Patents Assigned to Time Warner Entertainment Company L.P.
  • Patent number: 8151294
    Abstract: Although personal video recorders (also known as digital video recorders) provide certain conveniences to viewers of programming content, such devices facilitate manipulation or Askipping@ of commercials, frustrating the intent of the advertisers of the commercials. In accordance with the invention, when a user fast-forwards (rewinds) a commercial, alternate commercial(s) may be accessed for display in place of the original commercial, which provides a full impression of the goods and service promoted, otherwise impossible to appreciate at the fast-forward (rewind) speed. The duration of the alternate commercial(s) corresponds to the duration of the original commercial at the fast-forward (rewind) speed controlled by the user. With the invention, the user advantageously realizes the convenience of manipulating programming content, and at the same time can appreciate the full impression of an alternate commercial to the original commercial, albeit in a shorter duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Time Warner Cable LLC, Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John Carlucci, William Helms
  • Patent number: 7926079
    Abstract: A system and method for selecting a network path for delivering on-demand content in a multi-channel network. A hybrid central/distributed and tiered video on demand (VOD) service network with tiered content structure uses media servers located in both the headend station and the hub stations. The hub media server is configured as a primary source for VOD content and the central media server located in the headend is configured as a secondary source of video content. A path for delivery of content may be determined based on the availability of content and network components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Metod Lebar
  • Patent number: 7918734
    Abstract: The present invention teaches methods and systems for providing a gaming server system (Gaming System) for enabling a quality-of-service on-demand (QoS) broadcast system to provide a gaming computer or game console with premium levels of quality-of-service. The gaming server provides premium network connection service levels based upon customer profile, current activity, account status or other criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Kenneth Gould
  • Patent number: 7895665
    Abstract: The detection of devices with duplicate media access controller (MAC) addresses in a cable network. A cable network device (CND) having a MAC address is connected by the cable network to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) having a gateway interface address. A centralized storage of historical cable modem MAC address/giaddr tuple data is used to identify CNDs that report duplicate MAC addresses. The cable network tracks the CND MAC address/giaddr tuple data of all CND requests that it receives and stores the MAC address/giaddr tuple data into a datastore (such as a database). When a CND seeks to access the network, the cable network looks into the datastore to determine whether the CND MAC address of the CND has previously been stored with a different associated giaddr, which would imply that there are multiple CNDs attached to different CMTSs where the CNDs share the same MAC address. If such duplication is detected, an appropriate remedial response is taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gould, Christopher Pierce Williams
  • Patent number: 7713309
    Abstract: The detection of devices with duplicate media access controller (MAC) addresses in a cable network. A cable network device (CND) having a MAC address is connected by the cable network to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) having a gateway interface address. A centralized storage of historical cable modem MAC address/giaddr tuple data is used to identify CNDs that report duplicate MAC addresses. The cable network tracks the CND MAC address/giaddr tuple data of all CND requests that it receives and stores the MAC address/giaddr tuple data into a datastore (such as a database). When a CND seeks to access the network, the cable network looks into the datastore to determine whether the CND MAC address of the CND has previously been stored with a different associated giaddr, which would imply that there are multiple CNDs attached to different CMTSs where the CNDs share the same MAC address. If such duplication is detected, an appropriate remedial response is taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gould, Christopher Pierce Williams
  • Patent number: 7690020
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid central/distributed and tiered video on demand (VOD) service network with tiered content structure. In particular, the present invention uses media servers located in both the headend station and the hub stations. Set-top boxes generally would be supplied VOD services from the high-demand content media servers located in the hub station nearest to the user. The central media server located in the headend would be used as an installed backup to the hub media servers; as the primary source for lower demand VOD services and as the source of the real time, centrally encoded programs with PVR (personal video recorder) capabilities. By distributing the servers to the hub stations, the size of the fiber transport network associated with delivering VOD services from the central headend media server is reduced. The invention provides that each user has access to several server ports located on at least two servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Metod Lebar
  • Patent number: 7620574
    Abstract: Systems and methods that divide the billing function of a billing system from the provisioning function of a service in digital cable systems. Because the billing system is only responsible for billing, rather than the provisioning of services, new services may be quickly added to cable systems without the time consuming and expensive task of configuring the billing system specifically for new services added to the system. The services are implemented using an offering package created by the service, where the offering package contains billing related information forwarded to the billing system to bill for the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: N2 Broadband, Inc., Time Warner Cable (division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P)
    Inventors: Joseph G. Buehl, Darryl Lanay DeFreese
  • Patent number: 7546621
    Abstract: A full service cable television system and method are provided. The system comprises a cable headend, at least one fiber transport, at least one distribution hub, at least one hybrid fiber coax plant, and a plurality of set-top terminals. The system delivers television programs, advanced cable services, and online services. Programs and services are transmitted to the set-top terminals in both digital and analog formats to maintain downward compatibility with existing systems. The set-top terminal includes a central processing unit, a unified memory architecture, a memory management unit, communications circuitry, I/O control circuitry, and audio and video output circuitry. Through these components, the set-top terminal provides advanced cable services such as a comprehensive channel navigator, an interactive program guide, impulse Pay-Per-View, Near-Video-On-Demand and Video-On-Demand programming, and advanced configuration controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael L LaJoie, Joseph G Buehl, Waig H Krakirian, Stephen M Johnson, Ralph W Brown
  • Patent number: 7539748
    Abstract: The present invention teaches methods and systems for monitoring and controlling bandwidth usage between an internal local area network and an external network. By providing controls from inside the external network connectivity point, greater detail in bandwidth control is possible. This in turn leads to less restrictive bandwidth restricting algorithms. Bandwidth restricting algorithms include various bandwidth limiting techniques. One such technique uses prioritized data transfer limits applied on an application, process or network interface basis. Another technique uses a configurable weighting factor for real-time prioritization of data traffic. Other techniques incorporate quality of service or model predictive control based bandwidth limiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Christopher Pierce Williams
  • Patent number: 7512969
    Abstract: The detection of devices with duplicate media access controller (MAC) addresses in a cable network. A cable network device (CND) having a MAC address is connected by the cable network to a cable modem termination system (CMTS) having a gateway interface address. A centralized storage of historical cable modem MAC address/giaddr tuple data is used to identify CNDs that report duplicate MAC addresses. The cable network tracks the CND MAC address/giaddr tuple data of all CND requests that it receives and stores the MAC address/giaddr tuple data into a datastore (such as a database). When a CND seeks to access the network, the cable network looks into the datastore to determine whether the CND MAC address of the CND has previously been stored with a different associated giaddr, which would imply that there are multiple CNDs attached to different CMTSs where the CNDs share the same MAC address. If such duplication is detected, an appropriate remedial response is taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gould, Christopher Pierce Williams
  • Patent number: 7346700
    Abstract: A system and method for managing e-mail traffic originating from a specific IP address. An outbound e-mail message is routed to an e-mail governor where the IP address of the computer from which outbound e-mail message originated is determined. A record associated with the originating IP address is created in a datatstore. Metrics useful to determine an e-mail message rate and an e-mail byte rate are stored in the e-mail record. An e-mail message rate is determined and compared with an e-mail message rate threshold. If the e-mail message rate threshold is exceeded, the originating IP address is sending spam e-mail (spam) and redial action is taken. An e-mail byte rate is also determined and compared with an e-mail byte rate threshold. If the e-mail byte rate threshold is exceeded, the originating IP address is using excess network resources to send e-mail and redial action is taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gould, John Anthony Chen
  • Patent number: 7343005
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method and apparatus for taking advantage of the always-on nature of a broadband VoIP network connection to provide enhanced services triggered by the off-hook event, bypassing a dial tone. In use, a caller triggers a network based greeting upon the off-hook event of picking up the phone. The greeting can be used for unique branding purposes by speaking a greeting to the caller. After the greeting, the caller can be immediately connected to an array of network-based services. A voice recognition system is employed to permit the caller to use voice dialing. A network interactive voice response unit (VRU) is used with the voice recognition system to allow the user to access services from a menu. The VRU can respond to an affirmative statement from the caller by using a table to lookup the phone number of requested services closest to the caller based on the caller's phone number (i.e., ANI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Richard Higgins
  • Patent number: 7293078
    Abstract: A system and method for provisioning provisionable network devices with a dynamically created boot file using a server. A dynamic configuration server (DCS) generates one or more boot file templates, each boot file template comprising attributes having a name and value. A boot file request comprising a boot file template identifier is received by the DNS from a provisionable network device. The DCS uses the boot file template identifier to select a boot file template for the provisionable network device and to assign attribute values to the attributes of the selected boot file template. The boot file is used to provision the provisionable network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrew Danforth
  • Patent number: 7111314
    Abstract: In delivering an entertainment program over a communications network, e.g., a cable TV network, interactive application data for realizing interactive features in the entertainment program are interjected into the program stream carrying the entertainment program on an as needed basis. Because the entire channel bandwidth is temporarily dedicated for transmission of the interactive application data, whose amount is relatively small compared with that of the video and audio data of the programming content, the interactive application data when transmitted appears as a short “burst,” causing a virtually unnoticeable interruption in the programming content delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Erik G. Urdang, David M. Kimble, Joseph Buehl, Darryl L. DeFreese
  • Patent number: 6772433
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing a full service cable television system. The cable system incorporates a digital and analog transmission architecture capable of delivering a high number of high quality television programs, advanced cable services, and online services to a subscriber's home. The cable system comprises a cable headend, at least one fiber transport, at least one distribution hub, at least one hybrid fiber coax plant, and a plurality of set-top terminals. Programs and services are transmitted to the set-top terminals in both digital and analog formats to maintain downward compatibility with existing systems. The set-top terminal incorporates a central processing unit, a unified memory architecture, a memory management unit, communications circuitry, I/O control circuitry, and audio and video output circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mike L. LaJoie, Joseph G. Buehl, Haig H. Krakirian, Stephen M. Johnson, Ralph W. Brown
  • Patent number: 6682444
    Abstract: A game court and method for playing a game thereon are disclosed. The game court comprises a playing surface suitably large for running and jumping players, having adjacent surface areas with distinctly different properties. A first area of the playing surface is substantially rigid and resilient, and suitable for bouncing a ball. Optionally, the first area of playing surface comprises a resiliently suspended floor. The second area is a deformable-elastic surface, such as a trampoline surface, that is tuned to greatly increase the heights that players may attain by jumping. The game court is optionally surrounded by a wall comprising at least a portion of the court boundary. A game for playing on the game court is disclosed, comprising a basketball-like game. The game court may also be used for other sports such as gymnastics or exhibition-style wrestling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mason Gordon
  • Patent number: 6676546
    Abstract: A game court and method for playing a game thereon are disclosed. The game court comprises a playing surface suitably large for running and jumping players, having adjacent surface areas with distinctly different properties. A first area of the playing surface is substantially rigid and resilient, and suitable for bouncing a ball. Optionally, the first area of playing surface comprises a resiliently suspended floor. The second area is a deformable-elastic surface, such as a trampoline surface, that is tuned to greatly increase the heights that players may attain by jumping. The game court is optionally surrounded by a wall comprising at least a portion of the court boundary. A game for playing on the game court is disclosed, comprising a basketball-like game. The game court may also be used for other sports such as gymnastics or exhibition-style wrestling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mason Gordon
  • Patent number: 6564225
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely archiving, searching, and retrieving images from a centralized image location are provided. Along with the goal of protecting a major corporate asset from theft and damage with the passage of time, the present invention provides an economical way for users from different divisions to share previously produced images and composites. Furthermore, by utilizing ultra-high resolution scanning in the archival process, re-creation of images that are of substantially the same quality as the original is achieved. Thus, ultra-high scanning allows re-creation of images that are photo-quality acceptable for commercial use in magazines, video packaging, movie posters, etc. With a centralized system of storage and distribution of images, it is possible for users to take advantage of a single and comprehensive catalog/index of all content. By using pre-defined image content criteria, users locate, select, and retrieve particular images stored in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Barbara Spencer Brogliatti, Christopher Grakal, Lisa A. Janney, Marisa B. O'Neil, Thomas G. Smith
  • Patent number: 6493876
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing a full service cable television system. The cable system incorporates a digital and analog transmission architecture capable of delivering a high number of high quality television programs, advanced cable services, and online services to a subscriber's home. The cable system comprises a cable headend, at least one fiber transport, at least one distribution hub, at least one hybrid fiber coax plant, and a plurality of set-top terminals. Programs and services are transmitted to the set-top terminals in both digital and analog formats to maintain downward compatibility with existing systems. The set-top terminal incorporates a central processing unit, a unified memory architecture, a memory management unit, communications circuitry, I/O control circuitry, and audio and video output circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignees: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl L. DeFreese, Timothy H. Addington, Mike L. LaJoie, Joseph G. Buehl
  • Patent number: 6424794
    Abstract: A system for playing a selected one of multiple audio tracks recorded in synchronized fashion with a motion picture on an optical disk. The optical disk has encoded on it a mixing master music and effects (“M&E”) track, or a switching master M&E track. Individual audio tracks are provided for language-specific versions of the same motion picture, but these tracks have data recorded in them only where there is dialog. In this way, for many a motion picture, all tracks but masters will have data recorded for well less than half of the running time of the motion picture. When a mixing master is used, it is mixed with a language-specific track when the latter has dialog; the mixing master contains no dialog. If a switching master is used, it may contain dialog recorded with the M&E; when a language-specific track has dialog recorded in it, it also contains M&E and the track is played to the exclusion of the switching master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Cookson, Lewis S. Ostrover, Warren N. Lieberfarb