Patents by Inventor Michael E. Cain

Michael E. Cain 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: 11589111
    Abstract: In a system for broadcasting video programs to a user including a display, a system and method for providing program information or a copy of at least a portion of a program to the user. In one embodiment, a controller receives an input signal representing a request for summary information concerning a program, the program having a beginning and the input signal generated at a time during the broadcast. The controller provides via the display a summary of the program from the program beginning to the input signal time in response to the input signal. A controller may alternatively monitor a period of time during which the display is tuned to a broadcast of a program, the period starting during the broadcast. The controller is used to provide via the display a copy of at least a portion of the program when the period exceeds a predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Brenner, Michael E. Cain, Kenneth L. Hamel, Joshua D. Staller
  • Publication number: 20160007082
    Abstract: In a system for broadcasting video programs to a user including a display, a system and method for providing program information or a copy of at least a portion of a program to the user. In one aspect, a device tuned to a channel for a period of time communicates a request for a portion of a program transmitted prior to the period of time. The device may generate a prompt seeking approval to make the request. A controller receiving the request may cause the portion to be provided from storage in response to the request. A controller may alternatively monitor a period of time during which a device is tuned to a channel and provide a copy of at least a portion of the program when the period exceeds a predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Scott Brenner, Michael E. Cain, Kenneth L. Hamel, Joshua D. Staller
  • Publication number: 20120204214
    Abstract: In a system for broadcasting video programs to a user including a display, a system and method for providing program information or a copy of at least a portion of a program to the user. In one embodiment, a controller receives an input signal representing a request for summary information concerning a program, the program having a beginning and the input signal generated at a time during the broadcast. The controller provides via the display a summary of the program from the program beginning to the input signal time in response to the input signal. A controller may alternatively monitor a period of time during which the display is tuned to a broadcast of a program, the period starting during the broadcast. The controller is used to provide via the display a copy of at least a portion of the program when the period exceeds a predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Scott Brenner, Michael E. Cain, Kenneth L. Hamel, Joshua D. Staller
  • Patent number: 8181215
    Abstract: In a system for broadcasting video programs to a user including a display, a system and method for providing program information or a copy of at least a portion of a program to the user. In one embodiment, a controller receives an input signal representing a request for summary information concerning a program, the program having a beginning and the input signal generated at a time during the broadcast. The controller provides via the display a summary of the program from the program beginning to the input signal time in response to the input signal. A controller may alternatively monitor a period of time during which the display is tuned to a broadcast of a program, the period starting during the broadcast. The controller is used to provide via the display a copy of at least a portion of the program when the period exceeds a predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Brenner, Michael E. Cain, Kenneth L. Hamel, Joshua D. Staller
  • Publication number: 20040237096
    Abstract: A computer-based method of monitoring and recording user interaction with a video service device is provided. The video service device is connected to a display. The computer is programmed to monitor and selectively record information received from the video service device, a video camera, and a remote control signal detector. The computer-based method includes, over a period of time, detecting a plurality of remote control signals indicative of button clicks, grabbing first video frames from the video service device, and grabbing second video frames from the video camera. The detected remote control signals, the first video frames, and the second video frames are recorded to the storage medium as a sequence of events while preserving the time relationship among the various events with respect to each other thereby establishing a common time base for the recorded sequence of events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Cain, Monica Ann Marics
  • Patent number: 6671731
    Abstract: A generic proxy server, set top device, and methods of operation are described to enable communication with the set top device through the generic proxy server. The set top device is connected to the generic proxy server through a private network. A user wishing to communicate with the set top device is connected to the generic proxy server through a public network. The set top device prepares for communication by registering itself with the generic proxy server and then providing a gateway code to the generic proxy server. The user initiates communications by contacting the generic proxy server and identifying a particular set top device to be accessed. Communications between the user and a set top device through the generic proxy server are enabled by the generic proxy server executing the gateway code supplied by the set top device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: MediaOne Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Cain
  • Publication number: 20030154479
    Abstract: In a system for broadcasting video programs to a user including a display, a system and method for providing program information or a copy of at least a portion of a program to the user. In one embodiment, a controller receives an input signal representing a request for summary information concerning a program, the program having a beginning and the input signal generated at a time during the broadcast. The controller provides via the display a summary of the program from the program beginning to the input signal time in response to the input signal. A controller may alternatively monitor a period of time during which the display is tuned to a broadcast of a program, the period starting during the broadcast. The controller is used to provide via the display a copy of at least a portion of the program when the period exceeds a predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Scott Brenner, Michael E. Cain, Kenneth L. Hamel, Joshua D. Staller
  • Patent number: 6028846
    Abstract: A method and system for testing real-time delivery of packets of data in an application utilized in a computer network includes a first host computer, a second host computer, and a simulator all configured on a local area network segment of a second computer network. A first address is assigned to the first host computer and a second address is assigned to the second host computer. The simulator is configured as a router through which the first and second host computers communicate with each other. Any combination of possible network conditions associated with the computer network are entered into the simulator. The packets of data are formed and transmitted from one of the first and second host computers to the simulator and processed according to the entered network conditions to obtain simulation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignees: U S West, Inc., MediaOne Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Cain
  • Patent number: 5457736
    Abstract: A system and method adapted to provide microcellular Personal Communications Services (PCS) through the use of an improved Distributed Radio Port Controller (DRPC) architecture. The architecture achieves the desired handover with minimal impact on the existing embedded base of switches by generating new calls from target Radio Port Controllers (RPCs) through the switches to anchor RPCs and internally bridging bearer channels without the knowledge of the switches. The system includes a Home Location Register (HLR) for storing and providing subscription data and keeping track of where the mobile terminals are registered in order to deliver calls. A PCS# database is also utilized for storing a list of Universal Personal Telephone (UPT) numbers which have been assigned to the PCS subscribers. The PCS# database is operable to map these UPT numbers to the locations of their corresponding HLR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: U S WEST Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Cain, Jo A. Friedman, Purushottam V. Kamat, Phillip D. Reddick, Peter L. Reinig, Dejan Sirovica
  • Patent number: 5448631
    Abstract: A feature manager that handles the interactions between features in a telephone network is disclosed. A basic call processor transmits a sequence of event messages to the feature manager. The event messages are then transmitted from the feature manager to a subset of feature modules for processing. The feature modules, following receipt of an event message, each formulate a response message that is returned to the feature manager. The response messages contain information that instructs the basic call processor to act. Information contained within the response message is utilized to determine what other feature modules, if any, must be polled. The feature manager formulates a call processor response from the response messages received and returns the call processor response to the basic call processor. The call processor response includes information that instructs the basic call processor to act accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: U S West Advanced Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Cain
  • Patent number: 4680708
    Abstract: ECG signals are digitized and a template representative of an arrhythmia free interval for a particular patient is formed. Subsequent ECG signals which match the template are averaged to form averaged ECG signals to reduce noise. A fast Fourier transform (FET) is performed on the terminal 40 millisecond portion of the QRS complex and the ST segment. The 60 db area and 40 Hz intercept of the resultant spectral output are used as a figure of merit in predicting the liklihood of a particular patient experiencing ventricular tachycardia. Alternatively, the FET magnitude is squared to form energy spectra of the ECG signals and a measure of the energy in a first preselected portion such as the 20-50 Hz region is compared with a second preselected portion such as the entire spectra to form a figure of merit for predicting ventricular tachycardia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Hans D. Ambos, Michael E. Cain, Burton E. Sobel