Patents Assigned to EchoStar Technologies
  • Patent number: 9210356
    Abstract: A method for reconfiguring an entertainment system to restore audio/video content to a user is presented. In the method, a request to reconfigure the entertainment system is received at a first component of the entertainment system. In response to the request, an indication of a configuration command for a second component of the entertainment system is transmitted from the first component to a remote control device. In response to receiving the indication of the configuration command at the remote control device, the configuration command is transmitted from the remote control device to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: William Reams, Benjamin Mauser
  • Patent number: 9202372
    Abstract: A remote control device may include: first circuitry to control a function of a first electronic device; second circuitry to be set to control a function of a second electronic device; and a setup controller to set the second circuitry to control a function of a target electronic device based on a code received from a separate device. An electronic device to be controlled by a remote control device may include: an input device to receive a signal from the remote control device; an output device to send a signal to the remote control device; and a processor coupled to the input and output devices, and configured to access a database of codes and to selectively provide codes from the database to the remote control device, the codes configured to set circuitry of the remote control device to control a function of the electronic device and/or an auxiliary electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: William R. Reams, Matthew P. Zenthoefer
  • Patent number: 9203816
    Abstract: A key server for controlling access of a client device to a subset of different quality copies of media content to be delivered over a network to the client device. In one embodiment, a key server receives a request for playback permission of media content by a client device, and applies a set of one or more business rules to determine which copies of the media content, if any, can be played by the client device, and allows access to a subset of the copies that can be played back by the client device and restricts access to the copies that are not part of the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: David F. Brueck, Justyn T. Bye
  • Patent number: 9190111
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method for processing an audio/video stream includes providing an audio/video stream including at least one segment of a show and at least one interstitial of the show, receiving location information to identify a video location within the audio/video stream, and processing the audio/video stream to identify boundaries of the at least one segment of the show based on the location information. Further, the method includes outputting the segment of the show for presentation by a display device without outputting the interstitial and outputting the interstitial for presentation by the display device subsequent to outputting the segment of the show.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Yunfeng Yang, Mark Templeman
  • Publication number: 20150326891
    Abstract: Provisioning commercial-free or break-free media content. Example types of media or media content may include advertising media, broadcast media, social media, news media, and etc. In a satellite broadcast television implementation, subscribers may be provided the ability to search for and optionally access commercial-free programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jarrod Austin
  • Publication number: 20150326912
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting the placement of a progress bar that is displayed on top of audiovisual content being presented on a display device when a viewer issues a “trick-play” command to change the rate at which the audiovisual content is being presented, such as rewind, pause, or fast-forward. The placement of the progress bar is selected such that it does not obscure audiovisual content used by the viewer to determine how long to issue the trick-play command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Steven M. Casagrande
  • Publication number: 20150327092
    Abstract: A system includes a remote device, a client device, and a server. The server is configured to measure a signal strength of the client device relative to the server and transmit signal strength measurement data representing the signal strength. The remote device is configured to output a representation of the signal strength in accordance with the signal strength measurement data. A method includes measuring a signal strength of a client device relative to a server, transmitting signal strength measurement data representing the signal strength to a remote device, and outputting via the remote device a representation of the signal strength in accordance with the signal strength measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Henry Gregg Martch
  • Patent number: 9183885
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described for skipping, filtering, or replacing content from an audio/video stream using text data associated with the stream, wherein the stream has segments of a show interspersed with commercial breaks. A method for processing the stream determines that a commercial break is currently being output for presentation, and monitors for receipt of a user-initiated command to skip the commercial break. When a user-initiated skip command is received during the commercial break, the method automatically skips to a location in the stream that is at or near an end of the commercial break, and seamlessly continues presentation of the stream from that location. If a skip command is not received during output of the commercial break, then output of the current commercial break continues as usual. This methodology is repeated for all subsequent commercial breaks in the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven M. Casagrande, David A. Kummer, Charles W. Ergen
  • Patent number: 9178923
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for remotely controlling a personal or digital video recorder (PVR/DVR), a set top box (STB), a placeshifting device, or any other media server. A communications session is established between a server host and the media server in response to a connection request received from the client. Information about the content processed at the media server is received via the session and provided to the client. In response to subsequent instructions received from the client, the media server can be controlled, or other actions can be taken, by providing directions to the media server from the host via the communications session. Additional or alternate features may be provided as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: John Paul, Myles Cagney, Peter Mark Hennessy
  • Patent number: 9179193
    Abstract: Electronic program guide (EPG) systems and methods are operable to incorporate image information into an EPG generated at a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives an image associated with a program, processes the received image into a rich media EPG image, receives program presentation schedule information that specifies a presentation schedule of a plurality of programs, wherein the program is one of the plurality of programs scheduled for presentation, associates an identifier with the rich media EPG image and the program, and generates a rich media EPG schedule based upon the received program presentation schedule information and the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ryan Gorsuch, William Norris Moran, Jason Michael Anguiano
  • Patent number: 9179170
    Abstract: A circuit, electrical device or other apparatus for band stacking and/or band translating multiple transmissions. Such transmissions may be satellite transmissions, terrestrial transmissions, signals carried across a wired network such as a cable network, and so forth. Two sets of left-hand polarized and right-hand polarized signals may be accepted by an embodiment. One left-hand polarized signal and one right-hand polarized signal may be band stacked such that the left-hand polarized signal occupies a first frequency and the right-hand polarized signal occupies a second frequency, thereby permitting the two signals to be transmitted simultaneously across a single transmission line as a first unique signal. The second left-hand polarized signal and second right-hand polarized signal may likewise be combined into a second unique signal for transmission. The first and second unique signals may be stacked as a first stacked output and a second stacked output by a band translating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Edmund F. Petruzzelli
  • Patent number: 9176590
    Abstract: Systems and methods of generating device commands based upon hand gesture commands are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment generates image information from a series of captured images, generates commands based upon hand gestures made by a user that emulate device commands generated by a remote control device, identifies a hand gesture made by the user from the received image information, determines a hand gesture command based upon the identified hand gesture, compares the determined hand gesture command with the plurality of predefined hand gesture commands to identify a corresponding matching hand gesture command from the plurality of predefined hand gesture commands, generates an emulated remote control device command based upon the identified matching hand gesture command, and controls the media device based upon the generated emulated remote control device command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: William Ivanich, Bin Xu
  • Publication number: 20150310199
    Abstract: A first computing device is configured to receive a request for validation, to generate, based on the request, a virtual data entry mechanism that includes randomly arranged data entry elements, and to provide the virtual data entry mechanism to a second computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bhavesh Patel
  • Patent number: 9170294
    Abstract: A testing apparatus compatible with an electrical outlet is presented here. The outlet has a line socket designated for a line voltage conductor, a neutral socket designated for a neutral voltage conductor, and a ground socket designated for a ground voltage conductor. The testing apparatus includes a housing, a plug interface having an electrically conductive ground prong configured to mate with the ground socket, a first indicator lamp having a first terminal electrically coupled to the ground prong, and an electrically conductive lead extending from the housing. The conductive lead has a proximal end electrically coupled to the second terminal of the indicator lamp, and a distal end terminated with an electrically conductive connector. The indicator lamp is activated in response to a voltage differential between the ground prong and the electrically conductive connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kirk Lenzie
  • Patent number: 9172463
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods provide feedback about the quality of communication between a device and a remote control. A wireless signal is sent between a controlled device and the remote control. The quality of the signal can be measured and reported to a user, installer, troubleshooter, customer service agent or other person in any manner. Quality may be determined based upon the strength of the received signal as well as the amount of noise that is present. The quality measurements provide feedback that allows a user, installer, customer service representative or other person to change the positions of the device or the remote control, or to take other actions based upon the quality of the wireless signal that is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Samuel Eber, Eric Hieb
  • Patent number: 9167243
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques for allowing a customer support agent to remotely analyze a television receiver. A television receiver is communicatively coupled to a customer support center through a communication network. A customer support agent remotely accesses the television receiver and the television receiver transmits video content to the customer support center through the communication network. The video output is outputted to the customer support agent at the customer support center for analysis of the television receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Pamela Margit Tritt
  • Patent number: 9167292
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to acquire and use geocoding information included in broadcast content to enhance content presentation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jason Anguiano
  • Patent number: 9161008
    Abstract: The present invention is a set top box or other content management device that can convert television programming stored in a temporary buffer into a persistent event. The present invention may also trim data from a temporary buffer, such as an input buffer, without requiring additional software, RAM and other hardware normally associated with general purpose computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven Virden, Anton H. Kirchner
  • Patent number: 9161090
    Abstract: Arrangements for preparing a television channel for presentation are presented. A set of one or more tuners that are idle may be identified. Being idle may correspond to not being used to receive any television channel data for presentation or recording. An electronic programming guide that indicates programming may be output for presentation. One or more television channels may be selected for preparation. The television channels may be selected based at least in part on one or more electronic programming guide operations and/or prior to receiving user input selecting a television channel of the one or more television channels for presentation. Each of the television channels may be prepared for presentation by tuning, by each tuner, to the one or more television channels prior to receiving the user input selecting the television channel of the television channels for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Kummer, Steven Michael Casagrande, Charlie William Zetterower, Kenneth Robert Hodge, William Michael Beals
  • Patent number: 9158292
    Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate home automation via a receiving device. In one embodiment, a home device manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The home device manager is configured to discover home devices and to obtain device control information from the discovered devices. The home device manager is further configured to, based on the obtained device control information, present a user interface operable by a user to specify commands for controlling a home device, receive a specified command, and control the home device by transmitting the specified command to the home device. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gavin James Quail