Michael H Nichols

US Patent:

6445398, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Jun 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/103317

Inventors:

George Gerba - Venice CA
Robert Lambert - Glendale CA
Michael Nichols - Altadena CA
Drew Takahashi - San Mateo CA

Assignee:

Corporate Media Partners - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 714

US Classification:

345721, 345823

Abstract:

A method and system of providing a user interface for presenting television programming schedule data on a display. The schedule data is organized in a data plane comprising data cells identifying the items of schedule data, such as the titles of the television programs. The method involves presenting a highlight cell or cursor at a fixed position on the display such that a first data cell is at a concurrent position with the highlight cell, and allowing the data plane to scroll on the display in at least one direction such that all or part of the first data cell moves out of concurrent position with the highlight cell and a second data cell or part thereof moves into concurrent position with the highlight cell. This fixed position highlight cell thus remains stationary while the data plane or electronic program guide scrid moves, making it easier for viewers to peruse the selections in the data plane without moving their eyes substantially. The highlight cell is preferably in a substantially central location on the display.

US Patent:

6452611, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Jun 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/103316

Inventors:

George Gerba - Venice CA
Robert Lambert - Glendale CA
Michael Nichols - Altadena CA

Assignee:

Corporate Media Partners - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

G06K 1500

US Classification:

345721, 345821

Abstract:

A method and system for providing dynamically changing sets of categories of television programming. The method involves a person or intelligent agent generating at a head end a first data set identifying programming categories based at least in part on programming choices available for viewing at a first time. This data set is transmitted from the head end to remote receivers, which display the set of programming categories to the viewer who can select a category and view the various programming choices within the category. The method further involves generating a second data set identifying different programming categories based at least in part on programming choices available for viewing at a second time later than the first time. This second set is also transmitted to remote receivers so that viewers see an updated set of programming categories. Thus, viewers are always presented with categories for which programming is currently available.

US Patent:

6492997, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Jun 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/103315

Inventors:

George Gerba - Venice CA
Robert Lambert - Glendale CA
Michael Nichols - Altadena CA

Assignee:

Corporate Media PArtners - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

G06K 1500

US Classification:

345721, 345838

Abstract:

A method and system for presenting an interactive multi-window video display which provides particular advantages in a one-way television broadcast system in which user selections can not be transmitted to a head end or other central station. The system comprises a receiver for receiving a multi-window video signal representing a multi-window video display comprising a number of reduced size video displays. The reduced size video displays each contain video representing programming being currently offered on a different channel. The system presents the multi-window video display on a display device such as a television and allows viewers to select of one of the reduced size video displays. When the reduced size video is selected for highlighting, the audio associated with that video is presented. When the highlighted video is selected, the receiver tunes to the channel upon which the video is available in full screen mode.

US Patent:

7500202, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Sep 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/260210

Inventors:

George Gerba - Venice CA, US
Robert Lambert - Glendale CA, US
Michael Nichols - Altadena CA, US

Assignee:

Corporate Media Partners - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/14
G06F 3/00

US Classification:

715856, 345156

Abstract:

Presented is a remote control for interacting with a navigation system that allows content presented on a display device to be navigated in an organized and categorized fashion. The remote control comprises operational controls grouped by navigational function located on at least three sides of the remote control for selecting content. An infrared transmitter is provided for transmitting instructions coded as infrared signals. A programmable controller is operative to receive an indication that a control was selected and instruct the transmitter to transmit an infrared signal corresponding to the control selected.

US Patent:

7634789, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Aug 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/929506

Inventors:

George Gerba - Venice CA, US
Michael R. Nichols - Altadena CA, US

Assignee:

Corporate Media Partners - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 13/00
H04N 5/445
G06F 3/048

US Classification:

725 44, 725 42, 715715, 715719, 715726

Abstract:

An interactive program guide containing schedule data for multiple channels and advertising data is provided to viewers on a screen. The advertising may be related to the programs adjacent thereto in the guide and to time slots displayed on the screen. The advertising srolls in various directions in response to the viewer's scrolling of the grid, but at a different pace and according to a different scheme than the scrolling of the schedule data itself. For example, the advertising may remain on the screen in a predetermined location while the viewer scrolls the schedule data, and then scroll off the screen to be replaced by new ads after a predetermined number of channels scroll off the screen, or on the basis of time slots and/or adjacent channels displayed on the screen. This provides for greater viewer attention to the advertising and for greater control by advertisers over the manner and length in which advertising is presented to viewers.

US Patent:

8090702, Jan 3, 2012

Filed:

Sep 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/531089

Inventors:

Steven Howard - Irving TX, US
Robert S. Keller - Colleyville TX, US
Michael S. Nichols - Southlake TX, US
Travis M. Woodruff - Roanoke TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707707, 707710, 707712

Abstract:

Methods and arrangements to analyze web traffic of a portal are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to analyze web traffic of a portal by a portlet receiving a request for web page content from the portal and generating a fragment of a web page. The fragment may include code to collect data from clients on web traffic of the portlet and to transmit the data to a facility for the collection of data on web traffic of the portal and the portlet. Some embodiments may involve a portal requesting web page content from a portlet, and the portal receiving a fragment of a web page from the portlet. The fragment may include code to collect data from clients on web traffic of the portlet and to transmit the data to the data collection facility.

US Patent:

8490134, Jul 16, 2013

Filed:

Oct 15, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/580048

Inventors:

George Gerba - Venice CA, US
Michael R. Nichols - Altadena CA, US

Assignee:

Cumnor Technologies LLC - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H04N 5/445
G06F 3/00
G06F 13/00
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

725 44, 725 42, 725 47, 715716, 345684

Abstract:

Moving program cells with advertisement cells on a displayed electronic guide using different scrolling schemes is provided. An advertisement cell may be moved based on the movement of program cells during a first time interval. The advertisement cell may be kept stationary during a second time interval in which the program cells scroll and subsequently moved upon expiration of the second time interval.

US Patent:

20140067208, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Aug 31, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/601222

Inventors:

Walter R. Klappert - Los Angeles CA, US
Michael R. Nichols - La Canada CA, US
Satinderpal S. Sikh - Studio City CA, US

Assignee:

UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

701 49

Abstract:

Methods and systems are disclosed for a guidance application capable of coordinating the interior features of a vehicle (e.g., the heating/cooling system, automatic windows, automatic seats, automatic sunroof, seat heaters, etc.) to produce the current environmental conditions (e.g., sunshine, heat, wind, etc.) displayed in a media asset being accessed in the vehicle.