Patents by Inventor Alain Regnier

Alain Regnier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10320503
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Millard E. Sweatt, Don Woodward, Chris E. Matichuk, Alain Regnier, Mark Nudelman, Philippe Pignon, Dave Westerhoff, F. Andrew Voltmer, Matthew Self, Sunil Mohan
  • Patent number: 9654238
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Millard E. Sweatt, III, Jeff Hastings, Don Woodward, Chris E. Matichuk, Shahriar Kianersi, Gurminder Sunner, Alain Regnier, Sunil Mohan, Hugh E. Cooney, Edward King, Philippe Pignon, Mark Nudelman
  • Publication number: 20170064369
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Millard E. Sweatt, Don Woodward, Chris E. Matichuk, Alain Regnier, Mark Nudelman, Philippe Pignon, F. Andrew Voltmer, Dave Westerhoff, Matthew Self, Sunil Mohan
  • Patent number: 9520956
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Millard E. Sweatt, III, Don Woodward, Chris E. Matichuk, Alain Regnier, Mark Nudelman, Philippe Pignon, F. Andrew Voltmer, Dave Westerhoff, Matthew Self, Sunil Mohan
  • Patent number: 9113191
    Abstract: Sending content between client devices connected to a computer network is described. According to one described aspect, a server maintains a database correlating unique identifiers for client devices to their network address information. A first client device may query the server for network address information of a second client device by sending the unique identifier to the server. The server returns the network address of the second client device, which is used to send a message directly from the first client device to the second client device, indicating the availability of content. Also, the message is preferably formatted such that it automatically populates a content guide of the second client device, with an entry used to initiate a transmission of the content from the first client device to the second client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Woodward, Jr., Alain Regnier
  • Patent number: 8949374
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Millard E Sweatt, III, Jeff Hastings, Don Woodward, Chris E Matichuk, Shahriar Kianersi, Gurminder Sunner, Alain Regnier, Sunil Mohan, Hugh E Cooney, Edward King, Philippe Pignon, Mark Nudelman
  • Patent number: 8880738
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for a plug-in architecture for processing operations on a WSD DCP device. Such a device comprises a dispatcher, a plug-in handler, and one or more plug-ins. The dispatcher receives a SOAP request and determines, based on one or more operations associated with the SOAP request and a configuration file, whether one or more plug-ins need to be invoked. If one or more plug-ins need to be invoked, then the dispatcher calls the plug-in handler and passes data to the plug-in handler, which is configured to call the appropriate plug-in(s) and pass the data to the appropriate plug-in(s). The plug-in handler receives processed data from the appropriated plug-in(s) and sends the data to be processed by a lower level service, such as by a print service, a scan service, a facsimile service, or an archive service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alain Regnier
  • Patent number: 8589866
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a data processing system comprises device driver generation logic that is encoded in one or more computer-readable storage media for execution and which when executed is operable to perform receiving a first capability description from a computer peripheral device, wherein the first capability description describes one or more capabilities of the computer peripheral device; receiving a generic device driver file; receiving configuration data; automatically generating a device driver for the computer peripheral device and for a computer operating system based on the first capability description, the generic device driver file and the configuration data; device job processing logic that is configured to receive a request to use the computer peripheral device, to request and receive current first capability description from the computer peripheral device at the time of the request, to generate based on the current first capability description and send to the computer peripheral device job ticke
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sekine, Alain Regnier, Yao-Tian Wang, Yue Liu, Senthil Selvaraj, Zhenning Xiao
  • Patent number: 8321546
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing the WS-DeviceProfile standard as a multi-threaded process (“DFM”) executing on a multi-function peripheral (“MFP”). The DFM takes care of the discovery of devices and services on a network. The DFM also acts as a facility manager. The DFM implements various web services in a single component that applications can re-use. The DFM insulates these applications from some of the more complex details of the web services that the DFM implements. The MFP may comprise several different applications that each use web services provided by the DFM. The threads of the DFM can handle separate tasks concurrently. For example, one thread, of the multi-threaded DFM, may perform one or more functions specified by the WS-DeviceProfile protocol, while another thread may perform one or more functions specified by a WS-Discovery protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Regnier, Lifen Tian, Yaotian Wang
  • Publication number: 20120275766
    Abstract: Sending content between client devices connected to a computer network is described. According to one described aspect, a server maintains a database correlating unique identifiers for client devices to their network address information. A first client device may query the server for network address information of a second client device by sending the unique identifier to the server. The server returns the network address of the second client device, which is used to send a message directly from the first client device to the second client device, indicating the availability of content. Also, the message is preferably formatted such that it automatically populates a content guide of the second client device, with an entry used to initiate a transmission of the content from the first client device to the second client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Donald R. Woodward, JR., Alain Regnier
  • Patent number: 8214422
    Abstract: Sending content between client devices connected to a computer network is described. According to one described aspect, a server maintains a database correlating unique identifiers for client devices to their network address information. A first client device may query the server for network address information of a second client device by sending the unique identifier to the server. The server returns the network address of the second client device, which is used to send a message directly from the first client device to the second client device, indicating the availability of content. Also, the message is preferably formatted such that it automatically populates a content guide of the second client device, with an entry used to initiate a transmission of the content from the first client device to the second client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Woodward, Jr., Alain Regnier
  • Patent number: 8214548
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises sending, to a computer peripheral device, a request to obtain capabilities of the computer peripheral device; receiving a first capability description from the computer peripheral device, wherein the first capability description describes one or more capabilities, features or functions of the device at the time of the request; creating one or more graphical user interface (GUI) elements based upon the first capability description and causing displaying the GUI elements; receiving user input representing one or more selections of the GUI elements; creating job ticket data that describes a job for the computer peripheral device to perform, based on the GUI elements that were selected as represented in the user input; sending the job ticket data to the peripheral device; wherein the job ticket data describes one or more device settings that the computer peripheral device can transform to device commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sekine, Alain Regnier, Yao-Tian Wang, Yue Liu, Senthil Selvaraj, Zhenning Xiao
  • Patent number: 8127306
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for efficiently processing SOAP requests at a Web service application (WSA) of a multi-functional device (MFP). In one technique, a WSA includes at least three threads. An external request processing thread processes SOAP requests from different client applications. A request processing thread processes a SOAP request according to the business logic of the WSA. A internal communications thread communicates with other components of the MFP that are distinct from the WSA. In another technique, a WSA processes different SOAP request differently, depending on the size of the SOAP and the resources required to process the SOAP request so that fast requests may be processed immediately while slow requests are pending. In another technique, a WS-Eventing specification is implemented within a WSA to simplify the event subscription and notification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Regnier, Lifen Tian, Yao-Tian Wang
  • Publication number: 20120039580
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Millard E. Sweatt, III, Jeff Hastings, Don Woodward, Chris E. Matichuk, Shahriar Kianersi, Gurminder Sunner, Alain Regnier, Sunil Mohan, Hugh E. Cooney, Edward King, Philippe Pignon, Mark Nudelman
  • Patent number: 8112766
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing the WS-DeviceProfile standard as a multi-threaded process (“DFM”) executing on a multi-function peripheral (“MFP”). The DFM takes care of the discovery of devices and services on a network. The DFM also acts as a facility manager. The DFM implements various web services in a single component that applications can re-use. The DFM insulates these applications from some of the more complex details of the web services that the DFM implements. The MFP may comprise several different applications, each with a different specialized function. Each of these applications uses the web services provided by the DFM. The multi-threaded nature of the DFM permits new services to be added to the MFP dynamically. The threads can handle separate tasks concurrently. For example, one thread can handle communications with processes outside the MFP, while another thread can simultaneously handle communications with processes and applications inside the MFP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Regnier, Lifen Tian, Yaotian Wang
  • Publication number: 20120030714
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: The DirectTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Millard E. Sweatt, III, Don Woodward, Chris E. Matichuk, Alain Regnier, Mark Nudelman, Philippe Pignon, F. Andrew Voltmer, Dave Westerhoff, Matthew Self, Sunil Mohan
  • Patent number: 7987278
    Abstract: A technique is provided for implementing multiple Web services on a multi-functional device (MFP) executing multiple service applications. A Device Facility Manager (DFM) executing on the MFP represents the MFP by responding to discovery, metadata, and logging requests with device location, metadata and logging information. When a client application discovers the services provided by the MFP, the client application may communicate directly with a service application executing on the MFP. The client application requests the service metadata of the service application and then transmits SOAP requests, which the service application processes. The implementation of one or more Web Service specifications may be packaged into one common module so that the complexity of the Web Services is hidden from developers. New services may be added to the MFP and existing services may be updated through communication with the DFM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alain Regnier
  • Patent number: 7917602
    Abstract: A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. An application program interface allows the various web servers and portals to take advantage of the system. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Millard E Sweatt, III, Don Woodward, Chris E Matichuk, Gurminder Sunner, Alain Regnier, Sunil Mohan
  • Patent number: 7904917
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for efficiently processing SOAP requests at a Web service application (WSA) of a multi-functional device (MFP). In one technique, a WSA includes at least three threads. An external request processing thread processes SOAP requests from different client applications. A request processing thread processes a SOAP request according to the business logic of the WSA. A internal communications thread communicates with other components of the MFP that are distinct from the WSA. In another technique, a WSA processes different SOAP request differently, depending on the size of the SOAP and the resources required to process the SOAP request so that fast requests may be processed immediately while slow requests are pending. In another technique, a WS-Eventing specification is implemented within a WSA to simplify the event subscription and notification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Regnier, Lifen Tian, Yao-Tian Wang
  • Patent number: 7873647
    Abstract: A technique is provided for implementing multiple Web services on a multi-functional device (MFP) executing multiple service applications. A Device Facility Manager (DFM) executing on the MFP represents the MFP by responding to discovery, metadata, and logging requests with device location, metadata and logging information. When a client application discovers the services provided by the MFP, the client application may communicate directly with a service application executing on the MFP. The client application requests the service metadata of the service application and then transmits SOAP requests, which the service application processes. The implementation of one or more Web Service specifications may be packaged into one common module so that the complexity of the Web Services is hidden from developers. New services may be added to the MFP and existing services may be updated through communication with the DFM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alain Regnier