Patents by Inventor Bret D. Hawkins

Bret D. Hawkins 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).

  • Publication number: 20100058391
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for accommodation of digital and analog channel number conflicts. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising detecting an analog video signal with a channel number, detecting a digital video signal with the channel number, storing the analog video signal in a channel database with a first reference value, and storing the digital video signal in the channel database with a second reference value, the second reference value being different from the first reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Steven L. Cooper, Bret D. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20100058386
    Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for tuning a digital television channel. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising receiving a request to access a first digital television channel, downloading a first program map table associated with a frequency of the first digital television channel, storing the first program map table, receiving a request to access a second digital television channel, determining if the second digital television channel is associated with the frequency of the first digital television channel, and creating a conditional access program map table for the second digital television channel based on the stored program map table if the second digital television channel is associated with the frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Shenzhen TCL New Technology LTD
    Inventors: Bret D. Hawkins, James Duane Tenbarge
  • Publication number: 20090225223
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for accommodating submissions of invalid system time table information. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising receiving a first video-based time signal from a video source, determining a first CPU-based time signal, receiving a second video-based time signal from the video source, determining a second CPU-based time signal, subtracting the first video-based time signal from the second video-based time signal to produce a first time difference, subtracting the first CPU-based time signal from the second CPU-based time signal to produce a second time difference, and accepting the video source as a valid time source if the first time difference substantially matches the second time difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: SHENZHEN TCL NEW TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Steven L. Cooper, Bret D. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20070283399
    Abstract: An exemplary method of operating an electronic device comprises updating a channel map. The method further comprises prohibiting further updating of the channel map for a predetermined time, and permitting further updating of the channel map after expiration of the predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Steven L. Cooper, Bret D. Hawkins, James D. Tenbarge