Patents by Inventor Mark DuVall

Mark DuVall 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: 10580041
    Abstract: A playback page, which can include embedded media players and a user interface that functions as an Internet media station tuner, can be transmitted from a web server to a web browser running on a client computer. In response to receiving a message from the playback page indicating a user-selected media station, the web server transmits a message instructing the media station to transmit a tagged media stream to one media player (a Content Playback Instance), and transmits a browser file to an advertisement server. The browser file includes information used by the advertisement server to select targeted media content to be inserted into an untagged media stream delivered to another media player (an Ad Spot Playback Instance). The web server controls whether the Content Playback Instance presents a tagged media stream, or the Ad Spot Playback Instance presents targeted content, at any particular time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20180033046
    Abstract: A playback page, which can include embedded media players and a user interface that functions as an Internet media station tuner, can be transmitted from a web server to a web browser running on a client computer. In response to receiving a message from the playback page indicating a user-selected media station, the web server transmits a message instructing the media station to transmit a tagged media stream to one media player (a Content Playback Instance), and transmits a browser file to an advertisement server. The browser file includes information used by the advertisement server to select targeted media content to be inserted into an untagged media stream delivered to another media player (an Ad Spot Playback Instance). The web server controls whether the Content Playback Instance presents a tagged media stream, or the Ad Spot Playback Instance presents targeted content, at any particular time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9805396
    Abstract: Playback of a tagged audio stream at mobile communications device, or other processing device, can be controlled transparently to a user of the device by implementing multiple instances of a media player. A Spot Caching Instance of the media player can receive and cache an untagged content stream from an advertisement server. A Content Playback Instance of the media player can be used to play back and process a tagged content stream from a radio station to identify tags. When the Content Playback Instance detects a tag, it transfers control to an Ad Spot Playback Instance of the media player, which can play back part or all of the untagged content stream from cache. When playback of the untagged content stream is completed, the Ad Spot Playback Instance transfers control back to the Content Playback Instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20150183330
    Abstract: A modular reconfigurable medium voltage transformer configured for data centers, VOLT/VAR control, AC and DC charging, and vehicle-to-grid applications is disclosed. The modular reconfigurable transformer includes a plurality of modules configured to be connected to or disconnected from each other to provide multiple transformer configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Rajagopalan, Arindam Maitra, Jih-Sheng Lai, Mark Duvall, Mark McGranaghan
  • Publication number: 20150142538
    Abstract: Playback of a tagged audio stream at mobile communications device, or other processing device, can be controlled transparently to a user of the device by implementing multiple instances of a media player. A Spot Caching Instance of the media player can receive and cache an untagged content stream from an advertisement server. A Content Playback Instance of the media player can be used to play back and process a tagged content stream from a radio station to identify tags. When the Content Playback Instance detects a tag, it transfers control to an Ad Spot Playback Instance of the media player, which can play back part or all of the untagged content stream from cache. When playback of the untagged content stream is completed, the Ad Spot Playback Instance transfers control back to the Content Playback Instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8949450
    Abstract: Playback of a tagged audio stream at a user's computer can be controlled using a first media player. When the first media player detects a tag in the tagged audio stream, it mutes the volume of the first media player, and transfers playback control to a second media player operating at the same computer. The second media player controls playback of untagged media content, and in response to detecting completion of the untagged media content, returns playback control to the first media player. In this way, multiple media players in a client device can control the playback of audio content and the insertion of spots into that content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: iHeartMedia Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8600813
    Abstract: A first message from a client device, received at a server, can include a request to provide at least one media item matching at least one audience parameter. In response to the first message, the server can access a database storing media item information associated with multiple media items to be retrieved using servers other than the server receiving the first message. The media item information can include, a media item identifier, a media item location identifier, and description information. Media items are selected based on a comparison of the audience parameter with the description information and the server sends a reply to the first message, including a list of media items and their location identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, James P. Lambert, Mark DuVall
  • Publication number: 20130134935
    Abstract: An apparatus for DC fast charging of an electric vehicle includes an active front end AC-DC converter and an isolated DC-DC converter. The active front end AC-DC converter is adapted to rectify a medium voltage alternating current (AC) from a utility grid to a high voltage direct current (DC). The isolated DC-DC converter is adapted to transform the high voltage DC to a low voltage DC for charging the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Arindam Maitra, Satish Rajagopalan, Jih-Sheng Lai, Mark Duvall, Mark McGranaghan
  • Publication number: 20110131272
    Abstract: A first message from a client device, received at a server, can include a request to provide at least one media item matching at least one audience parameter. In response to the first message, the server can access a database storing media item information associated with multiple media items to be retrieved using servers other than the server receiving the first message. The media item information can include, a media item identifier, a media item location identifier, and description information. Media items are selected based on a comparison of the audience parameter with the description information and the server sends a reply to the first message, including a list of media items and their location identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, James P. Lambert, Mark DuVall
  • Patent number: 7890368
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing targeted information. In one embodiment of the present invention, an encrypted request for targeted information is received from a user. The encrypted request has a logon authorization element and a parameter requirement element. When the logon authorization element is satisfied, an encrypted list of data items is transmitted to the user. Each data item satisfies the parameter requirement element. In one embodiment, the data item is an advertisement. The above-described invention has utility for providing the user with advertisement options that satisfy the user's parameter requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Lambert, Mark DuVall
  • Publication number: 20100275221
    Abstract: Playback of a tagged audio stream at a user's computer can be controlled using a first media player. When the first media player detects a tag in the tagged audio stream, it mutes the volume of the first media player, and transfers playback control to a second media player operating at the same computer. The second media player controls playback of untagged media content, and in response to detecting completion of the untagged media content, returns playback control to the first media player. In this way, multiple media players in a client device can control the playback of audio content and the insertion of spots into that content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7711791
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for processing a content stream at a client computer, the method comprising displaying a tagged content stream that was received from a media source by using a first media player, wherein the first media player is embedded in a Web page; and, when the first media player receives notification that a tag was found, muting the first media player; and displaying an untagged content stream by using a second media player, wherein the second media player is embedded in the Web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Clear Channel Management Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20040073481
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing targeted information. In one embodiment of the present invention, an encrypted request for targeted information is received from a user. The encrypted request has a logon authorization element and a parameter requirement element. When the logon authorization element is satisfied, an encrypted list of data items is transmitted to the user. Each data item satisfies the parameter requirement element. In one embodiment, the data item is an advertisement. The above-described invention has utility for providing the user with advertisement options that satisfy the user's parameter requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: James P. Lambert, Mark DuVall
  • Publication number: 20040003102
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for processing a content stream at a client computer. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tagged content stream that was received from a media source is displayed at the client computer by using a first media player. The first media player is embedded in a Web page. When the first media player receives notification that a tag was found, the first media player is muted. Then an untagged content stream that contains data items is displayed by using a second media player. The second media player is embedded in the Web page. In one embodiment of the present invention, when the second media player receives notification that the untagged content has completed, the second media player is muted. The tagged content stream that was received from the media source is then displayed by using the first media player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Mark DuVall, Alan Gilbert