John R Stebbins

US Patent:

7757251, Jul 13, 2010

Filed:

Mar 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/390963

Inventors:

Thomas L. Gonder - Westminster CO, US
David G. Bell - Superior CO, US
Russell L. Greenlee - Boulder CO, US
John A. Stebbins - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

Time Warner Interactive Video Group Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 39, 725 43, 725 44, 725 51, 725 54, 725 59

Abstract:

In order to efficiently utilize the limited transmission bandwidth of a communications network, e. g. , a cable network, guide data for constructing an interactive program guide (IPG) is delivered to a set-top terminal using different methodologies. For example, the guide data associated with those programs which are likely of interest to a user is automatically provided piecemeal in a broadcast stream. The set-top terminal, along with other terminals, may retrieve from such a broadcast stream some or all of the guide data therein over time, which is cached in the terminal in anticipation of a user's invocation of an IPG. On the other hand, the guide data associated with those programs which are less likely of interest to a user is furnished upon request by the set-top terminal needing such guide data to realize an IPG desired by the user. In addition, guide data for each program may be divided into detail guide data providing details of the program (e. g. , a synopsis of the program content), and grid guide data providing basic information about the program (e. g.

US Patent:

8434118, Apr 30, 2013

Filed:

May 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/856383

Inventors:

Thomas L. Gonder - Westminster CO, US
John B. Carlucci - Boulder CO, US
John A. Stebbins - Golden CO, US
Steven E. Riedl - Superior CO, US
Vipul B. Patel - Upper Holland PA, US

Assignee:

Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC - New York NY

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 87

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a method of operating a communications system is disclosed comprising receiving a request for establishment of a session from a terminal, establishing the session with the terminal, and providing at least one navigation video segment to the terminal, via the session. The communications system may be a source of programming, such as a cable system, and the terminal may be a set-top terminal coupled to a display device. The navigation video segment may be used by the terminal to create selection menus to be displayed for user navigation. The video segments may be rich media video segments. A playlist may be generated comprising an indexed listing of a plurality of available video segments. The playlist may facilitate retrieval of video segments requested by a terminal. Communications systems, terminals and methods of operating a terminal are disclosed, as well.

US Patent:

20050018691, Jan 27, 2005

Filed:

Jul 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/626114

Inventors:

Steven Riedl - Superior CO, US
John Carlucci - Boulder CO, US
John Stebbins - Golden CO, US
Jo Friedman - Jamestown CO, US

International Classification:

H04L012/56

US Classification:

370395420, 370400000

Abstract:

In a cable network providing, among others, interactive video services, data cells carrying real-time data concerning, e.g., trick mode commands (pause, rewind and fast-forward) initiated by a user are instantly transmitted to a headend facility for immediate processing. The invention is premised upon a recognition that such real-time data typically does not fully utilize the transport capacity of the data cells. In accordance with the invention, non-real-time (NRT) data to be transmitted to the headend facility, although accorded a lower priority than the real-time data, is inserted into those underutilized data cells before their transmission, thereby fully exploiting the transport capacity of the data cells.

US Patent:

20100299404, Nov 25, 2010

Filed:

Jun 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/815022

Inventors:

Thomas L. Gonder - Westminster CO, US
David G. Bell - Superior CO, US
Russell L. Greenlee - Boulder CO, US
John A. Stebbins - Golden CO, US

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709217

Abstract:

In order to efficiently utilize the limited transmission bandwidth of a communications network, e.g., a cable network, guide data for constructing an interactive program guide (IPG) is delivered to a set-top terminal using different methodologies. For example, the guide data associated with those programs which are likely of interest to a user is automatically provided piecemeal in a broadcast stream. The set-top terminal, along with other terminals, may retrieve from such a broadcast stream some or all of the guide data therein over time, which is cached in the terminal in anticipation of a user's invocation of an IPG. On the other hand, the guide data associated with those programs which are less likely of interest to a user is furnished upon request by the set-top terminal needing such guide data to realize an IPG desired by the user. In addition, guide data for each program may be divided into detail guide data providing details of the program (e.g., a synopsis of the program content), and grid guide data providing basic information about the program (e.g., title, channel and broadcast time). A first time window and a second time window may be defined such that the grid guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the first time window and the detail guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the second time window are automatically provided in the broadcast stream. The rest of the detail and grid guide data may be furnished upon request when needed.

US Patent:

20140298388, Oct 2, 2014

Filed:

Feb 24, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/188333

Inventors:

- New York NY, US
David G. Bell - Superior CO, US
Russell L. Greenlee - Boulder CO, US
John A. Stebbins - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC - New York NY

International Classification:

H04N 21/266
H04N 21/472
H04N 21/61
H04N 21/482

US Classification:

725 54

Abstract:

In order to efficiently utilize the limited transmission bandwidth of a communications network, e.g., a cable network, guide data for constructing an interactive program guide (IPG) is delivered to a set-top terminal using different methodologies. For example, the guide data associated with those programs which are likely of interest to a user is automatically provided piecemeal in a broadcast stream. The set-top terminal, along with other terminals, may retrieve from such a broadcast stream some or all of the guide data therein over time, which is cached in the terminal in anticipation of a user's invocation of an IPG. On the other hand, the guide data associated with those programs which are less likely of interest to a user is furnished upon request by the set-top terminal needing such guide data to realize an IPG desired by the user. In addition, guide data for each program may be divided into detail guide data providing details of the program (e.g., a synopsis of the program content), and grid guide data providing basic information about the program (e.g., title, channel and broadcast time). A first time window and a second time window may be defined such that the grid guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the first time window and the detail guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the second time window are automatically provided in the broadcast stream. The rest of the detail and grid guide data may be furnished upon request when needed.