Patents by Inventor John Sidney Stewart
John Sidney Stewart 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).
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Patent number: 11202113Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided with a solution to adjacent channel interference when a multi-carrier modulation system (e.g., OFDM) replaces a legacy modulation system and co-exists with it for a period of time. The adjacent channel interference can be reduced by blocking (setting to 0) and not using some of the carriers at the edge of the spectrum during the transition period. This effectively reduces the bandwidth of the channel and consequently, the adjacent channel interference caused by the multi-carrier signal. However, at some point in time, the legacy system will be turned off and the adjacent channel interference into the original channels will no longer be important. The present principles propose a mechanism to allow for the unblocking of the removed carriers once the interference problem becomes less strict.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGSInventors: John Sidney Stewart, Max Ward Muterspaugh
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Patent number: 11102379Abstract: Methods (900, 1000) and apparatuses (110, 120, 400) are provided for transmitting and receiving a signal. The method (900) of transmitting a signal includes modulating (920) data into a plurality of modulation symbols to generate a signal, the data including time synchronization information including one of a time offset parameter and a frame length parameter selected according to a frame length mode parameter, and transmitting (930) the signal over a communication medium. The method (1000) of receiving a signal includes receiving (1010) a signal over a communication medium, and demodulating (1020) the signal to generate a plurality of demodulated symbols, the demodulated symbols including data, the data including time synchronization information including one of a time offset parameter and a frame length parameter selected according to a frame length mode parameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HOLDINGS, SASInventor: John Sidney Stewart
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Patent number: 10715861Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving signal quality in a relatively fixed ATSC 3.0 device are described including accepting a channel selection, establishing communication with all ATSC 3.0 devices in a premises, polling each portable ATSC 3.0 device to obtain signal quality information, selecting one or more of the portable ATSC 3.0 devices to receive a signal, receiving IP packetized data related to a program on the selected channel from the one or more selected portable ATSC 3.0 devices to improve signal quality at the relatively fixed ATSC 3.0 device and combining the received IP packetized data received from the one or more selected portable ATSC 3.0 devices with a signal of the relatively fixed ATSC 3.0 device to form a combined signal for rendering a program on the selected channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HOLDINGS, SASInventor: John Sidney Stewart
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Patent number: 10313718Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitters and receivers for conveying and retrieving important system information carried in a multi-carrier modulation system for which the data stream is organized in multiple physical layer pipes (PLP). This is particularly important when broadcasters share the same physical channel. In one aspect of the present principles this is accomplished by assigning a PLP as a system PLP. The system PLP will carry information such as the mapping between a broadcaster and its PLPs and special messages like the Emergency Alert System and Amber Alert messages. In another aspect of the present principles, this information is carried in signaling data of the signal, instead of a PLP. In yet another aspect of the present principles, this is accomplished by a signaling parameter, which identifies the broadcaster associated with each PLP.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGSInventor: John Sidney Stewart
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Patent number: 10250927Abstract: A method for synchronizing playback of a program including a video and associated first audio at a first electronic device with playback of a second audio associated with the program at a second electronic device that also receives the first audio, the method comprising: decoding, by a first audio decoder in the second electronic device, the first audio, and outputting the decoded first audio; decoding, by a second audio decoder in the second electronic device, the second audio and outputting the decoded second audio for playing back by the second electronic device; receiving a user command to synchronize the playback of the video at the first electronic device and playback of the second audio at the second electronic device; responsive to the user command, the method further comprising capturing, by a capturing device in the second electronic device, the playback of the first audio at the first electronic device; determining, by the second electronic device, an offset between the outputted decoded first audiType: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Interdigital CE Patent HoldingsInventor: John Sidney Stewart
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Publication number: 20190052748Abstract: A method and an apparatus for altering operation of a mobile communication device while the user of the mobile communication device is operating or driving a vehicle are provided. The method (400) and apparatus (800, 101, 201, 302, 500, 600, 704) of the present disclosure receive data from a sensor (102, 303, 646), the data related to movement performed by a user, determine if the user is driving a vehicle by determining at least one user movement associated with driving a vehicle based on the data, and alter operation of the mobile communication device (101, 201, 500, 600, 704, 800) if it is determined that the user is driving the vehicle. A computer-readable storage medium and a non-transitory computer-readable program product are also provided for altering operation of a mobile communication device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Patent number: 10097394Abstract: A broadcast TV signal is a DVB-T2 based system. A DVB-T2 transmitter checks OFDM symbols before transmission to determine a level of adjacent channel interference (ACI). If the of level of ACI is too high, i.e., above a threshold value, the OFDM symbols are filtered before transmission. Otherwise, the OFDM symbols are transmitted without filtering. A filtering field is added to an LI pre-signaling table of the broadcast DVB-T2 signal to signal a DVB-T2 receiver when the received OFDM symbols have been filtered.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGSInventors: John Sidney Stewart, Loic Fontaine, Anthony Pesin
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Publication number: 20180262653Abstract: Methods (900, 1000) and apparatuses (110, 120, 400) are provided for transmitting and receiving a signal. The method (900) of transmitting a signal includes modulating (920) data into a plurality of modulation symbols to generate a signal, the data including time synchronization information including one of a time offset parameter and a frame length parameter selected according to a frame length mode parameter, and transmitting (930) the signal over a communication medium. The method (1000) of receiving a signal includes receiving (1010) a signal over a communication medium, and demodulating (1020) the signal to generate a plurality of demodulated symbols, the demodulated symbols including data, the data including time synchronization information including one of a time offset parameter and a frame length parameter selected according to a frame length mode parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: THOMSON LicensingInventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Patent number: 10062271Abstract: A method for operating a consumer communication device is described including receiving content from a service provider, determining if the received content is an emergency alert system notification and communicating the emergency alert system notification to a communication device, if the received content is the emergency alert system notification. Further described is a method for operating an enhanced detection device including receiving an emergency alert system notification, determining if the emergency alert system notification is communicated best by means of sounding an alarm or by means of vocalizing the emergency alert system notification and communicating the emergency alert system notification through a protected structure by means of initiating an alarm or by means of verbalizing the emergency alert system notification.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: THOMSON LicensingInventor: John Sidney Stewart
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Patent number: 10019889Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an enhanced detection device are described including detecting an emergency alert in a protected structure, performing a first determination if the emergency alert is to be forwarded to other enhanced detection devices within the protected structure, forwarding the emergency alert to other enhanced detection devices within the protected structure responsive to the first determination, notifying occupants of the protected structure using capabilities of the enhanced detection device, performing a second determination if the emergency alert is to be forwarded to a consumer communication device and forwarding the emergency alert to the consumer communication device. Also described are a method and apparatus for operating a consumer communication device including receiving an emergency alert and notifying a user of the consumer communication device of a time, location and nature of the emergency alert.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: THOMSON LicensingInventor: John Sidney Stewart
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Publication number: 20180077450Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving signal quality in a relatively fixed ATSC 3.0 device are described including accepting a channel selection, establishing communication with all ATSC 3.0 devices in a premises, polling each portable ATSC 3.0 device to obtain signal quality information, selecting one or more of the portable ATSC 3.0 devices to receive a signal, receiving IP packetized data related to a program on the selected channel from the one or more selected portable ATSC 3.0 devices to improve signal quality at the relatively fixed ATSC 3.0 device and combining the received IP packetized data received from the one or more selected portable ATSC 3.0 devices with a signal of the relatively fixed ATSC 3.0 device to form a combined signal for rendering a program on the selected channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Publication number: 20170302488Abstract: A broadcast TV signal is a DVB-T2 based system. A DVB-T2 transmitter checks OFDM symbols before transmission to determine a level of adjacent channel interference (ACI). If the of level of ACI is too high, i.e., above a threshold value, the OFDM symbols are filtered before transmission. Otherwise, the OFDM symbols are transmitted without filtering. A filtering field is added to an LI pre-signaling table of the broadcast DVB-T2 signal to signal a DVB-T2 receiver when the received OFDM symbols have been filtered.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2015Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: John Sidney STEWART, Loic FONTAINE, Anthony PESIN
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Publication number: 20170229005Abstract: A method for operating a consumer communication device is described including receiving content from a service provider, determining if the received content is an emergency alert system notification and communicating the emergency alert system notification to a communication device, if the received content is the emergency alert system notification. Further described is a method for operating an enhanced detection device including receiving an emergency alert system notification, determining if the emergency alert system notification is communicated best by means of sounding an alarm or by means of vocalizing the emergency alert system notification and communicating the emergency alert system notification through a protected structure by means of initiating an alarm or by means of verbalizing the emergency alert system notification.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Publication number: 20160345051Abstract: A method for synchronizing playback of a program including a video and associated first audio at a first electronic device with playback of a second audio associated with the program at a second electronic device that also receives the video is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Publication number: 20160323612Abstract: A method for synchronizing playback of a program including a video and associated first audio at a first electronic device with playback of a second audio associated with the program at a second electronic device that also receives the first audio, the method comprising: decoding, by a first audio decoder in the second electronic device, the first audio, and outputting the decoded first audio; decoding, by a second audio decoder in the second electronic device, the second audio and outputting the decoded second audio for playing back by the second electronic device; receiving a user command to synchronize the playback of the video at the first electronic device and playback of the second audio at the second electronic device; responsive to the user command, the method further comprising capturing, by a capturing device in the second electronic device, the playback of the first audio at the first electronic device; determining, by the second electronic device, an offset between the outputted decoded first audiType: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Publication number: 20160277133Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitters and receivers for conveying and retrieving important system information carried in a multi-carrier modulation system for which the data stream is organized in multiple physical layer pipes (PLP). This is particularly important when broadcasters share the same physical channel. In one aspect of the present principles this is accomplished by assigning a PLP as a system PLP. The system PLP will carry information such as the mapping between a broadcaster and its PLPs and special messages like the Emergency Alert System and Amber Alert messages. In another aspect of the present principles, this information is carried in signaling data of the signal, instead of a PLP. In yet another aspect of the present principles, this is accomplished by a signaling parameter, which identifies the broadcaster associated with each PLP.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2014Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Publication number: 20160219331Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided which utilize the preamble of a multi-carrier modulated digital transmitted signal to indicate whether or not a special message (e.g., Emergency Alert System messages) is available for reception. When in power saving mode the receiver periodically detects the preamble, which requires limited functionality and power, to check for the presence of such special messages. The receiver only completely wakes up additional functionalities if a special message is detected in the preamble. This results in advantageous savings in power consumption, particularly for portable and handheld devices, while having the capability of receiving special messages anytime.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: John Sidney STEWART, Max Ward MUTERSPAUGH, Loic FONTAINE
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Publication number: 20160212451Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided with a solution to adjacent channel interference when a multi-carrier modulation system (e.g., OFDM) replaces a legacy modulation system and co-exists with it for a period of time. The adjacent channel interference can be reduced by blocking (setting to 0) and not using some of the carriers at the edge of the spectrum during the transition period. This effectively reduces the bandwidth of the channel and consequently, the adjacent channel interference caused by the multi-carrier signal. However, at some point in time, the legacy system will be turned off and the adjacent channel interference into the original channels will no longer be important. The present principles propose a mechanism to allow for the unblocking of the removed carriers once the interference problem becomes less strict.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2014Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: John Sidney STEWART, Max Ward MUTERSPAUGH
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Publication number: 20160182091Abstract: A broadcast TV signal is a DVB-T2 based system. The DVB-T2 transmitter offsets the BCH codeword with respect to the LDPC codeword, such that, e.g., the first half of the BCH codeword is contained in one LDPC codeword and the second half of the BCH codeword is contained in the next LDPC codeword.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: Thomson LicensingInventor: John Sidney STEWART
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Publication number: 20160182174Abstract: A time reference field is added to an L1 pre-signaling table of a broadcast DVB-T2 signal and location information is added to a Cell List Descriptor of a Network Information Table (NIT) of the broadcast DVB-T2 signal. A DVB-T2 receiver uses the time reference field and the location information from 5 the received broadcast DVB-T2 signal to determine its location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2013Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventor: John Sidney STEWART