Patents by Inventor Michael T. Dugan
Michael T. Dugan 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).
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Publication number: 20120131416Abstract: An electronic device detects occurrence of an error condition and selects a matrix code to include in an error message to transmit to a display device based on the error condition. A reader device decodes the displayed matrix code to present information regarding resolution of the error condition. The electronic device may select the matrix code by looking up the error condition in a table or by dynamically generate the matrix code. In various implementations, the electronic device may determine that the information regarding resolution of the error condition has been utilized to unsuccessfully resolve the error condition. If so, the electronic device may select and transmit and additional matrix code that may be decoded by the reader device to access and present an additional set of information regarding resolution of the error condition or to initiate an electronic device support request.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Michael T. Dugan, Mark H. Gomez
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Publication number: 20110090408Abstract: A remote control and method of programming a remote control for controlling components in an entertainment system are disclosed. The remote control may operate in multiple modes including a limited mode that prevents the remote control from sending predetermined commands to one or more components, even when instructed to do so by the user. In addition, the remote control may issue one or more commands to each component in response to a single user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Charles W. Ergen, Michael T. Dugan, David A. Kummer, William M. Beals, Daniel L. Rudolph, Mark H. Gomez, Henry Gregg Martch, Adam C. Morzos
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Publication number: 20110090055Abstract: A remote control and method of programming a remote control for controlling components in an entertainment system are disclosed. The remote control may operate in multiple modes including a limited mode that prevents the remote control from sending predetermined commands to one or more components, even when instructed to do so by the user. In addition, the remote control may issue one or more commands to each component in response to a single user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Charles W. Ergen, Michael T. Dugan, David A. Kummer, William M. Beals, Daniel L. Rudolph, Mark H. Gomez, Henry Gregg Martch, Adam C. Morzos
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Publication number: 20110083147Abstract: A remote control and method of programming a remote control for controlling components in an entertainment system are disclosed. The remote control may operate in multiple modes including a limited mode that prevents the remote control from sending predetermined commands to one or more components, even when instructed to do so by the user. In addition, the remote control may issue one or more commands to each component in response to a single user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Charles W. Ergen, Michael T. Dugan, David A. Kummer, William M. Beals, Daniel L. Rudolph, Mark H. Gomez, Henry Gregg Martch, Adam C. Morzos
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Publication number: 20110040856Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device that can easily configure an entertainment system automatically or semi-automatically. The reconfiguration of the entertainment system can be achieved by cycling through the possible configurations of the entertainment system (i.e. different combinations of operational states of the components that make up the entertainment system) by changing various operational states of certain components until an operable configuration is found. The invention may be implemented in any component of the entertainment system including a set-top-box, satellite receiver or a remote control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: Michael T. Dugan, Thomas S. Taylor, Henry Gregg Martch, David A. Kummer, Mark H. Gomez, Anthony G. Dower, III
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Patent number: 7814510Abstract: A remote control and method of programming a remote control for controlling components in an entertainment system are disclosed. The remote control may operate in multiple modes including a limited mode that prevents the remote control from sending predetermined commands to one or more components, even when instructed to do so by the user. In addition, the remote control may issue one or more commands to each component in response to a single user input.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Inventors: Charles W Ergen, Michael T. Dugan, David A Kummer, William M Beals, Daniel L Rudolph, Mark H. Gomez, Henry Gregg Martch, Adam C Morzos
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Publication number: 20100253785Abstract: A method is presented for notifying a user of a broadcast communication channel problem. At a broadcast distribution facility, a problem involving a first broadcast communication channel from the broadcast distribution facility to a broadcast communication receiver associated with the user is detected. A cause of the problem is ascertained at the facility. The broadcast distribution facility then relays an indication of the cause of the problem to the receiver over a second broadcast communication channel from the facility to the receiver. The receiver informs the user of the cause of the problem.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2007Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: EchoStar Satellite LLCInventors: David A. Kummer, Michael T. Dugan, Kranti K. Kilaru
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Patent number: 7805751Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device that can easily configure an entertainment system automatically or semi-automatically. The reconfiguration of the entertainment system can be achieved by cycling through the possible configurations of the entertainment system (i.e. different combinations of operational states of the components that make up the entertainment system) by changing various operational states of certain components until an operable configuration is found. The invention may be implemented in any component of the entertainment system including a set-top-box, satellite receiver or a remote control.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Inventors: Michael T Dugan, Thomas T Taylor, Henry Gregg Martch, David A. Kummer, Mark H. Gomez, Anthony G. Dower, III
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Patent number: 7697070Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that automatically switch between displaying local standard definition television content and non-local, high definition television content. When the same television content is available for display in both standard and high definition formats, the television converter device preferentially displays the high definition format.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Inventors: Michael T Dugan, Mark W Jackson, Daniel J. Minnick
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Publication number: 20090086110Abstract: A remote control device is presented which includes a user interface, control logic, a memory and a transmitter. The user interface is configured to accept an input from a user. The control logic is configured to generate a random number as an address for the remote control device, and to generate a command for an electronic device based on the input from the user. The command comprises the address. The memory is configured to store the address for the remote control device. The transmitter is configured to transmit the command to the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: EchoStar Technologies CorporationInventors: William Michael Beals, Michael T. Dugan
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Patent number: 5351130Abstract: A television signal satellite receiver that, in one embodiment, is capable of utilizing the recording and playback capabilities of a video signal recorder, such as a video cassette recorder (VCR), to back up data contained in the satellite receiver memory and/or to load the memory with data. Typical data to be backed up or loaded into the memory includes satellite position data, which is unique with respect to the location of each satellite receiver and, more specifically, to the location of the antenna associated with the receiver. To back up data, the satellite receiver employs a translator that converts data contained in the satellite receiver memory from a digital format to a video signal format that is appropriate for the video signal recorder. Conversely, to load the memory with data, the translator converts data with the video signal format that is provided by the video signal recorder into a digital signal format that can be loaded into the memory of the satellite receiver.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1993Date of Patent: September 27, 1994Assignee: Houston Satellite Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael T. Dugan, Joseph T. Cilke, Bruce S. Petrie
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Patent number: 5075805Abstract: A disk drive system includes a disk drive controller system having separate head positioning and data transfer subsystems and supporting up to four disk drives, two of which may be removable and two of which may connect through a standard ST506 interface. The system provides a read and write protected cylinder for removably drive and a read only cylinder for removable drives which may store a unique serial number as well as other write protected data. Each removable disk drive may includes a register storing an identification code which may be used to control operation of the drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1990Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: Tandon CorporationInventors: Charles I. Peddle, James M. Donahue, Michael T. Dugan, William G. Swinton, Bruce A. Fairman, Robert G. Taylor, Jr., John R. Masters, Glenn M. Stark, Kenneth M. Stein, Warren L. Dalziel
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Patent number: 5016121Abstract: A disk drive system includes a disk controller system having separate head positioning and data transfer subsystems and supporting up to four disk drives, two of which may be removable, portable drive units and two of which may connect through a standard ST506 interface. The removable disk drives incorporate a read and write protected data cylinder for storing information such as the maintenance history of the drive, and a read only cylinder for storing a unique serial number as well as other write protected data. The system also features a high capacity, high speed sector buffer which allows continuous transfers of data to or from noninterleaved sectors and supports concurrent disk and system accesses.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1988Date of Patent: May 14, 1991Assignee: Tandon CorporationInventors: Charles I. Peddle, Robert G. Taylor, Jr., John R. Masters, Glenn M. Stark, Kenneth M. Stein, James M. Donohue, Michael T. Dugan, William G. Swinton, Bruce A. Fairman, Warren L. Dalziel
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Patent number: 4833554Abstract: A portable hard disk drive module enclosing all of the operative components of the disk drive is removably received by a receptacle in a microcomputer system. The disk drive module and the receptacle each have an electrical connector and these connectors are coupled when the module is in an operating position within the receptacle. The connectors comprise the sole interface between the operative components of the disk drive and the remainder of the computer system. The receptacle includes a transport mechanism for moving the module from a load position to the operating position and from the operating position to a module unload position. Accordingly, movement of the module between these positions in the receptacle is completely under machine control.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1987Date of Patent: May 23, 1989Assignee: Tandon CorporationInventors: Warren L. Dalziel, Stephen L. Deremer, Michael T. Dugan, Charles D. Flanigan, Martin J. Maiers, David P. Moriconi, Charles I. Peddle, Peter Sehnal, Glenn M. Stark, Kenneth M. Stein, Sirjang L. Tandon, Robert G. Taylor, Jr., Gary R. Yeakle
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Patent number: 4580232Abstract: The present invention is the designation of one of the processors in the system as the master processor with the roll of resetting the other processors after a software crash. When a system software crash occurs, the master processor provides a reset signal that is automatically conveyed to each of the other processors to synchronize the return of the other processors back to the normal state of operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1982Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Michael T. Dugan, George E. Baker
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Patent number: 4509851Abstract: A Communication Manager for controlling communication between intelligent processors. The Communication Manager is a software on silicon building block providing a set of primitive instructions to extend the instruction set of the underlying microprocessor and to provide a real time multitask capability. The Communication Manager handles a command control block (CCB) and shared line receiver and shared line transmitter state registers to receive and send data on a shared communication line.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1983Date of Patent: April 9, 1985Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Ronald A. Ippolito, Michael T. Dugan
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Patent number: 4499581Abstract: A reproduction machine incorporating self test routines to test the machine operating logic, particularly at start up, to insure the integrity and operability of the component parts of the operating logic. The tests include routines for initially checking the machine master control module logic and memory. A display panel on the master control module visually identifies any fault in the event the communication link to the machine main display has failed. Once the operability of the master control module is established, self tests of the various machine remote control modules are carried out followed by a test of the communication channel between all modules. Any fault found is visually identified to facilitate repair and servicing.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1982Date of Patent: February 12, 1985Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Dennis E. Miazga, Tuan A. Nguyen, Michael T. Dugan