Patents by Inventor Kathy Piatt

Kathy Piatt 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).

  • Publication number: 20150143430
    Abstract: A method includes performing, at a media recorder device, a comparison of a user defined criterion to information descriptive of content items associated with a set of series subscriptions. The content items and the set of series subscriptions are stored at the media recorder device. The user defined criterion indicates that reruns of episodes associated with a particular series subscription of the set of series subscriptions have not been recorded within a time period. The method includes identifying, at the media recorder device, multiple series subscriptions of the set of series subscriptions based on the comparison. The method includes deleting the multiple series subscriptions from the media recorder device. The method further includes sending, from the media recorder device, a notification to a display device, the notification indicating that a cleanup operation has been performed on the set of series subscription stored at the media recorder device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Jerry Howcroft, Kathy Piatt, Michael Raftelis
  • Patent number: 8959552
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that include receiving an instruction to compare at least one criterion to content items associated with multiple series subscriptions. A method includes issuing an instruction to selectively perform an action upon those content items that match the at least one criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerry Howcroft, Kathy Piatt, Michael Raftelis
  • Publication number: 20120233642
    Abstract: A particular method includes presenting video content at a display and receiving a request to purchase playback rights to musical content associated with the video content. The method includes, in response to the request, determining whether a video content provider associated with the video content permits presentation of a menu at the display while the video content is being presented. The method includes, in response to determining that the video content provider permits the presentation of the menu at the display while the video content is being presented, presenting the menu concurrently with the video content. The method further includes, in response to determining that the video content provider prohibits the presentation of the menu at the display while the video content is being presented, inhibiting presentation of the menu at the display while the video content is being presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kathy Piatt, Anita Hogans Simpson
  • Publication number: 20110099582
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that include receiving an instruction to compare at least one criterion to content items associated with multiple series subscriptions. A method includes issuing an instruction to selectively perform an action upon those content items that match the at least one criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: JERRY HOWCROFT, KATHY PIATT, MICHAEL RAFTELIS
  • Publication number: 20060067501
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Do-Not-Disturb device interposed between a telephone line providing an incoming telephone signal and a telephone for which the incoming telephone signal is intended. When the DND device is active the incoming telephone signal is sent to voicemail, an answering machine, a call forwarding number or the telephone. When sent to the telephone the telephone does not ring when the DND device is active. The DND device being active may cause the telephone to appear busy. The DND device when active may set a voicemail or call forwarding service to take calls prior to ring the telephone by setting the ring count to zero at the voicemail or call forwarding service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventor: Kathy Piatt
  • Publication number: 20060062361
    Abstract: The present invention provides an option to record messages that can be geared to specific audiences, using PIN-restricted access as needed. The present invention provides a method and apparatus way for subscribers to record a number (more than one) of personalized messages or greetings geared towards specific callers or audiences in a plurality of bulletin boards associated with a single telephone number. The personalized greetings comprise public messages, private messages, public comments and private comments. The method and apparatus of the present invention also ensures customer privacy and increases the level of security by providing an option to PIN-protect the content and access to the content for each of the public and private recorded messages and comments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventors: Kathy Piatt, Martha Boyd