Christopher J Stone

US Patent:

7176980, Feb 13, 2007

Filed:

Mar 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/806581

Inventors:

Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US
Robert Van Wagenen - Warrington PA, US
William Hicklin - Chalfont PA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 5/46

US Classification:

348558

Abstract:

A method () for verifying a video format supported by a display device (). The display device () is adapted to receive a television signal from a video source () via a video interface (). The method includes: receiving () a data structure () provided by the display device (), the data structure () specifying a plurality of timing parameters associated with a supported video format; providing () a plurality of predetermined value ranges, each of the plurality of predetermined value ranges corresponding to one of the plurality of timing parameters; separating () the data structure into a plurality of portions, each of the plurality of portions corresponding to one of the plurality of timing parameters; comparing () at least some of the plurality of portions with at least some of the plurality of predetermined value ranges; and based on the comparisons, determining whether the supported video format is verified.

US Patent:

7614069, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Dec 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/724943

Inventors:

Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 89, 725 87

Abstract:

The present invention provides multi-device distributed digital video recording systems and methods. The present invention enables digital recording devices on a cable plant to share resources. A plurality of networked digital video recorders are provided. A requesting digital video recorder (DVR) on the network may be capable of broadcasting a request to a plurality of DVRs seeking resources of a dormant DVR. At least one dormant DVR on the network may be capable of providing a response to the requesting DVR indicating its availability of resources. The requesting DVR may then select a granting DVR from the dormant DVRs with available resources (i. e. , those DVRs that responded to the request). A session may then be established between the requesting DVR and the granting DVR. Once the session is established, the resources of the granting DVR may be made available for use by the requesting DVR.

US Patent:

7668195, Feb 23, 2010

Filed:

Jun 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/152764

Inventors:

Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04L 12/26

US Classification:

370465

Abstract:

A method for transmitting and receiving data over a shared access carrier network with a plurality of user devices is provided. The user devices each have a modem associated therewith and a network interface for communicating over a local network. The method begins by transmitting a query from each one of the user devices over the local network requesting remaining ones of the plurality of user devices to specify available resources pertaining to shared access carrier network connectivity capabilities of the modem associated therewith. A reply is received over the local network in response to the query from each of the remaining user devices. Based on the replies from each of the remaining user devices, at least one of the user devices is selected to serve as a master device that provides connectivity to the shared access carrier system through which the other of the plurality of user devices transmit and receive data.

US Patent:

7831992, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Sep 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/246337

Inventors:

Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725112, 725113, 725135, 725136, 348734

Abstract:

A method of processing television content metadata in a communications system. The system includes a consumer device (e. g. , a set-top box and/or television) in communication with an auxiliary display device (e. g. , webpad). A broadcast television channel video image signal and the metadata are received by the consumer device. A single video image frame of the broadcast television channel video image signal is captured when a predefined indicator is detected in the metadata. The metadata is modified by changing the predefined indicator to an image identifier associated with the single video image frame. The single video image frame is converted to a well-known format, and the consumer device sends the modified metadata and the converted single video image frame to the auxiliary display device for display thereon.

US Patent:

7911946, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Nov 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/991023

Inventors:

Christopher Poli - Doylestown PA, US
Richard Stephen Grzeczkowski - Warrington PA, US
Steven A. Didomenico - Mount Laurel NJ, US
Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US
Leonard G. Filomeo - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

G08C 15/00

US Classification:

370230, 370409, 348180, 348 38, 709238

Abstract:

A method () for managing a data stream () encoded according to a digital transmission protocol and configured for broadcasting to a consumer network device () within a broadband communications network (). A message relating to the data stream is encapsulated () within a transport layer data packet (). The packet has a destination port number field. A value associated with a predetermined parameter of the digital transmission protocol is created () within the field. Based on the value, the packet is forwarded () to the consumer network device according to a network layer protocol. When the forwarded message is received by the consumer network device, the consumer network device processes the data stream based on the message, and establishes an application layer communication socket based on the destination port number value. The socket is usable to receive further messages associated with the predetermined parameter of the digital transmission protocol.

US Patent:

7920623, Apr 5, 2011

Filed:

Nov 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/714236

Inventors:

Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US
Stephen A. Allinson - Langhorne PA, US
Christopher S. Del Sordo - Souderton PA, US
Brad T. Howard - Lawrenceville GA, US
Terry L. Ziegler - Lansdale PA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 7/12
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

37524001, 725 90

Abstract:

Simultaneous display of multiple audio/video (AV) programs transmitted over a digital link is described. At a source device, at least one non-composited digital transport stream is generated from the plurality of AV programs. The at least one non-composited digital transport stream is augmented with control information. The control information is operative to invoke simultaneous display of the plurality of AV programs on a display device. The at least one non-composited digital transport stream is then transmitted as augmented over the digital link. At a sink device, at least one non-composited digital transport stream having the plurality of AV programs is received over the digital link. Control information is extracted from the at least one non-composited digital transport stream. The plurality of AV programs are identified within said non-composited digital transport stream in response to the control information. The identified AV programs are then simultaneously displayed on the display device.

US Patent:

7987504, Jul 26, 2011

Filed:

Dec 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/315858

Inventors:

Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US
Leonard G. Filomeo - San Diego CA, US
Richard S. Grzeczkowski - Perkasie PA, US
Andrea C. Harriman - Yardely PA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

G06F 9/00

US Classification:

726 12, 726 2, 726 26, 726 27

Abstract:

A system () and method () for delivering conditional access information to a conditional access controlled device () incompatible with the conditional access transmission protocol. The conditional access information is delivered through a conditional access controlled device () compatible with the conditional access transmission protocol via a home network connection () between the conditional access controlled devices and according to a home network transmission protocol with which both conditional access controlled devices are compatible. The device () compatible with the conditional access transmission protocol receives the conditional access information on behalf of the device () incompatible with the conditional access transmission protocol, reformats the received conditional access information according to the home network transmission protocol, and transmits the reformatted information to the device () incompatible with the conditional access transmission protocol according to the home network transmission protocol and via the home network connection ().

US Patent:

8166499, Apr 24, 2012

Filed:

Aug 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/926706

Inventors:

Christopher J. Stone - Newtown PA, US
Mathew Piacentino - Harleysville PA, US
Robert A. Van Wagenen - Warrington PA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 7/167
H04N 7/16
H04N 5/46

US Classification:

725 31, 725 25, 348556

Abstract:

A method for transmitting content () via a digital video interface () using a high-bandwidth digital content protection system (). The content () has a first format in a first state, a second format in a second state, and vertical blanking intervals associated therewith. In the first state, the method includes: authenticating () that the receiver () is licensed to receive the content, signaling () that the content will be encrypted, and transmitting () the encrypted content in the first format. A transition of the content from the first format to the second format is detected (), and the encrypted content continues () to be transmitted in the first format. In the second state, the method includes: signaling () that the content will be unencrypted, adjusting () the transmitter to transmit in the second format, waiting () for the receiver to identify a vertical blanking interval, signaling () that the content will be re-encrypted, and transmitting () the re-encrypted content in the second format.