Patents by Inventor Stephen P. Dulac
Stephen P. Dulac 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: 20210304167Abstract: Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. Disclosed example systems include a client device for use at a physical location and a media server for use at the physical location. The example media server includes a security device to determine a first encryption secret based on a first encryption key and to determine a second encryption secret based on a second encryption key. The media server also includes a decrypter to decrypt received encrypted content for requested content based on the first encryption secret and an encrypter to re-encrypt the decrypted content data for the requested content based on the second encryption secret. In addition, the media server includes an interface to send the re-encrypted content data to the client device, wherein the client device is to decrypt the re-encrypted content data based on the second encryption secret to access the requested content.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac, David N. Schlacht, Hanno Basse, Thomas H. James
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Patent number: 10977631Abstract: Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. Disclosed example systems include a client device for use at a physical location and a media server for use at the physical location. The example media server includes a security device to determine a first encryption secret based on a first encryption key and to determine a second encryption secret based on a second encryption key. The media server also includes a decrypter to decrypt received encrypted content for requested content based on the first encryption secret and an encrypter to re-encrypt the decrypted content data for the requested content based on the second encryption secret. In addition, the media server includes an interface to send the re-encrypted content data to the client device, wherein the client device is to decrypt the re-encrypted content data based on the second encryption secret to access the requested content.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac, David N. Schlacht, Hanno Basse, Thomas H. James
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Patent number: 9967521Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide content on demand in content broadcast systems are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a first portion of a program via broadcast signal and receiving a second portion of the program via an Internet protocol (IP) based signal. The example method may further comprise combining the first and the second portions and at least one of store the combined first and second portions in a file or playback the combined first and second portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac
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Publication number: 20180046949Abstract: Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. Disclosed example systems include a client device for use at a physical location and a media server for use at the physical location. The example media server includes a security device to determine a first encryption secret based on a first encryption key and to determine a second encryption secret based on a second encryption key. The media server also includes a decrypter to decrypt received encrypted content for requested content based on the first encryption secret and an encrypter to re-encrypt the decrypted content data for the requested content based on the second encryption secret. In addition, the media server includes an interface to send the re-encrypted content data to the client device, wherein the client device is to decrypt the re-encrypted content data based on the second encryption secret to access the requested content.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac, David N. Schlacht, Hanno Basse, Thomas H. James
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Patent number: 9819982Abstract: A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates a plurality of upcoming content metadata that includes a content title to the user device. The user device displays the upcoming content metadata and selects at least one upcoming content metadata from the plurality of upcoming content metadata to form selected data. The user device communicates the selected data to the head end. The head end adjusts head end communication parameters for the content associated with the selected data based on the selected data and communicates the content to a user device based on the head end communication parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, John L. Norin, Robert G. Arsenault, Raynold M. Kahn, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Luke J. Crook, John D. Choi, Michelle L. Vagnati, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 9811789Abstract: Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. An example system includes a content server to encrypt content according to an encryption key, and to transfer the encrypted content, the encryption key and a license to a client that supports a digital rights management technology. The example system further includes a broadcast system headend to determine the encryption key, wherein the broadcast system headend is physically separate from the content server, and a digital rights management license server to provide the license.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac, David N. Schlacht, Hanno Basse, Thomas H. James
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Publication number: 20170272700Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide content on demand in content broadcast systems are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a first portion of a program via broadcast signal and receiving a second portion of the program via an Internet protocol (IP) based signal. The example method may further comprise combining the first and the second portions and at least one of store the combined first and second portions in a file or playback the combined first and second portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 9743121Abstract: Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at broadcast headends in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example method includes generating a broadcast signal, receiving an authorization request to download a program from a receiver station, determining an authorization for the download and sending the authorization to a point-to-point content delivery server.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Stephen P. Dulac, Hanno Basse, Peter M. Klauss, Deanna R. Kidd, Maria G. Popoli
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Publication number: 20170064356Abstract: Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at broadcast headends in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example method includes generating a broadcast signal, receiving an authorization request to download a program from a receiver station, determining an authorization for the download and sending the authorization to a point-to-point content delivery server.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Stephen P. Dulac, Hanno Basse, Peter M. Klauss, Deanna R. Kidd, Maria G. Popoli
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Publication number: 20170024667Abstract: Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. An example system includes a content server to encrypt content according to an encryption key, and to transfer the encrypted content, the encryption key and a license to a client that supports a digital rights management technology. The example system further includes a broadcast system headend to determine the encryption key, wherein the broadcast system headend is physically separate from the content server, and a digital rights management license server to provide the license.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2014Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac, David N. Schlacht, Hanno Basse, Thomas H. James
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Publication number: 20160360255Abstract: A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates a plurality of upcoming content metadata that includes a content title to the user device. The user device displays the upcoming content metadata and selects at least one upcoming content metadata from the plurality of upcoming content metadata to form selected data. The user device communicates the selected data to the head end. The head end adjusts head end communication parameters for the content associated with the selected data based on the selected data and communicates the content to a user device based on the head end communication parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo PONTUAL, John L. NORIN, Robert G. ARSENAULT, Raynold M. KAHN, Sui-Ky Ringo LING, Luke J. CROOK, John D. CHOI, Michelle L. VAGNATI, Stephen P. DULAC
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Patent number: 9485469Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide content on demand in content broadcast systems are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a first portion of a program via broadcast signal and receiving a second portion of the program via an Internet protocol (IP) based signal. The example method may further comprise combining the first and the second portions and at least one of store the combined first and second portions in a file or playback the combined first and second portions.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 9456247Abstract: A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates a plurality of upcoming content metadata that includes a content title to the user device. The user device displays the upcoming content metadata and selects at least one upcoming content metadata from the plurality of upcoming content metadata to form selected data. The user device communicates the selected data to the head end. The head end adjusts head end communication parameters for the content associated with the selected data based on the selected data and communicates the content to a user device based on the head end communication parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, John L. Norin, Robert G. Arsenault, Raynold M. Kahn, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Luke J. Crook, John D. Choi, Michelle L. Vagnati, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 9137556Abstract: A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates metadata for a plurality of content including the content titles. The system also includes the user device that generates a screen display comprising the plurality of content titles from the metadata and generates a selection corresponding to a first content title from a user interface, the user device adds metadata for the first content title to a queue and displays the queue in a priority order on the screen display. The user device is tuned to receive content corresponding to the first content title and stores the content in a storage device.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, John L. Norin, Robert G. Arsenault, Raynold M. Kahn, Sui-Ky Ringo Ling, Luke J. Crook, John D. Choi, Michelle L. Vagnati, David Eric Shanks, Steven Kasakitis, Eric J. Bennett, Kenny C. Chen, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 8996421Abstract: Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at broadcast headends in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example method includes generating a broadcast signal, receiving an authorization request to download a program from a receiver station, determining an authorization for the download and sending the authorization to a point-to-point content delivery server.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Stephen P. Dulac, Hanno Basse, Peter M. Klauss, Deanna R. Kidd, Maria G. Popoli
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Patent number: 8849434Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control audio leveling in media presentation systems are described. An example method for controlling audio leveling in a media presentation system includes receiving data including media content and metadata and selecting an audio leveling technique to be used in an audio leveling process based on the metadata.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Romulo Pontual, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 8804035Abstract: A method and system for communicating text descriptive data has a receiving device that receives a data signal having text description data corresponding to a description of a video signal. A text-to-speech converter associated with the receiving device converts the text description data to a first audio signal. A display device in communication with the text-to-speech converter converts the first audio signal associated with the receiving device to an audible signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Scott D. Casavant, Brian D. Jupin, Stephen P. Dulac
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Patent number: 8775319Abstract: Secure content transfer systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. An example system includes a content server to encrypt content according to an encryption key, and to transfer the encrypted content, the encryption key and a license to a client that supports a digital rights management technology. The example system further includes a broadcast system headend to determine the encryption key, wherein the broadcast system headend is physically separate from the content server, and a digital rights management license server to provide the license.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Raynold M. Kahn, Peter M. Klauss, Stephen P. Dulac, David N. Schlacht, Hanno Basse, Thomas H. James
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Patent number: 8769581Abstract: A system and method for transmitting program guide information describing a second set of programs to subscribers is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is implemented in a network broadcasting a first signal having a first set of programs and a second signal having a second set of programs. The method comprises the steps of broadcasting first program guide information describing the first set of programs to the subscribers on a first service channel on a first signal and broadcasting second program guide information describing the second set of programs to a subset of the subscribers on the first service channel on a second signal, wherein a fundamental signal characteristic of the second signal differs from the fundamental signal characteristic of the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence N. Chapman, Stephen P. Dulac, Robert G. Arsenault
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Patent number: 8561096Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for processing viewing usage data in a set-top box. A set-top box (STB) receives, via broadcast, distinct programmable instructions for data collection, data manipulation, and data reporting for viewing usage data. The STB then obtains/collects raw viewing usage data in accordance with the instructions for data collection. Once collected, the STB manipulates the raw viewing usage data to create a report in accordance with the instructions for data manipulation. The report is then transmitted from the set-top box to a centralized data mining system in accordance with the instructions for data reporting.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2003Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventor: Stephen P. Dulac