Patents by Inventor Sean S. Lee

Sean S. Lee 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: 20180270284
    Abstract: Example methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums to facilitate a hybrid media stream delivery using multiple network connections are disclosed. An example method may include receiving, from a destination device, a request for data to be delivered to the destination device over one of a network pathway or a satellite pathway. The method may further include determining a first cost of transmission of the data over the network pathway to the destination device and determining a second cost of transmission of the data over the satellite pathway to the destination device. The method may then determine a least costly pathway for transmission of the data between the network pathway and the satellite pathway using the first cost and the second cost and transmit the data over the least costly pathway of the network pathway and the satellite pathway to the destination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Phillip T. Wang
  • Patent number: 10063915
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a cloud location storing content corresponding to content titles, generating a playlist corresponding to content titles subscribed to by a user of a user device stored therein, and communicating the playlist to the user device. A user device is in communication with the cloud location through a network. The user device generates a selection signal for selecting a first content title from the playlist to form a selection. The user device negotiates optimal settings by intercommunicating between the user device and the cloud location in response to forming the selection. The user device communicates the selection to the cloud location. The cloud location has a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content in response to the optimal settings. The cloud location communicates the transcoded content to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Khader B. Syed, Michael J. Koehnlein, Scott D. Casavant, Sean S. Lee, Kuriacose Joseph, Jorge H. Guzman
  • Patent number: 10063924
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a user receiving device includes a first user device that receives first user settings and stores the first user settings therein. The first user device communicates first user settings to a second user receiving device. The second user receiving device operates with the first user settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuriacose Joseph, Scott D. Casavant, Sean S. Lee, Phillip T. Wang, Christopher Yang, Woei-Shyang Yee, Wesley W. Huie, Gerard V. Talatinian
  • Publication number: 20180014068
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a cloud location storing content corresponding to content titles, generating a playlist corresponding to content titles subscribed to by a user of a user device stored therein, and communicating the playlist to the user device. A user device is in communication with the cloud location through a network. The user device generates a selection signal for selecting a first content title from the playlist to form a selection. The user device negotiates optimal settings by intercommunicating between the user device and the cloud location in response to forming the selection. The user device communicates the selection to the cloud location. The cloud location has a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content in response to the optimal settings. The cloud location communicates the transcoded content to the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Khader B. Syed, Michael J. Koehnlein, Scott D. Casavant, Sean S. Lee, Kuriacose Joseph, Jorge H. Guzman
  • Patent number: 9794622
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely transcoding content includes a set top box generating a playlist corresponding to content titles stored in a memory of the set top box. A user device is in communication with the cloud location and the set top box through a network. The user device reviews the playlist and selects a first content title from the playlist to form a selection. The cloud location includes a transcoder device transcoding content corresponding to the selection to form transcoded content. One of the cloud location and the set top box communicates the transcoded content to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Khader B. Syed, Michael J. Koehnlein, Scott D. Casavant, Sean S. Lee, Kuriacose Joseph, Jorge H. Guzman
  • Publication number: 20170238032
    Abstract: A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a satellite signal determination module in the set top box receives a satellite signal from a satellite comprising a first satellite signal identifier. A memory in the set top box stores a second satellite signal identifier for a location of the user device. The user device also includes a comparison module comparing the first satellite signal identifier to the second satellite signal identifier and a disable module disabling the user device from processing satellite signals in response to comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Casavant, Sean S. Lee, Kuriacose Joseph, John L. Norin
  • Patent number: 9723254
    Abstract: A system and method of extending a recording time of a recording event within a receiving device is set forth. The receiving device includes a memory and a controller. The controller generates a recording event request for content having a start time and a first end time and begins to store content in a memory of the first receiving unit starting at the start time. The controller reviews a program associated characteristic of the content when the end time is reached and when the program associated characteristic corresponds to the content, changes the first end time to second end time later than the first end time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Callaway, Sean S. Lee
  • Patent number: 9710055
    Abstract: A system and method for abstracting an external device from a host includes the external device in communication with the host device. The host device includes an abstraction driver communicating with the plurality of different external devices. The host device communicates a control command to the abstraction driver. The abstraction driver communicates abstraction control commands from the abstraction driver to the external device in response to the control command. The external device determines executable code corresponding to the abstraction control commands, performs executable code at the external device and communicates data from the external device to the receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Brian D. Jupin, Jorge H. Guzman, Drew T. Chen
  • Publication number: 20170171637
    Abstract: A system and method includes an input device, a client device registering an input device to form an association and a server device registering the input device and registering the association with the server device. The input device broadcasts a control signal to the client device and the server device. The server device receiving the control signal directly from the input device. The server device communicates a response signal to the client device in response to the receiving the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip T. Wang, Sean S. Lee, Scott D. Casavant
  • Patent number: 9674306
    Abstract: A system for controlling a communication system includes a local area network, a client device and a server device in communication with the client device through the local area network. The server device communicates an audio-video stream and a remote user interface to the client device through the local area network. The client receives an input signal and communicates an allocate memory signal requesting the server device to allocate memory in response to the input signal. The server device allocates memory for receiving data corresponding to the input signal in response to the allocate memory signal to form allocated memory. The client device communicates the data signal corresponding to the input signal to the server device. The server device stores data from the data signal in the allocated memory and communicates a response to the client device based on the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Phillip T. Wang
  • Patent number: 9621961
    Abstract: A system and method includes an input device, a client device registering an input device to form an association and a server device registering the input device and registering the association with the server device. The input device broadcasts a control signal to the client device and the server device. The server device receiving the control signal directly from the input device. The server device communicates a response signal to the client device in response to the receiving the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip T. Wang, Sean S. Lee, Scott D. Casavant
  • Patent number: 9571867
    Abstract: A system and method for using content on multiple devices includes a head end associating a first user device and a second user device with a user account and authorizing the first user device and the second user device to receive content. The first user device forms a selection signal corresponding to a first content. The head end communicates the first content to the first user device corresponding to the selection signal. The first user device displays the first content on a first display associated therewith. The second user device receives the first content and displays the first content on a second display associated with the second user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuriacose Joseph, Scott D. Casavant, Sean S. Lee
  • Patent number: 9535722
    Abstract: A system and method includes a host device, an intermediate device and a user device. A network is in communication with the host device, the intermediate device and the user device. The host device communicates a first graphics command and a second graphics command to the intermediate device. The intermediate device composites the first graphics command and the second graphics command to form a composite graphics command and communicating the composite graphics command to the user device. The user device generates a screen display in response to the composite graphics command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Scott D. Casavant, Phillip T. Wang
  • Publication number: 20160366363
    Abstract: A system and method of entering a low power mode includes an external tuner module having a first external tuner and a receiving device having a first receiving tuner. The receiving device has a controller determining an unused tuner from one of the first external tuner or first receiving tuner and controls entering a low power mode at the unused tuner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Brian D. Jupin, Jorge H. Guzman, Scott D. Casavant
  • Patent number: 9521463
    Abstract: A method and system for providing content includes a network having a plurality of receiving units. The system further includes a first receiving unit of the plurality of receiving units that forms a recording request, when the first receiving unit includes unavailable resources and communicates the recording request through the network. A second receiving unit receives the request and stores content in a second memory corresponding to the request and communicates the content to the first receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Scott D. Casavant
  • Patent number: 9494986
    Abstract: A system and method of entering a low power mode includes an external tuner module having a first external tuner and a receiving device having a first receiving tuner. The receiving device has a controller determining an unused tuner from one of the first external tuner or first receiving tuner and controls entering a low power mode at the unused tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Brian D. Jupin, Jorge H. Guzman, Scott D. Casavant
  • Patent number: 9473811
    Abstract: A system includes a kiosk that receives signals broadcast from a service provider and a wireless interface that receives, from a mobile device, a request for first content included in the signals received by the kiosk. The first content corresponds to a first channel. The kiosk includes a plurality of tuners. The kiosk tunes a first tuner of the plurality of tuners to the first channel and the first tuner outputs the first content. The kiosk provides the first content to the wireless interface. The wireless interface transmits the first content to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean S. Lee
  • Patent number: 9467725
    Abstract: A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a set top box that receives a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area, generating a weather log, comparing the weather log and the profile and disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing. A head end and a plurality of other set top boxes may be used to gather the weather data to form the profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Kuriacose Joseph, Scott D. Casavant
  • Patent number: 9426497
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing communication includes an external device and a host device coupled to the external device. The host device generates a tuning request having a request identifier. The external device receives content. The content has a plurality of identifiers associated therewith. The external device filters content according to the request identifier of the plurality of identifiers to form filtered data and communicating the filtered data to the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Lee, Brian D. Jupin
  • Patent number: 9414023
    Abstract: A communication interface device and method for operating the same includes a communication module receiving a request for a content list from a first user device and a list module generating a content list. The communication module communicates the content list device to the first user device and receives a content selection from the user device. A control module initiates a transfer of content corresponding to the content selection from a content storage device. The communication module receives the content at the communication interface device from the content storage device and communicates the content to the first user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean S. Lee