Patents by Inventor John Robert Erickson

John Robert Erickson 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: 9148661
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Publication number: 20140269931
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 8776153
    Abstract: A system for transporting content to subscriber premises includes a centralized content repository, a subscriber unit, and a network connecting the subscriber unit and repository. The content can be video, image, or other files and the network can include a digital subscriber line (DSL) link. The repository stores higher quality parts of decomposed content files. The subscriber unit locally stores lower quality parts of the content files corresponding to the higher quality parts in the repository. The lower quality parts can be downloaded to the subscriber unit during off-peak hours. During operation, a subscriber selects a locally stored file. In response to the selection, the repository downloads at least one of the higher quality parts corresponding to the selected file to be combined with one of the lower quality parts stored by the subscriber unit for real-time presentation of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson, Pierre Costa, Brad Allen Medford
  • Patent number: 8644393
    Abstract: A single compression engine transmits first and second discrete cosine transform (DCT)-encoded signals. The first DCT-encoded signal uses at most t coefficient bits to represent each of a plurality of DCT coefficients. The second DCT-encoded signal uses at most u coefficient bits, where u is less than t, to represent each of the plurality of DCT coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Brad Allen Medford, Ahmad Ansari, Pierre Costa, John Robert Erickson
  • Publication number: 20130070840
    Abstract: A single compression engine transmits first and second discrete cosine transform (DCT)-encoded signals. The first DCT-encoded signal uses at most t coefficient bits to represent each of a plurality of DCT coefficients. The second DCT-encoded signal uses at most u coefficient bits, where u is less than t, to represent each of the plurality of DCT coefficients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Brad Allen Medford, Ahmad Ansari, Pierre Costa, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 8369412
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 8279934
    Abstract: A single compression engine transmits first and second discrete cosine transform (DCT)-encoded signals. The first DCT-encoded signal uses at most t coefficient bits to represent each of a plurality of DCT coefficients. The second DCT-encoded signal uses at most u coefficient bits, where u is less than t, to represent each of the plurality of DCT coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Brad Allen Medford, Ahmad Ansari, Pierre Costa, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 8218647
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Publication number: 20090225864
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 7580462
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Publication number: 20090190664
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 7539249
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Publication number: 20090116494
    Abstract: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) video data is separated into first data and second data. A first signal is formed based on the first data. A second signal is formed based on the second data. The first signal is transported via a first Optical Carrier 3 (OC-3) channel. The second signal is transported via a second OC-3 channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, John Robert Erickson, Ahmad Ansari
  • Patent number: 7502416
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 7447216
    Abstract: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) video data is separated into first data and second data. A first signal is formed based on the first data. A second signal is formed based on the second data. The first signal is transported via a first Optical Carrier 3 (OC-3) channel. The second signal is transported via a second OC-3 channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Technology, Resources, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, John Robert Erickson, Ahmad Ansari
  • Patent number: 7197077
    Abstract: A single compression engine determines a plurality of discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients based on a discrete cosine transform of a plurality of blocks of data. The single compression engine provides first and second DCT-encoded signals. The first DCT-encoded signal uses at most t coefficient bits to represent each of the DCT coefficients. The second DCT-encoded signal uses at most u coefficient bits, where u is less than t, to represent each of the DCT coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Technologies Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Allen Medford, Ahmad Ansari, Pierre Costa, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 7110412
    Abstract: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) video data is separated into first data and second data. A first signal is formed based on the first data. A second signal is formed based on the second data. The first signal is transported via a first Optical Carrier 3 (OC-3) channel. The second signal is transported via a second OC-3 channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, John Robert Erickson, Ahmad Ansari
  • Patent number: 7054369
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 7054368
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson
  • Patent number: 6970512
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari, John Robert Erickson