Echostar Technologies Corporation

Dish Technologies L.l.c.

Adam Schafer

Jeremy Stephen Mickelsen

Christopher Alexander Burns

Bradley Wolf

David Innes

Nathan A Hale

Kurt Keipert

Joseph Tomko

Rashmi Hegde

William R Reams

Paul Langer

Eric Ray Hieb

Alan Terry Pattison

Harold Jaramillo

Jeremy Mickelsen

Tom Monikowski

Nathan Hale

Christopher Burns

Methods, and system, and entertainment device are provided for identifying a user. A method includes detecting acceleration of a user manipulated component, comparing the detected acceleration with user acceleration that is associated with a user of the electronic device, identifying the user of the electronic device based on the comparison of the detected acceleration and the user acceleration, and operating the electronic device based on the identified user of the electronic device.

Determining remote control state and user via accelerometer

Systems and methods are operable to increase brightness output from a display. An exemplary embodiment detects a predefined user action of a remote control, and then increases brightness of a currently presented image that is being presented on the display in response to detecting the predefined user action so that an ambient lighting level in the vicinity of the display is increased.

Apparatus, systems and methods for video output brightness adjustment

A method of informing a user of an identity of an input of a remote control device is presented. In the method, user activation of one of the inputs of the remote control device is detected. An audible signal associated with the activated input is determined. Each of the inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals. The audible signal associated with the activated input is produced to inform the user of the identity of that input.

Audible feedback for input activation of a remote control device

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for enhancing the viewing experience of video content by analyzing the content to determine where enhanced sensory experience events may be appropriate, by identifying devices at the viewing location and devices personal to the viewer that can be controlled to provide an enhanced sensory experience, and by activating those devices in a way that is synchronized with the presentation of the content.

Enchanced experience from standard program content

A system includes a networked device is programmed to transmit, to one or more second networked devices, a request to locate a remote control device of the networked device. Based on the responses to the request, the networked device is further programmed to provide an indication via a user interface of the networked device concerning a location of the remote control device.

Locating a remote control device

A remote control is powered by multiple batteries connected in series. The remote control includes a voltage comparison circuit configured to compare a midpoint voltage from a node connecting two of the batteries to a reference voltage. The remote control is able to determine if there is a non-uniform drain rate in the batteries based on the comparison.

Detecting batteries with non-uniform drain rates

Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed for the current mode of one or more remote control devices to be displayed or played as an audio message either continuously or at various opportune times on other devices such as a presentation device (e.g., a television set). In this way, a user is able to quickly see the current mode of their remote control while watching programming on the display to determine if the remote control mode needs to be changed to control a particular device on the premises. Remote control command mode information may be communicated from the remote control in a separate remote control message or within remote control commands generated by the remote control.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for notification of remote control device modes

Systems and methods for altering a volume level of an electronic device may include receiving a user input indicative of triggering a remote find operation to locate a remote control, and in response to the user input, sending a remote find instruction to the remote control. The remote find instruction may trigger the remote control to emit a sound. Systems and methods may include, in response to the user input, sending a temporary quiet instruction to the home automation device. The quiet instruction may initiate a lowering of the volume level of the home automation device while the remote control is emitting the sound as a part of the remote find operation.

Automatic muting

Enhanced experience from standard program content

A method of processing video information is presented here. The method may begin by executing, with at least one processor, a plurality of concurrent simulation threads for an interactive video application, wherein each of the concurrent simulation threads corresponds to a predicted outcome of the video application. The method may continue by receiving user input intended to control the interactive video application, processing at least one of the concurrent simulation threads in response to the received user input to obtain an intended outcome of the video application, and providing the intended outcome of the video application for presentation to a user.

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, CO, United States of America

Adam Schafer