Patents by Inventor Steven M. Wollmershauser
Steven M. Wollmershauser 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: 20160014065Abstract: A method (300) and apparatus are disclosed for event notification. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a presence services system (PSS) (102) can have a controller (104) that manages operations of a communications interface (110). The controller can be programmed to monitor (302) presence information of a plurality of communication devices of an end user operating in a communications system, and receive (316) a request from a calendar reminder system (CRS) for access to the presence information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Yolius Diroo, Edward Walter, Brian Wilson, William R. Hurst, Anil Kumar Doradla
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Patent number: 9215418Abstract: A computer program and system are disclosed for sending stored IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network end user network interface device, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to intercept data from the end user device connected to the end user network interface device before the data reaches a destination intended by an end user associated with the end user device; instructions to determine at the end user network interface device whether a television subscription is active for the end user network device; and instructions to send the advertisement data from the television network device to the end user device for display when the television subscription is not active for the network interface device and instructions to connect the client device to a walled garden indicated by a uniform resource in the advertisement data.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Steven M Wollmershauser, William R Hurst
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Patent number: 9172801Abstract: A method (300) and apparatus are disclosed for event notification. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a presence services system (PSS) (102) can have a controller (104) that manages operations of a communications interface (110). The controller can be programmed to monitor (302) presence information of a plurality of communication devices of an end user operating in a communications system, and receive (316) a request from a calendar reminder system (CRS) for access to the presence information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Yolius Diroo, Edward Walter, Brian Wilson, William Hurst, Anil Doradla
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Publication number: 20150172844Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive a request for reverberation in an environment having a plurality of media devices, and adjust a time delay for audio signals presented by one of the plurality of media devices operably coupled to the set top box based at least in part on the request. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2015Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Steven M Wollmershauser, William O. Sprague, JR., Jason B. Sprague
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Publication number: 20150135205Abstract: A computer program and system are disclosed for sending stored IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network end user network interface device, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to intercept data from the end user device connected to the end user network interface device before the data reaches a destination intended by an end user associated with the end user device; instructions to determine at the end user network interface device whether a television subscription is active for the end user network device; and instructions to send the advertisement data from the television network device to the end user device for display when the television subscription is not active for the network interface device and instructions to connect the client device to a walled garden indicated by a uniform resource in the advertisement data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2014Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, William R. Hurst
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Publication number: 20150052566Abstract: A network addressable appliance with digital multimedia recording capabilities has limited access including playback of stored multimedia content upon faulty connection with a service provider network. Upon a connectivity event, the network addressable appliance compares a retrieved hardware address for a connected residential gateway to a stored hardware address for an assigned residential gateway. If the two hardware addresses correspond, the network addressable appliance provides playback to stored multimedia content. The system helps prevent violations of digital rights management rules by restricting access to stored multimedia content while the network addressable appliance is connected to an unauthorized residential gateway. The system provides a user with limited access (i.e. playback) to multimedia content during service provider network outages.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Jason B. Sprague, William O. Sprague, JR.
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Patent number: 8931001Abstract: A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium is disclosed, containing a computer program for distributing video data over an electrical power line, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to receive first video data and second video data concurrently at a first internet protocol television client device over an electrical power line from a second and third controllable devices in response to the detecting the first event data in the first location at the first controllable device; instructions to create at a first client end user device, a client created internet protocol television channel and insert the client created channel into an existing electronic program guide for the first and second video data; and instructions to send the electronic program guide to a second client end user device for selection and display of the first and second video concurrently at a display for the second client end user device.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Brian B. Wilson, Roger A. Cockrell, Steven M. Wollmershauser
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Patent number: 8881203Abstract: A network addressable appliance with digital multimedia recording capabilities has limited access including playback of stored multimedia content upon faulty connection with a service provider network. Upon a connectivity event, the network addressable appliance compares a retrieved hardware address for a connected residential gateway to a stored hardware address for an assigned residential gateway. If the two hardware addresses correspond, the network addressable appliance provides playback to stored multimedia content. The system helps prevent violations of digital rights management rules by restricting access to stored multimedia content while the network addressable appliance is connected to an unauthorized residential gateway. The system provides a user with limited access (i.e. playback) to multimedia content during service provider network outages.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Jason B. Sprague, William O. Sprague, Jr.
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Patent number: 8824694Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to monitor ambient noise in proximity to the communication device, monitor a transmitted voice signal associated with the communication device, adjust a receiver volume for the transmitted voice signal based at least in part on a comparison of the transmitted voice signal with the ambient noise, monitor a received voice signal associated with the communication device, and adjust a speaker volume for the received voice signal based at least in part on a comparison of the received voice signal with the ambient noise, where the adjusting of the receiver volume is independent of the adjusting of the speaker volume. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2007Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, William O. Sprague, Jr., Emlyn C. Jeffrey
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Patent number: 8817095Abstract: In an embodiment, a third party video content database is coupled to an IPTV network. The IPTV network includes a plurality of set top boxes (STBs). The third party video content database is mapped to the IPTV network via an IP address of the third party content database, and it is associated with an assigned channel on the IPTV network. One or more STBs of the IPTV network have access to the assigned channel.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Yolius Diroo, Steven M. Wollmershauser, Edward Walter
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Patent number: 8789078Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for sending stored IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network end user network interface device. The method includes receiving the IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network server at the IPTV end user network interface device; storing the IPTV advertisement data in a memory of the IPTV network end user network interface device; determining at the IPTV network end user network interface device whether an IPTV subscription is active for the IPTV network end user device; and sending the advertisement data from the IPTV network device to a client device for display when the IPTV subscription is not active for the IPTV end user network interface device. The system includes a processor, memory and instruction for performing the method.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, William R. Hurst
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Patent number: 8763065Abstract: Techniques for Internet Protocol (IP) video integration within a home viewing network are provided. Locally acquired IP video content is assigned a channel on a television (TV). The assigned channel is associated with a same source input of the TV that includes other channels that present externally acquired TV programming content. The TV programming content and the local IP video content can both be accessed on a TV over the same source input via references to appropriately assigned channels.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Edward Walter, Steven M. Wollmershauser
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Patent number: 8707382Abstract: Synchronization is provided for set-top boxes that display multiple instances of a single multimedia program. Embodied set-top boxes request the transmission of a multimedia program and determine the play point of a remote set-top box. Embodied set-top boxes set a local play point to correspond to the remote set-top box's play point. More than two set-top boxes may be synchronized in accordance with disclosed embodiments, and some systems implement master and slave set-top boxes for purposes of synchronization.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Jason B. Sprague, William O. Sprague, Jr.
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Patent number: 8661348Abstract: According to a first aspect there is provided a method for associating a file that contains the image with a second file that is identified by input received at a set-top box from a user. According to a second aspect there is provided a method for capturing an image that is displayed on a display device that is associated with the set-top box; and communicating the image over a network. According to a third aspect there is provided a method for adjusting a frame that is displayed on a display device that is associated with the set-top box; capturing an image that is displayed inside the frame on the display device; and processing the image. According to a fourth aspect there is provided a method for capturing an image displayed on a display device associated with the set-top box; associating the image with a rule; and processing the rule to prevent the image from being printed.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Yolius Diroo, Edward Walter, Aaron Bangor, Marc Sullivan
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Patent number: 8625745Abstract: A portable signal testing system includes a transmitter, a first dynamically tunable receiver, a second dynamically tunable receiver, a first indicator and a second indicator. The transmitter transmits over a wired communications link a first signal having a corresponding first frequency representative of a first frequency range of the wired communications link, and transmits over the wired communications link a second signal having a corresponding second frequency representative of a second frequency range of the wired communications link. Signal losses for the first signal and second signal are measured, and indicators indicate whether the signal losses are acceptable.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Yolius Diroo, Edward Walter
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Publication number: 20130272316Abstract: A method includes, in response to determining that a transmission parameter of a communication received from a particular network device does not satisfy a bandwidth threshold indicated by a transmission rule, modifying the transmission parameter based on the transmission rule to produce a modified parameter. The particular network device is associated with a particular transmission rule that includes a particular data rate of network resources. The method includes applying the modified parameter to the communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Ahmad C. Ansari
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Publication number: 20130263175Abstract: In an embodiment, a third party video content database is coupled to an IPTV network. The IPTV network includes a plurality of set top boxes (STBs). The third party video content database is mapped to the IPTV network via an IP address of the third party content database, and it is associated with an assigned channel on the IPTV network. One or more STBs of the IPTV network have access to the assigned channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Yolius Diroo, Steven M. Wollmershauser, Edward Walter
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Patent number: 8488451Abstract: A system and method of networking with configurable data mapping is disclosed. Data mapping can be utilized to match data transmission types with devices that can efficiently utilize the data transmission type. In one configuration, the data mapping teachings disclosed herein may be utilized to increase the processing efficiency of a home network and insure correct programming is allowed to pass to the correct device by applying a set of data transmission rules to data transmissions between a residential gateway and it's clients. An exemplary method may include receiving a communication at a residential gateway from a client and identifying the client or the source of the transmission. The client may be identified by recognizing one or more of a data transmission type, a client identifier embedded in the transmission, and an identification of a network device hosting the client. The identification may, in some cases, be made automatically upon reception of a data transmission.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Ahmad C. Ansari
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Patent number: 8471903Abstract: In an embodiment, a third party video content database is coupled to an IPTV network. The IPTV network includes a plurality of set top boxes (STBs). The third party video content database is mapped to the IPTV network via an IP address of the third party content database, and it is associated with an assigned channel on the IPTV network. One or more STBs of the IPTV network have access to the assigned channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Yolius Diroo, Steven M. Wollmershauser, Edward Walter
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Patent number: 8416922Abstract: A signal testing apparatus includes a transmitter, a first receiver, a second receiver, a first indicator and a second indicator. The transmitter transmits over a wired communications link a first signal having a corresponding first frequency representative of a first frequency range of the wired communications link, and that transmits over the wired communications link a second signal having a corresponding second frequency representative of a second frequency range of the wired communications link. Signal losses for the first signal and second signal are measured, and indicators indicate whether the signal losses are acceptable.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2012Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Yolius Diroo, Edward A. Walter