Patents Assigned to EchoStar Technologies
  • Recorded content repair
    Patent number: 9620171
    Abstract: A television receiver may detect at least one gap in content within an instance of recorded programming. The television receiver may send to a computer system a request to repair the at least one gap in content within the instance of recorded programming. The television receiver may receive one of content associated with the at least one gap in content, and a notification that indicates unavailability of content associated with the at least one gap in content. The television receiver may edit the instance of recorded programming to include content associated with the at least one gap in content when content associated with the at least one gap in content is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Milton Kapa, Jr., Mark Wayne Lea
  • Recorded content repair
    Patent number: 9620170
    Abstract: A television receiver may detect during a primary recording of particular programming degradation of a received signal quality associated with the particular programming to at or below a predetermined threshold value. The television receiver may instantiate a secondary recording of the particular programming during the primary recording when the particular programming is accessible over at least one terrestrial network. The television receiver may query a computing system to acquire content associated with at least one gap in content within the primary recording present due to received signal quality. The television receiver may output during playback of the primary recording a notification to enable access to the secondary recording when content associated with the at least one gap in content within the primary recording is unavailable over the at least one terrestrial network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bernard A. McCarthy, III
  • Customer service call routing
    Patent number: 9621724
    Abstract: Customer service calls to media service providers are addressed by remotely monitoring and diagnosing the customer's installed equipment. Such remote diagnosis decreases the need for assistance from customer service representatives and on-site repair technicians. In a method of operating a customer service routing system for a media service provider, subscriber equipment is first identified and then data specific to the subscriber equipment is collected. Relevant data can be maintained as an equipment health history in a database that is updated periodically by automatic monitoring. The database can be located within a remote server. Equipment data can be extracted automatically and relayed directly to the subscriber, thereby bypassing interaction with a customer service representative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: William Michael Beals
  • Methods and apparatus to synchronize second screen content with audio/video programming using closed captioning data
    Patent number: 9615122
    Abstract: A method for synchronized utilization of an electronic device is provided. The method receives closed captioning data from an audio/video content receiver for a set of audio/video content; retrieves detail for a first event occurring in the set of audio/video content, wherein the first event is indicated by the received closed captioning data; and presents content to a user, using the electronic device, based on the retrieved detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Steven Michael Casagrande
  • ADVANCE DECRYPTION KEY ACQUISITION FOR STREAMING MEDIA CONTENT
    Publication number: 20170085940
    Abstract: Various arrangements are presented for reducing channel change times. A first tuner of a television receiver may tune to a decryption key transponder stream. The decryption key transponder stream may include a plurality of decryption keys for a plurality of television channels that are transmitted to the television receiver via a plurality of transponder streams. Such keys may be buffered. A second tuner of the television receiver may be tuned to a media transponder stream to receive a television channel. A buffered decryption key may be used in decoding the television channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Innes, William Michael Beals, David Kummer
  • Audio splitting with codec-enforced frame sizes
    Patent number: 9601126
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for splitting the audio of media content into separate content files without introducing boundary artifacts is described. An exemplary method of streaming media content including audio and video involves a computing system receiving a plurality of content files and staging the encoded portion of the audio of the content files for presentation as a continuous stream. Each of the content files comprises an encoded portion of the video encoded according to a frame rate and having a fixed-time duration and an encoded portion of the audio encoded according to a codec-enforced frame size and having a plurality of full audio frames having the codec-enforced frame size. A duration of the encoded portion of the audio of one or more of the content files is greater than or less than the fixed-time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Calvin Ryan Owen
  • Systems and processes for efficiently storing and retrieving video content
    Patent number: 9601153
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described to improve the storage and retrieval of video content. The general concepts set forth herein could be used in any video storage system that uses disk drives to store video content, including remote or local storage digital video recorders (DVRs) and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Darren Major, John Michael Paul
  • Apparatus, systems and methods for shared viewing experience using head mounted displays
    Patent number: 9602859
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to share a viewing experience of a free viewpoint format media content event. An exemplary embodiment receives the free viewpoint format media content event, receives unique geometric orientation information from each one of a plurality of head mounted displays (HMDs), determines a unique viewpoint location for each one of the plurality of HMDs based upon the geometric orientation information received from each one of the plurality of HMDs, determines a unique viewpoint area for each one of the plurality of HMDs based upon the determined unique viewpoint location, and communicates each one of the unique viewpoint areas to the associated one of the plurality of HMDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen Strong
  • Apparatus, systems and methods for configuring a mosaic of video tiles
    Patent number: 9602881
    Abstract: Media device systems and methods are operable to generate mosaic video formats that are each configured to generate corresponding mosaic videos that present video content in video tiles. An exemplary embodiment receives a selection of one of a plurality of mosaic video templates, receives a specification of a video mosaic name, and generates a mosaic video format. The generated mosaic video format is identified by the specified video mosaic name, and comprises the video tile location information and video size information for each of the video tiles defined by the selected mosaic video template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gregory Greene
  • Apparatus, systems and methods for providing content when loud background noise is present
    Patent number: 9596429
    Abstract: Media content presentation systems and methods are operable to present a media content event comprising a video portion and an associated audio portion to a user. An exemplary embodiment compares a detected level of background noise with a first background noise level threshold; increases output volume of the presented audio portion of the media content event when the level of background noise exceeds the first background noise level threshold; determines text when the level of background noise exceeds a second background noise level threshold; determines sentences from the determined text; and presents on a display the beginning portion of a current sentence in the dialog of the text when the increasing level of background noise exceeds a maximum background noise level threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Carlos Garcia Navarro
  • Apparatus, systems and methods for media content event recommendation banner
    Patent number: 9596512
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Carlos Garcia Navarro
  • Accessing content via a matrix code
    Patent number: 9596500
    Abstract: A system for accessing content corresponding to a matrix barcode, such as a video and/or audio content. The system may include a mobile computing device in communication with a content receiver. The mobile computing device may be configured to capture the matrix barcode, for example, via using an optical component and/or barcode scanner to record and/or scan the matrix barcode. The mobile computing device may also include a network interface component configured to transmit the matrix barcode to the content receiver. The content receiver may then receive the matrix barcode from the mobile computing device. The content receiver may include a processor to determine and/or access the content corresponding to the matrix barcode. The content receiver may then transmit the content to a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark H. Gomez, John T. Kennedy, Henry Gregg Martch
  • Apparatus, systems and methods for deleting recording timers of a media device
    Patent number: 9596503
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to manage timers that control recording of media content. An exemplary embodiment compares a retrieved stale timer criteria with a retrieved timer attribute; determines whether the timer is stale based on the comparison of the retrieved timer attribute and the stale timer criteria, wherein the timer is determined to be stale when the media content event identified by the timer will not be recorded because the media content event identified by the timer is not scheduled to be broadcast at a future date; and then automatically deletes the timer in response to determining that the timer is stale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gregory Greene
  • Communications via a receiving device network
    Patent number: 9591435
    Abstract: A receiving device system arranged to distribute voice communications includes first and second receiving devices, each having a personal area network (PAN) transceiver, a programming transceiver to receive multimedia content, and a local area network (LAN) transceiver. The second receiving device is configured to accept input data via its PAN transceiver from a communications device, initiate communications with the first receiving device via the LAN, and communicate voice data received via the second PAN transceiver to the first receiving device via the LAN. The voice data is passed to a communications device via the PAN transceiver of the first receiving device. Users associated with each of the two communications devices may carry on a voice conversation via voice data being passed through each of the two receiving devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Phuc H. Nguyen, Christopher William Bruhn
  • APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ADDRESSABLE CONTENT
    Publication number: 20170064410
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to distribute targeted assets to a plurality of media devices. An exemplary embodiment generates an asset file defined by an asset file time period, wherein target assets are selected for saving into the asset file when the intended initial presentation time of a target asset falls within the asset file time period of the asset file that is being generated. Then, the asset file is communicated to a plurality of media devices at a time in advance of the intended initial presentation times of a target assets of the asset file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: John Grant
  • Handling user-specific information for content during content-altering operations
    Patent number: 9582505
    Abstract: A content player receives user-specific information from different users and associates the information with content. Subsequently, the player receives a request to perform a content-altering operation. In response, the player performs the operation such that the information for the requesting user is affected, but not the information for other users. The information may include a placeholder, an indication as to whether the content and/or the entire content has been accessed, a protection status indicating whether or not the content can be deleted, and so on. The information may be added to and/or configured to accompany and/or otherwise be associated with the content. The player may identify the user so that different information for different users can be associated with the content for the respective user, such as by prompting the user to select an identifier from a list or perform a “log in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael Alexander
  • Apparatus, systems, and methods for configuring devices to accept and process remote control commands
    Patent number: 9582994
    Abstract: A particular device may configure one or more of other devices to accept and execute remote control commands from the particular device's remote control unit. This may be performed via one or more various communication links between the devices on that enables the devices to communicate with each other. For example, the remote control of a set-top box can be used to control both the set-top box and a television without a user having to specially program the set-top box or other universal remote control. One example of a communication link between the devices that enables the devices to communicate with each other is a device-to-device messaging protocol such as that provided by the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jon Richardson
  • Mounting clip for set top box enclosures
    Patent number: 9585262
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a set top box enclosure having a chassis and a cover. The chassis also includes a mounting clip that facilitates the coupling of the cover to the chassis. The mounting clip includes an engagement structure on the cover that engages with a mating receiving structure located along an edge of the chassis. The mounting clip attaches a side of the cover with a side of the chassis of the set top box enclosure together and facilitates tool less engagement and disengagement of that side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven A. Nedved, Jason Matthew Fruh
  • Methods and systems for ignoring unintentional key presses
    Patent number: 9578270
    Abstract: Various arrangements are described for ignoring inadvertent remote control key presses. A remote control may detect multiple key presses associated with various commands. It may be determined whether the first key press and the second key press have occurred within a predefined threshold time period. If the key presses occurred within the threshold time period, the first command and the second command may be ignored. Additional or alternate factors may be considered in determining whether one or more key presses of the remote control should be ignored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Alisson Friedrich
  • Systems and methods for processing timed text in video programming
    Patent number: 9571872
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are described to process timed text that is associated with television or other video programming. Pre-set data that describes the particular format of the timed text that is associated with a program is initially received and stored at the television receiver prior to receiving the program with encoded timed text. The timed text that is associated with the received program is interpreted according to the pre-set data previously stored at the television receiver, and the program with the interpreted timed text is output to a display for presentation to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kate Landow