Out of 26 million Texans, you may have an idea to change the world. You may have had several ideas to change the world. But only a tiny minority of you pushed through the U.S. Patent office from application to successful patent. We've seen Texans change the world many times over. Jack Kilby did it with Texas Instruments in 1958 with the integrated circuit, causing the start of the digital revolution, which, in part, is why you can read these words over your electronic device.
Over the last few years, Texas Business has brought its feature: Texas Business Patent of the Day. This list is of the ones that were either extremely clever, odd or strange. One thing becomes apparent from these patents and the patent that runs daily in Texas Business—Texans have a unique mind set.
Though the history of the Corn Dog is disputed, the State Fair of Texas claims to have introduced the Corny Dog sometime between 1938 and 1942. As a paean to that invention that now sits in the freezer section of every grocery store in the southwest, here are the fried foods the State Fair of Texas has introduced, or tried to introduce, in the last seven years.
Dead Texas musicians live on every time you hear their songs. Their songs play everywhere, so the dead Texas musicians appear to be immortal. Here's the short list.
Don't get caught up with John Wayne religion. For one thing, he's not Texan. He's in some fine movies involving Texas, most notably The Searchers, but none of his movies can make the best cut of Texas movies. Here's the short list.
Unsung Texas Business Journalists Mention that one is a reporter, and there's a spark of interest. Mention that one is a business news reporter, and watch the eyes glaze over. Except to the players, business and economic journalists are unappreciated. While many wish to become sports reporters when they grow up, most do not realize that business journalists cover the Real Game. Mention that reporter covers business, and watch the eyes glaze over. A toast to these below on the short list and the numerous unnamed ones slogging away. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Mexican Food: The Short List No, we're not going to debate the difference between Tex-Mex, Mex-Tex, Mexican and Texican food. Just know these establishments are the pinnacle of Texas Mexican fare. No brag, just fact. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Burgers Texas Burgers. . While a hamburger is merely sustenance and gratification for a meal, the memory a good Texas burger can give rise to Homeric odes. The short list. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Adam Klein of Cedar Park and James Austin Britt and Joshua J. Fox, both of Austin, recently received U.S. Patent 8,150,387 for “Smart Phone as a Remote Control Device."
Texas Business Patent of the Day: Given the fact that Americans must have their smart phone with them all the time, why mess with a remote control for your TV if your phone is in your pocket or purse? That was the question three Texans answered with a way to flip channels with that cell.
Adam Klein of Cedar Park and James Austin Britt and Joshua J. Fox, both of Austin, recently received U.S. Patent 8,150,387 for “Smart Phone as a Remote Control Device."
The three applied for the patent almost four years ago on June 2, 2008.
The patent assignee is AT&T Intellectual Property I LP of Atlanta, Georgia.
The three men’s invention enables hand-held communication devices to be used as remote control devices for managing delivery of digital television content.
Remote control devices are often used to manage multimedia content and digital television content received by a set-top box (STB) by selecting the channel that is viewed, scheduling recordings, adjusting the volume and navigating electronic programming guides (EPGs).
Some remote control devices use infrared transmitters to send invisible light signals that are received directly by the STB. To function properly, such systems may require that the remote control is relatively close to the STB.
The solution devised by Klein, Britt and Fox was enable the smart phone to control the channels and other devices over internet protocol networks with an applet running on the smart phone.
Authentication from within a multimedia content distribution network may be achieved by verifying that a network identifier associated with the communication device is associated with an account that has granted access to the smart phone and that is associated with the controlled STB.
A viewing pane on the communication device permits a user to remotely view content received on or available to the controlled STB.
The Texas News Scrawl is a handy reference to stories Texas Business recommends from other news sources. Some of the stories that Texas Business currently suggests include: Chemical Safety Board shut out of West probe by ATF; America’s greatest threat: Unsafe work conditions; The West News proves the value of a great weekly newspaper in a community torn up with grief and chaos; Chinese investors checking out Texas, Austin; Texas makes bounce house operators carry liability coverage, but not plants like West Fertilizer; bSpaceX’s Grasshopper leaping to NM spaceport;American Airlines, US Airways to name post-merger leadership within weeks; and more.
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