Patents by Inventor John A. Card

John A. Card 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: 9936253
    Abstract: Presented herein is a method of blocking user-selected media content, such as, for example, audio and/or video content. In the method, at least one media content stream is presented to a user, wherein the at least one media content stream includes multiple showings of an identifiable contiguous segment of media content. One example of such a segment may be a commercial or advertisement. While presenting a current showing of the segment of media content to the user, a command is received from a user to block the segment of media content from presentation to the user. In response to receiving the command, information identifying the segment of media content is generated. The at least one media content stream is analyzed using the information to detect subsequent showings of the segment of media content. Presentation of at least one of the subsequent showings of the segment of media content is prevented when detected in the at least one media content stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Leslie Harper, John A. Card
  • Publication number: 20160381422
    Abstract: Presented herein is a method of blocking user-selected media content, such as, for example, audio and/or video content. In the method, at least one media content stream is presented to a user, wherein the at least one media content stream includes multiple showings of an identifiable contiguous segment of media content. One example of such a segment may be a commercial or advertisement. While presenting a current showing of the segment of media content to the user, a command is received from a user to block the segment of media content from presentation to the user. In response to receiving the command, information identifying the segment of media content is generated. The at least one media content stream is analyzed using the information to detect subsequent showings of the segment of media content. Presentation of at least one of the subsequent showings of the segment of media content is prevented when detected in the at least one media content stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Leslie Harper, John A. Card
  • Publication number: 20080244636
    Abstract: A media control system receives first product information that describes a first media product and receives second product information that describes a second media product. The media control system processes the first product information with a filter to determine if the first media product should be blocked. The media control system selects data from the first product information and modifies the filter based on the data. The media control system processes the second product information with the modified filter to determine if the second media product should be blocked and blocks the second media product based on the modified filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: EchoStar Satellite LLC
    Inventor: John A. Card