Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090235716 | DETERMINING TOTAL MILL FLOW IN A BIOFUEL PRODUCTION PROCESS - System and method for determining total mill flow (TMF) in a biofuel production process. Measured slurry flow and density values from a process fed by mill(s), backset, and at least one water source, are received. The slurry includes biomass solids and water. Measured backset flow and density values, and a backset composition value are received, as well as a slurry composition value indicating % biomass solids of the slurry is received. A quantity of biomass solids and/or water of the slurry determined based on the slurry flow, density, and composition, and a quantity of the biomass solids and/or water of the backset determined based on the backset flow and density, backset composition, and a system filter characterizing time delays and lags between measurements of the backset flow and biomass slurry flow. Total mill flow is determined based on the quantities of biomass solids and/or water of the slurry and backset. | 09-24-2009 |
20090240603 | DETERMINING TOTAL INVENTORY OF BATCH AND CONTINUOUS INVENTORIES IN A BIOFUEL PRODUCTION PROCESS - System and method for determining total inventory of batch and continuous biomass inventories in a biofuel production process. Measured biomass inventory values are received, including batch inventories from multiple batch fermenters and at least one continuous beer well inventory. The values are premised on a controlled vapor pressure of the batch fermenters and beer well(s), where the pressure fluctuates in an uncontrolled manner. A measured vapor pressure for the batch fermenters and beerwell(s) is received, and pressure compensated inventory values determined based on the measured inventory and pressure values. Measured biomass input flow to the batch fermenters and output flow from the beerwell(s) are received, and are premised on a constant biomass temperature and density, where biomass temperature and density fluctuate in an uncontrolled manner. The total inventory of batch and continuous inventories is determined based on the measured flows and the pressure compensated inventory values, and stored. | 09-24-2009 |
20090326695 | THROUGHPUT/YIELD OPTIMIZED MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL - The present invention provides novel techniques for optimizing throughput and yield using model predictive control techniques. In particular, the present techniques are presented in the context of biofuel production, wherein the trade off between yields of biofuel production and overall system throughput may be optimized. However, the present techniques may also be applied to any other suitable applications where a batch process of the system may affect a change in a property of the produced product, such as liquor processing. | 12-31-2009 |
20120003623 | NONLINEAR MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A BATCH REACTION SYSTEM - The present invention provides novel techniques for controlling batch reaction processes. In particular, a parametric hybrid model may be used to parameterize inputs and outputs of batch reaction processes. The parametric hybrid model may include an empirical model, a parameter model, and a dynamic model. Critical quality parameters, which are correlated with, but not the same as, end-of-batch quality values for the batch reaction processes may be monitored during cycles of the batch reaction processes. The quality parameters may be used to generate desired batch trajectories, which may be used to control the batch reaction processes during the cycles of the batch reaction processes. | 01-05-2012 |
20120004755 | CONTROLLING THE COOLING OF FERMENTERS OF A BIOFUEL PRODUCTION PLANT - According to various embodiments, a biofuel production system includes a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a cooling tower water system configured to supply cooling water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a chiller water system configured to supply chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, and a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system. The cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters based upon temperatures of fermentation products of the fermenters. | 01-05-2012 |
20140039682 | NONLINEAR MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A BIOFUEL FERMENTATION PROCESS - A system and method are provided for managing batch fermentation in a biofuel production process. A nonlinear control model of yeast growth and fermentable sugar concentration for biofuel (e.g., fuel ethanol) production in a batch fermentation process (pure and/or fed-batch fermentation) of a biofuel production process is provided. Process information for the batch fermentation process is received, and the nonlinear control model executed using the process information as input to determine values of one or more fermentation process variables for the batch fermentation process, e.g., fermentation temperature and/or enzyme flow, for substantially maximizing yeast growth and achieving target fermentable sugar concentrations. The batch fermentation process is then controlled in accordance with the determined values for the one or more fermentation process variables to substantially maximize yeast growth and achieve target fermentable sugar concentrations, where substantially maximizing yeast growth and achieving target fermentable sugar concentrations substantially maximizes biofuel production in the batch fermentation process. | 02-06-2014 |
20140134599 | MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A FERMENTATION FEED IN BIOFUEL PRODUCTION - System and method for managing fermentation feed in a biofuel production process, comprising a dynamic multivariate predictive model-based controller coupled to a dynamic multivariate predictive model. The model is executable to: receive process information, including water inventory and biomass information, from the biofuel production process; receive a specified objective for the fermentation feed specifying a target biomass concentration; and generate model output comprising target values for a plurality of manipulated variables of the biofuel production process, including target flow rates of water and/or biomass contributing to the fermentation feed in accordance with the specified objective. The controller is operable to dynamically control the biofuel production process by adjusting the plurality of manipulated variables to model-determined target values to stabilize water/biomass balance in the fermentation feed in accordance with the specified objective, including the specified target biomass concentration. | 05-15-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080220859 | Console game purchase and downloading through an internet protocol television system to a console device - Particular embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to support the purchase and downloading of console games via a set-top box and internet protocol television system. An example embodiment includes an apparatus and system to receive a console game user selection through a user interface of a set-top box, to send the console game user selection to a VOD server via a network, to enable purchase of a selected console game corresponding to the console game user selection from the VOD server, and to download the selected console game to a console device via an interface provided by the set-top box. | 09-11-2008 |
20080222685 | Karaoke system provided through an internet protocol television system - Particular embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to support a karaoke system provided via a set-top box and internet protocol television system. An example embodiment includes an apparatus and system to receive a karaoke content user selection through a user interface of a set-top box, send the karaoke content user selection to a VOD server via a network, enable access to selected karaoke content corresponding to the karaoke content user selection from the VOD server, and to enable viewing of the selected karaoke content on a display device via the set-top box. The set-top box further includes a karaoke input interface and a storage device operable to store karaoke input received via the karaoke input interface. | 09-11-2008 |
20090083824 | FAVORITES MOSAIC - A set-top box generates a multimedia signal that includes streaming video for a plurality of currently available multimedia channels. A user configures a plurality of favorite channels. Streaming video from the favorite channels is provided in a plurality of viewports on a display. A user presses a favorites button on a remote control to prompt an application server to signal a content server to provide a compound video signal including streaming video from each favorite channel. The set-top box produces a resultant video signal including the streaming video from each favorite channel in a corresponding viewport. The viewports correspond to a mosaic template that may be hosted by the application server and accessed by the content server. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089158 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENDING ADVERTISING DATA - A computer readable medium is disclosed containing a computer program useful for performing a method for sending advertising data, the computer program comprising instructions to send a video data stream comprising advertising data from an IPTV server to a first end user device, instructions to receive at the IPTV server selection data from the first end user device selecting the advertising data and a second end user device and instructions to send from the IPTV server a data associated with the advertising data to the second end user device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use by the system and method. | 04-02-2009 |
20090094641 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVING ADVERTISING DATA FROM THE INTERNET - A system and method are disclosed including a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions to receive at an IPTV system node, advertising tokens data having advertising characteristics data and address data; instructions to filter at the IPTV system node the advertising tokens based on a correlation between the advertising characteristic data and filtering criteria data; instructions to extract from the filtered advertising tokens, address data representing at least two advertising addresses on the Internet World Wide Web; instructions to concatenate at the IPTV node the address data for the advertising addresses to form a uniform resource indicator (URI) for a resource on the Internet resource; and instructions to send advertising data from the Internet resource to an end user device through the IPTV node. | 04-09-2009 |
20090106796 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDNG SUBSCRIPTION DATA - Methods and systems for providing subscription data are described. Subscription data may be received from a subscription data source. The video content may be provided for presentation. A determination may be made of whether the subscription data is contextually relevant to the video content. The subscription data may be provided for presentation in accordance with the determination and the providing of the video content. | 04-23-2009 |
20090187943 | PERSONALIZED MEDIA CHANNEL - A multimedia processing device (MPD) includes a relevance engine that is adapted to track a user's viewing preferences over time and to automatically determine which of the programs available in a given time slot is most probably preferred by that user. The relevance engine can then create a sequential play list, with each entry in the list corresponding to the program the user most likely wants to watch at that time. The user can thus be provided with a personalized multimedia channel (PMC) with the play list providing the program for each time slot. The user may be enabled to “tune” to the PMC like any other channel. When the user “tunes” to the PMC, the MPD will take the appropriate action to display the program selected by the PMC. | 07-23-2009 |
20120304215 | Interactive Content System and Method - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing interactive content. The method may include sending, from a media device, a request for one or more interactive applications to a first content source that is distinct from a second content source that provides video content to the media device. The request may indicate one or more locations to be polled for the one or more interactive applications. The method may include generating, at the media device, a menu of selectable interactive applications displayable at a display device. The selectable interactive applications may include one or more available interactive applications identified by the first content source in response to the request. | 11-29-2012 |
20130091523 | PERSONALIZED MEDIA CHANNEL - A multimedia processing device (MPD) includes a relevance engine that is adapted to track a user's viewing preferences over time and to automatically determine which of the programs available in a given time slot is most probably preferred by that user. The relevance engine can then create a sequential play list, with each entry in the list corresponding to the program the user most likely wants to watch at that time. The user can thus be provided with a personalized multimedia channel (PMC) with the play list providing the program for each time slot. The user may be enabled to “tune” to the PMC like any other channel. When the user “tunes” to the PMC, the MPD will take the appropriate action to display the program selected by the PMC. | 04-11-2013 |
20130179915 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SUBSCRIPTION DATA - Methods and systems for providing subscription data are described. Subscription data may be received from a subscription data source. The video content may be provided for presentation. A determination may be made of whether the subscription data is contextually relevant to the video content. The subscription data may be provided for presentation in accordance with the determination and the providing of the video content. | 07-11-2013 |
20130298160 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HOME AUDIO AND VIDEO COMMUNICATION - A method for near real time data communication is disclosed. The method includes determining available data from a first discovered device, and inserting a listing for the first discovered device into an electronic program guide (EPG). A system is disclosed for near real time data communication is also disclosed. | 11-07-2013 |
20140033249 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING TARGETED ADVERTISING DATA IN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION SYSTEM - A method is disclosed for delivering targeted advertising data over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network including but not limited to displaying in a picture in picture queue display, a set of follow-on advertisements comprising less than all of the plurality of follow-on advertisements; rotating one of the set of follow-on advertisements off of the on-screen picture in picture queue display to an off-screen storage; and rotating another one of the follow-on advertisements from the off-screen storage to the on screen picture in picture queue display. A system and computer program are disclosed for practicing the method. | 01-30-2014 |
20140130089 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR E-MAIL NOTIFICATION - A method includes receiving, from a set-top box device, an e-mail notification request including a set-top box identifier associated with the set-top box device and linked to an internet protocol television account identifier. The method includes accessing stored information that includes a plurality of set-top box identifiers and that links respective set-top box identifiers with corresponding e-mail accounts. The method further includes determining, based on the stored information and the set-top box identifier, an e-mail account of a first user maintained at a mail server, where the determination includes associating the internet protocol television account identifier with the e-mail account. The method further includes determining whether an e-mail has been received for the e-mail account at the mail server. When the e-mail has been received, the method includes generating an e-mail delivery notification and transmitting the e-mail delivery notification to the set-top box device associated with the e-mail notification request. | 05-08-2014 |
20140208356 | FAVORITES MOSAIC - A set-top box generates a multimedia signal that includes streaming video for a plurality of currently available multimedia channels. A user configures a plurality of favorite channels. Streaming video from the favorite channels is provided in a plurality of viewports on a display. A user presses a favorites button on a remote control to prompt an application server to signal a content server to provide a compound video signal including streaming video from each favorite channel. The set-top box produces a resultant video signal including the streaming video from each favorite channel in a corresponding viewport. The viewports correspond to a mosaic template that may be hosted by the application server and accessed by the content server. | 07-24-2014 |
20140337876 | INTERACTIVE CONTENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing interactive content. The method may include sending, from a media device, a request for one or more interactive applications to a first content source that is distinct from a second content source that provides video content to the media device. The request may indicate one or more locations to be polled for the one or more interactive applications. The method may include generating, at the media device, a menu of selectable interactive applications displayable at a display device. The selectable interactive applications may include at least one of the one or more interactive applications corresponding to the request. | 11-13-2014 |
20150106477 | VIRTUAL MULTICASTING - A method and system of virtual multicasting content is disclosed. The method and system disclosed enable the receipt of virtual multicast content without requiring the expensive investment in the infrastructure necessary for a network to be multicast enabled. The virtual multicasting may be performed according to a method of virtual multicasting multicast content on non-multicast enabled networks, comprising the steps of determining if an attached network is multicast enabled, if the attached network is not totally multicast enabled, querying for virtual multicast requests for the multicast content from non-multicast enabled client computers, listening for virtual multicast requests, and determining, based on the virtual multicast requests, which client computers request the multicast content, from the unicast addresses, and the requested methods of delivery for the multicast content. The network includes client computers that have unicast addresses and the at least one virtual multicast request includes a unicast address identifying a client computer of the network and a requested method of delivery for the multicast content. | 04-16-2015 |
20150143415 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING TARGETED ADVERTISING IN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEViSION SYSTEM - A system is disclosed for delivering targeted advertising data over a network including but not limited to a first video server processor interface for sending data for rotating one of the set of follow-on advertisements off of the on-screen picture in picture queue display to an off-screen storage; and a second video server processor interface for sending data rotating another one of the follow-on advertisements from the off-screen storage to the on screen picture in picture queue display. | 05-21-2015 |
20160044383 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING COMMERCE EVENTS - Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes providing, by a server, media content to a set top box; the media content includes an advertisement and a closed captioning line and the set top box is associated with a display device. The method also includes facilitating access to a shopping application for download at a communication device separate from the set top box, and inserting into the closed captioning line an identifier of a commerce event. The method further includes transmitting to the set top box a message for presentation on the closed captioning line on the display device, receiving a request to provide information regarding an advertised product to the communication device, and transmitting to the communication device the information regarding the advertised product. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-11-2016 |