Patents by Inventor Charles Kirkendall

Charles Kirkendall 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: 12073713
    Abstract: Road vector definitions and incident data associated with a traffic incident are obtained from a traffic data source. A determination is made, based on the road vector definitions and the incident data, that the traffic incident affects travel on a particular road. A road classification of the road affected by the traffic incident is determined based on the road vector definitions. An updated version of a previous Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic is generated. Generating the updated version of the previous TPEG traffic frame includes conditionally inserting changed traffic data associated with the particular road into the previous TPEG traffic frame. The changed traffic data associated with the particular road includes at least a portion of the incident data. The updated version of the previous TPEG traffic frame is transmitted to a station importer for broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: iHeart Media Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20230360520
    Abstract: Road vector definitions and incident data associated with a traffic incident are obtained from a traffic data source. A determination is made, based on the road vector definitions and the incident data, that the traffic incident affects travel on a particular road. A road classification of the road affected by the traffic incident is determined based on the road vector definitions. An updated version of a previous Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic is generated. Generating the updated version of the previous TPEG traffic frame includes conditionally inserting changed traffic data associated with the particular road into the previous TPEG traffic frame. The changed traffic data associated with the particular road includes at least a portion of the incident data. The updated version of the previous TPEG traffic frame is transmitted to a station importer for broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Patent number: 11735036
    Abstract: Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic messages, which include traffic information associated with road vector definitions, are generated. Bounding area definitions associating the road vector definitions with bounding areas are obtained, and automatically adjusted based on a time associated with broadcast of the TPEG traffic messages. TPEG traffic messages to be included in a TPEG frame associated with a particular bounding area are selected based on the bounding area definitions. The TPEG frame is generated, and transmitted for broadcast in the particular bounding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20220028256
    Abstract: According to a method disclosed herein, Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic messages, which include traffic information associated with road vector definitions, are generated. bounding area definitions associating the road vector definitions with bounding areas are obtained, and automatically adjusted based on a time associated with broadcast of the TPEG traffic messages. TPEG traffic messages to be included in a TPEG frame associated with a particular bounding area are selected based on the bounding area definitions. The TPEG frame is generated, and transmitted for broadcast in the particular bounding area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Patent number: 11138871
    Abstract: A traffic information system generates a traffic information frame for selected roads within a broadcast area by receiving traffic information from a traffic data source, obtaining road vector definitions for one or more roads identified in the traffic information, associating the road vector definitions with longitude and latitude to link the traffic information to particular roads, creating a Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic message, including the traffic information and the one or more roads associated with the traffic information, obtaining bounding area definitions of bounding areas associated with the particular traffic incident, combining cached TPEG messages into a composite TPEG frame using the bounding area definitions and broadcasting the TPEG frame to at least a primary bounding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20200219385
    Abstract: A traffic information system generates a traffic information frame for selected roads within a broadcast area by receiving traffic information from a traffic data source, obtaining road vector definitions for one or more roads identified in the traffic information, associating the road vector definitions with longitude and latitude to link the traffic information to particular roads, creating a Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) traffic message, including the traffic information and the one or more roads associated with the traffic information, obtaining bounding area definitions of bounding areas associated with the particular traffic incident, combining cached TPEG messages into a composite TPEG frame using the bounding area definitions and broadcasting the TPEG frame to at least a primary bounding area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Patent number: 10692366
    Abstract: A traffic information system includes a server-based media automation system configured to access a traffic system to provide mobile user access to traffic through the server-based media automation system. The system further includes a traffic data source configured to provide traffic data to the server-based media automation system and a traffic message server receiving traffic messages from the traffic data source, combining the traffic messages into a traffic frame using bounding area information. The system further includes a station importer receiving the traffic frame and creating separate streams for a plurality of high definition channels packaged and multiplexed with media data into high definition radio signals for transmission by a broadcast system and wherein the traffic frame excludes traffic messages associated with a primary bounding area and at least one sub-bounding area located within the primary bounding area based on road classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20190197884
    Abstract: A traffic information system includes a server-based media automation system configured to access a traffic system to provide mobile user access to traffic through the server-based media automation system. The system further includes a traffic data source configured to provide traffic data to the server-based media automation system and a traffic message server receiving traffic messages from the traffic data source, combining the traffic messages into a traffic frame using bounding area information. The system further includes a station importer receiving the traffic frame and creating separate streams for a plurality of high definition channels packaged and multiplexed with media data into high definition radio signals for transmission by a broadcast system and wherein the traffic frame excludes traffic messages associated with a primary bounding area and at least one sub-bounding area located within the primary bounding area based on road classifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Patent number: 10255802
    Abstract: A traffic information system includes a server-based media automation system configured to access a traffic system to provide mobile user access to traffic through the server-based media automation system. The system further includes a traffic data source configured to provide traffic data to the server-based media automation system and a traffic message server receiving traffic messages from the traffic data source, combining the traffic messages into a traffic frame using bounding area information. The system further includes a station importer receiving the traffic frame and creating separate streams for a plurality of high definition channels packaged and multiplexed with media data into high definition radio signals for transmission by a broadcast system and wherein the traffic frame include traffic message with a primary bounding area and at least one sub-bounding area located within the primary bounding area based on road classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20180365985
    Abstract: A traffic information system includes a server-based. media automation system configured to access a traffic system to provide mobile user access to traffic through the server-based media automation system. The system further includes a traffic data source configured to provide traffic data to the server-based media automation system and a traffic message server receiving traffic messages from the traffic data source, combining the traffic messages into a traffic frame using bounding area information. The system further includes a station importer receiving the traffic frame and creating separate streams for a plurality of high definition channels packaged and multiplexed with media data into high definition radio signals for transmission by a broadcast system and wherein the traffic frame include traffic message with a primary bounding area and at least one sub-bounding area located within the primary bounding area based on road classifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Patent number: 10089866
    Abstract: A method includes configuring a plurality of sub-bounding areas within a primary bounding area. An aggregate traffic message includes traffic information aggregated from the sub-bounding areas and is broadcast throughout the primary bounding area. The roads within the primary bounding area are associated with road classifications, and individual traffic messages associated with those roads are generated. Sub-bounding areas within the primary bounding area are associated with particular road classifications. Individual traffic messages (for particular roads) are selected for inclusion in the aggregate traffic message (broadcast over the primary bounding area) if those messages are associated with a road having a road classification that matches a road classification of a sub-bounding area in which the road is located. The aggregate traffic message is generated by combining the selected individual traffic messages and is transmitted to a station importer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20180204448
    Abstract: A method includes configuring a plurality of sub-bounding areas within a primary bounding area. An aggregate traffic message includes traffic information aggregated from the sub-bounding areas and is broadcast throughout the primary bounding area. The roads within the primary bounding area are associated with road classifications, and individual traffic messages associated with those roads are generated. Sub-bounding areas within the primary bounding area are associated with particular road classifications. Individual traffic messages (for particular roads) are selected for inclusion in the aggregate traffic message (broadcast over the primary bounding area) if those messages are associated with a road having a road classification that matches a road classification of a sub-bounding area in which the road is located. The aggregate traffic message is generated by combining the selected individual traffic messages and is transmitted to a station importer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Patent number: 9916756
    Abstract: A method includes configuring a plurality of sub-bounding areas within a primary bounding area. An aggregate traffic message includes traffic information aggregated from the sub-bounding areas, and is broadcast throughout the primary bounding area. The roads within the primary bounding area are associated with road classifications, and individual traffic messages associated with those roads are generated. Sub-bounding areas within the primary bounding area are associated with particular road classifications. Individual traffic messages (for particular roads) are selected for inclusion in the aggregate traffic message (broadcast over the primary bounding area) if those messages are associated with a road having a road classification that matches a road classification of a sub-bounding area in which the road is located. The aggregate traffic message is generated by combining the selected individual traffic messages, and is transmitted to a station importer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20170345293
    Abstract: The amount of traffic information included in traffic message frames broadcast to users, for example via a Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) frame, can be reduced by using configurable bounding areas for different road classes (types). A broadcast area associated with a primary bounding area can be divided into sub-bounding areas. Rather than broadcasting information for all roads of all classes in the broadcast area, each road class is associated with a particular bounding area. Traffic information pertaining to roads located within a bounding area that have road classifications matching bounding area road classifications is included in a TPEG frame. For example, if a class 4 road is located within a sub-bounding area associated only with road classifications 0-3, information about that particular road can be excluded from the broadcast traffic information, even if it is located within the primary bounding area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Charles Kirkendall, Amit Deshpande