Patents by Inventor Eric J. Bennett

Eric J. Bennett 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: 20090319896
    Abstract: Visual indicators associated with a media presentation system are described. An example apparatus includes a media presentation system in which one or more events may occur; an event controller to detect an event that causes the media presentation system to generate a sound to inform a user of a condition and to determine if the user is able to audibly receive the sound; and a visual indicator corresponding to the condition to be displayed in response to a determination that the user is unable to audibly receive the sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: David P. Green, Eric J. Bennett, Tommi J. Iten, Tyson L. Wintibaugh
  • Patent number: 7607107
    Abstract: A navigation device that allows a user to quickly navigate a television environment that provides multiple services, features and options. The navigation device of the present invention is a graphical user interface and minimum of commands from a remote control to navigate through the services provided. The present invention is made up of three basic parts; an anchor, menus, and control bars. An anchor is the base or foundation of the device and includes branding, a progress bar for indicating the number of available menus, and other services such as the current date and time. Other device elements extend from the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommi J. Iten, Brian Black, Eric J. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20090259957
    Abstract: Overlay applications for use in a media presentation system are described. An example method for use with broadcast media includes maintaining a collection of overlay applications to be displayed in connection with the broadcast media; enabling a user to select and configure one or more of the overlay applications for presentation on a media presentation system; executing one or more selected overlay applications to display periodically updated information associated with the overlay applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler J. Slocum, Eric J. Bennett, Jon M. Dean, Brady C. Tsurutani, Don E. Cansino
  • Publication number: 20090235315
    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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    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: 20090113474
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to distinguish elements of a user interface are described. An example user interface includes a plurality of channel cells including a first channel cell having a first attribute and a second channel cell having a second attribute; and a plurality of program cells associated with the plurality of channel cells, wherein at least one program cell has a third attribute, wherein the third attribute distinguishes the at least one program cell from an associated channel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: David P. Green, Eric J. Bennett, Tyson L. Wintibaugh, Tommi Iten, Chris Roy
  • Publication number: 20090049479
    Abstract: User interfaces to present shared media are described. An example includes a user interface for use with a media presentation system including a main page and a plurality of pages operatively linked to the main page; one or more interactive sections to present information associated with one or more media files, wherein the user interface integrates control over one or more presentations of media files of various formats from one or more media storage devices, and wherein the one or more media storage devices are peripheral devices in relation to the media presentation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID P. GREEN, Chris Roy, Eric J. Bennett, Tommi Iten
  • Publication number: 20090049475
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to transfer content to a mobile device are described. An example includes a main page to be displayed upon an activation of a transfer feature; a display section to present content being presented prior to the activation of the transfer feature; a plurality of pages operatively linked to the main page; and a list of programs stored on a media storage device, wherein the programs of the list are selectable by a user for a transfer between the media storage device and a mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: David P. Green, Chris Roy, Eric J. Bennett, Tommi Iten, Brian Black, Tyson L. Wintibaugh
  • Publication number: 20090037955
    Abstract: Row advertisements for use in a program guide are described. An example includes a program guide to aid a user navigate a media presentation system; a list of entries to represent a plurality of programs; an advertisement positioned within the list of entries, wherein the advertisement is interactive to allow a user to manipulate the advertisement, and wherein the advertisement is associated with one of the plurality of programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID P. GREEN, JOY A. ARAI, SCOTT M. BENOIT, ERIC J. BENNETT, ROBERT A. BERGMAN, TOMMI ITEN, CHRIS ROY, TYSON L. WINTIBAUGH
  • Publication number: 20090037956
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus of finding related programs in a media presentation program are described. An example method includes displaying a current program associated with a program data of the media presentation program, receiving an input from an interface, searching the program data in response to the input, and displaying a search results in the media presentation program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Eric J. Bennett, David P. Green, Tommi Iten
  • Publication number: 20090037961
    Abstract: Broadband system interfaces and features are described. An example includes a user interface for use with a content delivery system including an on-demand service comprising at least one channel dedicated to an on-demand content provider, wherein the channel is accessible in a same manner as a broadcast channel of the content delivery system; and at least one homepage to be presented when a user navigates to the at least one channel, wherein the homepage includes a template of sections to provide a single-level user interface by altering the contents of at least one section in response to an input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID P. GREEN, CHRIS ROY, ROBERT A. BERGMAN, SCOTT M. BENOIT, JOY A. ARAI, ERIC J. BENNETT, TYSON L. WINTIBAUGH, DAVID ERIC SHANKS, TOMMI ITEN
  • Publication number: 20040070628
    Abstract: A navigation device that allows a user to quickly navigate a television environment that provides multiple services, features and options. The navigation device of the present invention is a graphical user interface and minimum of commands from a remote control to navigate through the services provided. The present invention is made up of three basic parts; an anchor, menus, and control bars. An anchor is the base or foundation of the device and includes branding, a progress bar for indicating the number of available menus, and other services such as the current date and time. Other device elements extend from the anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Tommi J. Iten, Brian Black, Eric J. Bennett