Patents by Inventor Erik Hockman

Erik Hockman 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: 12231835
    Abstract: An integrated audio-visual system is disclosed for delivering an event to one or more spectators. The integrated audio-visual system includes one or more loudspeakers that are positioned behind one or more visual displays to be effectively behind the one or more visual displays to be shielded from the field of view of the one or more spectators. The one or more visual displays are specially designed and manufactured to allow sound associated with the event to propagate from the one or more loudspeakers with minimal acoustical distortion and/or minimum acoustical vibration while presenting a visual representation of the event to the one or more spectators. Moreover, the one or more loudspeakers and the one or more visual displays are situated to be a predetermined displacement from each other to further minimize acoustical distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignees: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC, Holoplot GmbH
    Inventors: Erik Hockman, Alex Luthwaite, Emad Yacoub Hanna
  • Publication number: 20240412717
    Abstract: Exemplary air amplifiers described herein can utilize a high-pressure stream of gas to accelerate a low-velocity stream of gas to provide a high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. This high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas can generate unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through the air amplifier. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can include a multi-stage noise suppression system to suppress, for example, diminish, re-tune, or even completely cancel, the unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through these exemplary air amplifiers. The multi-stage noise suppression system can include one or more absorption materials to passively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. The multi-stage noise suppression system described herein can generate one or more noise suppression waves to actively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert ANDERSON, Erik Hockman, Michael Rives
  • Patent number: 12101623
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for replicating a remote venue in a local venue. An embodiment operates by receiving original audio. Thereafter, the original stream of audio is modified to produce modified audio based on an audio profile unique to a remote venue smaller than the local venue. The audio profile comprises a virtual representation of the remote venue including (i) a virtual audio source corresponding to the local venue's audio source and configured to produce the original audio and (ii) a virtual reverberation point corresponding to a real-world location in the remote venue and the portion of the local venue. As such, the modified audio is determined based on receipt of the original audio from the reverberation point. Thus, after correlating the modified audio to the local venue's audio source, the modified audio is provided by the audio source to the portion of the local venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Elby, Erik Hockman
  • Publication number: 20240298113
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can playback a composite audio program that is associated with an event being hosted by a real-world venue. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can seamlessly deconstruct the composite audio program into multiple audio sounds that can be collectively played back by the real-world venue. As part of this deconstruction, these systems, methods, and apparatuses can analyze the audio sounds to identify one or more characteristics, parameters, and/or attributes of these audio sounds. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can intelligently construct an audio presentation from these multiple audio sounds to playback the composite audio program within the real-world venue. As part of this construction, these systems, methods, and apparatuses construct the audio presentation based upon the one or more characteristics, parameters, and/or attributes of these audio sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Erik HOCKMAN
  • Publication number: 20240298129
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can playback a composite audio program that is associated with an event being hosted by a real-world venue. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can seamlessly deconstruct the composite audio program into multiple audio sounds that can be collectively played back by the real-world venue. As part of this deconstruction, these systems, methods, and apparatuses can analyze the audio sounds to identify one or more characteristics, parameters, and/or attributes of these audio sounds. These systems, methods, and apparatuses can intelligently construct an audio presentation from these multiple audio sounds to playback the composite audio program within the real-world venue. As part of this construction, these systems, methods, and apparatuses construct the audio presentation based upon the one or more characteristics, parameters, and/or attributes of these audio sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Erik HOCKMAN
  • Publication number: 20240286059
    Abstract: An air amplifier utilizes a high-pressure input stream of air to accelerate a low-velocity input stream of air to provide a high-velocity, high-volume output stream of air. A coupled air amplifier array includes multiple air amplifiers which couple their respective output streams of air to one another to form a single collective output stream of air. Multiple coupled air amplifier arrays can be utilized to form coupled air amplifier array systems to provide multiple collective output streams of air which can be focused toward to an audience within a venue. The coupled air amplifier array system can be implemented within atmospheric effects systems to provide atmospheric effects, such as wind, scent, and/or temperature to provide some examples, relating to an event. These atmospheric effects systems can present these atmospheric effects to the audience to enhance the immersion of the audience as they are viewing the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: SPHERE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert ANDERSON, Stuart ELBY, Erik HOCKMAN, Michael Allen RIVES, Jeffery Lynn WERTZ, Darik Wade BEAVER, Jason David ADAMS, Joshua Richard ANDERSON, Brian Andrew MAIER, Richard Neal FLEMING, Tony Leonard OXFORD
  • Patent number: 12058510
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for accurately mapping audio to a visual image on a display device. An embodiment operates by, based on an identified virtual representation of the remote venue, modifying audio received at a local venue to produce a first and second modified audio. Thereafter, the first and second modified audio is correlated to a first and second portion of a prestored image. Afterward, the first and second portion of the prestored image is presented on a first and second portion of the display device's curved screen, and the first and second modified audio is provided on a first and second audio device, respectively, such that the first and second modified audio is provided to the first and second regions of the local venue synchronously with the first and second portions of audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Elby, Erik Hockman
  • Patent number: 12017152
    Abstract: An air amplifier utilizes a high-pressure input stream of air to accelerate a low-velocity input stream of air to provide a high-velocity, high-volume output stream of air. A coupled air amplifier array includes multiple air amplifiers which couple their respective output streams of air to one another to form a single collective output stream of air. Multiple coupled air amplifier arrays can be utilized to form coupled air amplifier array systems to provide multiple collective output streams of air which can be focused toward to an audience within a venue. The coupled air amplifier array system can be implemented within atmospheric effects systems to provide atmospheric effects, such as wind, scent, and/or temperature to provide some examples, relating to an event. These atmospheric effects systems can present these atmospheric effects to the audience to enhance the immersion of the audience as they are viewing the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: CSC Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Anderson, Stuart Elby, Erik Hockman, Michael Allen Rives, Jeffery Lynn Wertz, Darik Wade Beaver, Jason David Adams, Joshua Richard Anderson, Brian Andrew Maier, Richard Neal Fleming, Tony Leonard Oxford
  • Publication number: 20240183293
    Abstract: Exemplary air amplifiers described herein can utilize a high-pressure stream of gas to accelerate a low-velocity stream of gas to provide a high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. This high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas can generate unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through the air amplifier. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can passively and/or actively suppress, for example, diminish, re-tune, or even completely cancel, the unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through these exemplary air amplifiers. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can include one or more absorption materials to passively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can generate multiple noise suppression waves to actively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert ANDERSON, Erik HOCKMAN, Stuart ELBY, Jeffery Lynn WERTZ, Michael Allen RIVES, Darik Wade BEAVER
  • Patent number: 11986849
    Abstract: Exemplary air amplifiers described herein can utilize a high-pressure stream of gas to accelerate a low-velocity stream of gas to provide a high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. This high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas can generate unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through the air amplifier. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can passively and/or actively suppress, for example, diminish, re-tune, or even completely cancel, the unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through these exemplary air amplifiers. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can include one or more absorption materials to passively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can generate multiple noise suppression waves to actively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Anderson, Erik Hockman, Stuart Elby, Jeffery Lynn Wertz, Michael Allen Rives, Darik Wade Beaver
  • Publication number: 20240137678
    Abstract: An integrated audio-visual system is disclosed for delivering an event to one or more spectators. The integrated audio-visual system includes one or more loudspeakers that are positioned behind one or more visual displays to be effectively behind the one or more visual displays to be shielded from the field of view of the one or more spectators. The one or more visual displays are specially designed and manufactured to allow sound associated with the event to propagate from the one or more loudspeakers with minimal acoustical distortion and/or minimum acoustical vibration while presenting a visual representation of the event to the one or more spectators. Moreover, the one or more loudspeakers and the one or more visual displays are situated to be a predetermined displacement from each other to further minimize acoustical distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicants: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC, Holoplot GmbH
    Inventors: Erik Hockman, Alex Luthwaite, Emad Yacoub Hanna
  • Publication number: 20240137679
    Abstract: An integrated audio-visual system is disclosed for delivering an event to one or more spectators. The integrated audio-visual system includes one or more loudspeakers that are positioned behind one or more visual displays to be effectively behind the one or more visual displays to be shielded from the field of view of the one or more spectators. The one or more visual displays are specially designed and manufactured to allow sound associated with the event to propagate from the one or more loudspeakers with minimal acoustical distortion and/or minimum acoustical vibration while presenting a visual representation of the event to the one or more spectators. Moreover, the one or more loudspeakers and the one or more visual displays are situated to be a predetermined displacement from each other to further minimize acoustical distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicants: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC, Holoplot GmbH
    Inventors: Erik HOCKMAN, Alex LUTHWAITE, Emad YACOUB HANNA
  • Publication number: 20240071188
    Abstract: An infrasound drive system and method are disclosed. An infrasound drive system includes a control circuit for transmitting a data signal and a power signal, and one or more infrasound drive that includes an input terminal, an amplifier and a tactile transducer. In one or more infrasound drives, the amplifier receives a power signal from the power channel and a data signal from the data channel. The amplifier outputs an amplified signal to the tactile transducer. The tactile transducer generates a tactile vibration based on the data signal and the power signal. An infrasound drive can be disposed in a housing and transmit a haptic force to a user in contact with the housing. A user can limit the haptic force transmitted by the infrasound drive. The power channel and the data channel can be provided by a power over Ethernet (PoE) cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Erik HOCKMAN
  • Patent number: 11905716
    Abstract: A system for distributing wireless networking components in a venue. The system includes panels that define a floor surface. The panels each have a planar configuration with an upper surface opposite a lower surface. The panels include a material that is transparent to radio waves, and the panels define a storage space below the panels and the storage space may be used to store and distribute wireless networking component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Anderson, Erik Hockman
  • Publication number: 20240031761
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for replicating a remote venue in a local venue. An embodiment operates by receiving original audio. Thereafter, the original stream of audio is modified to produce modified audio based on an audio profile unique to a remote venue smaller than the local venue. The audio profile comprises a virtual representation of the remote venue including (i) a virtual audio source corresponding to the local venue's audio source and configured to produce the original audio and (ii) a virtual reverberation point corresponding to a real-world location in the remote venue and the portion of the local venue. As such, the modified audio is determined based on receipt of the original audio from the reverberation point. Thus, after correlating the modified audio to the local venue's audio source, the modified audio is provided by the audio source to the portion of the local venue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart ELBY, Erik Hockman
  • Patent number: 11856346
    Abstract: An integrated audio-visual system is disclosed for delivering an event to one or more spectators. The integrated audio-visual system includes one or more loudspeakers that are positioned behind one or more visual displays to be effectively behind the one or more visual displays to be shielded from the field of view of the one or more spectators. The one or more visual displays are specially designed and manufactured to allow sound associated with the event to propagate from the one or more loudspeakers with minimal acoustical distortion and/or minimum acoustical vibration while presenting a visual representation of the event to the one or more spectators. Moreover, the one or more loudspeakers and the one or more visual displays are situated to be a predetermined displacement from each other to further minimize acoustical distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Hockman, Alex Luthwaite, Emad Yacoub Hanna
  • Patent number: 11843906
    Abstract: An integrated audio-visual system is disclosed for delivering an event to one or more spectators. The integrated audio-visual system includes one or more loudspeakers that are positioned behind one or more visual displays to be effectively behind the one or more visual displays to be shielded from the field of view of the one or more spectators. The one or more visual displays are specially designed and manufactured to allow sound associated with the event to propagate from the one or more loudspeakers with minimal acoustical distortion and/or minimum acoustical vibration while presenting a visual representation of the event to the one or more spectators. Moreover, the one or more loudspeakers and the one or more visual displays are situated to be a predetermined displacement from each other to further minimize acoustical distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Hockman, Alex Luthwaite, Emad Yacoub Hanna
  • Patent number: 11837079
    Abstract: An infrasound drive system and method are disclosed. An infrasound drive system includes a control circuit for transmitting a data signal and a power signal, and one or more infrasound drive that includes an input terminal, an amplifier and a tactile transducer, in one or more infrasound drives, the amplifier receives a power signal from the power channel and a data signal from the data channel. The amplifier outputs an amplified signal to the tactile transducer. The tactile transducer generates a tactile vibration based on the data signal and the power signal. An infrasound drive can be disposed in a housing and transmit a haptic force to a user in contact with the housing. A user can limit the haptic force transmitted by the infrasound drive. The power channel and the data channel can be provided by a power over Ethernet (PoE) cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Erik Hockman
  • Patent number: 11812251
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for replicating a remote venue in a local venue. An embodiment operates by receiving original audio. Thereafter, the original stream of audio is modified to produce modified audio based on an audio profile unique to a remote venue smaller than the local venue. The audio profile comprises a virtual representation of the remote venue including (i) a virtual audio source corresponding to the local venue's audio source and configured to produce the original audio and (ii) a virtual reverberation point corresponding to a real-world location in the remote venue and the portion of the local venue. As such, the modified audio is determined based on receipt of the original audio from the reverberation point. Thus, after correlating the modified audio to the local venue's audio source, the modified audio is provided by the audio source to the portion of the local venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Elby, Erik Hockman
  • Patent number: 11578496
    Abstract: A system for distributing wireless networking components in a venue. The system includes panels that define a floor surface. The panels each have a planar configuration with an upper surface opposite a lower surface. The panels include a material that is transparent to radio waves, and the panels define a storage space below the panels and the storage space may be used to store and distribute wireless networking component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Anderson, Erik Hockman