Personal

Scott has two patents pending

While working at AT&T I colaborated with seveval coworkers to file many invention disclosures. Two of these inventions were selected by AT&T’s legal team as potential patents. Patents for both inventions were filed in 2002. They are still pending.

System and method for providing video program information or video program content to a user [pdf] – If a name said it all and AT&T was granted this patent they would control all TV’s in the US. But alas this is a vague name for a system that would allow a television viewer to tune in to a show after it has started and use the catch me up feature to quickly summarize the portion of the show the viewer missed. This summary could be a voice over, a series of quick clips or anything that catches the viewer up to the current point in the show.

Method and system using docking stations to distribute a set top box between multiple monitors [pdf] – Again a vague name. This patent is for a system allowing the sharing of content between two TV settop boxes. For example you record Seinfeld on your Tivo downstairs. It is late and you want ot watch it on your Tivo upstairs. Bummer. But with this dock you could remove the storage media from the downstairs Tivo and plug it into the upstairs Tivo. Voila!

This dock could also allow simpler upgrades of storage capacity and features. Depending on what elements of the settop box are in the dock the entire smarts of the box including the codec could be upgraded by just replacing the removable module.

Daly down the stairs

This morning I watched my dog Daly fall down the stairs.

I was washing some dishes and heard Daly coming up the stairs. I looked down and saw her slip down one step and then slowly slip and slide down the rest of the stairs. The whole while she was looking up at me with eyes begged for an explanation.

Unfortunately, the only answer is she is getting older. At 12 years old her muscles aren’t as strong as they once were and the arthritis in her joints makes it harder for her to use the muscles that are left.

I wonder how much longer she will be happy and not in too much pain.

100 Words From Madeira

So tonight it is beatiful outside. The first really wonderful night since we got to Ohio. The past few weeks it has been so hot I was just used to a constant sweat. But tonight it is cool and comfortable. It is about 9:40 and the sky is just still barely blue. I love this time of dusk. It is my favorite after a good day of snowboarding. Usually around 5:00 of 5:30 in the winter. The alpenglow. But this summer night in Ohio is pretty nice too. My heart certainly hasn’t moved here but it is growing comfortable on Dawson road.

I loved Burning Man

The first year I went was the best. For the whole year following not a week went by that I didn’t reflect on the joy and excitement of seeing so many people and artist coming together without a controlling authority. The art and people were amazing but the sense of community was beyond belief. I still am shocked that 25,000 people can come together so peacefully.
See more progress on: go to burning man
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