Tam Thanh Leminh

US Patent:

6501770, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Jun 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/893094

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA
Thomas H. James - Pacific Palisades CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04J 316

US Classification:

370477, 370499, 370537, 370542, 370442, 370326, 3483851, 348473

Abstract:

In a data communication system such as a high capacity DBS system, dynamic mapping of broadcast resources is provided to exploit occasional redundancy in the program content of two or more input data streams, freeing at least one broadcast resource to carry alternate bitstreams, such as additional programs or existing programs at higher quality. Transmission maps defining the correspondence between input data streams and broadcast resources, and reception maps defining the correspondence between broadcast resources and output data streams, are updated as needed to dynamically modify broadcast resource mapping to increase effective utilization of available bandwidth. Beneficial n:n-y:m mapping in a high capacity consumer DBS entertainment system is provided. Apparatus and methods for efficiently generating, maintaining and updating allocation maps with reduced overhead requirements, are disclosed.

US Patent:

6658661, Dec 2, 2003

Filed:

Feb 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/515184

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA
Craig A. Finseth - St. Paul MN
Kenneth D. Seibert - Redondo Beach CA
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 5445

US Classification:

725 54, 725 39, 725 46

Abstract:

In a broadcast system such as a direct-to-home satellite system, program guide information for different time periods is transmitted on different carousels (e. g. , one for 0-6 hours from current time, one for 6-24 hours, one for 24-72 hours, etc. ) and broadcast on all transponders. Guide information for time periods in the near future is transmitted more frequently (i. e. , less information per carousel) than guide information for later time periods. The receiving IRD sets a bit mask to indicate which carousel or carousels it requires and downloads them in serial or parallel. Updated information is never missed because it is given a bit pattern that is never screened by the mask. Further, the IRD can download the program guide information in the background (i. e. , while displaying video) because it does not need to tune to a different transponder.

US Patent:

6728966, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Feb 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/511614

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA
Kenneth D. Seibert - Redondo Beach CA
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

725 39, 725 40, 725 44, 725 45, 725 49, 725 50, 725 52, 725 53, 725134, 725139, 725142

Abstract:

Electronic television program guide information is downloaded, stored and searched by a local device. A plurality of linked lists are used to remove redundancy, increase search speed, and allow dynamic categories. When a new category is encountered a new head node for a link list data structure is created. When a first program guide object containing information related to that category is downloaded, a link is made (i. e. , a pointer is stored) from the head node to the guide object. When subsequent program guide objects containing information related to that category are downloaded, links are added to the end of the list or inserted in alphabetical order. As guide objects expire the links are removed. When no links remain in a particular category the head node for that category is deleted.

US Patent:

6922844, Jul 26, 2005

Filed:

Oct 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/677565

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA, US
Stephen P. Dulac - Santa Clarita CA, US
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA, US
Laura J. O'Donnell - El Segundo CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G06F003/00
G06F013/00
H04N005/445

US Classification:

725 54, 725 49, 725 68

Abstract:

A system and method for providing program guide information to subscribers is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is applied to a broadcasting system having a plurality of service networks, each broadcasting a set of programs and program guide information describing at least a portion of the set of programs. The method comprises the steps of determining a receiver station configuration; receiving a first program guide information at the receiver station, the first program guide information comprising a default transmitting network identifier value uniquely identifying the service network transmitting the first program guide information; and generating a first program guide from the first program guide information and presenting the first program guide, according to a comparison between the determined receiving station configuration and the default transmitting network identifier. The preferred embodiment can also be described by a receiver for receiving the first program guide information and selectably providing the program guide information depending on a relationship between the default transmitter identifier value and a value representing the receiver station configuration.

US Patent:

6971119, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Mar 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/534898

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA, US
Jeffrey A. Brown - Roseville MN, US
Philip E. Hsiao - Eden Prairie MN, US
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA, US
Craig A. Finseth - St. Paul MN, US

Assignee:

The DirecTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N007/173
H04N005/445
H04N007/16
G06F003/00
G06F013/00

US Classification:

725 89, 725 35, 725 39, 725 40, 725 50, 725 55, 725 86, 725 93, 725 94, 725 97, 725134, 725142

Abstract:

The present invention is a method and apparatus for transmitting, receiving, storing and displaying television program data. The method includes transmitting data including scheduled program data, program guide data, and cache program data. The method further includes receiving the transmitted data and storing the cache program data. Once a cache television program is selected, the cache program data corresponding to the selected cache television program is retrieved, and a display of the television program is generated for viewing.

US Patent:

7036137, Apr 25, 2006

Filed:

Oct 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/676889

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA, US
Stephen P. Dulac - Santa Clarita CA, US
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA, US
Laura J. O'Donnell - El Segundo CA, US

Assignee:

The DirecTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445
H04N 7/16

US Classification:

725 38, 725118, 725131, 725148, 725151

Abstract:

A system and method for providing program guide information to subscribers is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is applied to a broadcasting system having a first service network broadcasting a first signal having a first set of programs, a second service network broadcasting a second signal having a second set of programs, and a third service network broadcasting a third signal having a third set of programs, wherein the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal each include service channels uniquely identified by a service channel identifier, a method of providing a unified program guide to a receiver station. The method comprises the steps of merging at least a portion of a first program guide describing at least a portion of the first set of programs with at least a portion of a second program guide describing at least a portion of the second set of programs to produce a unified program guide describing at least a portion of a union of the first set of programs and the second set of programs; mapping at least a portion of the unified program guide to a first service channel of the first signal and the second signal; and mapping the portion of the unified program guide to a second service channel of the third signal, wherein the second service channel is logically offset from the first service channel.

US Patent:

7075945, Jul 11, 2006

Filed:

Nov 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/288996

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA, US
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA, US
Thomas H. James - Pacific Palisades CA, US

Assignee:

The DirecTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04L 3/16
H01O 1/00

US Classification:

370477, 370437, 725 36, 3483841

Abstract:

In a data communication system such as a high capacity DBS system, dynamic mapping of broadcast resources is provided to exploit occasional redundancy in the program content of two or more input data streams, freeing at least one broadcast resource to carry alternate bitstreams, such as additional programs or existing programs at higher quality. Transmission maps defining the correspondence between input data streams and broadcast resources, and reception maps defining the correspondence between broadcast resources and output data streams, are updated as needed to dynamically modify broadcast resource mapping to increase effective utilization of available bandwidth. Beneficial n:n−y:m mapping in a high capacity consumer DBS entertainment system is provided. Apparatus and methods for efficiently generating, maintaining and updating allocation maps with reduced overhead requirements, are disclosed.

US Patent:

7120923, Oct 10, 2006

Filed:

Mar 11, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/798170

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA, US
Kenneth D. Seibert - Redondo Beach CA, US
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 13/00
H04N 5/445
H04N 7/173
H04N 7/16

US Classification:

725 39, 725 40, 725 44, 725 45, 725 49, 725 50, 725 52, 725 53, 725134, 725139, 725142

Abstract:

Electronic television program guide information is downloaded, stored and searched by a local device. A plurality of linked lists are used to remove redundancy, increase search speed, and allow dynamic categories. When a new category is encountered a new head node for a link list data structure is created. When a first program guide object containing information related to that category is downloaded, a link is made (i. e. , a pointer is stored) from the head node to the guide object. When subsequent program guide objects containing information related to that category are downloaded, links are added to the end of the list or inserted in alphabetical order. As guide objects expire the links are removed. When no links remain in a particular category the head node for that category is deleted.