Patents by Inventor Brian Beach

Brian Beach 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: 7861258
    Abstract: Techniques described herein enable parents to establish a child-protective “kids zone” on a DVR. According to one technique, a DVR receives, from a parent, identities of content items that the parent does not want children to view. The DVR maps the identities to a kids zone. During times that the DVR is set to operate in the kids zone operational mode, the DVR prevents itself from presenting any content items that are associated with the identities. However, during these times, the DVR still may obtain and store these content items. At other times, during which the DVR is not set to operate in the kids zone operational mode, the DVR may allow itself to present the content items that are associated with the identities, including content items that the DVR obtained and stored during times that the DVR was set to operate in the kids zone operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Tivo Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Barton, Brian Beach, Margret Schmidt, Robert F. Poniatowski, Shelly Glennon
  • Publication number: 20100319014
    Abstract: A multimedia mobile personalization system allows a user to record and play multimedia content on a set top box at a location other than his home using the user's preferences from his home DVR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: TIVO INC.
    Inventors: David Lockett, Adam Feder, James M. Barton, Michael F. Klar, Andrew M. Goodman, David C. Platt, Brian Beach, David Avraham Brown
  • Publication number: 20100293579
    Abstract: A DVR, server, or other agent correlates media metadata from diverse sources, like an EPG data provider and multiple video-on-demand (VOD) service providers. Metadata sets from different sources are compared in order to attempt to identify identical programs to which the metadata sets pertain. From at least one metadata set, information about the program that the other metadata set lacks is selected. A “canonical” data structure instance for the program is created. The information that is lacking from at least one of the metadata sources is inserted into that instance. For each source from which a program is available, the DVR stores the identity of that source on the DVR's persistent storage device in association with the canonical data structure instance for that program. The DVR receives search criteria from a user and then searches the stored canonical data structure instance for programs that satisfy the criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Todd Kulick, Michael Francis Klar, Vin Chawla, Marcel Dubois, Brian Beach, Alain Jobart
  • Patent number: 7829637
    Abstract: A molding composition is provided that includes a thermoset cross-linkable polymeric resin, a fibrous filler and a thickener system. The thickener system includes an amine and an isocyanate that are reactive to form a polyurea. The polyurea is operative to thicken the molding composition formulation prior to polymeric resin thermoset with superior properties relative to conventional thickener systems. A molded article produced from a cross-linked thermoset polymeric resin containing fibrous filler and a polyurea present from 1 to 5 total weight percent of the article either forms an interpenetrating network between the resin and the polyurea or the resin and polyurea crosslink upon resin thermoset to further strengthen the resulting article. An alkali earth oxide or hydroxide simultaneously thickens through interaction with carboxylate functionality of the cross-linkable resin to provide a superior viscosity build and humidity tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Structural Plastics
    Inventors: Probir K. Guha, Michael J. Siwajek, Brian A. Beach
  • Publication number: 20100204360
    Abstract: A molding composition formulation includes a thermoset cross-linkable 12 to 45 micron polymeric resin. Hollow glass microspheroids are present from 2 to 12 total weight percent. An article formed from such a composition is further strengthened by the addition of a surface activating agent bonded to the surface of the glass microspheroids. Conventional particulate fillers when added to an inventive formulation provide enhanced performance when the filler particle has a size sufficiently small to insert within adjacent microspheroid interstitial voids. An unsaturated polyester resin so formed is particularly well suited for the formation of sheet molding compound formulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Brian A. Beach, Probir K. Guha, Brad Haskell, Michael J. Siwajek
  • Publication number: 20100198822
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adaptive search user interface is provided. An interface is provided that returns search results upon receiving each alphanumeric character of a search query term. Correlations of prefixes of alphanumeric characters and search results selected from previous searches are stored in a correlation matrix. Based upon the correlations in the correlation matrix, relevance rankings for search results with respect to the prefixes of alphanumeric characters are updated. Search results may be grouped based upon one or more common traits. Relevance rankings are also updated based upon the rate of change of selections recorded for a search result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: SHELLY GLENNON, Brian Beach, James Cheng, Richard Lee, Kimberly Paluch, Robert Poniatowski, Margret Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20100146551
    Abstract: A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's scheduled program recordings. The programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: TIVO INC.
    Inventors: James M. Barton, Brian Beach
  • Patent number: 7700670
    Abstract: A molding composition formulation includes a thermoset cross-linkable polymeric resin. Glass microspheroids are present such that upon cure of the resin the resulting article has a linear shrinkage of less than ±0.06% and a density of less than 1.65. An article formed from such a composition is further strengthened by the addition of a surface activating agent bonded to the surface of the glass microspheroids. Conventional particulate fillers when added to an inventive formulation provide enhanced performance when the filler particle has a size sufficiently small to insert within adjacent microspheroid interstitial voids. An unsaturated polyester resin so formed is particularly well suited for the formation of sheet molding compound formulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventors: Brian A. Beach, Probir K. Guha, Brad Haskell, Michael J. Siwajek
  • Publication number: 20100093911
    Abstract: A molding composition is provided that includes a thermoset cross-linkable polymeric resin, a fibrous filler and a thickener system. The thickener system includes an amine and an isocyanate that are reactive to form a polyurea. The polyurea is operative to thicken the molding composition formulation prior to polymeric resin thermoset with superior properties relative to conventional thickener systems. A molded article produced from a cross-linked thermoset polymeric resin containing fibrous filler and a polyurea present from 1 to 5 total weight percent of the article either forms an interpenetrating network between the resin and the polyurea or the resin and polyurea crosslink upon resin thermoset to further strengthen the resulting article. An alkali earth oxide or hydroxide simultaneously thickens through interaction with carboxylate functionality of the cross-linkable resin to provide a superior viscosity build and humidity tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Probir K. Guha, Michael J. Siwajek, Brian A. Beach
  • Publication number: 20100040345
    Abstract: A DVR user instructs the DVR to record a program. The DVR determines whether the program is of a particular type. If the program is of the particular type, then the DVR presents, to the DVR user, a user interface that enables the DVR user to alter the parameters of the time interval during which the DVR will record the program. After the user has modified the recording time parameters (e.g., start and end recording times) for the program using DVR-presented user interfaces, the DVR stores the modified recording time parameters on the DVR's hard disk drive. The DVR then automatically records the program, beginning and ending at the stored times as modified by the DVR user (rather than the EPG data-specified times).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman
  • Patent number: 7665111
    Abstract: A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects which indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred programs. The preferred programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). The viewer may request that certain programs be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those programs, or express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Barton, Brian Beach
  • Publication number: 20090256718
    Abstract: A multimedia mobile personalization system provides a remote control that detects a user's electronic tag, e.g. an RFID tag. The remote control notifies a multimedia device of the user's identity. The multimedia devices tailors it operations to the user's preferences stored locally. Multimedia content such as broadcast or recorded television programs, music play lists, and the like could be sorted, displayed, or restricted, depending on the user identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: TIVO INC.
    Inventors: David Lockett, Adam Feder, James M. Barton, Michael F. Klar, Andrew M. Goodman, David C. Platt, Brian Beach, David Avraham Brown
  • Publication number: 20090259939
    Abstract: A multimedia mobile personalization system provides a remote control that detects a user's electronic tag, e.g. an RFID tag. The remote control notifies a multimedia device of the user's identity. The multimedia devices tailors it operations to the user's preferences stored locally. Multimedia content such as broadcast or recorded television programs, music play lists, and the like could be sorted, displayed, or restricted, depending on the user identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: TIVO INC.
    Inventors: David Lockett, Adam Feder, James M. Barton, Michael F. Klar, Andrew M. Goodman, David C. Platt, Brian Beach, David Avraham Brown
  • Publication number: 20090240692
    Abstract: A method for generating and maintaining hierarchical tags with community-based ratings is provided. Tags for media streams are organized into a hierarchical format. Users may select tags from the hierarchical tag database that describes a particular multimedia content. If the user is unable to locate a desired tag, the user may submit a new tag. Upon submission of the new tag, a librarian approves the tag before storing and placing the tag in the hierarchical tag database. Users are also able to rate the quality of the association between the tag and the multimedia content. If a tag is rated low, the tag may be removed from the hierarchical tag database. If the tag is rated highly, display of the tag in a list of tags becomes more prominent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: James M. Barton, Brian Beach, David C. Platt, Kevin Smith, Michael F. Klar, Paul Stevens, David Chamberlin, Richard Lee
  • Patent number: 7524547
    Abstract: Sheet molding composition formulation includes a thermoset cross-linkable polymeric resin. A moisture reducing polymeric additive includes at least one of polystyrene; poly C1-C4 alykylmethacrylate; a copolymer of styrene with at least one of butadiene, acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride; or a combination of polystyrene, polyaklymethacrylate and or a styrene copolymer. Moisture reducing polymeric additive is present within the formulation from between 1 and 20 total weight percent. An article formed from such a sheet molding composition formulation defines an article shape and has a surface that sets the article shape with less than 0.5 total weight percent water after 96 hours exposure and 100° F. 100% humidity. The article shape is amendable to receiving a vapor barrier coating applied to the articles shape surface. A powder prime coating over lies the barrier coating and achieves surface finish results comparable to article shapes formed of steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Continential Structural Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Beach, Brad Haskell, Michael J. Siwajek, Probir K. Guha
  • Publication number: 20080288460
    Abstract: Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Robert F. PONIATOWSKI, Shelly Glennon, Brian Beach, Marcel Dubois
  • Publication number: 20080288461
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an integrated search is provided. An interface is provided that allows users to search and select any data related to a searchable term. Searchable terms may comprise titles of content, actors, and tags. Upon receiving results from the initial search, the user progresses through the initial search by selecting a result from the initial search and conducting a further search of that selection. The search may progress through many layers of searching in order to find information useful to the user and the user may perform actions based upon results of the search. The search implements a display with two columns, the first column displaying selectable data, and the second column displaying results to the selected data. The search is further customizable based upon a privacy level selected by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Shelly GLENNON, Robert F. Poniatowski, Bryan James, Brian Beach
  • Publication number: 20080172689
    Abstract: Techniques for generating customized rating systems for use in a DVR are described. According to one technique, a user submits a rating system definition that comprises two or more different ratings of the user's choosing. The rating system definition is stored. The rating system definition defines a customized ratings system. That system's creator and other users may then associate various entities, such as channels, series, and episodes, with ratings from the customized rating system. DVRs may use these associations between entities and ratings for various purposes. For example, DVRs may use these associations to allow a user to search for entities that satisfy specified rating criteria. For another example, DVRs may use these associations to restricting which entities and information about those entities can be displayed or recorded when the DVR is in a restricted mode of operation. Customized rating systems may be modified by multiple users in collaboration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Adam Feder, Brian Beach, Wijnand Van Stam
  • Publication number: 20070240187
    Abstract: In an interactive network-based personal video recording system, a user interface is provided that allows viewers to search a database of program guide information according to program title, indexed program attributes such as actor and director, and key word. Viewer interaction is by way of a remote control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Beach, Alan Waterman
  • Publication number: 20070220554
    Abstract: Techniques for recommending recording and/or downloading suggestions to a DVR user are provided. According to one technique, a list of suggestions is received from a recommending entity. Each of the suggestions identifies either to-be-broadcasted content or downloadable content. The entity is mapped to the list, thereby establishing an entity-to-list mapping. Data, which indicates a user's selection of a list, is received. The user's DVR is mapped to the selected list, thereby establishing a DVR-to-list mapping. Based on this mapping, one or more candidate items are automatically selected from among a set of items. Identities of the candidate items are sent to the DVR. The recommending entity does not own or operate the DVR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: James Barton, Adam Feder, Brian Beach