Echostar Technologies Corporation

Dish Network LLC

Other

Echostar Corporation

Charles W Ergen

David A Kummer

William Michael Beals

Henry Gregg Martch

Max Stephen Gratton

Daniel L Rudolph

Michael T Dugan

Mark Gomez

Adam C Morzos

Steven Michael Casagrande

Danny Jean Minnick

Bruce A McKenzie

A remote control and method of programming a remote control for controlling components in an entertainment system are disclosed. The remote control may operate in multiple modes including a limited mode that prevents the remote control from sending predetermined commands to one or more components, even when instructed to do so by the user. In addition, the remote control may issue one or more commands to each component in response to a single user input.

Methods and apparatus for simplified remote control operation of components

Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for remotely controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device. A user utilizes a mobile communication device to input information that requests manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by an entertainment device. The mobile communication device transmits the user input to the entertainment device, and responsive to receiving the user input, the mobile communication device manipulates playback of the video content.

Apparatus and methods for controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device

Various embodiments are described for skipping, filtering, or replacing content from an audio/video stream using text data associated with the stream, wherein the stream has segments of a show interspersed with commercial breaks. A method for processing the stream determines that a commercial break is currently being output for presentation, and monitors for receipt of a user-initiated command to skip the commercial break. When a user-initiated skip command is received during the commercial break, the method automatically skips to a location in the stream that is at or near an end of the commercial break, and seamlessly continues presentation of the stream from that location. If a skip command is not received during output of the commercial break, then output of the current commercial break continues as usual. This methodology is repeated for all subsequent commercial breaks in the stream.

User-initiated control of an audio/video stream to skip interstitial content between program segments

Remote control macro instruction operation

Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for remotely controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device. A user utilizes a mobile communication device to input information that requests manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by an entertainment device. The mobile communication device transmits the user input to the entertainment device and furthers transmits identifying data regarding the user. Responsive to receiving the user input and the identifying data, the mobile communication device authenticates the user and outputs the content for presentation to a user based on the user input.

Apparatus and methods for authenticating a user of an entertainment device using a mobile communication device

Programming of remote control operational modes

Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for presenting advertisements in association with broadcast video content on a presentation device in a non-residential location. The advertisements are identified based on characteristics of the non-residential location, such as goods or services offered at the non-residential location. The advertisements may be presented simultaneously with the broadcast video content, or may be used as substitute content to replace interstitials within the broadcast video content.

Methods and apparatus for presenting advertisements based on a location of a presentation device

A cover for protecting a direct broadcast satellite antenna having a flange around the outside perimeter of the antenna. The cover is fabricated from a waterproof, flexible sheet material, such as marine grade vinyl. The cover is sized to have a margin extending approximately one-half of the width of the flange beyond the outside edge of the antenna. A 'J clip' strip having one edge folded over in a 'J' configuration and having a width approximately the same dimension as the flange of the antenna, is positioned along the outer face of the cover with the opposite edge of the strip aligned even with the edge of the cover. The strip is sewn or otherwise attached to the cover material to form the completed cover. A gap of approximately 6' can be provided along one portion of the perimeter of the cover to provide clearance for the supporting structure and ventilation to the inside of the antenna. As the 'J' strip is installed on the flange of the antenna, it is continuously worked around the perimeter which causes the 'J' strip to be folded back on the cover material with the edge of the strip contacting the surface of the flange and providing a leveraging effect to tighten the cover material and securely retain it across the face of the antenna.

Direct broadcast satellite antenna cover

Growing community of inventors

Englewood, CO, United States of America

Charles W Ergen