Patents by Inventor David Eric Shanks

David Eric 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: 11758238
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for displaying wind characteristics and effects in a broadcast. The method comprises utilizing a camera to record a broadcast, determining wind characteristics relative to the broadcast, and rendering graphics in a broadcast displaying the wind. In exemplary embodiments, wind is sampled via at least one sampling point in a venue and wind characteristics are displayed in the broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: FOX SPORTS PRODUCTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Publication number: 20230191228
    Abstract: Improvements regarding aspects of football are described, including with regard to tools and methods facilitating game and league play, as well as tools and methods for broadcast, including capture and presentation of broadcast for football.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Davies, David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 11159854
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: FOX SPORTS PRODUCTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 10939140
    Abstract: A system and method for selective capture of and presentation of native image portions are provided. In a first embodiment a first image or video is captured at a first resolution, which resolution is greater than high definition and higher than a predetermined broadcast display resolution. A desired portion of the native, first image or video is then displayed at a second, lower resolution, which resolution is less than and closer to the predetermined broadcast display resolution. Accordingly, a selected portion of the captured image may be displayed at or near the predetermined broadcast display resolution. In other exemplary embodiments, video is captured at a first frame rate that is higher than a predetermined broadcast frame rate, and an extraction window extracts frames from a portion of the native, first video to provide improved broadcast quality of the portion(s) selected by the extraction window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FOX SPORTS PRODUCTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Davies, David Eric Shanks, Gerald Steinberg
  • Publication number: 20200107075
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Publication number: 20170366867
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for displaying thermographic characteristics in a broadcast. The method comprises utilizing a camera to record a broadcast, determining thermographic characteristics relative to the broadcast, and rendering graphics in a broadcast displaying said thermographic characteristics. In exemplary embodiments, thermographic characteristics are determined by sensors or lenses for one or more objects in a venue and thermographic characteristics are displayed in the broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Publication number: 20170366866
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for displaying wind characteristics and effects in a broadcast. The method comprises utilizing a camera to record a broadcast, determining wind characteristics relative to the broadcast, and rendering graphics in a broadcast displaying the wind. In exemplary embodiments, wind is sampled via at least one sampling point in a venue and wind characteristics are displayed in the broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Publication number: 20170280199
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 9654736
    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: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Eric Shanks, Matthew J. Thompson, Mark A. Shurgot, David E. Feldstein, Edgar C. Camacho, Craig Le
  • Publication number: 20160198228
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast, including expert indications of desirable and undesirable locations on golf course terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: David B. Hill, Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 9288545
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast, including expert indications of desirable and undesirable locations on golf course terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FOX SPORTS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David B. Hill, Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 9282290
    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: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Eric Shanks, Matthew J. Thompson, Mark A. Shurgot, David E. Feldstein, Edgar C. Camacho, Craig Le, Ilan Tirer
  • Publication number: 20150326932
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast, including expert indications of desirable and undesirable locations on golf course terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: David B. Hill, Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 9137556
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates metadata for a plurality of content including the content titles. The system also includes the user device that generates a screen display comprising the plurality of content titles from the metadata and generates a selection corresponding to a first content title from a user interface, the user device adds metadata for the first content title to a queue and displays the queue in a priority order on the screen display. The user device is tuned to receive content corresponding to the first content title and stores the content in a storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Romulo Pontual, John L. Norin, Robert G. Arsenault, Raynold M. Kahn, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Luke J. Crook, John D. Choi, Michelle L. Vagnati, David Eric Shanks, Steven Kasakitis, Eric J. Bennett, Kenny C. Chen, Stephen P. Dulac
  • Patent number: 9131125
    Abstract: A receiving device and method for operating the same includes a tuner tuned to a first channel having a first program, a memory storing program guide data therein and a controller in communication with the tuner and the memory. The controller determines the first channel is a blacked out channel, searches the program data in the memory for a second program equivalent to the first program, determines a second channel associated with the second program and tunes the tuner device to the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sharkey, Tam T. Leminh, Alistair E. Jeffs, Robert G. Arsenault, Huy Q. Tran, Tommi J. Iten, David Eric Shanks, Eric J. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20150226828
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Davies, Zachary Fields, David Eric Shanks, Gerald Steinberg
  • Patent number: 9008354
    Abstract: The present invention discloses systems for tracking objects. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a positioning mechanism, a camera, coupled to the positioning mechanism, a controller, coupled to the positioning mechanism, and a position sensor, coupled to the controller, wherein the position sensor sends data related to a geolocation of the position sensor to the controller, and the controller moves the positioning mechanism based on the data related to the geolocation of the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 8910209
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a mosaic video channel and a system for generating the mosaic video channel. A mosaic video channel in accordance with the present invention is displayed on a monitor with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, and 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, and a receiver, coupled to the monitor and receiving the mosaic video channel, wherein the mosaic channel is changed via a controller which initiates a logo wipe across the mosaic video channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 8752089
    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: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Feldstein, Jon M Dean, Mark A. Shurgot, Edgar C. Camacho, Matthew J. Thompson, David Eric Shanks
  • Patent number: 8566881
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a mosaic video channel and a system for generating the mosaic video channel. A system in accordance with the present invention indicates an audio input for a mosaic video channel displayed on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, and comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell having a respective audio portion associated with the video cell, an announcer audio portion, and an indicator, coupled to the respective audio portions, for indicating to an announcer that at least one of the respective audio portions is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Eric Shanks, Paul N. Niesen