Patents by Inventor Mark A. Vickers

Mark A. Vickers 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: 20150229976
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Patent number: 9049467
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Publication number: 20150089552
    Abstract: A set top box client in an enhanced television system stores a table associating time references with events. The table is accessed to synchronize the delivery of events to an enhanced television application that is associated with an underlying video program. The enhanced television system delivers broadcast video, video-on-demand and video from a storage component such as a personal video recorder or a digital video disk player. The enhanced television system further provides an application that provides enhancements to an associated video program by overlaying a user interface, by providing overlaid graphical and/or text information or by providing additional audio information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Thompson, Mark Vickers
  • Patent number: 8989223
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Publication number: 20150074731
    Abstract: A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: James Hindle, Peter G.N. Scheyen, Mark A. Vickers
  • Patent number: 8832754
    Abstract: A set top box client in an enhanced television system stores a table associating time references with events. The table is accessed to synchronize the delivery of events to an enhanced television application that is associated with an underlying video program. The enhanced television system delivers broadcast video, video-on-demand and video from a storage component such as a personal video recorder or a digital video disk player. The enhanced television system further provides an application that provides enhancements to an associated video program by overlaying a user interface, by providing overlaid graphical and/or text information or by providing additional audio information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Thompson, Mark Vickers
  • Patent number: 8788534
    Abstract: A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: James Hindle, Peter G. N. Scheyen, Mark A. Vickers
  • Publication number: 20140157324
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for managing allocation of names in a limited namespace for a pool of content objects or items. For each content object in the pool, one or more records are maintained that include mappings of different names from different name spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Weidong Mao, Mark Swan, Sree Kotay, Mark Vickers
  • Publication number: 20140013342
    Abstract: A content delivery server may allow users to redirect browsed content from one system to another. A user may install or activate a plug-in to a browser, such as an Internet browser, and the plug-in may be linked to the user's account on another service. As the user browses content from the browser, the user may select a command to cause the browsed content to be delivered to the other service, ingested by the other service, and made available to the user from the other service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Mark SWAN, Weidong MAO, Sree KOTAY, Mark VICKERS, Mohsin ROOWALLA, Chris KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20130337930
    Abstract: A user swings a putter head (154) that is connected to a putter shaft (156) about a pivot of a pendulum (24). The putter head includes an opening (190) and a lower marker (186) located beneath the opening and spaced from the opening. The user attempts to maintain the marker within the opening (190) when swinging the club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: PUT4-DOUGH LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Vickers
  • Publication number: 20130312025
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: TVWORKS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Publication number: 20130312047
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: TVWORKS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Publication number: 20130291045
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: TVWORKS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Patent number: 8437373
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Patent number: 8434101
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Patent number: 8428090
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers
  • Publication number: 20130019260
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and system for interactive broadcast and web information browsing. In embodiments of the invention, web information is presented in conjunction with a broadcast television image, either at an edge of the image screen or overlaid with the image screen in an opaque, transparent or translucent image. The presented web information is fully interactive and can be interacted with by the user using all known features of interactive web presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: TVWORKS, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Weinstein, James E. Palmer, Tyler M. Johnson, James R. Fulker, Geoffrey A. Katz, Mark A. Vickers, Chee Yu
  • Publication number: 20110282992
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and network oriented systems are discussed for estimating system, e.g. web site, usage removed from the web site, as well as scheduling and directing a data broadcast source to provide content based on web site usage estimates and predictions in a broadcast data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: TVWORKS, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Drewry, Mark Vickers, Brian Bulkowski, Weidong Mao, David M. Leonard
  • Patent number: 8001276
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and network oriented systems are discussed for estimating system, e.g. web site, usage removed from the web site, as well as scheduling and directing a data broadcast source to provide content based on web site usage estimates and predictions in a broadcast data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Drewry, Mark Vickers, Brian Bulkowski, Weidong Mao, David M. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20110179438
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bulkowski, Carolyn Wales, Sam Hsu, James Helman, Joseph Decker, Brock Wagenaar, Mark Vickers