Patents by Inventor Howard Look
Howard Look 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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Publication number: 20120027383Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. A one-touch recording option is provided. An icon is displayed to the viewer telling the viewer that an advertised program is available for recording at a future time. The viewer presses a single button on an input device causing the receiver to schedule the program for recording.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Patent number: 8107795Abstract: A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Robert Vallone, Howard Look, Ain McKendrick
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Patent number: 8036514Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Publication number: 20110200300Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: TIVO INC.Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Patent number: 7986868Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. A one-touch recording option is provided. An icon is displayed to the viewer telling the viewer that an advertised program is available for recording at a future time. The viewer presses a single button on an input device causing the receiver to schedule the program for recording.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Publication number: 20110135276Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Publication number: 20110126107Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2011Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: TIVO INC.Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Publication number: 20110091182Abstract: A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. A highlight bar is responsive to the user's commands and is used to indicate the current menu item that can be selected by the user. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. The background colors of each set of menus remains consistent throughout the user's experience such that the user intuitively knows what menu area he is in through the color cues. The invention provides indicators that tell the user that more information is available in a particular direction for a menu item.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Howard Look, Robert Vallone, David Avraham Brown, Karen Bedard, Wijnand Van Stam, Ain McKendrick
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Publication number: 20110047579Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Paul Westbrook, Howard Look, James Young, Stephen Lacy, Timothy Davison, James M. Barton
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Patent number: 7889964Abstract: Tags are inserted into a broadcast stream. The tags contain command and control information that a receiver acts upon. For example, tags may indicate start and end points of a program segment. The receiver may skip the segment automatically or in response to the viewer pressing a button. Or, the receiver may automatically replace commercial segments with new segments. As another example, menus, icons, and Web pages may be displayed based on tags. If a menu requires that the viewer exit from playback of program material, the receiver returns the viewer back to the same exit point when the interaction is complete. Menus and icons may be used to generate leads, generate sales, and schedule the recording of programs. As another example, an icon is displayed to indicate that an advertised program is available for recording. The viewer presses a single button to cause the receiver to schedule the recording.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2000Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Patent number: 7779446Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Paul Westbrook, Howard Look, James Young, Stephen Lacy, Timothy Davison, James M. Barton
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Publication number: 20100080529Abstract: A method for displaying a webpage is described. The method involves receiving a broadcast stream including a program, playing the program in the broadcast stream to a viewer, displaying an icon to the viewer and receiving viewer input in response to display of the icon, pausing the playing of the program in response to receiving the viewer input, displaying a web page to the viewer in response to receiving the viewer input, and resuming the playing of the program.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: TiVo Inc.Inventors: James M. Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look
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Publication number: 20090178098Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: TIVO INC.Inventors: Paul Westbrook, Howard Look, James Young, Stephen Lacy, Timothy Davison, James M. Barton
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Patent number: 7543325Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2003Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Paul Westbrook, Howard Look, James Young, Stephen Lacy, Timothy Davison, James M. Barton
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Publication number: 20080155417Abstract: A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2008Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Robert VALLONE, Howard LOOK, Ain MCKENDRICK
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Publication number: 20080155418Abstract: A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2008Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Robert VALLONE, Howard LOOK, Ain MCKENDRICK
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Publication number: 20080098323Abstract: A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventors: Robert VALLONE, Howard Look, Ain McKendrick
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Patent number: 7321716Abstract: A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2004Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Robert Vallone, Howard Look, Ain McKendrick
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Publication number: 20060248558Abstract: A client-side multimedia content targeting system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The viewer may also explicitly express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The viewer's client system locally retains the viewer's preferences and other personal information that the viewer has entered and is sent targeting information relating to program guide objects by a server.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: James Barton, Howard Look
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Publication number: 20050278747Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. A one-touch recording option is provided. An icon is displayed to the viewer telling the viewer that an advertised program is available for recording at a future time. The viewer presses a single button on an input device causing the receiver to schedule the program for recording.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2005Publication date: December 15, 2005Applicant: TiVo Inc.Inventors: Jim Barton, Kevin Smith, David Chamberlin, Howard Look