Patents by Inventor Randall Bird

Randall Bird 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: 11825531
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for pairing wireless peripherals with networked devices. Knowledge of the location of the networked devices can be used to properly route or transmit audio to paired wireless peripherals, regardless of whether the wireless peripherals are paired with the correct networked devices provided they are networked with other potential devices. This can be accomplished by prompting users to select an input based on an audio challenge to determine which of the wireless peripherals should be mapped to which of the networked hosts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Passenger Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Mikulak, Randall Bird, Tinku Rasheed, Jeffrey David White
  • Publication number: 20230078717
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for pairing wireless peripherals with networked devices. Knowledge of the location of the networked devices can be used to properly route or transmit audio to paired wireless peripherals, regardless of whether the wireless peripherals are paired with the correct networked devices provided they are networked with other potential devices. This can be accomplished by prompting users to select an input based on an audio challenge to determine which of the wireless peripherals should be mapped to which of the networked hosts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Safran Passenger Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Mikulak, Randall Bird, Tinku Rasheed, Jeffrey David White
  • Patent number: 10499345
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for outputting audio information via both wired and wireless outputs from a in-flight or in-vehicle entertainment system. An audio output device can include a wireless transmitter and an audio output port. A transmission power of the wireless transmitter can be controlled via a processor based on a measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) level of a connected slave device and a transmission power of the connected slave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Christopher Healy, Matthew Gledich, Romain Lecomte, Brian Simone
  • Publication number: 20190037503
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for outputting audio information via both wired and wireless outputs from a in-flight or in-vehicle entertainment system. An audio output device can include a wireless transmitter and an audio output port. A transmission power of the wireless transmitter can be controlled via a processor based on a measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) level of a connected slave device and a transmission power of the connected slave device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Christopher Healy, Matthew Gledish, Romain Lecomte, Brian Simone
  • Patent number: 9571863
    Abstract: Entertainment systems for aircraft and other vehicles are described having a plurality of media players. The media players collectively store a full content set, with each media player storing only a fraction of the full content set. Each of the media players can be configured to index the full content set, such that media players can obtain missing content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Healy, Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley
  • Publication number: 20160088318
    Abstract: Entertainment systems for aircraft and other vehicles are described having a plurality of media players. The media players collectively store a full content set, with each media player storing only a fraction of the full content set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher P. Healy, Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley
  • Patent number: 9210450
    Abstract: Entertainment systems for aircraft and other vehicles are described having a plurality of media players. The media players collectively store a full content set, with each media player storing only a fraction of the full content set. Each of the media players can be configured to index the full content set, such that media players can obtain missing content from other media players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Healy, Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley
  • Patent number: 9015776
    Abstract: Vehicular entertainment systems where devices in the systems can each utilize a common type of storage units are presented. A vehicular entertainment system can include a media server head unit in communication over a network with a plurality of media players that are installed about the cabin of a vehicle. Media content can be stored on a plurality of field replaceable storage units where each of the storage units can be installed in any one of the players or the server. Each of the storage units can store a substantially identical content set including passenger content, player content, server content, crew content, or other types of content. The server or players can be restricted from accessing content to which they lack rights, possibly based on a location identifier that indicates roles or responsibilities of the players at their installed location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Patent number: 8782714
    Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a media server networked with a plurality of docking stations is presented. The media server and docking stations can be networked together into a looped daisy-chained network to provide for content distribution to docked media players. The looped daisy-chained network retains connectivity or continuity when media players are undocked or when a connection is broken. In preferred embodiments, the entertainment system can be deployed within an aircraft as an in-flight entertainment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Patent number: 8667544
    Abstract: Vehicular entertainment systems where devices in the systems can each utilize a common type of storage units are presented. A vehicular entertainment system can include a media server head unit in communication over a network with a plurality of media players that are installed about the cabin of a vehicle. Media content can be stored on a plurality of field replaceable storage units where each of the storage units can be installed in any one of the players or the server. Each of the storage units can store a substantially identical content set including passenger content, player content, server content, crew content, or other types of content. The server or players can be restricted from accessing content to which they lack rights, possibly based on a location identifier that indicates roles or responsibilities of the players at their installed location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Publication number: 20140059184
    Abstract: Vehicular entertainment systems where devices in the systems can each utilize a common type of storage units are presented. A vehicular entertainment system can include a media server head unit in communication over a network with a plurality of media players that are installed about the cabin of a vehicle. Media content can be stored on a plurality of field replaceable storage units where each of the storage units can be installed in any one of the players or the server. Each of the storage units can store a substantially identical content set including passenger content, player content, server content, crew content, or other types of content. The server or players can be restricted from accessing content to which they lack rights, possibly based on a location identifier that indicates roles or responsibilities of the players at their installed location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Publication number: 20130318272
    Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a media server networked with a plurality of docking stations is presented. The media server and docking stations can be networked together into a looped daisy-chained network to provide for content distribution to docked media players. The looped daisy-chained network retains connectivity or continuity when media players are undocked or when a connection is broken. In preferred embodiments, the entertainment system can be deployed within an aircraft as an in-flight entertainment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Patent number: 8484686
    Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a media server networked with a plurality of docking stations is presented. The media server and docking stations can be networked together into a looped daisy-chained network to provide for content distribution to docked media players. The looped daisy-chained network retains connectivity or continuity when media players are undocked or when a connection is broken. In preferred embodiments, the entertainment system can be deployed within an aircraft as an in-flight entertainment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Systems and Software Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Publication number: 20120167148
    Abstract: Entertainment systems for aircraft and other vehicles are described having a plurality of media players. The media players collectively store a full content set, with each media player storing only a fraction of the full content set. Each of the media players can be configured to index the full content set, such that media players can obtain missing content from other media players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Chris Healy, Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley
  • Publication number: 20100138879
    Abstract: Vehicular entertainment systems where devices in the systems can each utilize a common type of storage units are presented. A vehicular entertainment system can include a media server head unit in communication over a network with a plurality of media players that are installed about the cabin of a vehicle. Media content can be stored on a plurality of field replaceable storage units where each of the storage units can be installed in any one of the players or the server. Each of the storage units can store a substantially identical content set including passenger content, player content, server content, crew content, or other types of content. The server or players can be restricted from accessing content to which they lack rights, possibly based on a location identifier that indicates roles or responsibilities of the players at their installed location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Publication number: 20100138582
    Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a media server networked with a plurality of docking stations is presented. The media server and docking stations can be networked together into a looped daisy-chained network to provide for content distribution to docked media players. The looped daisy-chained network retains connectivity or continuity when media players are undocked or when a connection is broken. In preferred embodiments, the entertainment system can be deployed within an aircraft as an in-flight entertainment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Publication number: 20100138581
    Abstract: A docking system is presented for an ecosystem where multiple media players provide functionality according to the location of corresponding docking stations. The docking stations have locally encoded media player persona information that depends on the location where the docking station is installed. Once a media player is docked with the docking station, the media player obtains the persona information and configures itself to provide the functionality required for the location. The media player can restrict content as necessary based on the obtained persona information. Other features also can be incorporated within the docking station and media player assemblies to provide for proper airflow, isolation from vibration, or installation by unskilled individuals. A preferred ecosystem employing the disclosed techniques includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Kevin Cote, Rodney Farley, Joseph Renton
  • Publication number: 20070206630
    Abstract: An integrated computer management apparatus allowing a networked administrator to manage a computer via multiple connection types and protocols. A preferred embodiment of the device has a network connection for the administrative users, coupled via an internal Ethernet switch and a processor to keyboard-video-mouse, serial, and Ethernet computer connections. Depending on hardware characteristics, operational status, OS, and administrator preferences any of these may be used to provide remote computer system management functions. Software running on the processor can provide direct logical connection between the remote administrator and a management port; may serve web pages graphically interpreting data gleaned from one or more of the connections; can provide protocol translation or proxy services; or locally execute an intelligent management agent. The device can be physically small enough to be supported by its connecting cables, and receives power from the attached computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventor: Randall Bird
  • Patent number: RE49871
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for outputting audio information via both wired and wireless outputs from a in-flight or in-vehicle entertainment system. An audio output device can include a wireless transmitter and an audio output port. A transmission power of the wireless transmitter can be controlled via a processor based on a measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) level of a connected slave device and a transmission power of the connected slave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Safran Passenger Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Bird, Christopher Healy, Matthew Gledich, Romain Lecomte, Brian Simone, Matteo Berioli, Eriza Fazli, MaciĆ  Mut Vidal