Patents by Inventor Allan Michael De Souza

Allan Michael De Souza 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).

  • Method and arrangement for providing access to a consumer device
    Patent number: 6871188
    Abstract: A method of and arrangement for providing access to a consumer device (101). A user can switch between multiple content providers. To switch, he calls up a set of representations (202-207) of offerings by content providers (107, 108, 109). He can then select a content provider. The selection is submitted to a gateway system (106), which then provides the selected content provider access to the consumer device (101), preferably in return for a fee paid by the selected content provider. The invention makes it easier for users to switch content providers even when descrambling boxes, subscriptions and other hassles are normally involved in switching. All these hassles are taken care of by the gateway (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Allan Michael De Souza
  • Method and arrangement for providing access to a consumer device
    Publication number: 20020023021
    Abstract: A method of and arrangement for providing access to a consumer device (101). A user can switch between multiple content providers. To switch, he calls up a set of representations (202-207) of offerings by content providers (107, 108, 109). He can then select a content provider. The selection is submitted to a gateway system (106), which then provides the selected content provider access to the consumer device (101), preferably in return for a fee paid by the selected content provider. The invention makes it easier for users to switch content providers even when descrambling boxes, subscriptions and other hassles are normally involved in switching. All these hassles are taken care of by the gateway (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Allan Michael De Souza