Patents by Inventor Mike O'Brien

Mike O'Brien 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).

  • Display selection in a video-on-demand system
    Patent number: 6757907
    Abstract: A video-on-demand system transfers a control screen signal to a second communication system and receives a viewer control signal from the second communication system. The video-on-demand system transfers video signals to either a first communication system or the second communication system based on the viewer control signal. The second communication system uses less bandwidth to transfer the video signals than the first communications system. The control screen could be a web page that includes: 1) a video display menu with a selection of displays and bandwidths to display the video signals, 2) a video content menu with a video preview selection, and/or 3) a video display control menu comprising play, pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop. The video-on-demand system implements the control screen menu selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James Schumacher, Mike O'Brien, Jay Cee Straley
  • Remote control of video-on-demand system
    Patent number: 6754907
    Abstract: A video-on-demand system transfers video content signals to a first communication system. The video-on-demand system transfers a control screen signal to a second communication system and receives a video control signal from the second communication system. The video-on-demand system implements a viewer control selection indicated by the video control signal. The control screen could be a web page that includes a video display control menu comprising play stop, pause, rewind, and fast forward. The control screen could include a video content selection menu. The video-on-demand system implements the control screen menu selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James Schumacher, Mike O'Brien, Jay Cee Straley
  • Carrier fluid for the suspension and delivery of water soluble polymers
    Patent number: 5362312
    Abstract: A liquid carrier fluid that is used as a carrier system to suspend and deliver water soluble polymers which act to adjust the rheological properties of the aqueous systems to which they are added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Skaggs, Mike O'Brien, James M. Seheult, John M. Swazey