  • Patent number: 9335351
    Abstract: An electronic device records a first time and then a second time, each when connected to an AC power source. After the electronic device records the first and second times, the electronic device calculates a difference by subtracting the second time from the first and determines a power outage occurred by verifying that the difference is greater than a threshold. After determining that a power outage occurred, the electronic device may display one or more messages regarding the determined power outage either automatically or in response to user input received from the user input device. In some implementations, the first and second time may be part of a sequence of times that the electronic device regularly records at fixed interval of electronic device operation. In other implementations, the first time may be regularly recorded and the second time may be recorded upon the occurrence of an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Steven J. Spooner
  • Patent number: 9338575
    Abstract: A system includes a microphone array having a plurality of microphones. The system further includes a camera configured to capture stream video and a processing device configured to steer the microphone array based at least in part on the video acquired by the camera. A method includes receiving video captured by a camera, processing the video, and steering a microphone array using signal processing where the steering direction is defined by the processed video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Shounak Mitra, Fred Earl Starks
  • Publication number: 20160127783
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to recommend media content events with a personalized user incentive. An exemplary embodiment generates a media content event recommendation banner that is concurrently presentable with a presented electronic program guide (EPG), wherein the media content event recommendation banner includes at least one identifier of a recommended media content event and at least one personalized user incentive that is configured to be selected by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Carlos Garcia Navarro
  • Publication number: 20160127786
    Abstract: Media device systems and methods are operable to provide security against unauthorized access to content or unauthorized control of the media device. An exemplary embodiment detects a wireless signal, with an identifier, that is emitted by at least one mobile electronic device that is currently in possession of a user, determines the identifier of the at least one mobile electronic device, retrieves a plurality of stored mobile device identifiers that identify each one of a plurality of mobile electronic devices, compares the identifier of the at least one mobile electronic device with the plurality of stored mobile device identifiers, and then permits access to restricted content or permits the media device to perform a restricted function only when the identifier of the at least one mobile electronic device matches one of the plurality of stored mobile device identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Paul Langer
  • Patent number: 9329966
    Abstract: An electronic device detects occurrence of an error condition and selects a matrix code to include in an error message to transmit to a display device based on the error condition. A reader device decodes the displayed matrix code to present information regarding resolution of the error condition. The electronic device may select the matrix code by looking up the error condition in a table or by dynamically generate the matrix code. In various implementations, the electronic device may determine that the information regarding resolution of the error condition has been utilized to unsuccessfully resolve the error condition. If so, the electronic device may select and transmit and additional matrix code that may be decoded by the reader device to access and present an additional set of information regarding resolution of the error condition or to initiate an electronic device support request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael T. Dugan, Mark H. Gomez
  • Patent number: 9325965
    Abstract: Disclosure is directed to providing an electronic program guide to one or more viewers in manner that does not interfere with others' viewing of other program service content. In one embodiment, altered 3D output signals are used such that one frequency of the output signal contains an EPG data image and a second frequency of the 3D output signal contains visual content from the broadcast service transmission. In another embodiment, an EPG is periodically inserted into video stream during predetermined frames, which are then captured and held by a synchronized headset. In another embodiment, an EPG image is output through the projector onto a projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michiel Beemster, David Bonfrer, Marcel Westenbroek