Patents by Inventor Michael Keen

Michael Keen 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: 20150128193
    Abstract: An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a phased array antenna and control circuitry associated therewith to be carried by the aircraft and to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Frisco, Michael J. Lynch, Brian D. Anderson, R. Michael Keen
  • Patent number: 9003454
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft IFE system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE NFC device associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, selectively transmitting a respective registration ID from each IFE NFC device, and communicating via the IFE wireless transceiver. The PED includes a PED NFC device, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED NFC device receiving the registration ID associated with one of the respective IFE NFC devices when in proximity thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LiveTV, LLC
    Inventors: R. Michael Keen, Jeffrey A. Frisco
  • Patent number: 8856838
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for generating a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: LiveTV, LLC
    Inventors: R. Michael Keen, Jeffrey A. Frisco
  • Publication number: 20140282727
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft IFE system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE NFC device associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, selectively transmitting a respective registration ID from each IFE NFC device, and communicating via the IFE wireless transceiver. The PED includes a PED NFC device, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED NFC device receiving the registration ID associated with one of the respective IFE NFC devices when in proximity thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LIVETV, LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, JEFFREY A. FRISCO
  • Publication number: 20140282684
    Abstract: An aircraft communications system includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The PED includes a PED near-field communications (NFC) device, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for transmitting a registration identifier (ID), and communicating via the PED wireless transceiver. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE NFC device associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the IFE wireless transceiver based upon one of the respective IFE NFC devices receiving the registration ID from the PED NFC device when in proximity thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LlVETV, LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, JEFFREY A. FRISCO
  • Patent number: 8806521
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The TEE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and generates a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller communicates with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image so that the PED controller is registered with the IFE controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: LiveTV, LLC
    Inventors: R. Michael Keen, Jeffrey A. Frisco
  • Publication number: 20110314487
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The TEE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and generates a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller communicates with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image so that the PED controller is registered with the IFE controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Live TV LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, JEFFREY A. FRISCO
  • Publication number: 20110313826
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE advertisement source, IFE passenger seat displays, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller selectively displays advertisements from the IFE advertisement source on the IFE passenger seat displays. Each advertisement being displayed has a respective advertisement token image associated therewith. The PED includes a PED optical sensor for sensing a selected advertisement token image, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller communicates via the PED wireless transceiver to initiate and complete purchase of the advertisement associated with the selected advertisement token image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: LiveTV LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, JEFFREY A. FRISCO
  • Publication number: 20110314489
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE advertisement source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, an IFE controller, and a purchase acceptance controller. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing a selected advertisement token image. The purchase acceptance controller cooperates with the IFE controller to accept purchase of the selected advertisement token image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: LiveTV LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, JEFFREY A. FRISCO
  • Publication number: 20110314488
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft IFE system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, and a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon on the PED display. The in-flight coupon has an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each IFE passenger seat display, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and receives the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: LiveTV LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, JEFFREY A. FRISCO
  • Publication number: 20110314507
    Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for generating a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: LiveTV LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, JEFFREY A. FRISCO
  • Publication number: 20110314490
    Abstract: An aircraft communications system includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for generating a respective registration token image on the PED display. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on the PED display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: LiveTV LLC
    Inventors: R. MICHAEL KEEN, Jeffrey A. Frisco
  • Patent number: 7707612
    Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system preferably includes, in one embodiment, a satellite TV receiver, at least one passenger video display connected to the receiver, and a processor connected to the receiver for determining an undesired condition and for generating a substitute image on the passenger video display rather than permit display of an undesired image which would otherwise be produced. The undesired condition may relate to a weak signal or component malfunction. Accordingly, the undesired image may be an undesired default text message or a degraded picture image. Other embodiments of the in-flight entertainment system are directed to providing a moving map image flight information channel integrated with the programming channels of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Live TV, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Frisco, Michael Keen
  • Patent number: 6751801
    Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes a satellite TV receiver, at least one video display connected to the receiver, and a multi-beam antenna on the aircraft for receiving signals from a plurality of satellite TV transponders. The multi-beam antenna may have right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) and left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP) beams offset from one another by a beam offset angle. The beam offset angle may be less than an angle defined by the spacing of the DBS transponders. The system may also include an antenna steering positioner connected to the multi-beam antenna, and an antenna steering controller for steering the multi-beam antenna based upon received signals from at least one of the RHCP and LHCP beams. The antenna steering controller may comprise a processor for steering the multi-beam antenna based on a selected master one of the RHCP and LHCP beams and slaving the other beam therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Live TV, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Frisco, Michael Keen
  • Patent number: 6748597
    Abstract: A method for installing and operating an aircraft in-flight entertainment system preferably includes installing an entertainment source on the aircraft; installing spaced apart signal distribution devices, each generating audio signals for at least one passenger in an audio-only mode, and generating audio and video signals to at least one passenger in an audio/video mode; installing a cable network connecting the entertainment source to the signal distribution devices; and operating the aircraft in-flight entertainment system with at least one predetermined signal distribution device in the audio-only mode. In addition, the method preferably includes later upgrading the aircraft in-flight entertainment system by connecting at least one passenger video display to the at least one predetermined signal distribution device to operate in the audio/video mode and while leaving the cable network unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Live TV, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Frisco, Michael Keen
  • Publication number: 20040078821
    Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system preferably includes, in one embodiment, a satellite TV receiver, at least one passenger video display connected to the receiver, and a processor connected to the receiver for determining an undesired condition and for generating a substitute image on the passenger video display rather than permit display of an undesired image which would otherwise be produced. The undesired condition may relate to a weak signal or component malfunction. Accordingly, the undesired image may be an undesired default text message or a degraded picture image. Other embodiments of the in-flight entertainment system are directed to providing a moving map image flight information channel integrated with the programming channels of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: LIVE TV, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Frisco, Michael Keen
  • Patent number: 6369405
    Abstract: A method of making semiconductor quantum wires employs a semiconductor wafer (14) as starting material. The wafer (14) is weakly doped p type with a shallow heavily doped p layer therein for current flow uniformity purposes. The wafer (14) is anodised in 20% aqueous hydrofluoric acid to produce a layer (5) microns thick with 70% porosity and good crystallinity. The layer is subsequently etched in concentrated hydrofluoric acid, which provides a slow etch rate. The etch increases porosity to a level in the region of 80% or above. At such a level, pores overlap and isolated quantum wires are expected to form with diameters less than or equal to 3 nm. The etched layer exhibits photoluminescence emission at photon energies well above the silicon bandgap (1.1 eV) and extending into the red region (1.6-2.0 eV) of the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Leigh-Trevor Canham, John Michael Keen, Weng Yee Leong
  • Patent number: 6208307
    Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes an antenna, a satellite TV receiver connected to the antenna, at least one video display connected to the satellite TV receiver, and wherein the antenna is steered using received signals from the relatively wide bandwidth from at least one satellite TV transponder, such as a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) transponder. The system may include an antenna steering positioner connected to the antenna, and an antenna steering controller comprising the received signal detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals from the at least one satellite TV transponder. A processor may be connected to the detector for controlling the antenna steering positioner during aircraft flight and based upon the received signal strength feedback signal. The antenna steering controller may further comprise at least one inertial rate sensor, and the processor may calibrate the sensor based upon the received signal strength feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Live TV, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Frisco, Michael Keen
  • Patent number: 6147359
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Leigh-Trevor Canham, John Michael Keen, Weng Yee Leong
  • Patent number: D558297
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gibian, Philip Stephen Ridley, Michael Keen