Patents by Inventor Douglas E. Pritchett

Douglas E. Pritchett 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).

  • Publication number: 20110109801
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to switch television channels during a commercial break and automatically notify the viewer when the commercial on the original channel is over so that the user may switch back to watch the original channel. This permits a viewer to avoid commercials during live television while maximizing the viewing of desired content on the original channel. A television channel selection device includes two independent tuners. In normal operation, a first tuner provides channel-selected signals to a television. When a viewer sees a commercial, the system begins a process employing a second independent tuner to internally monitor the first tuner signal until the termination of the commercial is detected. In the meantime, the first tuner provides channel-selected signals so that the viewer may view other channels. The viewer is notified of the end of the commercials by one of a variety of notification techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher L. Thomas, Douglas E. Pritchett, William R. Lazenby, JR., Michael L. Potter