David K Platt

US Patent:

6385739, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Jul 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/357183

Inventors:

James M. Barton - Los Gatos CA
Shahin Tahmassebi - Pleasanton CA
David Platt - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Tivo Inc. - Alviso CA

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

714 25, 380 25

Abstract:

A self-test electronic assembly performs self-testing, such as diagnostic or run-in testing of components and circuits, based upon internally stored test procedures. The results of self-testing are stored internally to the device, providing valuable information regarding the self-test electronic assembly, both during the manufacturing process, and preferably for ongoing in-situ operation. A test system is preferably linked to one or more self-test electronic assemblies, and provides loopback circuitry for each installed self-test electronic assembly, whereby the self-test electronic assemblies can further test components, circuitry, and security encoding and decoding operation. The preferred test rack also provides efficient and consistent monitoring and quality control over the self-testing of self-test electronic assemblies. During in-situ operation, the self-test electronic assemblies preferably monitor operating parameters, and continue to periodically perform self-testing, while storing the information within the device, and preferably transmitting the information to an external location.

US Patent:

6490722, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Oct 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/422034

Inventors:

James M. Barton - Los Gatos CA
David C. Platt - Mountain View CA
Steven C. Stone - Pleasanton CA

Assignee:

TiVo Inc. - Alviso CA

International Classification:

G06F 9445

US Classification:

717174, 713 2

Abstract:

A software installation and recovery system provides an initial bootstrap sequence of instructions that initializes the low-level parameters of the client device, initializes the persistent storage system, loads a bootstrap loader from the persistent store into program memory, and passes execution to the bootstrap loader. A second stage boot loader locates the operating system in the persistent store, loads the operating system into program memory, and passes execution to the operating system which then performs necessary hardware and software initialization, loads the viewing object database code and other application software from the persistent store, and begins execution of the applications. The persistent store contains at least two partitions for each of the following: the second stage boot loader; the operating system kernel; and the application software. A partition table resides in the boot sector that records an indication for duplicated partitions in which one of the partitions is marked primary and another is marked backup.

US Patent:

6643798, Nov 4, 2003

Filed:

Mar 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/097761

Inventors:

James M. Barton - Los Gatos CA
Shahin Tahmassebi - Pleasanton CA
David Platt - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

TiVo, Inc. - Alviso CA

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

714 25, 713202

Abstract:

A self-test electronic assembly performs self-testing, such as diagnostic or run-in testing of components and circuits, based upon internally stored test procedures. The results of self-testing are stored internally to the device, providing valuable information regarding the self-test electronic assembly, both during the manufacturing process, and preferably for ongoing in-situ operation. A test system is preferably linked to one or more self-test electronic assemblies, and provides loopback circuitry for each installed self-test electronic assembly, whereby the self-test electronic assemblies can further test components, circuitry, and security encoding and decoding operation. The preferred test rack also provides efficient and consistent monitoring and quality control over the self-testing of self-test electronic assemblies. During in-situ operation, the self-test electronic assemblies preferably monitor operating parameters, and continue to periodically perform self-testing, while storing the information within the device, and preferably transmitting the information to an external location.

US Patent:

6728713, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Oct 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/422139

Inventors:

Brian Beach - Santa Cruz CA
David C. Platt - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Tivo, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 10, 7071041

Abstract:

A distributed database management system provides a central database resident on a server that contains database objects. Objects to be replicated are gathered together into distribution packages called âslices,â that are encrypted using a short-lived symmetric key and broken into a succession of short, numbered data packets before being transmitted to client devices. Data packets are captured by client devices and held in a staging area until all packets in the sequence are present and are then reassembled into the correct slice, which is then decrypted, or discarded when an error is detected in the data packet. The source version, reference count, and dependencies of the received object are verified before adding it to the database. The invention provides a reaper that periodically examines all objects in the database and, depending on the object type, examines various attributes and attribute values to decide if the object should be retained in the database. Periodic tasks are invoked on the server to cull uploaded objects from the database and to forward or dispose of them as appropriate which may result in new objects being added to the central database, existing objects being updated, or new or updated objects transmitted to client devices.

US Patent:

6757837, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Aug 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/642255

Inventors:

David Platt - Mountain View CA
Stephen Lacy - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Tivo, Inc. - Alviso CA

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

714 4, 714 38, 717171

Abstract:

A client/server system and method for providing a way of repairing software failures as they occur. This system enhances the software architecture of the client device is discussed by detecting a software failure and giving the client the ability to dial up a connection to a repair server designed for supplying repair software. This special diagnostic server takes control of the client device, performs a diagnostic, retrieves log information, and downloads and executes software to repair the failure. The system turns control over from the client device to the repair server to execute commands issued by the repair server. Once the connection to the server is established, all of the intelligence in the diagnostic and repair process is driven by the repair server. This allows the repair server to identify and repair the software failures found in the client device without having to change the software in the client device. The repair process can be performed while on-line with the repair server or deferred until after a reboot.

US Patent:

6965730, Nov 15, 2005

Filed:

May 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/275927

Inventors:

David Chamberlin - Mountain View CA, US
David C. Platt - Mountain View CA, US
Eric Vannier - Fremont CA, US
Dan Zenchelsky - Los Gatos CA, US

Assignee:

TiVo, Inc. - Alviso CA

International Classification:

H04N005/85
H04N005/97

US Classification:

386125, 386124, 386 46

Abstract:

A method for dynamically managing a digital recording system's bandwidth requirements, provides prioritized accesses to the recording system's hard drive according to a pre-defined policy which gives the first priority to the data streams being written to the disk, the second priority to the data streams being read from the disk, and the third priority to other accesses to the disk. The recording system's bandwidth efficiency may also be improved by optimizing allocation of the disk's storage space which is partitioned into lower bandwidth portions and higher bandwidth portions, where lower bandwidth data streams are stored in lower bandwidth portions and higher bandwidth data streams are stored in higher bandwidth portions.

US Patent:

7055031, May 30, 2006

Filed:

Feb 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/784512

Inventors:

David C. Platt - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

TiVo, Inc. - Alviso CA

International Classification:

H04L 9/00

US Classification:

713168, 726 4, 726 6, 726 9, 726 10, 726 28, 726 30, 726 29, 713161, 713171, 713176, 713169, 713170, 380278, 380282, 380 30, 705 14, 705 67, 705 71, 705 72, 705 75, 705 76, 705 78, 235462

Abstract:

A process for coupon generation, delivery, and validation over a personal TV service system is disclosed. A client issues electronic coupons to personal TV service customers via a personal TV service center which generates a coupon authentication number for each receiver. The coupon authentication number is known to the key server and the coupon authentication number database. It is also known to the receiver in encrypted form. The product serial number for each receiver acts as a public key, which is known to both the customer and the personal TV service center. A unique offer ID number is assigned to each coupon. When the receiver receives the coupon, it performs a hash operation on the offer ID number using the authentication ID number and takes first or last N digits of the hashed result as the coupon ID number. The customer may redeem the coupon by submitting the offer ID number, the receiver serial number, and the coupon ID number. Before the coupon is redeemed, it must be validated.

US Patent:

7216235, May 8, 2007

Filed:

Aug 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/642617

Inventors:

David Platt - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

TiVo Inc. - Alviso CA

International Classification:

H04L 9/00

US Classification:

713182, 713164, 713189

Abstract:

An authentication system for securing information within a disk drive to be read and written to only by a specific host computer such that it is difficult or impossible to access the drive by any system other than a designated host is disclosed. While the invention is similar in intent to a password scheme, it significantly more secure. The invention thus provides a secure environment for important information stored within a disk drive. The information can only be accessed by a host if the host can respond to random challenges asked by the disk drive. The host's responses are generated using a cryptography chip processing a specific algorithm. This technique allows the disk drive and the host to communicate using a coded security system where attempts to break the code and choose the correct password take longer to learn than the useful life of the disk drive itself.