Patents by Inventor Jerald Robert Howcroft

Jerald Robert Howcroft 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: 11558278
    Abstract: In one example, a method and apparatus for initiating internet connection speed tests in residential gateways are disclosed. In one example, the method initiates, by a residential gateway of a subscriber premises, a test of an internet connection speed associated with the subscriber premises, such that the residential gateway and a test server are endpoints for an exchange of test data. A speed of the exchange of the test data is then measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Jerald Robert Howcroft
  • Patent number: 10805675
    Abstract: A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Michael Raftelis
  • Patent number: 10587912
    Abstract: A method includes receiving search criteria generated based on interest information associated with a user and identifying a syndicated feed associated with the interest information. The method also includes generating additional search criteria based on content of the syndicated feed, wherein the additional search criteria includes a keyword identified by the syndicated feed. The method further includes performing a search of on-demand media content, based on the search criteria, the additional search criteria, and metadata associated with the on-demand media content. The method also includes storing a particular on-demand program identified by the search at a memory of the media recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Stephanie Karasick Acuna, Alyssa L. Williams
  • Publication number: 20190335236
    Abstract: A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Michael Raftelis
  • Patent number: 10397648
    Abstract: A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Michael Raftelis
  • Publication number: 20180331938
    Abstract: In one example, a method and apparatus for initiating internet connection speed tests in residential gateways are disclosed. In one example, the method initiates, by a residential gateway of a subscriber premises, a test of an internet connection speed associated with the subscriber premises, such that the residential gateway and a test server are endpoints for an exchange of test data. A speed of the exchange of the test data is then measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Jerald Robert Howcroft
  • Patent number: 10044743
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium, method and system for determining security vulnerabilities for a plurality of application programs used to provide television services to a customer device over a communications network. The method includes running a first scanning program against a first application program relating to a control panel for the customer device; running a second scanning program against a second application program that provides Internet content to the customer device; running a third scanning program against a third application program that relates to a component management system of customer premises equipment; and correlating security vulnerabilities identified utilizing the first, second, and third scanning programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, John J. Markley, Rocco A. Del Carmine
  • Patent number: 10033621
    Abstract: In one example, a method and apparatus for initiating Internet connection speed tests in residential gateways are disclosed. In one example, the method initiates, by a residential gateway of a subscriber premises, a test of an internet connection speed associated with the subscriber premises, such that the residential gateway and a test server are endpoints for an exchange of test data. A speed of the exchange of the test data is then measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Jerald Robert Howcroft
  • Publication number: 20180160175
    Abstract: A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Michael Raftelis
  • Patent number: 9918125
    Abstract: A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Michael Raftelis
  • Publication number: 20170171054
    Abstract: In one example, a method and apparatus for initiating Internet connection speed tests in residential gateways are disclosed. In one example, the method initiates, by a residential gateway of a subscriber premises, a test of an internet connection speed associated with the subscriber premises, such that the residential gateway and a test server are endpoints for an exchange of test data. A speed of the exchange of the test data is then measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventor: JERALD ROBERT HOWCROFT
  • Publication number: 20170164039
    Abstract: A method includes receiving search criteria generated based on interest information associated with a user and identifying a syndicated feed associated with the interest information. The method also includes generating additional search criteria based on content of the syndicated feed, wherein the additional search criteria includes a keyword identified by the syndicated feed. The method further includes performing a search of on-demand media content, based on the search criteria, the additional search criteria, and metadata associated with the on-demand media content. The method also includes storing a particular on-demand program identified by the search at a memory of the media recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Stephanie Karasick Acuna, Alyssa L. Williams
  • Patent number: 9648379
    Abstract: A particular method includes receiving search criteria and storage criteria associated with a user. Based on the search criteria, a search of program content metadata associated with programs is performed. The method further includes identifying, based on the search, one or more particular programs that satisfy the search criteria. The method includes determining whether the storage criteria would be satisfied if the one or more particular programs were recorded. The method includes, in response to determining that the storage criteria would not be satisfied if the one or more particular programs were recorded, sending a notification to the user indicating that the storage criteria would not be satisfied. In response to determining that the storage criteria would be satisfied if the one or more particular programs were recorded, automatically scheduling recordings of the one or more particular programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Stephanie Karasick Acuna, Alyssa L. Williams
  • Patent number: 9628786
    Abstract: A method of indicating video content quality is disclosed that includes receiving performance data at a video content quality server from a set-top box device. The performance data may include values of a plurality of video content quality parameters. The method also includes generating a graphical user interface indicating a quality of video content received at the set-top box device. The graphical user interface may include the values of each of the plurality of video content quality parameters. Further, the method includes sending data corresponding to the graphical user interface from the video content quality server to the set-top box device. The method may include the video content quality server receiving a request from the set-top box device to send the data corresponding to the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Zhi Li, John McClenny
  • Publication number: 20160269776
    Abstract: A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: JERALD ROBERT HOWCROFT, MICHAEL RAFTELIS
  • Patent number: 9374627
    Abstract: A method and system for remote viewing of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to duplicate multimedia content displayed on a first MCDN terminal device and route the duplicate multimedia content to a second MCDN terminal device. The MCDN terminal devices may be coupled to a local network at an MCDN client premises. The MCDN terminal devices may also include wireless telephony devices for mobile remote viewing functionality. The method may include transcoding of the multimedia content into a format suitable for the second MCDN terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Michael Raftelis
  • Publication number: 20160080409
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium, method and system for determining security vulnerabilities for a plurality of application programs used to provide television services to a customer device over a communications network. The method includes running a first scanning program against a first application program relating to a control panel for the customer device; running a second scanning program against a second application program that provides Internet content to the customer device; running a third scanning program against a third application program that relates to a component management system of customer premises equipment; and correlating security vulnerabilities identified utilizing the first, second, and third scanning programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, John J. Markley, Rocco A. Del Carmine
  • Patent number: 9197659
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium, method and system for determining security vulnerabilities for a plurality of application programs used to provide television services to a customer device over a communications network. The method includes running a first scanning program against a first application program relating to a control panel for the customer device; running a second scanning program against a second application program that provides Internet content to the customer device; running a third scanning program against a third application program that relates to a component management system of customer premises equipment; and correlating security vulnerabilities identified utilizing the first, second, and third scanning programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, John J. Markley, Rocco A. Del Carmine
  • Patent number: 9160970
    Abstract: Systems and methods to validate restriction event control streams sent to a video distribution system are provided. A particular method includes receiving a control stream and determining whether the control stream is valid based on a comparison of first restriction event information included in the control stream to second restriction event information stored in a mapping table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Jerald Robert Howcroft
  • Patent number: 8839308
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting media content to a set-top box. The media content includes an advertisement having a selectable reminder indicator related to an event. The method further includes receiving an input selection related to the selectable reminder indicator from the set-top box, sending a first menu to the set-top box including at least one option to schedule a reminder associated with the event, and sending a second menu to the set-top box in response to receiving a selection of the at least one option. The second menu includes a device menu including an option to specify a device order in which to send the reminder to a plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Jerald Robert Howcroft