Patents by Inventor Jeff Hess

Jeff Hess 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: 12621070
    Abstract: A system includes Memory, Display and Processor. Memory stores application with executable instructions. Processor performs operations: retrieving schedule information for channels to be transmitted simultaneously by a broadcaster, the information includes start and end times for types of content to be transmitted; identifying, from the information, first time segments in which a first content type is to be transmitted and second time segments in which the first type is not to be transmitted; displaying a plot of the information with content types transmitted over time for each of the channels, the first segments corresponding to the first type are displayed as a first color and the second segments are displayed as a second color; identifying, from the second segments for each channel, transition windows comprising durations within which all of channels are scheduled to not transmit the first type; and overlaying on the plot an indicator of the windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Viacom International Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Jeff Hess, Christopher Fulton Hundersmarck
  • Patent number: 12621514
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Viacom International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Hess, Jonathan Edlin Clegg, Scott Danahy, Gregg William Riedel
  • Publication number: 20260092656
    Abstract: A gimballed cantilevered actuating beam for sealing micro-valves is disclosed. The micro-valve includes an orifice plate and an orifice extending through the orifice plate. An actuating beam is disposed in spaced relation to the orifice plate. The actuating beam comprises a base portion separated from the orifice plate by a predetermined distance and a cantilevered portion extending from the base portion towards the orifice. An overlapping portion of the actuating beam overlaps the orifice and is flexibly affixed to the remainder of the cantilevered portion by at least one rib, allowing the overlapping portion to gimbal. A sealing structure is disposed at the overlapping portion, which seals the orifice when the actuating beam is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2025
    Publication date: April 2, 2026
    Inventors: William BUSKIRK, Jeff HESS, Douglas DEAN, Kenneth TRUEBA, Charles C. HALUZAK, Alex TULCHINSKY, Daniel HEIDEMEYER, Eric MILLER
  • Publication number: 20250337512
    Abstract: A system includes Memory, Display and Processor. Memory stores application with executable instructions. Processor performs operations: retrieving schedule information for channels to be transmitted simultaneously by a broadcaster, the information includes start and end times for types of content to be transmitted; identifying, from the information, first time segments in which a first content type is to be transmitted and second time segments in which the first type is not to be transmitted; displaying a plot of the information with content types transmitted over time for each of the channels, the first segments corresponding to the first type are displayed as a first color and the second segments are displayed as a second color; identifying, from the second segments for each channel, transition windows comprising durations within which all of channels are scheduled to not transmit the first type; and overlaying on the plot an indicator of the windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Gregg William RIEDEL, Jeff HESS, Christopher Fulton HUNDERSMARCK
  • Publication number: 20250056074
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Jeff HESS, Jonathan Edlin CLEGG, Scott DANAHY, Gregg William RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 12160625
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Hess, Jonathan Edlin Clegg, Scott Danahy, Gregg William Riedel
  • Patent number: 11975539
    Abstract: A marking system includes a valve body including an orifice plate including multiple orifices and multiple micro-valves. Each micro-valve includes an actuating beam movable from a closed position in which a corresponding one of the orifices is sealed by a portion of the actuating beam such that the micro-valve is closed, into a peak position in response to application of a control signal. A controller is configured to generate a control signal for each of the actuating beams, each control signal including a drive pulse having a predetermined voltage such that the actuating beam moves from the closed position into the peak position in which the corresponding orifice is open and returns to the closed position in a characteristic period, wherein the drive pulse has a duration that substantially corresponds to the characteristic period such that the actuating beam is in the closed position after the drive pulse is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Buskirk, Steven E. Flego, Charles C. Haluzak, John Whitlock, Eric R. Miller, Ken Trueba, Jeff Hess
  • Publication number: 20240034058
    Abstract: A marking system includes a valve body including an orifice plate including multiple orifices and multiple micro-valves. Each micro-valve includes an actuating beam movable from a closed position in which a corresponding one of the orifices is sealed by a portion of the actuating beam such that the micro-valve is closed, into a peak position in response to application of a control signal. A controller is configured to generate a control signal for each of the actuating beams, each control signal including a drive pulse having a predetermined voltage such that the actuating beam moves from the closed position into the peak position in which the corresponding orifice is open and returns to the closed position in a characteristic period, wherein the drive pulse has a duration that substantially corresponds to the characteristic period such that the actuating beam is in the closed position after the drive pulse is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: William A. Buskirk, Steven E. Flego, Charles C. Haluzak, John Whitlock, Eric R. Miller, Ken Trueba, Jeff Hess
  • Publication number: 20240007692
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Jeff HESS, Jonathan Edlin CLEGG, Scott DANAHY, Gregg William RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 11812077
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Hess, Jonathan Edlin Clegg, Scott Danahy, Gregg William Riedel
  • Patent number: 11660861
    Abstract: A marking system includes a valve body including an orifice plate including multiple orifices and multiple micro-valves. Each micro-valve includes an actuating beam movable from a closed position in which a corresponding one of the orifices is sealed by a portion of the actuating beam such that the micro-valve is closed, into a peak position in response to application of a control signal. A controller is configured to generate a control signal for each of the actuating beams, each control signal including a drive pulse having a predetermined voltage such that the actuating beam moves from the closed position into the peak position in which the corresponding orifice is open and returns to the closed position in a characteristic period, wherein the drive pulse has a duration that substantially corresponds to the characteristic period such that the actuating beam is in the closed position after the drive pulse is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Buskirk, Steven E. Flego, Charles C. Haluzak, John Whitlock, Eric R. Miller, Ken Trueba, Jeff Hess
  • Publication number: 20230107160
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Jeff HESS, Jonathan Edlin CLEGG, Scott DANAHY, Gregg William RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 11553225
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Hess, Jonathan Edlin Clegg, Scott Danahy, Gregg William Riedel
  • Patent number: 11527221
    Abstract: Provided herein is technology for displaying, reposition, and/or formatting graphics on a display. The technology includes receiving a graphics stream in a first playout format that includes a first display resolution and first display layout. The technology also includes determining a second playout format that includes a second display resolution and a second display layout. The technology further determines an area of importance within the first display layout given the first display layout, second display resolution, and second display layout. A preferred position within the second display layout is determined so that the preferred position is a location in the second display layout that is in a relatively similar location as the area of importance in the first display layout. The first playout format is converted into the second playout format using the area of importance and preferred position. Finally, the graphics stream is displayed in the second playout format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Jeff Hess, Scott Danahy
  • Patent number: 11503385
    Abstract: An operations center that performs a method that includes receiving a live content feed of a live event, inserting a time indication in the live content feed to generate a marked feed, the time indication indicative of a receive time that the live content feed is received at the operations center, encoding the marked feed to generate an Internet Protocol (IP) feed, the IP feed being exchanged through the operations center, determining a read time during a skip offset process corresponding to when the time indication is identified in the skip offset process, determining a propagation delay based on the read time and the receive time and generating a broadcast output that transitions, based on the propagation delay, from one of (i) the live event to recorded content or (ii) recorded content to the live event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Jonathan Edlin Clegg, Jeff Hess, Justin Keene Dorsa
  • Publication number: 20220088924
    Abstract: A marking system includes a valve body including an orifice plate including multiple orifices and multiple micro-valves. Each micro-valve includes an actuating beam movable from a closed position in which a corresponding one of the orifices is sealed by a portion of the actuating beam such that the micro-valve is closed, into a peak position in response to application of a control signal. A controller is configured to generate a control signal for each of the actuating beams, each control signal including a drive pulse having a predetermined voltage such that the actuating beam moves from the closed position into the peak position in which the corresponding orifice is open and returns to the closed position in a characteristic period, wherein the drive pulse has a duration that substantially corresponds to the characteristic period such that the actuating beam is in the closed position after the drive pulse is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: William A. Buskirk, Steven E. Flego, Charles C. Haluzak, John Whitlock, Eric R. Miller, Ken Trueba, Jeff Hess
  • Publication number: 20220046335
    Abstract: An operations center that performs a method that includes receiving a live content feed of a live event, inserting a time indication in the live content feed to generate a marked feed, the time indication indicative of a receive time that the live content feed is received at the operations center, encoding the marked feed to generate an Internet Protocol (IP) feed, the IP feed being exchanged through the operations center, determining a read time during a skip offset process corresponding to when the time indication is identified in the skip offset process, determining a propagation delay based on the read time and the receive time and generating a broadcast output that transitions, based on the propagation delay, from one of (i) the live event to recorded content or (ii) recorded content to the live event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Gregg William RIEDEL, Jonathan Edlin CLEGG, Jeff HESS, Justin Keene Dorsa
  • Patent number: 11184684
    Abstract: An operations center that performs a method that includes receiving a live content feed of a live event, inserting a time indication in the live content feed to generate a marked feed, the time indication indicative of a receive time that the live content feed is received at the operations center, encoding the marked feed to generate an Internet Protocol (IP) feed, the IP feed being exchanged through the operations center, determining a read time during a skip offset process corresponding to when the time indication is identified in the skip offset process, determining a propagation delay based on the read time and the receive time and generating a broadcast output that transitions, based on the propagation delay, from one of (i) the live event to recorded content or (ii) recorded content to the live event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gregg William Riedel, Jonathan Edlin Clegg, Jeff Hess, Justin Keene Dorsa
  • Publication number: 20210321152
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime is based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Jeff HESS, Jonathan Edlin CLEGG, Scott DANAHY, Gregg William RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 11076182
    Abstract: A device, system, and method perform an automatic change over for transport streams. The method is performed at an output server. The method includes selecting a first transport stream. The method includes generating a first portion of an output based on the first transport stream. The method includes selecting a second transport stream. The method includes determining a frametime to synchronize first packets of the first transport stream to second packets of the second transport stream. The frametime os based on a start time of a content item included in the first transport stream and the second transport stream and a completed progression of the content item using the first transport stream. The method includes determining a location in the second transport stream based on the frametime. The method includes generating a second portion of the output based on the second transport stream starting at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Hess, Jonathan Edlin Clegg, Scott Danahy, Gregg William Riedel