Patents by Inventor David E. Shanks

David E. Shanks 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: 9143836
    Abstract: A mosaic video channel displayed on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time. A mosaic video channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell, and a receiver, coupled to the monitor and receiving the plurality of video feeds and mosaic video channel, wherein a blackout criteria is dynamically programmed into the receiver such that when at least one of the video cells is selected by the cursor, the receiver tunes to a channel other than the individual video feed associated with that video cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Feldstein, Jon M. Dean, Mark A. Shurgot, Edgar C. Camacho, Matthew J. Thompson, David E. Shanks
  • Patent number: 9032296
    Abstract: A method and system for providing highlight clips to a user device includes the user device having a display with a user interface and a content processing system communicating a plurality of highlight links to the user device. The user device displays the plurality of highlight links on the display and communicates a selection signal to the content processing system. The content processing system communicates a highlight clip corresponding to the selection signal to the user device. The user device displays the content clip in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Alistair E. Jeffs, David E. Feldstein, Jon M. Dean, Yves S. Lin, David E. Shanks
  • Patent number: 8949895
    Abstract: An interactive mosaic channel video stream with indicators as to the action on a given video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Shanks, Matthew J. Thompson, Mark A. Shurgot, David E. Feldstein, Richard F. Purpura
  • Publication number: 20140289772
    Abstract: A mosaic video channel displayed on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time. A mosaic video channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell, and a receiver, coupled to the monitor and receiving the plurality of video feeds and mosaic video channel, wherein a blackout criteria is dynamically programmed into the receiver such that when at least one of the video cells is selected by the cursor, the receiver tunes to a channel other than the individual video feed associated with that video cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: David E. Feldstein, Jon M. Dean, Mark A. Shurgot, Edgar C. Camacho, Matthew J. Thompson, David E. Shanks
  • Patent number: 8832738
    Abstract: An interactive matrixed video channel presented on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time. An interactive matrixed video channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, and a text box, wherein statistical data is displayed within at least one of the group comprising the plurality of video cells and the text box, the statistical data generated from outside of the interactive matrixed video channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David E Shanks, David E. Feldstein, Richard F. Purpura, Matthew J. Thompson, Mark A. Shurgot, Craig Le
  • Patent number: 8458745
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a viewership rating system presented on a monitor. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of broadcast programs, each broadcast program in the plurality of broadcast programs given a rating, the rating based on a current viewership of the plurality of broadcast programs within a geographical area, and a control bar; displayed on the monitor, wherein a command displayed on the control bar selects a screen for display on the monitor, the screen comprising information related to at least one of the ratings of the plurality of broadcast programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Shanks, Jon M. Dean, David E. Feldstein, Richard F. Purpura, Matthew J. Thompson, Mark A. Shurgot, Craig Le
  • Publication number: 20120042342
    Abstract: An interactive mosaic channel video stream with indicators as to the action on a given video stream. The interactive mosaic channel is displayed on a video monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, each video cell further comprising an area within the video cell reporting data related to the video feed, and a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Shanks, Matthew J. Thompson, Mark A. Shurgot, David E. Feldstein, Edgar Camacho, Craig Le, Ilan Tirer
  • Patent number: 8056099
    Abstract: An interactive mosaic channel video stream with indicators as to the action on a given video stream. The interactive mosaic channel is displayed on a video monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, each video cell further comprising an area within the video cell reporting data related to the video feed, and a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Shanks, Matthew J. Thompson, Mark A. Shurgot, David E. Feldstein, Edgar Camacho, Craig Le, Ilan Tirer
  • Publication number: 20100057583
    Abstract: A method and system for ordering content includes a content processing system and a device in communication with the content ordering system. The device displaying a link corresponding to content and accessing a content ordering system by selecting the link. The content processing system enables a content recording request. A user receiving device receives the content associated with the link in response to the content recording request and stores the content in a memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Alistair E. Jeffs, Carl S. Smith, David E. Shanks