Patents by Inventor James Sofos

James Sofos 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: 20220100821
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink, James Sofos
  • Patent number: 11244030
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink, James Sofos
  • Publication number: 20190188361
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink, James Sofos
  • Patent number: 10235502
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink, James Sofos
  • Publication number: 20160171188
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: LEE CHOW, DAVID PIEPENBRINK, JAMES SOFOS
  • Patent number: 9300667
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink, James Sofos
  • Publication number: 20150341413
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a first media stream comprising a first media program by way of a first wireless communication link. Establishment of a second wireless communication link is facilitated with a media processor communicatively coupled to a display device; receiving a request for a second media stream comprising a second media program, wherein the request is received from the media processor by way of the second wireless communication link A transfer is negotiated of operational control of the display device from the media processor to the mobile communication device, and transmitting the second media program to the display device by way of the media processor using the second wireless communication link. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: James Sofos, LEE CHOW, DAVID PIEPENBRINK
  • Patent number: 9137559
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, detecting at a mobile communication device a presence of a set-top box communicatively coupled to a display device, negotiating a transfer of operational control of the display device from the detected set top box to the mobile communication device, receiving a media stream at the mobile communication device by way of wireless communication with a media source, and transmitting a selected media program from the mobile communication device to the display device by way of a wireless communication link between the mobile communication device and the detected set-top box for presentation at the display device without decoding of the selected media program being performed by the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP
    Inventors: James Sofos, Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink
  • Publication number: 20130145403
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, detecting at a mobile communication device a presence of a set-top box communicatively coupled to a display device, negotiating a transfer of operational control of the display device from the detected set top box to the mobile communication device, receiving a media stream at the mobile communication device by way of wireless communication with a media source, and transmitting a selected media program from the mobile communication device to the display device by way of a wireless communication link between the mobile communication device and the detected set-top box for presentation at the display device without decoding of the selected media program being performed by the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: James Sofos, Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink
  • Publication number: 20100115627
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Chow, David Piepenbrink, James Sofos