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Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| RE43394 | Apparatus for connecting TV and computer An apparatus for connecting a computer and a TV is disclosed. The apparatus according to the present invention includes a TV coding unit for encoding various control signals such as a TV signal, etc. generated in a TV and generating a first packet signal, a computer... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8122474 | Multimedia presentation resumption within an environment of multiple presentation systems With at least one implementation described herein, one or more viewers are able to watch the same source multimedia content at multiple locations within an environment (e.g., a household). With at least one implementation described herein, a viewer is able to resume... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8065707 | HDTV set-top box/PC client/server secure video system A method for providing a combined TV/PC video stream for TV display is provided. A TV video chip having a video input port for receiving a PC monitor display signal and an input for receiving a TV broadcast signal is provided, as well as a PC graphics chip. A PC mon... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8056104 | Control system and user interface for network of input devices Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8032912 | Control method and control equipment In order to easily download a program obtained from the outside onto a connected device while a device on which a program is to be downloaded is being properly selected, when a second device connected to a first device is controlled by executing a first program inpu... | 10/04/2011 |
| 7996869 | Automatically reconfigurable multimedia system with interchangeable personality adapters A TV-set is equipped with HDMI and USB connections that allow it to display and run audio-video content from a variety of conventional consumer devices. The TV-set is further equipped to provide a secure HDMI-USB interface that will allow the transfer of licensed hi... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7992176 | Apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television d... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7987489 | Legacy device bridge for residential or non-residential networks A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with a... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7954126 | Control system and user interface for network of input devices Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7941821 | Control system and user interface for home theater network Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7937733 | Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, program and recording medium An information processing system may include first apparatus and second apparatus coupled to each other through communications means. The first apparatus may include a transmitting/receiving unit effecting two-way communications with the second apparatus, and a cont... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7921443 | Systems and methods for providing video and data services to a customer premises Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods that overcome deficiencies in the prior art. One embodiment of the invention comprises an integrated system for providing video and data services to a customer premises. The integrated system comprises a digit... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7908623 | Set top box for PC/HDTV multimedia center A multimedia system is provided, comprising a computer for receiving audio data and video data from a source and transmitting the data serially over a high speed serial link, a set-top box connected through the link to the computer for receiving the audio data and v... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7908624 | System and method for just in time streaming of digital programs for network recording and relaying over internet protocol network A settop box for streaming a television program to a network device through a network includes a central processing unit, a network interface device, a direct memory access engine, a buffer, and a memory for storing computer-executable instructions. The stored instr... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7895631 | Wireless set-top unit and related methods Disclosed is a set-top box capable of delivering television, internet service, video phone service, video-on-demand, and other media services to a consumer. One portion of the set-top box interacts with a CDMA network for the purpose of receiving wireless internet, ... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7886324 | Receiving system for digital broadcasting and receiving apparatus for digital broadcasting In a system in which an IEEE 1394 interface is provided for an IRD, connected equipment can be easily selected and the operability is improved. Data can be transmitted among the equipment by providing the IEEE 1394 interface for the IRD. For example, five equipment ... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7882530 | Method, apparatus, and program products for socially synchronizing an experiential data stream Apparatus, methods, and a computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to synchronize the presentation of an experiential data stream at a local device with the presentation of a similar experiential data ... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7870589 | Method for providing commentary audio and additional or replacement video content A method and a computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method, which provides content to supplement a presentation of an experiential data stream. The method includes a step of receivin... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7861273 | TV control resource management An arbiter component receives a request from a media control object for control of a media resource. The arbiter determines whether a media resource is available, and if a media resource is available, forwards the request to the available media resource. The control... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7844991 | Method and apparatus for digital signal processing Elements necessary for a digital television receiver are structured as a plurality of digital signal processing blocks and a host operation processing block. The blocks are connected through a general-purpose bus. Command for controlling the operations of the blocks... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7823178 | Method for controlling a network station in a network of a first type from a network station in a network of a second type, and connection unit for the connection of the networks of the first and second types The invention relates to the field of home networks, in particular the connection of two home networks of different types via a gateway. The network devices in the network of the first type are also intended to be able to control the network devices in the network o... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7818770 | Methods, apparatus, and program products to support a shared viewing experience from remote locations Apparatus, methods, and a computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to establish a control link, establish a human communication channel, and create a shared social space that enables a local audience m... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7818771 | Methods, apparatus, and program products for controlling presentation of an experiential data stream responsive to conversations in a shared social space Apparatus, methods, and a computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to enable a presentation device to automatically accommodate conversations in a social space. This system monitors a first playback po... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7814518 | Methods, apparatus, and program products for presenting replacement content instead of a portion of a recorded content Apparatus, methods, and a computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to present replacement/additional content in conjunction with an experiential data stream by maintaining a first playback position in ... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7814517 | Method and apparatus for associating commentary audio with a position in an experiential data stream Apparatus, methods, and a computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform an operation for determining where to position received transitory audio within an experiential data stream of a shared soc... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7814516 | Control system and user interface for network of input devices Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices;, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, mor... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7797718 | Control system and user interface for network of input devices Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system an... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7774815 | Context-sensitive interactive television ticker An in-context interactive television ticker is provided. The ticker is rendered on a display screen that also shows a television program, and presents ticker content that is in-context with subject matter of the television program. The ticker remains rendered and co... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7707613 | Individualized parameter control for multiple media sources in a data processing system A multimedia system has multiple media sources switchable under user control to a common set of output presentation devices. A table stores parameter values for each media source separately, so that selection of a source changes the parameters of the displayed media... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7690017 | Control system and user interface for network of input devices Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more... | 03/30/2010 |
| 7685623 | Audio/video signal distribution system The invention concerns an audio/video signal distribution system, comprising audio/video signal sources (MGT, DVD, C, HIFI) and audio/video signal receivers (TV1, TV2, TV3, TV4), and a central processing and multiplexing unit (MDS, MDS′... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7647612 | Wireless set-top unit and related methods Disclosed is a set-top box capable of delivering television, internet service, video phone service, video-on-demand, and other media services to a consumer. One portion of the set-top box interacts with a CDMA network for the purpose of receiving wireless internet, ... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7644430 | Apparatus for and method of creating a device page for a device which does not support a predetermined protocol on a home network In a home network to which a client device and a plurality of server devices are connected, using a web browser in a client device and determining whether the plurality of devices are devices which support protocols required by the client device, respectively. Acces... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7634795 | Next generation television receiver A method and mechanism for configuring a receiver as a proxy to transcode data and provide for intercommunication among secondary devices. In one embodiment, a proxy receiver in a viewer's home is configured to perform transcoding and other processing to enable use ... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7607156 | Bi-directional remote control unit and method of using the same A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control uni... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7577975 | Apparatus for distributing same/different digital broadcasting streams in heterogeneous home network and method thereof Disclosed are an apparatus for distributing same/different digital broadcasting streams in a heterogeneous home network and a method thereof The apparatus includes a home gateway, and a home server, connected to the home gateway through Ethernet and also connected t... | 08/18/2009 |
| 7574723 | Home media network According to one embodiment, a method is described. The method includes receiving a request at a control module from a first remote device to access media data from a storage management module and determining that a first user is requesting access to the data based ... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7484234 | Method and apparatus for controlling at least one set-top box A method and apparatus for providing control of a set-top box through IR blasting control by a system containing at least one computer is discussed. The system is coupled to a mass storage system. The system includes an IR control database that resides on the mass s... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7448060 | Method for determining signal path A method includes integrating information regarding receiving, transmitting and converting capabilities of each device in a network with regard to signal formats, so that a pertinent transmission path can be determined. Such transmission paths can be specified in te... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7444661 | Electronic program guide utilizing multiple tuning sources A system, software and method capable of communicating with a device coupled to the system via a network such that the tuning capabilities of the device can be made available for access and control via the system's program guide through placement of the device's tun... | 10/28/2008 |
