Patents by Inventor Robert A. Drew

Robert A. Drew 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: 20200413115
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming or otherwise delivering media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network using a RS-DVR system involves receiving, at the RS-DVR system, a request for a portion of the media content from a media player on a client device via the network, receiving, at the RS-DVR system, the portion of the media content from an origin server on the network, buffering the portion of the media content at the RS-DVR system, and transmitting the portion of the media content to the media player on the client device. The portion of media content may be transmitted using a modified transport layer protocol, and in some embodiments, marked as non-cacheable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: ROBERT DREW MAJOR
  • Publication number: 20200404350
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network involves transmitting one or more portions of the media content to a client device via a delivery route between a content delivery source and the network, determining a performance metric associated with the transmitting of the one or more portions via the delivery route, and dynamically adjusting the delivery route between the content delivery source and the network based at least in part on the performance metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: ROBERT DREW MAJOR
  • Publication number: 20200389510
    Abstract: An apparatus for adaptive-rate shifting of streaming content includes an agent controller module configured to simultaneously request at least portions of a plurality of streamlets. The agent controller module is further configured to continuously monitor streamlet requests and subsequent responses, and accordingly request higher or lower quality streamlets. A staging module is configured to stage the streamlets and arrange the streamlets for playback on a content player. A system includes a data communications network, a content server coupled to the data communications network and having a content module configured to process content and generate a plurality of high and low quality streams, and the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Mark B. Hurst
  • Patent number: 10812845
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming or otherwise delivering media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network using a RS-DVR system involves receiving, at the RS-DVR system, a request for a portion of the media content from a media player on a client device via the network, receiving, at the RS-DVR system, the portion of the media content from an origin server on the network, buffering the portion of the media content at the RS-DVR system, and transmitting the portion of the media content to the media player on the client device. The portion of media content may be transmitted using a modified transport layer protocol, and in some embodiments, marked as non-cacheable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert Drew Major
  • Patent number: 10798433
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network involves transmitting one or more portions of the media content to a client device via a delivery route between a content delivery source and the network, determining a performance metric associated with the transmitting of the one or more portions via the delivery route, and dynamically adjusting the delivery route between the content delivery source and the network based at least in part on the performance metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert Drew Major
  • Publication number: 20200304750
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing, transcoding, and caching off-air programming at a location local to the consumer. According to certain embodiments, a device is provided that receives off-air (e.g., broadcast) and/or cable (e.g., ClearQAM) programming via one or more antennas and caches the programming in various streams having various bit rates for later viewing using, for example, Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) streaming. Such a device can be incorporated in a larger system that can stream content via a data communication network (e.g., the Internet) and the device in a seamless manner. The device also can be controlled by a remote system via the data communication network, and further can be configured to stream content to a remote device via the data communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Roger Lynch, John Paul, Robert Drew Major, David Kummer
  • Publication number: 20200275144
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of assisted streaming of media content over a network involves detecting, by a media player at a client device coupled to the network, a first condition with respect to streaming the media content, and in response to the first condition, requesting, by the media player, a first portion of the media content from a first content delivery source on the network. After requesting the first portion of the media content, the method further comprises detecting, by the media player, a second condition with respect to streaming the media content, and in response to detecting the second condition, requesting, by the media player, a subsequent portion of the media content from a second content delivery source on the network. The first content delivery source transmits the media content using a modified transport layer protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: ROBERT DREW MAJOR
  • Publication number: 20200274192
    Abstract: A solid-state battery comprises an anode in electrical contact with an anode current collector, including a first ionically conductive solid electrolyte material having a susceptibility to reduction in a presence of lithium metal such that, upon contact with lithium, the ionically conductive material partially reduces to a mixed ionic and electronic conductor including a partially reduced species, a cathode, and a separator positioned between and in ionic contact with the anode and cathode. The separator is formed of a second ionically conductive solid electrolyte material which is in contact with the first ionically conductive material but not susceptible to reduction in a presence of lithium metal and not soluble for the partially reduced species such that the separator has a susceptibility for migration of lithium ions from the mixed ionic and electronic conductor and impedes propagation or exchange of the partially reduced species from the mixed ionic and electronic conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: VENKATARAMANI ANANDAN, ANDREW ROBERT DREWS
  • Patent number: 10757156
    Abstract: An apparatus for adaptive-rate shifting of streaming content includes an agent controller module configured to simultaneously request at least portions of a plurality of streamlets. The agent controller module is further configured to continuously monitor streamlet requests and subsequent responses, and accordingly request higher or lower quality streamlets. A staging module is configured to stage the streamlets and arrange the streamlets for playback on a content player. A system includes a data communications network, a content server coupled to the data communications network and having a content module configured to process content and generate a plurality of high and low quality streams, and the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert Drew Major, Mark B. Hurst
  • Patent number: 10721508
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network involves obtaining, at a client device coupled to the network from a device coupled to the network, a prioritized list of a plurality of content delivery sources on the network, selecting, by a media player at the client device, a first content delivery source of the plurality of content delivery sources based at least in part on the prioritized list, and requesting, by the media player, the media content from the first content delivery source via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert Drew Major
  • Patent number: 10707522
    Abstract: A method of making a solid state battery may include heating a flux sandwiched between a solid ceramic electrolyte and a group one metal. The flux may be heated such that it roughens a surface of the solid ceramic electrolyte and the group one metal melts and adheres to the surface of the solid ceramic electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Andrew Robert Drews, Mohan Karulkar
  • Publication number: 20200213671
    Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to presentation time stamp (PTS) or other time markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventors: ROBERT DREW MAJOR, STEVEN CASAGRANDE
  • Publication number: 20200213673
    Abstract: “Binge watching” of multiple episodes of a program is improved by the player device automatically skipping repeated portions of the program. Opening and closing credit scenes, for example, can be automatically skipped to thereby allow the viewer to progress through the entire season of programming at an even faster rate than was previously thought possible. Programming to be skipped may be identified by detecting audio or other digital fingerprints in the content itself, for example. Content to be skipped may be identified to the playback device according to anchor points or other references in the programming itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: DISH Network L.L.C.
    Inventors: ROBERT DREW MAJOR, STEVEN CASAGRANDE
  • Patent number: 10700322
    Abstract: A plug for a fill port of a battery cell includes a body defining a channel. The plug includes a cover coupled to the body and covering the channel. The cover is configured to open in response to predetermined conditions to vent the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohan Karulkar, Brian Joseph Robert, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Patent number: 10700323
    Abstract: A battery system is disclosed. The system may include a frame surrounding a battery active region and defining a vent carried by the frame and mounted between the battery active region and coolant passage. The vent may be configured to vent gas from the battery active region to the coolant passage responsive to a pressure or temperature of the gas exceeding a predetermined threshold, and to isolate the battery active region from the coolant passage otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohan Karulkar, Andrew Robert Drews, Brian Joseph Robert
  • Patent number: 10687099
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for streaming media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of assisted streaming of media content over a network involves detecting, by a media player at a client device coupled to the network, a first condition with respect to streaming the media content, and in response to the first condition, requesting, by the media player, a first portion of the media content from a first content delivery source on the network. After requesting the first portion of the media content, the method further comprises detecting, by the media player, a second condition with respect to streaming the media content, and in response to detecting the second condition, requesting, by the media player, a subsequent portion of the media content from a second content delivery source on the network. The first content delivery source transmits the media content using a modified transport layer protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert Drew Major
  • Patent number: 10623687
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing, transcoding, and caching off-air programming at a location local to the consumer. According to certain embodiments, a device is provided that receives off-air (e.g., broadcast) and/or cable (e.g., ClearQAM) programming via one or more antennas and caches the programming in various streams having various bit rates for later viewing using, for example, Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) streaming. Such a device can be incorporated in a larger system that can stream content via a data communication network (e.g., the Internet) and the device in a seamless manner. The device also can be controlled by a remote system via the data communication network, and further can be configured to stream content to a remote device via the data communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger Lynch, John Paul, Robert Drew Major, David Kummer
  • Publication number: 20200075959
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a lithium-ion battery includes an anode including lithium titanate (LTO) particles and solid electrolyte particles configured to form an interphase layer therebetween, a cathode including an active material, electronic conductor, and a non-solid electrolyte; and an ionically conductive and liquid-impermeable solid electrolyte separator. The solid electrolyte separator is in direct contact with and between the anode and cathode, and is configured to prevent reduction of the non-solid electrolyte by isolating the non-solid electrolyte from the LTO particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Venkataramani ANANDAN, Andrew Robert DREWS, Daniel MURRAY, Matthew DENLINGER
  • Patent number: 10530009
    Abstract: A method of forming a solid state battery is disclosed. In a moisture-free inert atmosphere, the method includes combining unreacted solid electrolyte precursors to form a green sheet, stacking the green sheet in between porous electrodes to form a solid state battery, and heating the battery to a melting point temperature of the precursors such that the precursors form a liquid phase penetrating pores in the electrodes to form ion conducting channels in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Andrew Robert Drews, Theodore James Miller
  • Publication number: 20190394522
    Abstract: A method for presenting internet content associated with a set of video content is provided. During playback of the set of video content on an electronic device, the method detects, by the electronic device, that the electronic device has been repositioned to reveal blank space on a display of the electronic device, wherein the display presents the blank space and the set of video content after repositioning of the electronic device; and presents related internet content on the blank space, by the electronic device, during playback of the set of video content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: ROBERT DREW MAJOR, DARREN MAJOR