Patents by Inventor Thomas Joseph O'Brien

Thomas Joseph O'Brien 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: 8351843
    Abstract: A method for specifying content of interest using a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. A digital radio broadcast signal includes first audio content and first program data, wherein the first program data includes information identifying a first item, and includes second audio content and second program data, wherein the second program data includes information identifying a second item. A user command entered at a user interface during reception of audio content is registered, indicating a user's interest in either the first or second audio content. It is determined whether there is an ambiguity in the content of interest. If there is an ambiguity, a first data structure is stored for the first audio content, and a second data structure is stored for the second audio content. The first data structure includes the information identifying the first item, and the second data structure includes the information identifying the second item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: iBiquity Digital Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Michael Dillon, Harvey Chalmers, Thomas Joseph O'Brien, Gregory Nungester, Rodney Bernard Burke, Joseph F. D'Angelo
  • Publication number: 20090061763
    Abstract: A method for specifying content of interest using a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. A digital radio broadcast signal includes first audio content and first program data, wherein the first program data includes information identifying a first item, and includes second audio content and second program data, wherein the second program data includes information identifying a second item. A user command entered at a user interface during reception of audio content is registered, indicating a user's interest in either the first or second audio content. It is determined whether there is an ambiguity in the content of interest. If there is an ambiguity, a first data structure is stored for the first audio content, and a second data structure is stored for the second audio content. The first data structure includes the information identifying the first item, and the second data structure includes the information identifying the second item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: iBiquity Digital Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Michael Dillon, Harvey Chalmers, Thomas Joseph O'Brien, Gregory Nungester, Rodney Bernard Burke, Joseph F. D'Angelo
  • Patent number: 6429737
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the modulation of more than one channel of audio in a digital amplification system. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, pulse width modulator outputs are staggered in time such that at idle only one channel switches states at a time. This is done to provide an even draw from the power supply, assuming that the same supply is used for the multiple channels. For example, in a two channel system, the idle state of the pulse width modulator for the first channel is 90 degrees out of phase with the pulse width modulator output of the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6107876
    Abstract: A digital input switching audio power amplifier uses a simple logic circuit and/or software program for signal processing and, therefore, does not require an expensive DSP processor. The invention provides an approach that allows the integration of power level meters and volume controls in the logic circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, the amplifier accepts multiple inputs, an active one of which may be digitally selected. The invention uses this novel approach to signal processing to achieve high performance. The invention also provides lower system cost as a result of the higher levels of system integration provided by the logic circuit. Increased system versatility results from a modular design which allows the production of an amplifier having optimum cost-to-performance ratios. The amplifier is implemented in ASIC and FPGA circuitry, such that a designer using the invention is provided with flexibility in choosing the various operating parameters of the amplifier, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Ravisent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph O'Brien