Patents by Inventor David J. Kuether
David J. Kuether 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).
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Patent number: 9191710Abstract: Near real time downloading and verifying of a subscriber's remote record request is provided to control a DVR using the existing satellite network. The insertion of the programming request into the continuous broadcast stream enables near real time processing of the request by a subscriber IRD to accommodate same day and even last minute remote programming requests. The use of a back channel to verify the request provides the subscriber with assurance that the request has been processed successfully and flexibility to change services on the fly.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Philip R. Hilmes, Heang K. Lim
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Patent number: 8982004Abstract: A method and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises pointing the reflector to a position along an orbital arc used in the satellite configuration, commanding a Single Wire Multiswitch circuits which is coupled to the reflector of the antenna to output a signal from at least one satellite at the orbital slot, and adjusting the reflector to maximize reception of the signal from the orbital slot.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Santoru, John L. Norin, Dipak M. Shah, Gustave R. Stroes, David J. Kuether, Shamik Maitra, Benjamin Mui, Ernest C. Chen
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Patent number: 8782711Abstract: Near real time downloading and verifying of a subscriber's remote record request is provided to control a DVR using the existing satellite network. The insertion of the programming request into the continuous broadcast stream enables near real time processing of the request by a subscriber IRD to accommodate same day and even last minute remote programming requests. The use of a back channel to verify the request provides the subscriber with assurance that the request has been processed successfully and flexibility to change services on the fly.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Philip R. Hilmes, Heang K. Lim
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Patent number: 8447226Abstract: Various aspects of a portable satellite earth station to facilitate reception of satellite signals and to display audio and video corresponding to the satellite signals are described. According to one example, a portable satellite earth station includes a housing including a base hingably connected to an antenna containing portion, wherein the base includes a compartment; and a receiver/display configured to fit into the compartment in the housing, the receiver/display including a video display portion hingably connected to a receiver portion and movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the receiver/display may be moved to the unfolded position when the receiver/display is located in the compartment in the housing and the antenna containing portion can be closed into contact with the base over the receiver/display when the receiver/display is in the folded position.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Rick Rosner, Steven M. Schein, Joshua T. Morenstein, Pichaya Puttorngul, Naoya Edahiro
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Patent number: 7912427Abstract: Multiple embodiments of systems for testing the delivery of satellite and cable television signals are described.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Santoru, David J. Kuether, Benjamin Mui, Shamik Maitra, Dipak M. Shah, Romulo Pontual, James R. Butterworth, Philip J. Goswitz, Ernest C. Chen, Gustave R. Stroes, Bradley T. Ito
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Patent number: 7739717Abstract: An IRD is provided with expanded self-test capabilities, both hardware and software, that will provide standardized and more precise diagnostics. The IRD runs a sequence of tests to determine the fitness of the IRD and the health of the ODU. As the tests are completed, the results are displayed on-screen and written to a report. If a test fails, the appropriate remedial action such as “reset to factory default settings”, “service call” or “replace IRD, access card, modem, ODU” is also written to the report. The IRD appends the test report to a header message and forwards it to the service provider. The satellite service provider archives the report, modifies the header message to provide customer contact information and the responsible dealer, and forwards the file to the service dealer. To improve service and accountability, the dealer may send an acknowledgement back to the service provider and customer.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Philip I. Siegel, James D. Allen
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Publication number: 20090113491Abstract: A method and system includes a user device storing content in a memory, determining a lost content segment exists, generating a request for the lost content segment; communicating the request for the lost content to a service provider, receiving the lost segment and storing the lost content segment in the memory. The system may also include a service provider storing the content therein. The service provider communicates the lost content segment to the user device through a network in response to the request.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventors: David J. Kuether, Dana J. Greer
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Publication number: 20080209478Abstract: Multiple embodiments of systems for testing the delivery of satellite and cable television signals are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Joseph Santoru, David J. Kuether, Benjamin Mui, Shamik Maitra, Dipak M. Shah, Romulo Pontual, James R. Butterworth, Philip J. Goswitz, Ernest C. Chen, Gustave R. Stroes, Bradley T. Ito
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Patent number: 7016643Abstract: A system and method for positioning a dish antenna having a plurality of low noise block converters for the simultaneous reception of signals from a plurality of satellites in a direct broadcast satellite system. An integrated receiver/decoder alternately powers at least two low noise block converters to sample signals for comparison to a threshold value to detect a peak signal for each of the low noise block converters. When the peak signals are detected, they are compared to a master threshold to indicate a master lock for the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Kesse Ho
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Patent number: 6693587Abstract: A system and method for positioning a dish antenna having a plurality of low noise block converters for the simultaneous reception of signals from a plurality of satellites in a direct broadcast satellite system. An integrated receiver/decoder alternately powers at least two low noise block converters to sample signals for comparison to a dynamic threshold value to detect a peak signal for each of the low noise block converters. When the peak signals are detected, they are compared to a dynamic master threshold to indicate a master lock for the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: David J. Kuether, Kesse Ho
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Patent number: 6144345Abstract: For use in or with a satellite receiving system having a receiving element such as low noise amplifier, a selectively variable RF signal attenuator locatable between the satellite and the amplifier comprises an RF radiation shield having at least one selectively variable radiation-passing area. The radiation shield comprises a plurality of overlapped shield members having selectively overlapped openings, movement of one member relative to the other causing the effective intersection defining a radiation-passing area of the shield to vary. According to a disclosed method, after locating a radiation attenuator as described between the satellite and the amplifier, the signal received from the satellite is variably attenuated using the signal attenuator until the signal level of the received radiation is within a range of an associated signal indicator wherein the indicator's response is more linear than it is at higher signal levels.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1996Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventor: David J. Kuether
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Patent number: 6108516Abstract: A remote programmer connectable to a satellite television receiver prompts a user to enter commands representing a satellite or local television program to be recorded by a video tape recorder. The remote programmer issues programming commands to the satellite television receiver and the video tape recorder to cause the program to be provided at the output of the receiver and recorded by the video tape recorder at a specified time.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1997Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventor: David J. Kuether
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Patent number: 5915020Abstract: A portable device for receiving satellite signals and displaying the signals as video. Preferably, the device includes a portable supporting member such as a hinged enclosure case, a satellite antenna, and a display monitor. The satellite antenna is preferably of a flat configuration and is mounted to the support, and the display monitor is preferably a flat video screen mounted to the same support. The required satellite receiver electronics and video decoder may be mounted to the portable support and powered by one or more batteries to provide an integrated and easily transported system to receive and view video relayed by satellite. A PCMCIA card slot and a microcontroller can be provided with the device to provide additional features such as cellular modem use, PCS wireless access, RS-232 port emulation, or GPS position location.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1997Date of Patent: June 22, 1999Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Arthur R. Tilford, James D. Allen, David J. Kuether
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Patent number: 5861855Abstract: A method and system for controlling a heating device mounted on e.g. a satellite receiver antenna is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining whether the signal strength is degrading, determining whether a temperature is below a threshold temperature, and operating a heating device on the antenna only if the signal is degrading and the temperature is below the threshold. The system includes a temperature sensor that samples a relevant temperature, a device that measures a signal strength of a signal received by the antenna, logic in communication with the temperature sensor and the measuring device for determining whether both the signal strength is degrading and the sample temperature is below a threshold temperature, and a control or switch device for operating a corrective device, such as a heater.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1997Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Robert G. Arsenault, James D. Allen, David J. Kuether
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Patent number: D572705Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Steven M. Schein, Rick Rosner, Joshua T. Morenstein, Pichaya Puttorngul, Naoya Edahiro
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Patent number: D575253Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Steven M. Schein, Rick Rosner, Joshua T. Morenstein, Pichaya Puttorngul, Naoya Edahiro
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Patent number: D575752Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Steven M. Schein, Rick Rosner, Joshua T. Morenstein, Pichaya Puttorngul, Naoya Edahiro
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Patent number: D597981Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: David J. Kuether, Steven M. Schein, Rick Rosner, Joshua T. Morenstein, Pichaya Puttorngul, Naoya Edahiro