John Robert Matheny

US Patent:

6424354, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Apr 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/287172

Inventors:

John R. Matheny - Mountain View CA
Christopher White - Mountain View CA
David R. Anderson - Cupertino CA
Arn J. Schaeffer - Belmont CA

Assignee:

Object Technology Licensing Corporation - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

345619, 345700, 345764

Abstract:

An event notification system for propagating object-change information. The notification system supports change notification without queues in an object-based application or operating system and can be scaled to propagate large numbers of events among a large plurality of objects. The event notification system interconnects a plurality of event source and event receiver objects. Any object, such as a command object, may operate as either an event receiver object, an event source object or both. A notification object is created by a source object to transport, from a source to a receiver, descriptive information about a change, which includes a particular receiver object method and a pointer to the source object that sent the notification. A receiver object must register with a connection object its âinterestâ in receiving notification of changes; specifying both the event type and the particular source object of interest. After establishing such connections, the receiver object receives only the events of the specified type for the source objects âof interestâ and no others.

US Patent:

6766524, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

May 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/566695

Inventors:

John R. Matheny - San Francisco CA
Daniel J. Zigmond - Carnation WA

Assignee:

WebTV Networks, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

H04H 900

US Classification:

725 23, 725 22, 725 9, 725 17, 725 20, 725 24, 705 14

Abstract:

Described are methods and apparatus for encouraging viewers to pay attention to television programs, commercials in particular, by offering viewers some incentive to watch. In one embodiment, viewers are notified that they can receive frequent-flier miles for answering one or more simple questions at the conclusion of the commercial. To verify that the viewer paid attention to the commercial, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the commercial. A sponsor might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcers shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and that the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. For example, viewers who watch the commercial may be entered in a prize drawing, or may receive prize points, such as frequent-flier miles. In other embodiments, viewers may verify that they watched a given program by selecting an icon or pressing a button on a remote control.

US Patent:

7159232, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Nov 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/441708

Inventors:

Dean J. Blackketter - San Francisco CA, US
Timothy F. Park - Menlo Park CA, US
Daniel J. Zigmond - Sunnyvale CA, US
Sharon F. Glusker - Belmont CA, US
John Matheny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 38, 725 42, 725 46, 725 58, 386 83

Abstract:

A television receiving system displays an advertisement for a future television program. If the future television program is identified as recordable, the system also displays an option to set a reminder for the advertised program and/or an option to record the advertised program on a video recorder. If a viewer of the advertisement selects the reminder option, then a reminder is programmed in the system. If the viewer selects the record option, then the system automatically programs the video recorder to record the advertised program. If the viewer has established an interactive session during a television advertisement, and has not completed the interactive session when the advertisement ends, then the current television program is paused until the interactive session is completed.

US Patent:

7197758, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

Apr 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/561390

Inventors:

Dean J. Blackketter - San Francisco CA, US
Timothy F. Park - Menlo Park CA, US
Daniel J. Zigmond - Menlo Park CA, US
John R. Matheny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445
H04N 5/00
H04N 7/173
G06F 13/00
G06F 3/00

US Classification:

725 37, 725 38, 725 93, 725116, 386125

Abstract:

A television program is received that includes an index that identifies multiple television program segments contained in the television program. The index of program segments is displayed to a television viewer, and the television viewer is allowed to select at least one program segment for recording. The index of program segments can identify the name of each program segment, the time period during which each program segment is transmitted, the program type for each program segment, the content rating for each program segment, or whether the viewer is required to watch a particular program segment. The selected program segments may be recorded on a video recorder. The television viewer is also allowed to select the order of viewing of the program segments.

US Patent:

7305692, Dec 4, 2007

Filed:

Apr 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/115719

Inventors:

Dean J. Blackketter - San Francisco CA, US
Timothy F. Park - Menlo Park CA, US
Daniel J. Zigmond - Menlo Park CA, US
Sharon F. Glusker - Belmont CA, US
John R. Matheny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445
H04N 5/91

US Classification:

725 58, 725 32, 725 42, 386 83

Abstract:

A television receiving system displays an advertisement for a future television program. If the future television program is identified as recordable, the system also displays an option to set a reminder for the advertised program and/or an option to record the advertised program on a video recorder. If a viewer of the advertisement selects the reminder option, then a reminder is programmed in the system. If the viewer selects the record option, then the system automatically programs the video recorder to record the advertised program. If the viewer has established an interactive session during a television advertisement, and has not completed the interactive session when the advertisement ends, then the current television program is paused until the interactive session is completed.

US Patent:

7676138, Mar 9, 2010

Filed:

Apr 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/115676

Inventors:

Dean J. Blackketter - San Francisco CA, US
Timothy F. Park - Menlo Park CA, US
Daniel J. Zigmond - Menlo Park CA, US
Sharon F. Glusker - Belmont CA, US
John R. Matheny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 5/78

US Classification:

386 68, 386125, 725133

Abstract:

A television receiving system displays an advertisement for a future television program. If the future television program is identified as recordable, the system also displays an option to set a reminder for the advertised program and/or an option to record the advertised program on a video recorder. If a viewer of the advertisement selects the reminder option, then a reminder is programmed in the system. If the viewer selects the record option, then the system automatically programs the video recorder to record the advertised program. If the viewer has established an interactive session during a television advertisement, and has not completed the interactive session when the advertisement ends, then the current television program is paused until the interactive session is completed.

US Patent:

7840975, Nov 23, 2010

Filed:

Apr 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/835196

Inventors:

John R. Matheny - San Francisco CA, US
Daniel J. Zigmond - Carnation WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 7/16
H04N 7/10
H04N 7/025

US Classification:

725 23, 725 32, 725 36

Abstract:

Described are methods and apparatus for encouraging viewers to pay attention to television programs, commercials in particular, by offering viewers some incentive to watch. In one embodiment, viewers are notified that they can receive frequent-flier miles for answering one or more simple questions at the conclusion of the commercial. To verify that the viewer paid attention to the commercial, the answer to the question may be based on the content of the commercial. A sponsor might ask, for example, that the viewer identify the name of the sponsor or the color of an announcer's shirt. A correct answer indicates that the viewer watched the commercial, and that the viewer is therefore entitled to some reward. For example, viewers who watch the commercial may be entered in a prize drawing, or may receive prize points, such as frequent-flier miles. In other embodiments, viewers may verify that they watched a given program by selecting an icon or pressing a button on a remote control.

US Patent:

7885517, Feb 8, 2011

Filed:

Apr 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/115669

Inventors:

Dean J. Blackketter - San Francisco CA, US
Timothy F. Park - Menlo Park CA, US
Daniel J. Zigmond - Menlo Park CA, US
Sharon F. Glusker - Belmont CA, US
John R. Matheny - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H04N 5/765

US Classification:

386296, 386278, 386200, 725133

Abstract:

A television receiving system displays an advertisement for a future television program. If the future television program is identified as recordable, the system also displays an option to set a reminder for the advertised program and/or an option to record the advertised program on a video recorder. If a viewer of the advertisement selects the reminder option, then a reminder is programmed in the system. If the viewer selects the record option, then the system automatically programs the video recorder to record the advertised program. If the viewer has established an interactive session during a television advertisement, and has not completed the interactive session when the advertisement ends, then the current television program is paused until the interactive session is completed.