James C Huffman

US Patent:

8151311, Apr 3, 2012

Filed:

Nov 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/948694

Inventors:

James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US
Douglas Medina - Grain Valley MO, US
Darren Kaufman - Olathe KS, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

H04N 7/173
H04N 7/16
H04B 15/00

US Classification:

725107, 725126, 725144, 455 631

Abstract:

A method of detecting potential video traffic interference at a video head-end of a video distribution network is disclosed and includes detecting, at a video head-end, a signal populating an ultra high frequency (UHF) white space frequency. The method also includes determining that a strength of the signal is equal to or greater than a threshold signal strength. Further, the method includes sending an alert from the video head-end to a network management system. The alert indicates that the UHF white space frequency is populated by a signal having a potential to interfere with video traffic delivered via the video head-end.

US Patent:

8423417, Apr 16, 2013

Filed:

Nov 19, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/942462

Inventors:

Christopher Heck - Lees Summit MO, US
Nicholas Nicas - Blue Springs MO, US
James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06Q 40/00

US Classification:

705 261, 705 263

Abstract:

A method for delivering advertising data, comprising receiving end user data at a server, the data indicating available advertising spots in content data stored at an end user device; and updating from the server advertising data in the available advertising spots for presentation of the advertising data during replay of the content data at the end user device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure embedded in a computer readable medium is disclosed for containing data for performing the method.

US Patent:

8613033, Dec 17, 2013

Filed:

Feb 23, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/403158

Inventors:

James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US
Douglas Medina - Grain Valley MO, US
Darren Kaufman - Olathe KS, US

Assignee:

AT&t Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

H04N 7/173
H04N 7/16
H04B 15/00

US Classification:

725116, 725118, 725125, 725107, 725126, 725144, 455 631, 455 634

Abstract:

A particular method of mitigating potential video traffic interference includes receiving an alert at a network management system, where the alert indicates detection of a signal in an ultra high frequency (UHF) white space frequency at a video head-end of a video distribution network, where the signal has a potential to interfere with video traffic that has been detected. The method also includes sending data to the video head-end, where the data indicates at least one corrective measure to mitigate interference with the video traffic by the signal.

US Patent:

8635640, Jan 21, 2014

Filed:

Dec 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/343878

Inventors:

James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US
Jon D. Heath - Lees Summit MO, US
Christopher R. Heck - Lees Summit MO, US

Assignee:

AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

H04H 60/33
H04H 60/32
H04N 7/10
H04N 7/025

US Classification:

725 20, 725 9, 725 14, 725 19, 725 32, 725 34, 725 35

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for logging triggers in a video data stream the method including but not limited to monitoring a video data stream at an multimedia processor end user device; receiving from a data distribution server, the video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; detecting a trigger in the video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; logging a time for the trigger detected in the video data stream in a trigger log at the multimedia processor end user device; and sending the trigger log an advertising verification system in the data distribution system for correlating the time the trigger occurred with an Advertising Schedule.

US Patent:

20090100493, Apr 16, 2009

Filed:

Oct 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/873260

Inventors:

Todd W. Jones - Kansas City MO, US
Brian Wilson - Liberty MO, US
James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US

Assignee:

AT&T Knowledge Ventures, LP. - Reno NV

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725131

Abstract:

A set top box (STB) device receives a data stream comprising video content data and meta data. The data stream can include, for example, an H.264-compliant data stream transmitted to the STB device via a packet-switched network, such as an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network. The meta data comprises an indicator of a display format for the video content data. The STB device accesses the indicator from the data stream and processes the video content data to generate a first display data having the first display format. The STB device can include a preset static display format configuration that is overridden by the STB device in response to accessing the indicator.

US Patent:

20090128708, May 21, 2009

Filed:

Nov 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/943877

Inventors:

James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US
Darren Kaufman - Olathe MO, US
Douglas Medina - Grain Valley MO, US

Assignee:

AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P. - Reno NV

International Classification:

H04N 5/00
H04N 7/26

US Classification:

348705, 37524001, 348E05001, 375E07026

Abstract:

A disclosed multimedia signal monitoring unit includes a chassis and, within the chassis, a processor, a multimedia signal receiver for receiving an encoded multimedia stream, and a plurality of decoders. Each of the decoders can decode an encoded multimedia signal, where at least two of the plurality of decoders is operable to decode the multimedia signal using different decoding algorithms. The decoder includes a switch under control of the processor. In some embodiments, the switch is configured to connect the receiver to a selected one of the decoders. A user input interface is connected to the microprocessor and is operable to manually operate the switch. Each decoder may be attached to a corresponding circuit board. Each of the circuit boards is received within a corresponding slot defined within the chassis. The circuit boards may be swapped among the slots. Each decoder may be operable to decode a multimedia signal modulated using 8-level vestigial sideband modulation.

US Patent:

20090150917, Jun 11, 2009

Filed:

Dec 6, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/952012

Inventors:

James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US
Todd W. Jones - Kansas City MO, US
Brian Wilson - Liberty MO, US

Assignee:

AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. - Reno NV

International Classification:

H04H 60/33

US Classification:

725 9

Abstract:

A system measures viewership of multimedia programs such as television programs, pay-per-view sporting events, and video-on-demand movies. Viewership data from a plurality of multimedia programs may be compared to determine ratings for the multimedia programs. Multimedia streams en route to set top boxes may be monitored using packet inspection to identify the multimedia program or programs included in the multimedia streams. An electronic table or array may be stored and updated with viewership statistics of monitored multimedia programs. Some embodiments track the total number of households or televisions that are powered on in a viewing area. Ratings are available substantially in real time by accessing a stored table with viewership information or by frequently polling a plurality of stored values to determine which multimedia program is being viewed by all or substantially all viewers in an area.

US Patent:

20090187950, Jul 23, 2009

Filed:

Jan 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/016776

Inventors:

Nicholas A. Nicas - Blue Springs MO, US
Christopher R. Heck - Lees Summit MO, US
James Huffman - Kansas City MO, US

Assignee:

AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. - Reno NV

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 56

Abstract:

An audible menu system associated with distribution of television content over a service provider network is disclosed. The menu system includes a speech synthesizer and screen reader. Electronic programming guide (EPG) elements are read by a screen reader and provided to a speech synthesizer for presenting audible representations of EPG elements to a user. The user may provide inputs to a remote control device to navigate an EPG that may also be presented through a graphical user interface. As a user navigates a cursor over selectable EPG elements, disclosed embodiments provide audible outputs that correspond to the selectable EPG elements. In some embodiments, users may provide customized audio inputs that are played as audio outputs during future menu navigation sessions.