Patents Examined by James Sheleheda
  • Patent number: 7260824
    Abstract: To facilitate programming a TV channel list, only digital channels are presented on an edit list so that the user need not parse through analog channels but only the digital channels to edit the channels (e.g., by putting the channels on a favorite list, or a skip list, or by labelling the channels, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Du, Sabrina Yeh, Marcelo Katsuzo Goto
  • Patent number: 7254827
    Abstract: A system for monitoring reverse paths of a bi-directional cable communication network such as a CATV network, to detect and analyze ingress signals entering a reverse path and ending at a network sub-headend or headend through a corresponding one of communication lines, comprises a plurality of radio frequency signal detectors connected thereto. The radio frequency signal detectors are provided with bandpass filter for receiving a radio frequency signal within the frequency band used, to generate corresponding output signals indicative of the strength of the received radio frequency signal. The output signal generated by the frequency signal detector which is coupled to the communication line corresponding to the ingress signal carrying path is indicative of the strength of the received ingress signal with received reverse signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sunrise Telecom Incorporated
    Inventor: Gérard Terreault
  • Patent number: 7246368
    Abstract: A system for testing a cable network during normal operation interleaves test signals with live data traffic. Installed cable modems are used to generate the test signals. During live communication, such modems send upstream data at allotted time periods. Periodically, there are time slots when no modem is transmitting on the network. During these times, specific modems may be directed to transmit specific test signals. A controller such as a cable modem termination system directs specific modems to transmit signals at defined frequencies and powers during specific time slots. In this manner, the system can monitor the frequency response of the cable network at various locations, and thereby determine “on-the-fly” when maintenance or modification is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Millet, Guenter E. Roeck, Chrisanto Leano, James A. Clark
  • Patent number: 7240355
    Abstract: A subscriber characterization system with filters in which the subscriber's selections are monitored, including monitoring of the time duration programming is watched, the volume at which the programming is listened to, and any available information regarding the type of programming, including category and sub-category of the programming. The raw subscriber selection data is then processed to eliminate data associated with irrelevant activities such as channel surfing, channel jumping, or extended periods of inactivity. The actual subscriber selection data is used to form program characteristics vectors. The programming characteristics vectors can be used in combination with the actual subscriber selection data to form a subscriber profile. Heuristic rules indicating the relationships between programming choices and demographics can be applied to generate additional probabilistic subscriber profiles regarding demographics and programming and product interests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Prime Research Alliance E., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Eldering, M. Lamine Sylla, John P. Blasko
  • Patent number: 7216358
    Abstract: Conditional access methods and apparatus are provided for use with digital television receivers and other digital broadband receivers. The methods and apparatus are capable of handling several different digital signal transmission protocols in an automatic and flexible manner. An input unit is provided for analyzing and tagging incoming data bytes so that further processing operations are less dependent on the transmission format being received. A cipher handling unit is provided for adapting in real time the scrambling and descrambling performances to match the requirements of the transmission network and the receiving apparatus. A filtering mechanism is provided for filtering and handling multiple asynchronous data streams in a parallel manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: SmarDTV SA
    Inventors: Luc Vantalon, Arnaud Chataignier, Christophe Genevois
  • Patent number: 7210162
    Abstract: An inverting adapter is disclosed that inverts inverted DVB-ASI signals to produce an adapted DVB-ASI signal. This adapted DVB-ASI signal may be used by any DVB-ASI device. The inverting adapter can be contained in one small package and easily connected to any of the various amplification devices that produce inverted DVB-ASI signals. Alternatively, the inverting adapter of the present invention may be integrally formed with an amplification device to automatically provide the adapted DVB-ASI signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Barry Wynn Albright
  • Patent number: 7181760
    Abstract: A scalable fault tolerant cable headend switching system using modular switching or multiplexing devices. A radio frequency switch connects a series of adjacent cable headend element to a series of output cables. At least one spare cable headend element is connected along with the series. Each cable headend element is configured to be readily swapped with adjacent elements. Output cables are cascaded away from a faulty element toward a spare element when a fault is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc
    Inventor: Robert Wallace
  • Patent number: 7143431
    Abstract: An improvement on dynamic skyscraper delivery of continuous media programs, such as video, divides the channels used for the delivery of the video into leading and trailing groups. A cluster defining on transmission of a program can then be broken into mini-clusters in the leading group which may be freely matched to full clusters in the lower group with loosened alignment requirements. This decoupling provides more efficient allocation of bandwidth to on-demand consumer requests and permits strategic opportunities to merge requests with concurrently allocated bandwidth for similar programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Derek L. Eager, Mary K. Vernon
  • Patent number: 7117515
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of transmitting/receiving additional information. The method includes the steps of transmitting video, audio, trailer, and EPG(program guide) signals respectively having independent PIDs(packet identification numbers), receiving the transmitted signals and extracting the video, audio, EPG, and trailer signals from the received signals, displaying the extracted EPG, and displaying the trailer signal for a selected broadcast program of the EPG. Preferably, the trailer is displayed as a motion picture or still image. Accordingly, when the audience selects a specific program on an EPG screen, the present invention displays a summary or preview of the selected program. Therefore, the transmitting side such as a broadcasting station enables to inform the audiences of the corresponding program of the broadcasting station, and the audiences are helped to select programs through program previews or summaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ik Ju Kim, Young Tae Chung, Hyeong Ho Son
  • Patent number: 7100186
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a default source to program channel numbers. In one embodiment, the system allows a user to program over-lapping channel numbers to a selected default source. The system includes at least one channel number usable by a plurality of sources for providing a station to transmit television programs. The system generates an electronic system guide identifying the plurality of sources. The system allows a user to select one of the plurality of sources from the electronic system guide as a default source. The system programs the at least one channel number to tune to a station for receiving television programs provided by the selected default source numbers. The system the programs the over-lapping channel numbers to tune to a station provided by the selected second default source and program any non-over-lapping channel numbers to tune to a station provided by the selected first default source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yumiko Minakawa, Jenny S. Chow, Tara Burnhouse, Yuko Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7096483
    Abstract: A system and method for processing program guide information are described. A user processing request information is selected or entered by the user. This allows the user, for example, to request the system to suggest a program, or to perform a search of the program guide information based on user-entered information. The program guide information is then processed based on the entered user processing request information. The processed result is then displayed in a dedicated channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Carolynn Rae Johnson
  • Patent number: 7043750
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for combining signals in a cable set-top box or television receiver. An out-of-band upstream amplifier and a cable modem upstream amplifier have their outputs combined at a combiner before being passed to the cable through a diplexer. The output of the diplexer provides incoming signals for an in-band tuner, a cable modem tuner and an out-of-band tuner that can be passed through a low noise amplifier before passing through a three-way splitter to divide the signals to each of the tuners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Norihisa Ina
  • Patent number: 7039932
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling and inserting advertisements into a plurality of presentation channels in a communications network in which the presentation channels contain the same programming, but different advertisements. A single programming channel is split into a plurality of presentation channels. Different advertisements are inserted into the different presentation channels. The advertisements to be inserted into advertising avails are they are detected are determined by utilizing queues stored in memory corresponding to each presentation channel. Each queue comprises an ordered list of advertisement resource locators (ARLs), in which the order dictates which advertisement is to be inserted in the next advertising avail and in which the ARLs indicate at least the location from which the advertisement can be retrieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Prime Research Alliance E., Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Eldering
  • Patent number: 7024676
    Abstract: A system for acquiring program guide information conveyed on one of a plurality of broadcast channels involves identifying an individual broadcast channel in response to user entry of either of, (a) a first channel identification number (e.g. a virtual channel identification number) and (b) a different second channel identification number (e.g. a transmission channel identification number). The system is tuned to receive the identified individual broadcast channel and packetized program information is acquired comprising a program conveyed on the individual broadcast channel using an acquired program guide. The packetized program information is processed to be suitable for display. The system also supports navigating within a first list of broadcast channels and a second list of sub-channels associated with individual broadcast channels in response to user activation of first and second navigation controls respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Scott E. Klopfenstein
  • Patent number: 6968564
    Abstract: An encoder includes a sampler that samples an audio signal and that generates from the samples a plurality of short blocks of sampled audio. Each of the short blocks has a duration less than a minimum audibly perceivable signal delay. A processor combines the plurality of short blocks into a long block. The long block is transformed into a frequency domain signal having a plurality of independently modulatable frequency indices. The frequency difference between adjacent indices is determined by the minimum duration and the sampling rate of the sampler. A neighborhood of frequency indices is selected so that the frequency difference between a lowest index and a highest index within the neighborhood is less than a predetermined value. Two or more of the indices are modulated in the neighborhood so as to make a selected one of the indices an extremum while keeping the total energy of the neighborhood constant. A plurality of frequency bands are so coded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Venugopal Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 6915531
    Abstract: An open cable set-top box diagnosing system in which a point of deployment (POD), separated from a main circuit unit, having a newly defined interface is used to check an operation state of an open cable set-top box, transmits the checked state to a predetermined server, according to which the operation state of the open cable set-top box is diagnosed. The open cable set-top box diagnosing system includes an open cable set-top box for checking its own operation state by using a diagnosis resource by a communication protocol between a point of deployment (POD) separated from the main circuit unit and the main circuit, and a head end for providing a service corresponding to a request signal received from the open cable set-top box or providing a broadcast program to the open cable set-top box, and checking the operation state of the open cable set-top box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hwa Young Yun
  • Patent number: 6915530
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses a method and apparatus for detecting and characterizing one or more ingress events in the return band and creating a time/frequency map based on the detection of the ingress events. The time/frequency map is further characterized by marking frequency bands with ingress level above a predetermined threshold with a “1”. The time/frequency time map may be used to determine when and which return frequency band has exceeded a predetermined threshold, and to distinguish between a narrowband ingress event and a wideband ingress event. When such characterization has been made, the return path may be attenuated or disconnected at a communications gateway device located at or substantially near the subscriber location. By disconnecting the return path or attenuating the return path signal at or near the subscriber location, the ingress may be reduced and locations which are the cause of severe ingress may be effectively isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Marc W. Kauffman, William H. Blum, Peter Sherlock, Jay Strater, M. Lamine Sylla, Charles Eldering
  • Patent number: 6904609
    Abstract: EPG services are provided, which enables a device such as a computer, a set top box or the like to collect EPG data from multiple EPG data providers or sources. The EPG data is collected at the device by EPG loaders. Each EPG loader collects EPG data from a particular source. The EPG loaders deliver the EPG data to a writer module, which performs scaling and formatting functions to the EPG data The writer module also stores the scaled and formatted EPG data in a database or other storage. Once stored, applications gain access to the EPG data through a control module. The writer module may also be implemented by chaining EPG loaders in a priority scheme. However, EPG loader interaction reduces independence and forces more rigid interface and implementation constraints upon the design of EPG loaders. The control module provides the accessed EPG data to the applications. EPG services function to isolate the operation of the applications from the EPG data sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Pietraszak, Robert M. Fries, Robert S. T. Gibson, Jonathan A. Wray
  • Patent number: 6813774
    Abstract: A program guide display apparatus for displaying a table of programs, which is a two dimensional arrangement for displaying program cells assigned to respective programs along the time and channel axes, is provided: a broadcast program search device which searches for a program whose broadcast time includes the current time; an earliest end time storage device which stores an end time of a program which finishes earliest of all the searched program, as an earliest end time; an earliest end time determination device which determines whether the current time is the stored earliest end time, or later than the stored earliest end time; and a program cell display device which displays a program cell with the stored earliest end time as a top display time of the table of programs, if the current time is the stored earliest end time, or later than the stored earliest end time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsu Inoue
  • Patent number: 6802078
    Abstract: A TV broadcast cooperative type data perusal apparatus is provided that can establish connection to websites in which is provided information related to the subject matter of a program that is being broadcast, and can simply peruse the information related to the subject matter from these websites, even when no website address information is appended as descriptor information for searching to the program being broadcast, provided that the information related to the subject matter in the program being broadcast is appended to the program as the descriptor information for searching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirohide Tachikawa