Patents by Inventor Joseph P. Baumgartner
Joseph P. Baumgartner 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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Publication number: 20210160554Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Patent number: 10951927Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20180255328Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Patent number: 10021443Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Joseph P. Baumgartner, Kenneth F. Carpenter, Jr., Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, II
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Patent number: 9930374Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Patent number: 9648358Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, schedule recordings to a PVR, configure recordings, view a list of scheduled recordings, configure recording settings, or select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20170048575Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Joseph P. Baumgartner, Kenneth F. Carpenter, JR., Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, II
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Patent number: 9491500Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Joseph P. Baumgartner, Kenneth F. Carpenter, Jr., Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, II
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Publication number: 20160219313Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, schedule recordings to a PVR, configure recordings, view a list of scheduled recordings, configure recording settings, or select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20160127797Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand
Patent number: 9197916Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand are provided. The system may provide a guidance application that allows users to select on-demand media offerings. The delivery of the on-demand media offerings may be managed based on the length of program, the bandwidth required, the available bandwidth, the time of delivery, pricing and other factors. The system may manage the delivery of on-demand offerings by assigning a number of different types of viewing rights to a user when an on-demand offering is selected. The system may warn a user of insufficient rights and enforce selected viewing rights.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: William L. Thomas, Michael D. Ellis, Joseph P. Baumgartner -
Publication number: 20150201231Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Joseph P. Baumgartner, Kenneth F. Carpenter, Jr., Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, II
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Patent number: 9055322Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, schedule recordings to a PVR, configure recordings, view a list of scheduled recordings, configure recording settings, or select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Patent number: 8893194Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Joseph P. Baumgartner, Kenneth F. Carpenter, Jr., Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou
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Publication number: 20140212113Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, schedule recordings to a PVR, configure recordings, view a list of scheduled recordings, configure recording settings, or select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20140208365Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, schedule recordings to a PVR, configure recordings, view a list of scheduled recordings, configure recording settings, or select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Patent number: 8768147Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
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Patent number: 8457475Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Michael D Ellis, Danny R Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P Baumgartner, William L Thomas
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Publication number: 20130014186Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the distribution of on-demand media in an interactive television application are provided. An interactive television application may receive a request for on-demand media from a user. The interactive television application may provide an option to the user for the transmission of the on-demand media. Such options may include, for example, an option to request a reduced-bandwidth version of the on-demand media, an option to schedule a future time for presentation of the on-demand media, an option to download the on-demand media to a recording device, and an option to check the availability of the on-demand media. A reduced price for transmission of the on-demand media may be provided to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: William L. Thomas, Michael D. Ellis, David M. Berezowski, Kevin B. Easterbrook, Joseph P. Baumgartner, W. Benjamin Herrington
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Publication number: 20120324518Abstract: Systems and methods for providing supplemental content with on-demand media in an interactive television application are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: William L. Thomas, Michael D. Ellis, David M. Berezowski, Kevin B. Easterbrook, Joseph P. Baumgartner