Patents by Inventor Daniel M. Miner

Daniel M. Miner 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: 8479234
    Abstract: A system of local television signals includes a plurality of local collection facilities. Each a local collection facilities includes a plurality of primary receiver decoder circuit modules comprising a first receiver decoder circuit module. The first receiver decoder circuit module receives a first channel signal and forms a first decoded signal. The local collection facility also includes an encoder in communication with the first receiver decoder circuit module forming an encoded signal. A multiplexer multiplexing the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal and a network switch communicating the multiplexed signal through a network. Collectively, the plurality of local collection facilities communicates a plurality of multiplexed signals through the network. The system also includes a remote collection facility in communication with the plurality of local collection facilities that generate an output signal in response to the plurality of multiplexed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Patent number: 8356321
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling receiving circuit module includes a remote facility, an IP network and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility through the IP network. The local collection facility includes a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules having a first encoder. The local collection facility generates a receiving circuit module monitoring signal. The local collection facility communicates the monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network. The monitoring system generates a receiving circuit module control signal in response to the monitoring signal communicates the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoang D. Pham, Jeanet C. Mika, Douglas E. Ribordy, Daniel M. Miner
  • Patent number: 8170069
    Abstract: A system and method for processing signal in a remote facility includes an IP network and a first local collection facility that includes a first plurality of receiving circuit modules receiving a first plurality of channel signals and generating a first plurality of IP encoded signals from the first plurality of channel signals and a first router routing the first plurality of encoded signals to the IP network. The system also includes a second local collection facility comprising a second plurality of receiving circuit modules receiving a second plurality of channel signals and generating a second plurality of IP encoded signals from the second plurality of channel signals and a second router routing the second plurality of encoded signals to the IP network. The system also includes a remote facility having a statistical multiplexer in communication with the IP network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoang D. Pham, Jeanet C. Mika, Daniel M. Miner, Douglas E. Ribordy
  • Patent number: 8077706
    Abstract: A remote facility and method for operating the same includes a signal processing system including a primary multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form a multiplexed signal, a primary modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a primary modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal, a backup multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Patent number: 7934228
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an output signal includes a receiving system 160 generating a plurality of signals having a first format, an insertion module 166 inserting a source identifier into the plurality of signals, an encoder 182 encoding the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams and a multiplexer 210. A local area network 130 routes the plurality of transport streams to the multiplexer 210 to form a combined signal. A processing system 200 compares the source identifier to an expected source. When the source identifier corresponds to the expected source, the processing system 200 modulates the combined signal to form a modulated signal. When the source identifier does not correspond to the expected source, the processing system 200 changes the combined signal. A modulator 214 modulates the combined signal to form a modulated signal. A system 202 forms the output signal from the modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel M. Miner
  • Patent number: 7861270
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver. The system also includes a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility. A back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility. The monitoring system displays the back-up receiver signal. The remote facility switches the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Publication number: 20100115561
    Abstract: A receiving circuit module and method for operating the same includes a housing receiving a first signal, a first encoder disposed within the housing encoding the first signal to form a first encoded signal and a second encoder disposed within the housing encoding the first signal to form a second encoded signal having a different format than the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ribordy, Daniel M. Miner
  • Publication number: 20090113490
    Abstract: A method and system of collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules comprising a first receiver circuit module. The first receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forms an IP signal. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is in communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the IP signal. A primary encoder within the remote facility in communication with the primary decoder forms a first encoded signal from the decoded signal. A multiplexer in the remote facility multiplexes the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal. The multiplexed signal may provide an output signal used for uplinking or other type of distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090109836
    Abstract: A remote facility and method for operating the same includes a signal processing system including a primary multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form a multiplexed signal, a primary modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a primary modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal, a backup multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090109883
    Abstract: A system and method for collecting signals includes an IP network, a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network. The local collection facility receives channel signals, encoding the channel signals into respective IP signals, communicating the respective IP signals through an IP network to the remote facility. The remote facility controls an antenna switch at the local collection facility to communicate a first channel signal of the channel signals to a monitoring receiver circuit module. The local collection facility generates a monitoring signal at the monitoring receiver circuit module and communicates the monitoring signal through to a remote facility through the IP network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090110052
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility having a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules with a first receiver circuit module and a back-up receiver module. The local collection facility includes the first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a first IP signal. The first receiver has a first multicast group. The back-up receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forming a second signal. The back-up receiver has a second multicast group. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the first IP signal. The primary decoder belongs to the first multi-cast group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Wasden, Vishal Arya, Daniel M. Miner, Darren M. St. Laurent, David T. Boltz
  • Publication number: 20090070826
    Abstract: A system and method for processing signal in a remote facility includes an IP network and a first local collection facility that includes a first plurality of receiving circuit modules receiving a first plurality of channel signals and generating a first plurality of IP encoded signals from the first plurality of channel signals and a first router routing the first plurality of encoded signals to the IP network. The system also includes a second local collection facility comprising a second plurality of receiving circuit modules receiving a second plurality of channel signals and generating a second plurality of IP encoded signals from the second plurality of channel signals and a second router routing the second plurality of encoded signals to the IP network. The system also includes a remote facility having a statistical multiplexer in communication with the IP network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Hoang D. Pham, Jeanet C. Mika, Daniel M. Miner, Douglas E. Ribordy
  • Publication number: 20090070829
    Abstract: A receiving circuit module and method for operating the same includes a housing having a first receiver, a second receiver, a serial digital interface and an input-output port disposed therein. The receiving circuit module includes an encoder disposed within the housing and in communication with the first receiver, the second receiver and the serial digital interface. The receiver circuit module also includes a controller disposed within the housing receiving a control signal, switching between the first receiver, the second receiver and serial digital interface in response to the control signal and generating an encoded output signal corresponding to the first receiver, the second receiver and serial digital interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ribordy, Daniel M. Miner
  • Publication number: 20090068959
    Abstract: A receiving circuit module for receiving different types of channel signals includes a housing having a first input, a second input and an input-output port disposed therein and a controller receiving a control signal. The controller switches between the first input and second output and generates an output signal corresponding to the first input or the second input in response to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Ribordy, Daniel M. Miner
  • Publication number: 20090070838
    Abstract: A system and method for operating the same includes an IP network, a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network. The local collection facility receives local channel signals at a local collection facility and encodes the local channel signals into respective IP signals. The local collection facility includes a router routing the respective IP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoang D. Pham, Jeanet C. Mika, Daniel M. Miner, Douglas E. Ribordy
  • Publication number: 20090067433
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a plurality of receivers receiving a plurality of channel signals a plurality of encoders generating a first plurality of encoded signals from the plurality of channel signals, a multiplexer multiplexing the first plurality of encoded signals at a multiplexer to form first multiplexed signals, an ATM switch forming a primary ATM circuit between the local collection facility and the remote facility, and an ATM network adapter forming first ATM signals from the multiplexed signals and communicating the first ATM signals to a remote facility through the primary ATM circuit and the ATM switch. The system also includes a remote facility that includes a monitoring system generating control signals to tear down the primary ATM circuit and communicating the control signal to tear down the primary ATM circuit to the local collection facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Publication number: 20090070825
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling receiving circuit module includes a remote facility, an IP network and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility through the IP network. The local collection facility includes a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules having a first encoder. The local collection facility generates a receiving circuit module monitoring signal. The local collection facility communicates the monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network. The monitoring system generates a receiving circuit module control signal in response to the monitoring signal communicates the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoang D. Pham, Jeanet C. Mika, Douglas E. Ribordy, Daniel M. Miner
  • Publication number: 20090070846
    Abstract: A system of local television signals includes a plurality of local collection facilities. Each a local collection facilities includes a plurality of primary receiver decoder circuit modules comprising a first receiver decoder circuit module. The first receiver decoder circuit module receives a first channel signal and forms a first decoded signal. The local collection facility also includes an encoder in communication with the first receiver decoder circuit module forming an encoded signal. A multiplexer multiplexing the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal and a network switch communicating the multiplexed signal through a network. Collectively, the plurality of local collection facilities communicates a plurality of multiplexed signals through the network. The system also includes a remote collection facility in communication with the plurality of local collection facilities that generate an output signal in response to the plurality of multiplexed signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden
  • Publication number: 20090067432
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility. The local facility has a plurality of receivers receiving a plurality of channel signals and a plurality of encoders generating a plurality of encoded signals from the plurality of channel signals. The local collection facility includes a primary multiplexer multiplexing the plurality of encoded signals to form a first multiplexed signal and communicates the first multiplexed signal to the remote facility. A monitoring system at a remote facility commanding switching to a back-up multiplexer at the local collection facility. The back-up multiplexer multiplexing the plurality of encoded signals to form a second multiplexed signal and communicating the second multiplexed signal to the remote facility. The remote facility generating an output signal in response to the second multiplexed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Mitchell B. Wasden, Carl Ostrom
  • Publication number: 20090066848
    Abstract: A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver. The system also includes a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility. A back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility. The monitoring system displays the back-up receiver signal. The remote facility switches the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Darren M. St. Laurent, Daniel M. Miner, David T. Boltz, Carl D. Ostrom, Mitchell B. Wasden