Patents by Inventor Alan McFarland
Alan McFarland 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).
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Patent number: 8434898Abstract: Apparatus, systems, architectures, and methods provide interlocked modular lighting array units to operate as a single large light source. The modular lighting array units may be connected by a network, and the modular lighting array units may communicate and send and receive control or status signals. In some embodiments, the signals may correspond to status of light sources or LEDs, lighting functions, effects routines, and various other signals of communication.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Nila Inc.Inventors: James Sanfilippo, Alan McFarland
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Publication number: 20120062152Abstract: Apparatus, systems, architectures, and methods provide interlocked modular lighting array units to operate as a single large light source. The modular lighting array units may be connected by a network, and the modular lighting array units may communicate and send and receive control or status signals. In some embodiments, the signals may correspond to status of light sources or LEDs, lighting functions, effects routines, and various other signals of communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: NILA INC.Inventors: James Sanfilippo, Alan McFarland
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Patent number: 8066403Abstract: Apparatus, systems, architectures, and methods provide interlocked modular lighting array units to operate as a single large light source. The modular lighting array units may be connected by a network, and the modular lighting array units may communicate and send and receive control or status signals. In some embodiments, the signals may correspond to status of light sources or LEDs, lighting functions, effects routines, and various other signals of communication.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Nila Inc.Inventors: James Sanfilippo, Alan McFarland
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Publication number: 20090009997Abstract: Apparatus, systems, architectures, and methods provide interlocked modular lighting array units to operate as a single large light source. The modular lighting array units may be connected by a network, and the modular lighting array units may communicate and send and receive control or status signals. In some embodiments, the signals may correspond to status of light sources or LEDs, lighting functions, effects routines, and various other signals of communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventors: James Sanfilippo, Alan McFarland
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Patent number: 7110658Abstract: A video recording and playback device (10) incorporates a processor (114) for processing the video signal to detect the presence of commercial messages. Video and audio event detectors (102, 104) detect the presence of events in the signal as it is recorded. The timing relationship of the detected events is analyzed to classify the video segments between events as program material or as commercial messages. After a program is recorded, control marks are generated (132) to indicate the beginning and end of commercial groups so that they will be skipped during subsequent replay of the recorded program.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: TeleVentions, LLCInventors: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields, Alan McFarland
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Publication number: 20060029363Abstract: A video recording and playback device (10) incorporates a processor (114) for processing the video signal to detect the presence of commercial messages. Video and audio event detectors (102, 104) detect the presence of events in the signal as it is recorded. The timing relationship of the detected events is analyzed to classify the video segments between events as program material or as commercial messages. After a program is recorded, control marks are generated (132) to indicate the beginning and end of commercial groups so that they will be skipped during subsequent replay of the recorded program.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields, Alan McFarland
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Patent number: 5999688Abstract: A video playback device includes video and audio event detectors which detect the presence of events in the video signal as it is played. When the viewer commands the device to skip past a portion of a recorded program, a processor monitors the detected events to locate an event corresponding to the beginning of a next program segment. The device then returns to that location and begins normal play. Alternatively, the viewer may manually terminate the skipping process, at which time the device automatically returns to the location of the most recently detected event.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1996Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: SRT, Inc.Inventors: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields, Alan McFarland, George McLam
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Patent number: 5987210Abstract: A video recording and playback device (10) incorporates a processor (114) for processing the video signal to detect the presence of commercial messages. Video and audio event detectors (102, 104) detect the presence of events in the signal as it is recorded. The timing relationship of the detected events is analyzed to classify the video segments between events as program material or as commercial messages. After a program is recorded, control marks are generated (132) to indicate the beginning and end of commercial groups so that they will be skipped during subsequent replay of the recorded program.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1995Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: SRT, Inc.Inventors: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields, Alan McFarland
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Patent number: 5696866Abstract: During recording of a television signal on a VCR, data are accumulated with respect to the time of occurrence and duration of detectable events, such as blank frames, in the television signal, and such data are stored. Subsequent to the recording process, the stored data are analyzed to classify the content of the television signal between the detectable events as commercial or non-commercial. The video tape is then marked at the beginning and ending of each commercial group. During playback, the VCR is automatically commanded into a fast scan mode when the tape reaches the beginning of a commercial group. The VCR is then automatically commanded to return to the normal "play" mode when the tape reaches the ending time of that commercial group. Since all of the television signal is recorded on the tape, any or all of the signal may be viewed at the discretion of the viewer.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1994Date of Patent: December 9, 1997Assignee: SRT, Inc.Inventors: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields, Alan McFarland, Jung-ming Wu
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Patent number: 5692093Abstract: During recording of a television signal on a VCR, data are accumulated with respect to the time of occurrence and duration of detectable events, such as blank frames, in the television signal, and such data are stored. Timing reference data are written onto the tape as it is recorded. At a time subsequent to the recording process, the stored data are analyzed to classify the content of the television signal between the detectable events and a playback map is constructed for the recorded signal. During playback, the stored playback map is retrieved and stored timing data are compared to the timing reference data read from the tape. The VCR is automatically commanded into a fast scan mode when the tape reaches the beginning time of a portion of the video signal that has been classified for elimination during playback. The VCR is then automatically commanded to return to the normal "play" mode when the tape reaches the ending time of that portion of the video signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 1994Date of Patent: November 25, 1997Assignee: SRT, Inc.Inventors: Jerry Iggulden, Alan McFarland, Stuart J. Lipoff, Jung-ming Wu, Richard H. Caro, Raymond E. Debs
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Patent number: 5455630Abstract: A time code or other digital code is inserted into a video signal by modulating the video signal itself or the signal's radio frequency (RF) carrier. This allows the code to be recorded concurrently with recording of the video signal, thereby obviating the need for a specially adapted recording apparatus. Furthermore, since the code is embedded in the recorded video signal, the encoded information may be retrieved from the video signal in a unit that is external to the playback apparatus. In combination with a conventional video cassette recorder (VCR), the video signal that is tuned to by the VCR is processed to extract raster synchronization signals. A modulator inserted ahead of the RF input to the VCR modulates the RF carrier in response to the digital code. Feedback of the tuned video signal insures proper synchronization of the broadband RF modulation so that the digital code is inserted into a non-viewable portion of the recorded video signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1993Date of Patent: October 3, 1995Assignee: Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Alan McFarland, Stuart J. Lipoff, Jung-Ming Wu, Richard H. Caro
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Patent number: 5333091Abstract: An automatic editing device is coupled between a conventional VCR and a conventional television monitor/receiver. During recording of a television signal, data is accumulated with respect to the time of occurrence and duration of detectable events, such as blank frames, in the television signal, and such data is stored in the device. At a time subsequent to the recording process, the stored data is analyzed to classify the content of the television signal between the detectable events. The recording is made on a tape which has timing reference data permanently encoded thereon. During playback, the stored data for each event is compared to the timing reference data read from the tape and the VCR is automatically commanded into a fast scan mode when the tape reaches the beginning time of a portion of the video signal that has been classified for elimination during playback.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1993Date of Patent: July 26, 1994Assignee: Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Jerry Iggulden, Alan McFarland