Did You Know...
...that the Band-Aid Bandage was invented by a Johnson & Johnson employee whose wife had cut herself? Earl Dickson's wife was rather accident prone, so he set out to develop a bandage that she could apply without help. He placed a small piece of gauze in the center of a small piece of surgical tape, and what we know today as the Band Aid bandage was born!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8087042 | Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises tuning a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by a local media playback device, and determining that the loc... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7962929 | Using relevance to parse clickstreams and make recommendations Disclosed are systems and methods for generating viewing recommendations in a television viewing personalization system, including parsing, in accordance with a set of stored processing rules, a stream of command signals generated by a remote control unit in respons... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7958526 | Source detection apparatus and method for audience measurement A system identifies which of first and second signal sources is supplying a program signal to a monitored receiver. The first and second signal sources and the monitored receiver are located in a household. The system extracts a reference program signature represent... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7877765 | Viewing pattern data collection A method and system are provided in which DVR viewer metrics are collected and saved in a “Watched Log” data base including identifying titles and other features of recorded DVR programs. User viewing metrics are collected and saved for use in determining whethe... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7774807 | Source detection apparatus and method for audience measurement A system identifies which of first and second signal sources is supplying a program signal to a monitored receiver. The first and second signal sources and the monitored receiver are located in a household. The system extracts a reference program signature represent... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7748014 | Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises tuning a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by a local media playback device, and determining that the loc... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7594242 | Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises tuning a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by a local media playback device, and determining that the loc... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7379655 | Information searching device, information receiver, and methods therefor By storing usage history information of a recording medium for recording information, which is obtained by using the recording medium, in storing means 13, and retrieving information that matches a user's preference from a plurality of information based on th... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7339853 | Time stamping events for fractions of a clock cycle Generally, the embodiments are directed to circuits and methods for time stamping an event at a fraction of a clock cycle. A time stamping circuit comprises two or more detection circuits. The detection circuits receive an event-in signal and generate event signals ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7334247 | Method and apparatus for watermarking received television content A method and apparatus for inserting receiver identification codes into video images received from a television broadcasting station are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a receiver with a tuner for receiving a plurality of television channels and outputting a firs... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7281061 | Time managing apparatus for managing time to synchronize with other apparatuses A time managing apparatus that manages times clocked by a plurality of timer modules in apparatuses connected to each other on a network. The time managing apparatus has: a holding means for holding event start time information that indicates an event start time at ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7275090 | Log accumulation device with user accuracy setting means and pseudo-information generating means An information processing apparatus, such as might be associated with an in-home audio or video control device or a home appliance operated by a user, is provided with input allowing the user to set accuracy of a log of device operation history and/or to set a ratio... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7188119 | Entitlements administration In a database, records corresponding to individuals entitled to social benefits are routinely and automatically reviewed. Records meeting certain criteria are selected for assessment. As a result of the assessment, a number of risk indication flags may be associated... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7158841 | Active DC output control and method for controlling targeted applications A feedback control-loop system that employs an active DC output control circuit is disclosed which compares an input parameter measurement against a target specification associated with the input parameter measurement. In one embodiment, the active DC output control... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7085226 | Control apparatus and method for relay node duplexing The present invention relates to a message transmission system, and more particularly, to a control apparatus and method for relay node duplexing. In the invention, when the exchange of the active node relaying a message by buffering is requested, the duplexing cont... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7058963 | Method and apparatus for generating commercial viewing/listening information A method for generating commercial information using a data recording device can provide commercial sponsors with feedback regarding the effectiveness of their commercials. According to the method, program data including a commercial is recorded. The recorded progra... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7003790 | Broadcast-program selection history information acquisition apparatus and its method In a broadcast-program selection history information acquisition apparatus and its method, the totalization side can easily totalize selection history information. To acquire the selection history information of a broadcast program selected out of broadcast programs... | 02/21/2006 |
| 7003791 | Remote accessible programming A local user issues recording instructions via the Internet to a remote computing device. The remote recording device includes a computer daughter board that records broadcast programs available to it according to the received recording instructions and encodes the ... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6832385 | Television schedule system An electronic program guide displays televsion program listings in a time and channel guide format on a monitor screen. A cursor is provided for display on the monitor screen to selectively highlight one of the television program listings in the guide. Various guide... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6675383 | Source detection apparatus and method for audience measurement A system identifies which of first and second signal sources is supplying a program signal to a monitored receiver. The first and second signal sources and the monitored receiver are located in a household. The system extracts a reference program signatur... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6513161 | Monitoring system for recording device A system determines an operating mode of a recording/playing device. The device generates a recording indicating signal during recording and operates in conjunction with a receiver. The system includes a tuning means for tuning to a program signal; four s... | 01/28/2003 |
| 6252630 | Receiver and receiving method The signal receiving device, during the fixed time period the fixed time before the telecast start time point of the recording reserved program, as well as causing the external recording device to output the video information of the program information im... | 06/26/2001 |
| 5701593 | Method and means for the transmitter-side controller operation of a receiver-side device In known processes for controlling a receiver-side appliance, data concerning the identification signal of a program being received are derived automatically from the identification signal transmitted together with the program. The aim of the invention is... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5646675 | System and method for monitoring video program material Unique digital codes are encoded on a video signal, the codes are retrieved at receivers and precise information concerning the time of occurrence, length, nature and quality of a monitored broadcast at a frame by frame level, is generated. The codes are ... | 07/08/1997 |
| 5623405 | Accounting system and method for asynchronous transfer mode network An accounting system for an ATM network includes a first unit for detecting a VCI (Virtual Channel Identifier) in an ATM cell and information type data contained in the ATM cell. The information type data indicates the type of information contained in the... | 04/22/1997 |
| 5495282 | Monitoring system for TV, cable and VCR In a system for monitoring use of a video monitoring system, RF signals are injected into a cable converter and a VCR in order to detect channels selected by the cable converter and VCR. Installation of probes is not required for channel detection. Channe... | 02/27/1996 |
| 4931865 | Apparatus and methods for monitoring television viewers This invention discloses apparatus and methods for monitoring the television viewing acts of individuals by transmitting a signal toward the individual and detecting the reflection of the signal from the individual's eyes to determine the time intervals a... | 06/05/1990 |
| 4912552 | Distributed monitoring system A system is disclosed which may be used for collecting television channel tuning data, household purchase data, VCR channel usage data and the like; on site at a plurality of preselected households, wherein the system concentrates and transmits the collec... | 03/27/1990 |
| 4907079 | System for monitoring and control of home entertainment electronic devices The invention networks a conventional and unmodified television receiver, television monitor, stereo amplifier, VCR's, video disc player, etc. and communicates via telephone lines with any remote central computer. The viewer provides channel selection com... | 03/06/1990 |
| 4885632 | System and methods for monitoring TV viewing system including a VCR and/or a cable converter A system and methods are disclosed for monitoring a home TV viewing system which may include a TV, a VCR and one or more cable converters. The system obtains information for identifying the source of video displayed or being recorded, i.e., off-air antenn... | 12/05/1989 |
| 4792864 | Apparatus for detecting recorded data in a video tape recorder for audience rating purposes A system is disclosed for detecting the recording data of a video tape recorder, which is enabled to detect data concerning the time and channel a program played back was recorded at and through, by adding both calendar data such as the date and time and ... | 12/20/1988 |
| 4697209 | Methods and apparatus for automatically identifying programs viewed or recorded A method and apparatus for identifying programs such as television programs received from various sources detects the occurrence of predetermined events such as scene changes in a video signal and extracts a signature from the video signal. The signatures... | 09/29/1987 |
| 4658290 | Television and market research data collection system and method A data gathering system includes a plurality of remote units which are controlled from a central location. Each of the remote units is attached to a television receiver which is generally but not necessarily attached to a cable system. Each of the remote ... | 04/14/1987 |
| 4633302 | Video cassette recorder adapter An adapter for metering tv viewing in homes having video cassette recorders ("VCR's"). The adapter disables antenna (cable) input to the VCR except when in the record mode. Record mode is detected by a probe which detects the 70 MHz erase signal of the er... | 12/30/1986 |
| 4599644 | Method of and apparatus for monitoring video-channel reception In order to gather information on the reception of video channels in a household or other location equipped with a television receiver, partinent data such as identification and viewing time are injected into an assigned minor area of the TV picture at th... | 07/08/1986 |
| 4593337 | Video cassette play counting, storing and reading system A system for counting videotape cassette play includes a counter sealed within the cassette to count plays. A count signal is provided on the tape or a movable part of the cassette. Coded access circuitry allows retrieval of the count. Discrimination circ... | 06/03/1986 |
| 4574304 | Audience rating measuring system for television and video tape recorder The invention relates to an audience rating measuring system for a television and a video tape recorder and provides an audience rating measuring system which can give accurate audience data under various conditions, such as when a television and a video ... | 03/04/1986 |
| 4081753 | Automatic programming system for television receivers A television receiver programming and selection monitoring system is provided to permit a television viewer to preselect a television viewing schedule of desired television channels to be viewed during subsequent time periods. The system also permits the ... | 03/28/1978 |
