Patents by Inventor James Harold Gray

James Harold Gray 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: 20170070782
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a computing device of a content provider, content to be provided to a media device of a customer of the content provider. The method includes sending an indicator from the computing device over a first network to the media device. The indicator provides to the media device an indication of an availability of alternate content based on the content. The method further includes, in response to receiving a signal indicating selection of the indicator at the media device, sending the alternate content to the media device. The alternate content is sent at a different time than the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: JAMES HAROLD GRAY, THOMAS JEFFERSON BROTHERS, II, WILLIAM RANDOLPH MATZ
  • Patent number: 9544646
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a head-end, content to be provided to a particular subscriber. The method includes creating an indicator configured to provide to a subscriber side system an indication of an availability of alternated content based on the content. The method further includes sending the indicator and the content separately to the subscriber side system over different networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz
  • Publication number: 20140165100
    Abstract: Clickstream data is locally captured and sent to a remote component for analysis. Any commands may be locally and/or remotely executed to alter content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers
  • Patent number: 8677384
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide clickstream captures at a remote component, such as a video control system of a television network, by receiving user commands generated by the viewer that are sent to the remote component concurrently relative to when they are generated by the viewer. The commands are captured and then information related to these commands is stored remotely from the premises of the viewer. Additionally, the user commands may be executed remotely such as at a video control system of a television network or alternatively may be executed at the premises of the viewer such as within a set top box. Information related to these user commands continues to be stored remotely from the premises of the viewer after the user commands have been executed such that the information related to these user commands can be processed as necessary and used for various purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers
  • Patent number: 8635643
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for informing a user of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site and redirecting the user to the Internet content responsive to selection of a hot key embedded in content signals. According to another aspect of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for caching alternate content on a user's terminal device and redirecting the user to the cached content responsive to selection of a hot key embedded in content signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz
  • Publication number: 20130254818
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a media device, a content signal sent to the media device from a data center via a network. The content signal includes a hot key signal indicating availability of alternate content. The method includes determining, at the media device, that the hot key signal is relevant to content sent by the media device to a display device. The method also includes sending, via the media device to the display device, a hot key associated with the hot key signal to the display device to be displayed with the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz
  • Patent number: 8418196
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that provide enhanced network operator control. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method comprises determining at a head-end and data center whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content, the one or more users connected with head-end and data center via a network. Responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content, generating a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content. The hot key signal is inserted into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from the head-end and data center via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, Willilam Randolph Matz
  • Publication number: 20120331503
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a head-end, content to be provided to a particular subscriber. The method includes creating an indicator configured to provide to a subscriber side system an indication of an availability of alternated content based on the content. The method further includes sending the indicator and the content separately to the subscriber side system over different networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz
  • Patent number: 8286203
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a service provider determines whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content. Responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content, a hot key signal is generated. The hot key signal is sent to the users via a side channel out-of-band with one or more channels for content. The hot key signal from the out-of band side channel is received by a terminal device. The terminal device determines whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user currently viewing content from the service provider. Responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, an indication that the hot key signal has been received is displayed. Responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, the user is directed to the available content indicated by the hot key signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolpoh Matz
  • Patent number: 7934227
    Abstract: Methods and systems capture user commands. A user command is received at a viewer's appliance. A determination is made whether the user command is automatically locally stored in memory of the viewer appliance. A look-up is performed when the user command is not automatically locally stored in the viewer appliance to determine if local storage is require. When the look-up determines that local storage is required, then the user command is captured and locally stored for execution at the viewer appliance. When the look-up determines that local storage is not required, then the user command is forwarded to a remote location for remote storage in a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers
  • Publication number: 20100083298
    Abstract: Methods and systems capture user commands. A user command is received at a viewer's appliance. A determination is made whether the user command is automatically locally stored in memory of the viewer appliance. A look-up is performed when the user command is not automatically locally stored in the viewer appliance to determine if local storage is require. When the look-up determines that local storage is required, then the user command is captured and locally stored for execution at the viewer appliance. When the look-up determines that local storage is not required, then the user command is forwarded to a remote location for remote storage in a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers
  • Patent number: 7617508
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide clickstream captures at both local and remote components by receiving user commands generated by the viewer locally where at least some of those commands are then sent to the remote component concurrently relative to when they are generated by the viewer. Commands may be captured and stored locally while the commands that are sent to the remote component are captured and then stored remotely from the premises of the viewer. Additionally, the user commands may be executed locally such as at a viewer appliance and/or remotely such as at a video control system of a television network. Information related to these user commands continues to be stored locally and/or remotely from the premises of the viewer after the user commands have been executed. Thus, the information related to these user commands can be processed as necessary and used for various purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers
  • Publication number: 20040268417
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of providing enhanced hot key functionality comprises receiving a hot key signal from an interactive television service provider's network. The hot key signal indicates availability and a location of alternate content. A determination is made whether the hot key signal is relevant to a user viewing original content from the interactive television service provider. Responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, an indication that the hot key signal has been received is displayed on the screen. Responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key is accepted, a determination is made regarding a location on a screen for the alternate content and the original content and the alternate content are displayed in a Picture-In-Picture mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz
  • Publication number: 20040268404
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that provide message notification to users of an interactive television service. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method comprises determining whether to inform a user of the interactive television service of receipt of an email message. Responsive to determining to inform the user of the receipt of the email message, a hot key signal is generated indicating availability of the email message. The hot key signal is inserted into a content signal transmitted to the user from the interactive television service provider via a network. Once the hot key signal is received, a determination is made whether the hot key signal is relevant to the user. Responsive to determining the hot key signal is relevant to the user, an indication that the hot key signal has been received is displayed on a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolpoh Matz
  • Publication number: 20040268401
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for informing a user of an interactive television service of available content from an Internet web site and redirecting the user to the Internet content responsive to selection of a hot key embedded in content signals. According to another aspect of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for caching alternate content on a user's terminal device and redirecting the user to the cached content responsive to selection of a hot key embedded in content signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz
  • Publication number: 20040268418
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that provide enhanced network operator control. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method comprises determining at a head-end and data center whether to inform one or more users of an interactive television service of available content, the one or more users connected with head-end and data center via a network. Responsive to determining to inform the one or more users of the available content, generating a hot key signal indicating availability and a location of the alternate content. The hot key signal is inserted into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from the head-end and data center via the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz
  • Publication number: 20040268416
    Abstract: According to various aspects of the present invention, methods and systems are provided for informing users of an interactive television service of available content during an advertisement or via an electronic program guide. A hot key signal is inserted into a content signal transmitted to the one or more users from an interactive television service provider via a network with which the one or more users and the interactive television service provider are connected. If the hot key signal is relevant to the user, an indication that the hot key signal has been received is displayed on the screen. If the user accepts the hot key, the user is redirected to the alternate content or is provided additional information regarding the available content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolpoh Matz
  • Publication number: 20040268385
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of originating a hot key signal from a terminal device of a user of an interactive television service, the method comprises determining a destination for the hot key signal and determining a location of the available content. The hot key signal including the destination for the hot key signal and the location of the available content is then generated and transmitted from the user's terminal device over a network connected with the user's terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: James Harold Gray, Thomas Jefferson Brothers, William Randolph Matz