Patents Examined by Brian Pendleton
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Patent number: 8458761Abstract: A receiver for receiving a data stream comprises a filtering arrangement for filtering said received data stream and a processor. The filtering arrangement is arranged to load at least a part of said data stream, to filter at least part of said data stream and to read at least part of said data stream. The filtering arrangement has a first mode in which said steps are carried out and a second mode in which said processor is arranged to interrupt the steps carried out by said filtering arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2002Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: STMicroelectronics LimitedInventors: Rodrigo Cordero, Patrice Woodward
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Patent number: 8458740Abstract: A device is enabled to display Internet TV by accessing a management server and receiving back from the server a user token and a service list of predefined content servers. A user can select a content server on the service list which causes the device to upload its user token to the management server, which in turn sends back the network path to the content server along with a content server-user-unique service token (SUIT) that the device uses to access the content on the content server, in some embodiments on per-title PPV access, per-content category PPV access, or per-service PPV access.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: True Xiong, Charles David McCoy, Viral Mehta, Leo Pedlow, Aran Sadja
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Patent number: 8458742Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate secure content sharing between a plurality of receiving devices, such as set-top boxes. One embodiment is a system with a distribution server communicatively coupled via a satellite communication system to a plurality of set-top boxes that are located at different customer premises. The distribution server is operable to provide access control information via the satellite communication system to a first set-top box and a second set-top box of the plurality, with the access control information enabling the first set-top box to securely share content of the first set-top box with the second set-top box. 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: GrantFiled: June 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Scott Michael Parker, David C. Belt
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Patent number: 8458746Abstract: Caching related technology, in which a time needed to begin rendering network-based video content without caching a decoded version of the content is determined and, the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content is compared to a threshold time. When the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content exceeds the threshold time, an initial portion of the network-based video content is pre-transcoded to a faster video codec format, and the pre-transcoded initial portion of the network-based video content is stored in electronic storage associated with a media system of a user.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: PurpleComm Inc.Inventors: Jack H. Chang, William H. Sheu, Sherman Tuan
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Patent number: 8453169Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video output device includes a receiver, a program guide obtaining module, an output signal processor, a user identification module, a view history storage module, and a program advice module. The receiver receives a broadcast signal of a program. The program guide obtaining module obtains program guide data. The output signal processor outputs a video signal of the broadcast signal to an output module. The user identification module identifies a user who is viewing the program. The view history storage module stores the program as view history in association with the user. The program advice module searches the program guide data for a recommended program similar to programs viewed by the user in the past using a keyword based on the view history and creates a program advice message suggesting the recommended program. The output signal processor outputs the program advice message to the output module.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hiroaki Uchida, Shinichi Noie, Nobuhiko Shimoe
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Patent number: 8453195Abstract: A program replacing method capable of updating a program by executing a temporarily downloaded program without deleting an existing program, as well as being capable of easily restoring such existing program. When a function not equipped to the existing program is required to be added, the program replacing method downloads a program so that it can be executed concurrently with the existing program.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Takakazu Shiomi
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Patent number: 8448206Abstract: A server device configured to store settings information, the settings information indicating which type of operations are permitted by a user of a video client; receive a request to perform an operation associated with television content; perform a first operation to obtain program information associated with the television content when the settings information permits the first operation, the program information being a measure of popularity regarding the television content; perform the second operation to obtain performer information associated with the television content when the settings information permits the second operation, the performer information being a measure of popularity regarding the performer; perform the third operation to obtain review information associated with the television content when the settings information permits the third operation, the review information including reviews associated with the television content; and present, to the video client, the program information, the peType: GrantFiled: May 17, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Brian F Roberts, Greg Johns, Shafiq Kassam
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Patent number: 8448205Abstract: Alternative-channel user selectivity is provided when a user tunes to a broadcast channel for which the desired broadcast station corresponding to such broadcast channel has been reassigned. In one embodiment, after tuning to broadcast channel in response to a user input, it may first be determined if in fact the desired broadcast station corresponding to the tuned broadcast channel has been reassigned. If so, one or more alternative broadcast channels corresponding to the desired broadcast station may be identified, and an alternative channel availability indicator may then be displayed to the user to provide alternative-channel user selectivity.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.Inventors: Xuan Zhang, Norifumi Takaya, Jenny Chow
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Patent number: 8446531Abstract: A system and method for detecting a sampling clock offset of an analog-to-digital converter used to digitize an analog image signal. A method comprises buffering samples of an analog image signal, computing a value of an autocorrelation function using the buffered samples and a delayed version of the buffered samples, and repeating the computing a value for delays in a range of delays. The method also comprises computing a sampling frequency offset from the values of the autocorrelation function and changing a sampling frequency using the sampling frequency offset.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2008Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Bing Ouyang, John Michael Hayden, Troy Lane Ethridge, Hong Jin Cho, Jeff Kordel
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Patent number: 8443415Abstract: A method and system of supporting transport and playback of signals, such as audio, video, and data signals. A reference model configured to support transport of signals according to a baseline, extended mode (1), and extended mode (2) architecture, and a subscriber video device (SVD) configured to support playback of the signals transported according to any of the architectures.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: NGNA, LLCInventors: John G Hildebrand, Francisco Gonzalez, Mark Francisco, Weidong Mao, Saifur Rahman
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Patent number: 8443382Abstract: A media client stores separate account settings for multiple user accounts, where each of the separate user accounts includes access time limits for use of devices associated with the media client. The media client also receives a login request for one of the user accounts, and retrieves, based on account settings for the active account, interactive content for the active account. The media client presents to a user of the active account the interactive content and receives user input responding to the interactive content. The media client adjusts the access time limits for the devices, based on the user input and the account settings for the active account, and monitors usage time of the devices by the user of the active account. The media client blocks access to one of the devices when a monitored usage time exceeds the adjusted access time limit for the corresponding device.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventor: Eugene W. Taylor
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Patent number: 8441582Abstract: An image displaying apparatus, comprising: a first light modulator unit, which is configured to modulate a light incident thereon, responding to a first video signal, thereby to form a first image; one or a plural number of second light modulator units, which is/are configured to modulate a light from a light source, responding to a second video signal; and an enlarged image forming unit, being disposed on a light incidence side of the first light modulator unit, upon which a light modulated within the second light modulator unit is projected, enlargedly, thereby to form a second image thereon, wherein upon the first light modulator unit is incident the light of the second image formed on the enlarged image forming unit, and the first image is formed through modulation of the light of the second image responding to the first video signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Hidehiro Ikeda
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Patent number: 8438589Abstract: One embodiment provides a method and apparatus for obtaining metadata program information during channel changes. The method includes the capture of an on-screen display that is rendered by a rendering device such as, for example, a digital television system. The on-screen display may be generated by an access device such as a set-top box in response to a program selection event. Once captured, the on-screen display may be decoded to determine metadata for a program selected by the program selection event. In one embodiment, decoding may be provided using pattern matching, optical code recognition (OCR) or other like decoding technique for decoding a video frame to determine metadata for a program selected by the program selection event. In one embodiment, a copy of the program in conjunction with the captured metadata are stored within the persistent memory of a digital television device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.Inventor: Brant L. Candelore
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Patent number: 8438606Abstract: An IPTV may be controlled in part by a second user consumer electronic (CE) device using a web page served from a third party server even though the third party server cannot function as a proxy to the IPTV.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Ling Jun Wong, True Xiong
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Patent number: 8438603Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting content delivery service are described. In accordance with the invention content can be supplied to temporary storage of a regional or local server used to supply the content to a customer's premises when the requested content is not already available in the regional or local server. A content server hierarchy may be implemented with servers higher up in the hierarchy including more content, e.g., titles, than the number of titles stored in the lower level servers. By storing less frequently accessed content in servers higher in the hierarchy and frequently requested titles lower in the hierarchy, a vast number of titles can be supported without overburdening the storage available at local and regional servers. In addition, a national or other server high in the hierarchy can be used to store, move, and distribute local or other content as part of an on demand service.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc.Inventors: Glen Hardin, Robert Benya, James Kasanin
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Patent number: 8434100Abstract: Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for determining an operating mode of a recording/playing device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an extractor to extract signatures associated with a first signal associated with a tuner that is to tune to a program signal, a second signal associated with a recording/playing device that is to at least one of record and play a program, and a third signal associated with a receiver coupled to the recording/playing device. The example apparatus also includes a recording detector to detect a recording signal generated by the recording/playing device during recording of the program to form a recorded program. Also included is a correlator to correlate the first, second, and third signals and a processor to identify the operating mode of the recording/playing device based on detection of the recording signal and correlation of two or more of the first, second, and third signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US) LLCInventors: Henry B. Wheeler, Daozheng Lu
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Patent number: 8434121Abstract: A method for monitoring a bandwidth configuration for a plurality of customer premises connected to a video head-end office in an Internet Protocol television network is disclosed. The bandwidth configuration is received for each of the plurality of customer premises. The bandwidth configuration is stored for each of the plurality of customer premises in a memory of a first server. A data file is received from the video head-end office. The data file indicates that a set-top box device located at one of the customer premises has requested a video stream that would exceed a first number of video streams available to the one of the customer premises and that would exceed a first bandwidth currently available between the video head-end office and the one of the customer premises. The data file is stored in the memory of the first server.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Kenneth Ospalik, Marissa Earnshaw, Daniel P. Malee, John Mathew, Giya Tektumanidze
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Patent number: 8429702Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for selecting and pushing customized electronic media content are disclosed. An example method selects a piece of electronic media content based on user characteristic data associated with a user; identifies a storage capacity of a user device associated with the user; and pushes at least a first portion of the selected piece of electronic media content to a user device associated with the user prior to the user demanding the selected piece of electronic media content, the first portion being selected based on the storage capacity of the user device.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Mehrad Yasrebi, Bernard Ku
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Patent number: 8429696Abstract: With at least one implementation described herein, one or more viewers are able to watch the same source multimedia content at multiple locations within an environment (e.g., a household). With at least one implementation described herein, a viewer is able to resume watching such content at a new location (or “locus”) from the point that she bookmarked the content at an original location. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2003Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Edward M. Tecot, Shannon C. Hegg, Martine Habib
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Patent number: 8424044Abstract: A system and method for switching to a back-up encoder includes a first encoder processing a first channel signal to form a first encoded signal, a second encoder an uplink signal processing system generating a first uplink signal from the first encoded signal. A monitoring system previews the first channel signal encoded through the second encoder while the uplink signal processing system generates the first broadcast signal using the first channel signal encoded through the first encoder. The monitoring system redirects the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal. The uplink signal processing system generates a second broadcast signal with the first channel signal through the second encoder.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventor: Eduardo Barroso