Mark Allen Foster

US Patent:

6480703, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Nov 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/708315

Inventors:

Theodore Calderone - San Carlos CA
Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Agile TV Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

H04B 102

US Classification:

455118, 455105, 348723, 725149

Abstract:

The invention provides a mechanism for implementing a common carrier, multiple output RF upconverter. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for distributing the LO signals for both the first and second LO functions to several upconverter sections simultaneously. This technique eliminates the frequency synthesizers and VCOs typically required for each individual upconverter section, thereby substantially reducing the board space and component count required to perform this function. By providing a distributed LO, only two LO synthesizers and VCOs are required per board, where a board might support anywhere from two to twelve or more upconverters.

US Patent:

6925651, Aug 2, 2005

Filed:

Dec 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/740684

Inventors:

Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA, US
Theodore Calderone - San Carlos CA, US

Assignee:

Agile TV Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

H04N007/173

US Classification:

725105

Abstract:

A method and processor architecture that implements the delivery of compressed digital video and audio content over a broadband network is disclosed.

US Patent:

7039074, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Sep 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/661486

Inventors:

Theodore Calderone - San Carlos CA, US
Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

AGILETV Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

H04L 11/00
H04L 12/50
H04J 3/04

US Classification:

370542, 370375, 370535

Abstract:

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an output clock synchronizes an output CPU with an n-way demultiplexer to allow the demultiplexer to know which output is which. To do so, the invention provides a synchronization scheme in which a synchronization string is always written to channel zero before the output is allowed to be clocked. Once synchronization is established, each channel has its own word-length output buffer. Thus, each time the clock sends out a signal, a new word is put into the output buffer, unless it happens to be for channel zero which does not need a memory.

US Patent:

7047196, May 16, 2006

Filed:

Feb 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/785375

Inventors:

Theodore Calderone - San Carlos CA, US
Paul M. Cook - Woodside CA, US
Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

AgileTV Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

G10L 21/00

US Classification:

7042701, 704201, 704231, 715719, 715512, 715726, 709217

Abstract:

A method and system of speech recognition presented by a back channel from multiple user sites within a network supporting cable television and/or video delivery is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises ans system and method of using a back channel containing a multiplicity of identified speech channels from a multiplicity of user sites presented to a speech processing system at a wireline node in a network that supports at least one of cable television delivery and video delivery. One embodiment of the invention comprises a method having the steps of receiving the back channel to create a received back channel; partitioning the received back channel into a multiplicity of received identified speech channels; processing the multiplicity of received identified speech channels to create a multiplicity of identified speech content; and responding to the identified speech content to create an identified speech content response that is unique, for each of the multiplicity of identified speech contents.

US Patent:

7260538, Aug 21, 2007

Filed:

Jan 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/338591

Inventors:

Theodore Calderone - San Carlos CA, US
Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA, US
Harry William Printz - San Francisco CA, US
James Jay Kistler - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Promptu Systems Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

G10L 15/00

US Classification:

704275, 348 1405

Abstract:

A method and apparatus is disclosed for remotely processing voice commands for controlling a television. A voice command is uttered by a user into a microphone contained in a remote control. The voice command is digitized, modulated, compressed, and wirelessly transmitted to a wireless receiver connected to a set-top box. The voice command is then transmitted to a cable head-end unit for voice and word recognition processing. Once the command function is determined, the function is transmitted back to the set-top box where the set-top box performs the command. The microphone is activated and deactivated by pressing and releasing a push-to-talk (PTT) switch. The PTT activates other functions by being turned, double-clicked and toggled up and down, left and right.

US Patent:

7428273, Sep 23, 2008

Filed:

Sep 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/944503

Inventors:

Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Promptu Systems Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

H03D 3/22
H04L 27/22

US Classification:

375329, 375279, 375308, 375324, 375325, 375340

Abstract:

Traditional techniques for data reception in burst-mode receivers are of significant complexity. To aid detection, most burst-mode systems transmit a preamble, or predetermined data pattern, at the start of each new block of data. Using current methods, the detection of a new preamble, indicating the arrival of a new burst of data, is particularly complex. A method and apparatus is disclosed that significantly reduces this detection complexity, while maintaining superior signaling performance. This simplification can lead to higher data throughput within processing-limited receivers, and/or a greater degree of parallelism in multiple channel receivers.

US Patent:

7685523, Mar 23, 2010

Filed:

Nov 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/283176

Inventors:

Theodore Calderone - San Carlos CA, US
Paul M. Cook - Woodside CA, US
Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

AgileTV Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/16

US Classification:

715728, 715272, 715730, 705 34, 705 40, 7042701, 704201, 704246, 704270

Abstract:

A method and system of speech recognition presented by a back channel from multiple user sites within a network supporting cable television and/or video delivery is disclosed.

US Patent:

8095370, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Sep 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/943718

Inventors:

Mark J. Foster - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

AgileTV Corporation - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

G10L 21/00
H04N 7/14

US Classification:

704275, 348 1405

Abstract:

A dual compression voice recordation non-repudiation system provides a voice recognition system that compresses voice samples for two purposes: voice recognition and human communication. The user navigates through menus displayed to a user through a television set using both voice commands and button presses on a remote control. The invention accepts voice samples from the remote control and compresses the voice sample for voice recognition while a copy of the voice sample is stored on a storage device. Compressed voice samples are sent to a Voice Engine that performs voice recognition on the voice sample to verify if it is from an authorized user from the consumer's household and determines the action required. If the command is to form a contractual agreement or make a purchase, the Voice Engine determines the merchant server that is appropriate for the action and sends the action request to the server. The voice sample is compressed for human communication and stored on a storage device along with any additional information.