Jeffrey L Sharkey

US Patent:

8185922, May 22, 2012

Filed:

Mar 27, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/079579

Inventors:

Deanna R. Kidd - Long Beach CA, US
Mitch C. Jacobs - Rancho Palos Verdes CA, US
Aspandyar M. Jijina - Lomita CA, US
Michael R. Munsell - Playa Del Rey CA, US
Xavier D. Riley - Los Angeles CA, US
Jeffrey L. Sharkey - Hermosa Beach CA, US
Haydee C. Silva - Garden Grove CA, US
Ranny Q. Sue - Laguna Niguel CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/16
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 28, 725 25, 725 93, 725100, 725116, 725134

Abstract:

A system and method for distributing requested content includes a content management system and a device such as a set top box that selects a selection corresponding to content in the content management system and transmits a first material identification to the content management system. The content management system transmits the content to the device with a second material identification associated therewith. The device receives the content and the second material identification and compares the first material identification to the second material identification. When the second material identification corresponds to the content, the device continues downloading the content. When the second material identification does not correspond to the content, downloading of the file is discontinued. A content prefix may also be used alone or in combination with the material identification. The content is prevented from being transmitted if the content prefix does not correspond to the content type.

US Patent:

8434110, Apr 30, 2013

Filed:

Oct 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/914629

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Sharkey - Hermosa Beach CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445
G06F 3/01

US Classification:

725 46, 715747

Abstract:

A method and system for generating an electronic program guide includes a receiving unit having a controller module. The controller module receives television content and electronic programming guide data. The controller module separates the program guide data from the television content and stores the program guide data. The controller determines user preferences and changes a display of the electronic program guide in response to the user preferences.

US Patent:

8209718, Jun 26, 2012

Filed:

Jul 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/828500

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Sharkey - Hermosa Beach CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 42

Abstract:

A method of arranging row ads system within a program guide includes communicating row ad metadata to a user device and communicating program guide information to a user device. The program guide information defines a plurality of rows, wherein at least a first row is associated with a first channel. The method includes associating positioning information with the row ad relative to the first row, populating a second row from the plurality of rows in response to the metadata and displaying the row ad and displaying the first row associated with the first channel within a program guide structure on a display associated with the user device in response to the positioning information.

US Patent:

20090030879, Jan 29, 2009

Filed:

Jul 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/828935

Inventors:

JEFFREY L. SHARKEY - HERMOSA BEACH CA, US
HUY Q. TRAN - WESTMINSTER CA, US

Assignee:

THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC. - EL SEGUNDO CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707 3, 707E17014

Abstract:

A method and system for performing multi-level searches includes a user device and a display associated with the user device. A guide system receives a content provider category for a first content and receives a global guide category different than the content provider category for the first content. A communication network communicates the global guide category and the provider category to the user device. The user device performs a global search and displays on the display the first content in response to the global guide category and displays on the display a provider homepage with the first content displayed under the content provider category.

US Patent:

20090031356, Jan 29, 2009

Filed:

Jul 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/828494

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Sharkey - Hermosa Beach CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00

US Classification:

725 48

Abstract:

A communication system includes a content management system determining broadband content availability, and a transport processing system dividing the broadband content availability into broadband content availability packets. The transport processing system communicates the broadband availability packets to a user device through a satellite or

US Patent:

20090031359, Jan 29, 2009

Filed:

Jul 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/828503

Inventors:

Deanna R. Kidd - Long Beach CA, US
Jeffrey L. Sharkey - Hermosa Beach CA, US
Ranny Q. Sue - Laguna Niguel CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 61, 725 68

Abstract:

A system includes a content processing system receiving row ad metadata for a row ad, communicating the row ad to a user device and communicating program guide information to a user device. The program guide information defines a plurality of rows. The user device populates a row from the plurality of rows in response to the metadata and displays the row ad and the program guide on a display associated with the user device.

US Patent:

20090235315, Sep 17, 2009

Filed:

Mar 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/047406

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. Sharkey - Hermosa Beach CA, US
Tam T. Leminh - Cypress CA, US
Alistair E. Jeffs - Los Angeles CA, US
Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA, US
Huy Q. Tran - Westminster CA, US
Tommi J. Iten - Redondo Beach CA, US
David Eric Shanks - Los Angeles CA, US
Eric J. Bennett - Los Angeles CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/20

US Classification:

725 68

Abstract:

A receiving device and method for operating the same includes a tuner tuned to a first channel having a first program, a memory storing program guide data therein and a controller in communication with the tuner and the memory. The controller determines the first channel is a blacked out channel, searches the program data in the memory for a second program equivalent to the first program, determines a second channel associated with the second program and tunes the tuner device to the second channel.

US Patent:

20120054211, Mar 1, 2012

Filed:

Aug 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/222986

Inventors:

Robert G. Arsenault - Redondo Beach CA, US
Eric J. Bennett - Los Angeles CA, US
Eric H. Chang - Torrance CA, US
Gordon H. Chen - Manhattan Beach CA, US
Kenny C. Chen - Fountain Valley CA, US
Justin T. Dick - Salt Lake City UT, US
Flemming R. Hansen - Los Angeles CA, US
Yoonjung Kim - Los Angeles CA, US
Peter Leong - Redondo Beach CA, US
Andrew J. Schneider - Irvine CA, US
Jeffrey L. Sharkey - Hermosa Beach CA, US
Marcin Spatzier - Los Angeles CA, US
Huy Q. Tran - Westminster CA, US
Melissa H. Tullues - Culver City CA, US
Leo Wu - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707755, 707E17058

Abstract:

A system and method for searching for content in a user device includes a receiver receiving a plurality of data objects. The user device includes a search module comprising a parsing module parsing search data from the plurality of data objects and a memory interface module storing search data within a memory of the user device. The search module comprises a search performance module searching the search data in response to a search query. The search module comprises a search results module generating search results from the search data. The user device is associated with a display that displays the search results.