Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Cowan

Thomas M. Cowan 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).

  • Television distribution system for signal substitution
    Patent number: 6941573
    Abstract: A cable television distribution system in which the head end substitutes different channels for a plurality of separated geographic zones. The head end creates a plurality of channel spectrums and transmits the spectrums on distribution trunks such that a different spectrum may be present on each distribution trunk. The spectrums on the distribution trunks are connected to zones of the viewer community which have been selected for market research purposes on the basis of demographics. Product sales collection units are provided at stores throughout the community served by the cable television distribution to collect consumer purchase data for market research purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Information Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Cowan, Scott J. Thomas, Bruce C. Richardson
  • Television distribution system for signal substitution
    Publication number: 20010027564
    Abstract: A cable television distribution system in which the head end substitutes different channels for a plurality of separated geographic zones. The head end creates a plurality of channel spectrums and transmits the spectrums on distribution trunks such that a different spectrum may be present on each distribution trunk. The spectrums on the distribution trunks are connected to zones of the viewer community which have been selected for market research purposes on the basis of demographics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Information Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Cowan, Scott J. Thomas