Patents by Inventor Ian Schmehl

Ian Schmehl 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: 9519416
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an input at a media display control device and performing a media control function in response to the input, where the media control function causes the media display control device to change a playback parameter of displayed media content. The method further includes determining a control value corresponding to the media control function and, based on the control value satisfying a threshold, displaying a progress bar with the displayed media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Ian Schmehl
  • Publication number: 20140229830
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an input at a media display control device and performing a media control function in response to the input, where the media control function causes the media display control device to change a playback parameter of displayed media content. The method further includes determining a control value corresponding to the media control function and, based on the control value satisfying a threshold, displaying a progress bar with the displayed media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Ian Schmehl
  • Patent number: 8737800
    Abstract: A method includes receiving input at a media display control device generating a display of media content. The method includes executing a media control function in response to the input. Executing the media control function causes the media display control device to advance or rewind the media content displayed by a change amount. The method also includes displaying a progress bar based on progress bar settings. The progress bar settings include progress bar display options that depend on the change amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Ian Schmehl
  • Patent number: 8516561
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit are disclosed. An example method to determine user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit disclosed herein comprises detecting motion of the gesture-based control unit, the motion caused by a user, determining a detected gesture from a sequence of one or more detected motions of the gesture-based control unit, and identifying the user from the detected gesture to determine an authorization for use by the gesture-based control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott White, James Cansler, Ian Schmehl
  • Publication number: 20120320272
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to transmit a first RF signal to a remote control device, wherein the first radio-frequency signal is received by a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the remote control device, receive at each of a plurality of receivers operably coupled to the gateway a second RF signal from the RFID tag of the remote control device in response to the first RF signal, determine an approximate location of the remote control device based on at least a portion of the second RF signals received by the plurality of receivers, and transmit a signal to a set-top-box, wherein the signal comprises the approximate location of the remote control device, and wherein the set-top-box displays the approximate location of the remote control device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Ian Schmehl, Scott White
  • Patent number: 8274381
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to transmit a first RF signal to a remote control device, wherein the first radio-frequency signal is received by a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the remote control device, receive at each of a plurality of receivers operably coupled to the gateway a second RF signal from the RFID tag of the remote control device in response to the first RF signal, determine an approximate location of the remote control device based on at least a portion of the second RF signals received by the plurality of receivers, and transmit a signal to a set-top-box, wherein the signal comprises the approximate location of the remote control device, and wherein the set-top-box displays the approximate location of the remote control device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Ian Schmehl, Scott White
  • Publication number: 20110072462
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining, at a set-top box device, first interaction data based on user interaction with a first portion of an electronic program guide that is displayable via the set-top box device. The computer-implemented method includes performing an analysis of the first interaction data and the first portion of the electronic program guide. The computer-implemented method also includes identifying a second portion of the electronic program guide based on the analysis. The computer-implemented method further includes modifying the electronic program guide to display the second portion of the electronic program guide adjacent to a location of the first portion of the electronic program guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott White, Ian Schmehl, Thomas Sauer
  • Publication number: 20100245113
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to transmit a first RF signal to a remote control device, wherein the first radio-frequency signal is received by a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the remote control device, receive at each of a plurality of receivers operably coupled to the gateway a second RF signal from the RFID tag of the remote control device in response to the first RF signal, determine an approximate location of the remote control device based on at least a portion of the second RF signals received by the plurality of receivers, and transmit a signal to a set-top-box, wherein the signal comprises the approximate location of the remote control device, and wherein the set-top-box displays the approximate location of the remote control device.. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Ian Schmehl, Scott White
  • Publication number: 20100150522
    Abstract: A method includes receiving input at a media display control device generating a display of media content. The method includes executing a media control function in response to the input. Executing the media control function causes the media display control device to advance or rewind the media content displayed by a change amount. The method also includes displaying a progress bar based on progress bar settings. The progress bar settings include progress bar display options that depend on the change amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Ian Schmehl
  • Publication number: 20100083373
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit are disclosed. An example method to determine user authorization from motion of a gesture-based control unit disclosed herein comprises detecting motion of the gesture-based control unit, the motion caused by a user, determining a detected gesture from a sequence of one or more detected motions of the gesture-based control unit, and identifying the user from the detected gesture to determine an authorization for use by the gesture-based control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Scott White, James Cansler, Ian Schmehl