Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Darren M. Simon
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Patent number: 6775391Abstract: The invention relates to an associated information adding apparatus and method for adding information associated with image data as an electronic watermark to the image data, and an associated information detecting apparatus and method for detecting the associated information. Particularly, the apparatus includes a memory for storing a unit watermark, a unit watermark repeating section for repeatedly reading the unit watermark from the memory by using a surplus obtained by dividing a pixel position coordinate value of a pixel in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of an image by a size of a vertical and horizontal repetitive unit of the unit watermark, and an adding section for adding the unit watermark read out from the unit watermark repeating section to information of the image so that the unit watermark is repeated vertically and horizontally on the image. By this, since it is sufficient if the memory stores only the unit watermark, there is an effect that the memory to be used may be small.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1999Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Kazuhisa Hosaka, Nobuyoshi Miyahara, Yoichi Yagasaki
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Patent number: 6771876Abstract: A data recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a unit for recording and/or reproducing data for a non-linear accessible recording medium, at least one input port and at least one output port. The input port and the output port time-divisionally access the recording and/or reproducing unit to process the data inputted to the input port to output the processed data to the recording and/or reproducing a unit. The data reproduced from the recording and/or reproducing unit is processed by and outputted from the output port. The apparatus also includes a port actuation button for selecting the input and output ports, an actuation selection button for selecting recording or playback for the input port or the output port as selected by the port actuation button, and a controller for performing control so that the recording operation or the playback operation as selected by the actuation selection button will be executed by the input port or the output port as selected by the port actuation button.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1999Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Shinichi Morishima, Makoto Tabuchi, Masakazu Murata, Kazuo Kamiyama, Toru Eto, Junichi Onodera
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Patent number: 6764373Abstract: A charging system for a mobile robot includes the mobile robot that is battery-driven and moves in a self-controlled way within a work space, and a charging station for accommodating the mobile robot for a battery charging operation. The charging system includes visible recognition data arranged in a predetermined location of the charging station, an image pickup unit mounted on the mobile robot, a calculating unit for calculating a range and a bearing from the mobile robot to the charging station, based on an image picked up by the image pickup unit, and a searching unit for causing the mobile robot to search for the charging station, based on the calculation result provided by the calculating unit. Since the mobile robot searches for the charging station using a camera for recognizing the visible recognition data, a charging operation is automated.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2000Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Osawa, Naoyasu Hosonuma
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Patent number: 6755862Abstract: An intramedullary support strut for a long bone for a range of different applications including anchoring and fixation. The strut is in the form of nested telescopic members. In the retracted configuration, the strut is compact and may be inserted into position aligned with a shaft made in the medullary canal via a portal made in the lateral cortex of the bone. The strut may then be telescopically extended into the medullary canal to provide the required support.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Orthoscope Ltd.Inventor: Ory Keynan
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Patent number: 6754226Abstract: A transmission method and apparatus for detecting the format of data when data is absent from the transmission packets. In situations where data to be transmitted via a predetermined network (e.g., IEEE 1394) is absent (i.e., missing, incomplete, intentionally blank, or not ready to be transmitted), the transmission method allows for the format of the absent data to be determined by the receiving side. According to this transmission method, the data transmission packets include a label section that indicates the format of the data or the absence of data. When the label section indicates an absence of data, a label group section is included in the data transmission packet to indicate the format of the data which is absent. This allows the receiving side to determine the format of the data that it should be receiving.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2000Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Takehiko Nakano
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Patent number: 6751687Abstract: Between a first equipment and a second equipment connected to a predetermined bus line, it is arranged that data for setting, etc. on input selection in the first equipment is instructed from the second equipment in the form of command having a predetermined format through the bus line, thus allowing an independent remote control to be performed between the first equipment and the second equipment. Moreover, data on input selection in the first equipment is transmitted to the second equipment, so that, for example, the remote control of the input selection in the first equipment linking with the operation of the second equipment will be performed satisfactorily.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Makoto Sato, Yoshiyuki Takaku, Futoshi Kaibuki, Mari Horiguchi, Naoyuki Sato, Yuichi Kageyama
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Patent number: 6738443Abstract: This proposal describes an optimized synchronization (SYNCH) symbol sequence to be used in transmission systems, which are currently under standardization. The synchronization symbol is constructed using specially designed OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) symbols with an optimized sequence, which is mapped onto the modulated subcarriers. The resulting synchronization symbol consists of several repetitions in the time domain. Using the proposed sequence the resulting synchronization symbol achieves a high timing detection and frequency offset estimation accuracy. Furthermore the burst is optimized to achieve a very low envelope fluctuation (low Peak-to-Average Power Ratio) and a very low dynamic range to reduce complexity on the receiver and to save time and frequency acquisition time in the receiver. The proposed sequence is furthermore optimized with respect to all other synchronization symbols that are used to construct the synchronization and training preambles for the BCCH-DLCHs.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Sony International (Europe) GmbHInventors: Ralf Böhnke, Thomas Dölle, Tino Konschak
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Patent number: 6735261Abstract: A technique for calibrating a N-port receiver, such as for example a 5- or 6-port receiver is proposed. The N-port receiver (1) comprises a first input (2) for a RF signal to be detected, a second input (3) for a RF signal originating from a local oscillator (4) and N−2 output terminals. Calibrating signals are generated on the basis of the RF signal supplied by the local oscillator (4). The calibration signals are fed to the first input (2) and/or the second input (3) of the N-port receiver (1). Calibration coefficients are calculated on the basis of the output signals generated by the N-port receiver (1) in response to the feeding of the calibration signals. The calibration signals are unmodulated signals and are only processed by means of a passive RF circuitry in the calibration device (100). The solutions according to the present invention allow a simple calibration of N-port receivers, which can be used as IQ demodulators or converters.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2000Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignees: Sony International (Europe) GmbH, Sony CorporationInventors: Gerald Oberschmidt, Veselin Brankovic, Dragan Krupzevic, Masayoshi Abe, Tino Konschak, Thomas Dölle
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Patent number: 6734859Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing information, and a program and a program storing medium are disclosed in which a user can surely recognize the change of images when they are operated. Upon detection of an operation, a processing manager applies, every predetermined period, a transition function to an elapsed time from the detection of the operation to compute a ratio of the movement of an image to a distance from the current position of the displayed image to a destination specified by the operation. On the basis of the obtained ratio of the movement of the image, the processing manger specifies a display position of the image toward the destination. A content processing routine controls the display so that the image is displayed at the specified position every predetermined period.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masakazu Hayashi, Hideyuki Agata
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Patent number: 6734877Abstract: An index related process unit 75 in a web server 3 determines index related information regarding a display form of a VD index picture, which is necessary for a GUI data generating unit 77 to generate GUI data. The index related information includes, for example, the number of VD index pictures which can be displayed according to the size of a browser screen of a terminal device 4, numbers of VD index pictures to be selected when the number of VD index pictures generated exceeds the displayable number, and a VD index picture display form according to the length of a moving picture. The VD index picture display form is used so that the user of the terminal device 4 can recognize the length of the corresponding moving picture only by seeing the VD index picture display form displayed on the browser screen by selectively using a part of the area in which the VD index pictures can be displayed according to the length of the moving picture.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2000Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Fumitaka Honda, Koji Kondo
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Patent number: 6731584Abstract: An optical information reproducing apparatus and a method of setting the quantity of light in an optical information reproducing apparatus that can be applied to an optical disk apparatus for accessing a phase-change-type optical disk for easily and reliably selecting conditions for driving a laser diode with a drive signal having a high-frequency signal superimposed thereon. The power of a laser beam is set such that the peak power of the laser beam except for a relaxation oscillation component does not exeed a power Pe required to erase data.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Toru Nagara
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Patent number: 6728310Abstract: A data processing apparatus processes input data and outputs the processed data. The data processing apparatus includes a data processing section for processing the input data by a predetermined processing method and outputting the processed data, an input-data evaluation section for evaluating the input data, an output-data evaluation section for evaluating the output data, and a real-time learning section for controlling such that the processing method is learned in real time according to the evaluation results obtained by the input-data evaluation section and the output-data evaluation section and the data processing section processes the input data according to the learned processing method, and thereby, improves the output data every moment.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1999Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Kobayashi, Koji Ohta
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Patent number: 6724436Abstract: A method of mounting a volume from a tape medium on a tape drive apparatus. The method reads a bar-code indicating the volume from a tape cartridge, attaches the tape cartridge to a tape drive, and detects the current track position on the basis of a longitudinal track. The method then determines whether a beginning volume label or a last used area volume label is nearer to the current track position, reads the nearer volume label from the tape medium, confirms the volume by comparing the nearer volume label with the bar-code, and mounts the volume onto the tape drive.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Sony United Kingdom LimitedInventors: Nicholas Ian Saunders, Robert Webb
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Patent number: 6697566Abstract: A characteristic point detection circuit detects a characteristic point from a base band video signal and generates a characteristic point file. A compressed video signal received from the digital satellite broadcast is supplied to a multiplexing circuit as it is in the form of a bit stream. The multiplexing circuit multiplexes the compressed video signal and characteristic point file. A control circuit obtains the characteristic point file from an optical disc during reproduction, and controls reproduction of the compressed video signal. As described herein above, the supplied compressed video signal is recorded in a recording medium without deterioration of the image quality, and the recorded video signal accepts random access.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1998Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yasushi Fujinami, Toshiya Hamada
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Patent number: 6695494Abstract: A printing system including printing equipment in which, even if the equipment are interconnected through an interface pursuant to the IEEE 1394 standard, the printing image may be set to effect printing. There is provided a CPU 23 for generating the printing control information containing the text printing image information indicating the picture processing contents for the text at the time of printing and the picture printing image information indicating the processing contents for a picture at the time of printing. There is also provided a data conversion unit 13 which manages control so that picture data and the printing control information will be contained in a packet consistent with the IEEE 1394 standard and sent as output to a printer device 5, and so that the picture data contained in the packet sent as output to the printer device 5 will be printed in accordance with the printing control information.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2000Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yushi Ihara, Koichiro Ishigami
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Patent number: 6691149Abstract: A data communication system for distributing music data files between a server and a client removably connected to the server. The system transfers music data files and corresponding management data from a client to a server. The server then determines whether the music data files were previously stored in the server on the basis of the corresponding management data transferred from the client and a management data file in the server. If it is determined that the music data files were previously stored in the server, the music data files transferred from the client are stored into their previous locations in the server. In this manner, the music data files may be repeatedly moved to and from the server and maintain their ordering on the server.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2000Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Teppei Yokota, Nobuyuki Kihara
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Patent number: 6683471Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuitry for detecting the power of a RF signal (7) comprising a FET transistor (1) connected in parallel to two inputs (2, 2′) for supplying the RF signal and two outputs (13, 13′) for detecting the power of the RF signal (7). The circuitry has a resistor (9) having a resistance larger than the drain-source resistance of the FET transistor (1). This resistor (9) is connected between one of the outputs and the source (14) of the FET transistor (19. Further a capacitor (10) is connected between one of the input and the source of the FET transistor. The gate (8) of the FET transistor is connected to ground.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignees: Sony International (Europe) GmbH, Sony CorporationInventors: Mohamed Ratni, Dragan Krupezevic, Veselin Brankovic, Masayoshi Abe, Noboru Sasho
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Patent number: 6681363Abstract: A data transmission system which allows received data to be decoded and reproduced in real time by simple decoding and which allows signal reproduction and recording by highly reliable error-correcting decoding, wherein a transmitter encodes transmission data by an error-correcting code enabling control of the error-correcting characteristic and the real-time characteristic at the receiving side and transmits it through a transmission line and a receiver 2a demodulates the received data by a demodulation circuit 102, decodes it by a simple decoding circuit 104 and simultaneously stores it in a storage circuit 110, demultiplexes the decoded data 105a by a demultiplexing circuit 106, and reproduces it by a reproduction circuit 123 in a form for viewing and listening by a user.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2000Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tamotsu Ikeda, Yasunari Ikeda, Takahiro Okada, Koichi Tagawa, Moriyuki Kawaguchi
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Patent number: 6674955Abstract: An editing apparatus comprises an editing processing unit for processing a video signal and an audio signal supplied as source materials, and a computer for controlling the editing processing unit, wherein the computer comprises a controlling means for displaying a viewer window, a log window, and a program window on a display of the computer, the viewer window allowing the editing operator to decide an edit point while viewing a video image of a source material so as to produce an event, the log window displaying a clip image corresponding to an event that is set on the viewer window, the program window allowing the editing operator to arrange a plurality of events on a time line in a desired order so as to produce a program list, and wherein the controlling means displays an icon that represents by what source device each event arranged on the time line is produced.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1998Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masafumi Matsui, Naomi Egashira, Tetsuro Nakata, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Motomu Ueta, Yoshiyuki Nakamura, Kosei Yamashita
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Patent number: 6674438Abstract: An entertainment apparatus has a manual controller for entering control information, a main memory for loading therein a program and information for use by the program, a CPU for performing processing according to the program based on control information entered by the manual controller, a GTE and a GPU for generating at least image information based on the processing performed by the CPU, and a display monitor for displaying image information generated by the GTE and the GPU. A method of adding information for use by a program run on the entertainment apparatus has the step of adding additional information by loading the additional information via a memory card or a portable information terminal into the main memory of the entertainment apparatus. The method allows game characters, backgrounds, etc. that can be used by a game program, for example, to be increased in number or added to permit the user to enjoy a game that is rich in variety even if the game program is of existing nature.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1999Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.Inventors: Tetsuji Yamamoto, Kenji Sawaguchi, Yuji Shinkai