Michael A Plotnick

US Patent:

6529930, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Sep 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/393591

Inventors:

Sharif Mohammad Sazzad - Monmouth Junction NJ
Michael A. Plotnick - Southampton PA

Assignee:

Hitachi America, Ltd. - Tarrytown NY

International Classification:

G06F 9302

US Classification:

708552, 708498

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for performing signed saturation of binary numbers to arbitrary powers of two are described. Given an n-bit signed binary word, the methods and apparatus of the present invention perform a signed saturation to k-bits where the value of k can vary such that 1kn. Through the use of hardware circuits of the present invention the signed saturation operation is implemented in a more efficient manner than software implementations which utilize multiple compare operations. The signed saturation circuits of the present invention can be incorporated into processors, e. g. , CPUs, to provide a hardware implementation within a CPU for a signed saturation processor instruction, e. g. , either a SISD OR SIMD saturation command or instruction. The signed saturation circuits can accept the data value upon which the operation is to be performed, and, optionally, a value k indicating the number of bits to which individual data value are to be saturated.

US Patent:

6851121, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Jul 19, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/619333

Inventors:

Robert William Shideleff - Newtown PA, US
Charles Benjamin Dieterich - Kingston NJ, US
Michael Allen Plotnick - Southampton PA, US
Charles Weaver Christine - Hamilton NJ, US
Elizabeth Annella Martina Seip - Somerville NJ, US
Charles August Asmuth - Princeton NJ, US
Kent Charles Koping - Somerset NJ, US
Patrick Michael Sheehan - Jamison PA, US

Assignee:

Sarnoff Corporation - Princeton NJ

International Classification:

H04N 716

US Classification:

725 28, 725139, 725151

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for adjusting an embedded portion of a television signal. The embedded portion is adjusted such that a downstream receiver effects no change on a displayed video upon decoding the adjusted embedded portion.

US Patent:

7440674, Oct 21, 2008

Filed:

Dec 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/011877

Inventors:

Michael A. Plotnick - Southampton PA, US
Robert F. Deitrich - Pottstown PA, US
Charles A. Eldering - Doylestown PA, US
Douglas J. Ryder - Doylestown PA, US
Herbert M. Lustig - Sarasita FL, US

Assignee:

Prime Research Alliance E, Inc. - Tortola

International Classification:

H04N 5/91

US Classification:

386 68, 386 95

Abstract:

Presenting viewers with an alternative brief version of a recorded advertisement when they choose to fast-forward through or skip (or any other trick play event) the recorded advertisement. The alternative advertisement may be displayed instead of or in conjunction with the recorded advertisement (i. e. , fast-forwarding advertisement is displayed in one portion of the screen (i. e. , background or portion of a split screen) and the alternative brief version is displayed in another portion). The alternative brief version of the advertisement (trick play advertisement) may be a marketing message that is a static screen presenting a logo or a portion of the recorded advertisement, or may be a condensed version of the actual advertisement. The trick play advertisements may be targeted. An alternate or entirely unrelated advertisement can also be displayed as the trick play advertisement.

US Patent:

8116616, Feb 14, 2012

Filed:

Oct 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/928220

Inventors:

Michael A. Plotnick - Southampton PA, US
Robert F. Deitrich - Slippery Rock PA, US
Charles A. Eldering - Furlong PA, US
Douglas J. Ryder - Doylestown PA, US
Herbert M. Lustig - Falls Church VA, US

Assignee:

Prime Research Alliance E., Inc. - Tortola

International Classification:

H04N 5/783

US Classification:

386343, 386351

Abstract:

Presenting viewers with an alternative brief version of a recorded advertisement when they choose to fast-forward through or skip (or any other trick play event) the recorded advertisement. The alternative advertisement may be displayed instead of or in conjunction with the recorded advertisement (i. e. , fast-forwarding advertisement is displayed in one portion of the screen (i. e. , background or portion of a split screen) and the alternative brief version is displayed in another portion). The alternative brief version of the advertisement (trick play advertisement) may be a marketing message that is a static screen presenting a logo or a portion of the recorded advertisement, or may be a condensed version of the actual advertisement. The trick play advertisements may be targeted. An alternate or entirely unrelated advertisement can also be displayed as the trick play advertisement.

US Patent:

8290351, Oct 16, 2012

Filed:

Nov 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/006874

Inventors:

Michael A. Plotnick - Southampton PA, US
Robert F. Deitrich - Doylestown PA, US
Charles A. Eldering - Doylestown PA, US
Douglas J. Ryder - Doylestown PA, US
Herbert M. Lustig - North Wales PA, US

Assignee:

Prime Research Alliance E., Inc.

International Classification:

H04N 5/783

US Classification:

386344

Abstract:

Presenting viewers with an alternative brief version of a recorded advertisement when they choose to fast-forward through or skip (or any other trick play event) the recorded advertisement. The alternative advertisement may be displayed instead of or in conjunction with the recorded advertisement (i. e. , fast-forwarding advertisement is displayed in one portion of the screen (i. e. , background or portion of a split screen) and the alternative brief version is displayed in another portion). The alternative brief version of the advertisement (trick play advertisement) may be a marketing message that is a static screen presenting a logo or a portion of the recorded advertisement, or may be a condensed version of the actual advertisement. The trick play advertisements may be targeted. An alternate or entirely unrelated advertisement can also be displayed as the trick play advertisement.

US Patent:

20020178447, Nov 28, 2002

Filed:

Apr 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/116692

Inventors:

Michael Plotnick - Southampton PA, US
Charles Eldering - Doylestown PA, US
Douglas Ryder - Doylestown PA, US

International Classification:

H04N005/445
H04N007/10
H04N007/173

US Classification:

725/036000, 725/042000, 725/046000, 725/087000

Abstract:

Personal video recorders offer the ability to insert targeted ads to the subscriber locally where the interactions of the subscriber can be monitored. The order in which ads are inserted can be determined by an ad queue that is stored on the PVR. The order in which the ads are inserted can be modified based on the interaction of the subscriber. The modifications of the order may be defined in the ad queue where the ad queue contains links associated with specific actions or sets of actions. The modification may also been done by the PVR, where the PVR processes the interactions and modifies the ad queue based on applying some rules to the processed interactions.

US Patent:

20020184047, Dec 5, 2002

Filed:

Apr 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/116694

Inventors:

Michael Plotnick - Southampton PA, US
Charles Eldering - Doylestown PA, US
Douglas Ryder - Doylestown PA, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/001000

Abstract:

A “universal ad queue” (UAQ) is used for coordinating the display of at least two different types of advertisements to subscribers. The UAQ provides an ordered list for the display of ads to the subscribers. The ordered list may vary based on time, channel, program, previous ads, and subscriber type. The UAQ may be a single ad queue that tracks each and all of the different ad types. The single ad queue may be located at a single location or distributed amongst multiple locations. The UAQ may be multiple ad queues that are liked together in some fashion to coordinate the placement of ads in the various avails. The UAQ assists an advertiser in the creation and management of an overall ad campaign that utilizes the multitude of ad types that are available.

US Patent:

20030149975, Aug 7, 2003

Filed:

Feb 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/068771

Inventors:

Charles Eldering - Doylestown PA, US
John Schlack - Southampton PA, US
Michael Plotnick - Southampton PA, US
Robert Deitrich - Doylestown PA, US

International Classification:

H04N007/025
H04N007/10
G06F003/00
H04N005/445
G06F013/00
H04N007/173

US Classification:

725/034000, 725/035000, 725/046000, 725/087000

Abstract:

Selecting targeted advertisements to be presented to subscribers along with selected video in a video on demand (VoD) system. The targeted advertisements may be selected based on viewing characteristics, presence or absence of specific transactions, demographics, video selection, or some combination thereof. The selection of the ads may be performed by the set top box (STB) or by the VoD system. If the selection of the targeted ads is based at least in some part based on viewing characteristics, the STB will determine the characteristics of the subscriber by comparing the subscriber interactions to previously generated subscriber signatures that define subscriber traits over a plurality of viewing sessions. The system may either disable the fast-forwarding and skipping of the targeted ads or may present an alternative ad if the subscriber attempts to fast forward or skip the ad