Patents Assigned to Google Technology Holdings LLC
  • Patent number: 11140437
    Abstract: A content moving device which enables providing content stored on a first user device, such as a DVR, in a first format and resolution to be provided to a second user device, such as a portable media player (PMP) in a second format and resolution. The content moving device identifies content on the first user device as candidate content which may be desired by the PMP and receives the candidate content from the DVR. The content moving device transcodes the candidate content at times independent of a request from the PMP for the content. The content moving device may provide a list of available transcoded content to the PMP for selection, and provide selected content to the PMP. The content moving device may also provide information relating to any protection schemes of the content provided to the PMP, such as DRM rights and decryption keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Ajay K. Luthra, Michael A. Grossman, Praveen N. Moorthy, Paul Moroney, Arjun Ramamurthy, Haifeng Xu
  • Patent number: 11140424
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of associating, at a secondary device, secondary media content with primary media content being output at a primary device. The method includes receiving, at the secondary device, first information based upon the primary content being output at the primary device, wherein the first information includes at least one of an audio and a visual signal, determining at the secondary device second information corresponding to the first information, receiving at the secondary device one or more portions of secondary media content that have been made available by a third device, determining at the secondary device whether one or more of the portions of the secondary media content match one or more portions of the second information, and taking at least one further action upon determining that there is a match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 11099810
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for communicating notifications and other textual data associated with applications installed on an electronic device. According to certain aspects, a user can interface with an input device to send (218) a wake up trigger to the electronic device. The electronic device retrieves (222) application notifications and converts (288) the application notifications to audio data. The electronic device also sends (230) the audio data to an audio output device for annunciation (232). The user may also use the input device to send (242) a request to the electronic device to activate the display screen. The electronic device identifies (248) an application corresponding to an annunciated notification, and activates (254) the display screen and initiates the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Long Peng, Hui Dai, Xin Guan
  • Publication number: 20210243363
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that provide a “best” picture taken within a few seconds of the moment when a capture command is received (e.g., when the “shutter” button is pressed). In some situations, several still images are automatically (that is, without the user's input) captured. These images are compared to find a “best” image that is presented to the photographer for consideration. Video is also captured automatically and analyzed to see if there is an action scene or other motion content around the time of the capture command. If the analysis reveals anything interesting, then the video clip is presented to the photographer. The video clip may be cropped to match the still-capture scene and to remove transitory parts. Higher-precision horizon detection may be provided based on motion analysis and on pixel-data analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Doina I. Petrescu, Thomas T. Lay, Steven R. Petrie, Bill Ryan, Snigdha Sinha, Jeffrey S. Vanhoof
  • Patent number: 11064179
    Abstract: A system is provided for use with a video input signal and a video unit. The video input signal can be one of a two dimensional video signal and a three dimensional video signal. The video unit can display a three dimensional video and a two dimensional video. The system includes a receiver portion, a processing portion, a switching portion and an output portion. The receiver portion can receive the video input signal. The processing portion can output a first signal in a first mode of operation and can output a second signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the first signal is based on the video input signal and the second signal is based on the video input signal. The switching portion can switch the processing portion from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: David B. Lazarus, Yaxi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11061481
    Abstract: A method in an electronic device, the method includes projecting infrared (“IR”) light from a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) disposed proximate to the perimeter of the electronic device, detecting, by a sensor, IR light originating from at least two of the plurality of LEDs reflected from off of a person, and carrying out a function based on the relative strength of the detected IR light from the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Rachid Mohsen Alameh, Patrick J. Cauwels, Kenneth A. Paitl
  • Patent number: 11064419
    Abstract: A mobile device system and related method are disclosed by which the device is able to communicate wirelessly not only via a Wide Area Network (WAN) link but also via an alternate link such as a Wi-Fi link. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a command from a remote server, via the WAN link, to establish a Wi-Fi link when possible. The method further includes, upon establishing the Wi-Fi link, sending a message for receipt by the server indicating that the Wi-Fi link has been established, and receiving software update information from the server, the information being communicated to the mobile device via the Wi-Fi link. Further, the method includes one or both of (1) sending an acknowledgement for receipt by the server indicating that the information has been received and (2) receiving an instruction from the server that communications via the Wi-Fi link be ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Vogedes, Ajit Panda
  • Patent number: 11036389
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display screen for displaying (302) an active first application, a movement sensing assembly for providing signals indicative of movement of an object with respect to the display screen, and a processor in electronic communication with the movement sensing assembly and the display screen. The processor evaluates the signals from the movement sensing assembly to identify (304) a subdividing gesture, and instructs the display screen to display (306) the first application in a first portion of the display screen to one side of the subdividing gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Meng Huang
  • Patent number: 11032343
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a content server to select sets of video streams having different encoding parameters for transmitting the sets of video streams to a media device are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method for transmitting video streams for a media program from a server to a media device includes: selecting, by the server, first encoding parameters including a first bitrate for a first set of video streams for the media program based on a first estimated bandwidth capacity for a network linking the server and the media device, transmitting the first set of video streams from the server to the media device, determining, by the server, second encoding parameters including a second bitrate for a second set of video streams for the media program, and transmitting the second set of video streams from the server to the media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Arjun Ramamurthy, Ajay Luthra
  • Patent number: 11025883
    Abstract: A method (300) and apparatus (400) for three-dimensional television (3DTV) image adjustment includes loading (342, 344) default 2D-to-3D image setting values from a default settings memory to a user adjustment settings memory, annunciating (346) the default 2D-to-3D image setting values, receiving (361, 362) a 2D-to-3D image settings value adjustment, saving (370) the 2D-to-3D image settings value adjustment in the user adjustment settings memory, and applying (390) the 2D-to-3D image settings value adjustment to a 2D-to-3D converted image. These methods and apparatuses allow individual users to set 3DTV image settings to their personal preferences to compensate for brightness reductions caused by 3DTV glasses, depth perception sensitivities, and other image quality factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Ajay K. Luthra, Michael A. Grossman, Jae Hoon Kim, Arjun Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 11019252
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that provide a “best” picture taken within a few seconds of the moment when a capture command is received (e.g., when the “shutter” button is pressed). In some situations, several still images are automatically (that is, without the user's input) captured. These images are compared to find a “best” image that is presented to the photographer for consideration. Video is also captured automatically and analyzed to see if there is an action scene or other motion content around the time of the capture command. If the analysis reveals anything interesting, then the video clip is presented to the photographer. The video clip may be cropped to match the still-capture scene and to remove transitory parts. Higher-precision horizon detection may be provided based on motion analysis and on pixel-data analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Doina I. Petrescu, Thomas T. Lay, Steven R. Petrie, Bill Ryan, Snigdha Sinha, Jeffrey S. Vanhoof
  • Patent number: 11005985
    Abstract: A method including: transmitting, by a control device, a first portion of content comprising a first portion of a signal corresponding to a multimedia presentation characteristic of a peripheral device; receiving, when an adjustment of the signal is below an adjustment threshold, a first instance of an input indicating a request to change the multimedia presentation characteristic; in response to receiving the first instance of the input, adjusting a second portion of the signal and transmitting a second portion of the content comprising the adjusted second portion of the signal; receiving, when the adjustment of the signal is at or above the adjustment threshold, a second instance of the input; and transmitting, in response to receiving the second instance of the input, a communication signal to the peripheral device to adjust a peripheral device control of an output of the multimedia presentation characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Liang Zhao, Yu-Ling Fu, Qiu-Ling Li
  • Publication number: 20210134293
    Abstract: A device performs a method for using image data to aid voice recognition. The method includes the device capturing image data of a vicinity of the device and adjusting, based on the image data, a set of parameters for voice recognition performed by the device. The set of parameters for the device performing voice recognition include, but are not limited to: a trigger threshold of a trigger for voice recognition; a set of beamforming parameters; a database for voice recognition; and/or an algorithm for voice recognition. The algorithm may include using noise suppression or using acoustic beamforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Zurek, Adrian M. Schuster, Fu-Lin Shau, Jincheng Wu
  • Patent number: 10999243
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Remote Access Server (RAS) to provide a communication channel between UPnP Remote Access Clients (RACs) connected thereto. The UPnP RAS maintains local discovery information for UPnP devices connected to a local network and remote discovery information for remote UPnP devices communicating therewith. The UPnP RAS provides the remote UPnP devices communicating therewith with the local discovery information and the remote discovery information. The remote discovery information is utilized by a first remote UPnP device to discover a second UPnP device and vice versa. After discovery, a first remote UPnP device can communicate with a second UPnP device and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Qi-Bin Wu
  • Publication number: 20210125607
    Abstract: A disclosed method includes monitoring an audio signal energy level while having a noise suppressor deactivated to conserve battery power, buffering the audio signal in response to a detected increase in the audio energy level, activating and running a voice activity detector on the audio signal in response to the detected increase in the audio energy level and activating and running a noise estimator in response to voice being detected in the audio signal by the voice activity detector. The method may further include activating and running the noise suppressor only if the noise estimator determines that noise suppression is required. The method activates and runs a noise type classifier to determine the noise type based on information received from the noise estimator and selects a noise suppressor algorithm, from a group of available noise suppressor algorithms, where the selected noise suppressor algorithm is the most power consumption efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Plamen A. Ivanov, Kevin J. Bastyr, Joel A. Clark, Mark A. Jasiuk, Tenkasi V. Ramabadran, Jincheng Wu
  • Publication number: 20210110839
    Abstract: An electronic device measures noise variability of background noise present in a sampled audio signal, and determines whether the measured noise variability is higher than a high threshold value or lower than a low threshold value. If the noise variability is determined to be higher than the high threshold value, the device categorizes the background noise as having a high degree of variability. If the noise variability is determined to be lower than the low threshold value, the device categorizes the background noise as having a low degree of variability. The high and low threshold values are between a high boundary point and a low boundary point. The high boundary point is based on an analysis of files including noises that exhibit a high degree of variability, and the low boundary point is based on an analysis of files including noises that exhibit a low degree of variability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Jasiuk, Tenkasi V. Ramabadran
  • Publication number: 20210104259
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for highlighting media through weighting of people or contexts are described. This document describes techniques that allow a user to quickly and easily highlight media, such as through generating a highlight reel. The techniques also enable selection of context and person weightings by which to tailor highlight reels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Babak Robert Shakib, Yuriy Musatenko, Andrii Gushchyk
  • Patent number: 10952170
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Daley, Travis Bolinger, Heath O'Neal
  • Patent number: 10944739
    Abstract: A system and method for exchanging data among partitions of a storage device is disclosed. For example, data stored in a first partition is exchanged with an application included in the first partition or with a second application included in a second partition. In one embodiment, the second application is associated with a global certificate while the first application is associated with a different platform certificate. A verification module included in the first partition receives a request for data and determines if the request for data is received from the first application. If the request for data is not received from the first application, the verification module determines whether the request is received from the second application and whether the global certificate is an authorized certificate. For example, the verification module determines whether the global certificate is included in a listing of authorized certificates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Rashmi Chaudhury, Srinivas Attaluri, Fangge Liu, Lakshmi Thyagarajan
  • Patent number: 10932728
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying location of a touched body part. The method includes initializing a tracking system for monitoring travel of a pointer useful for indicating a touching operation, wherein the touching operation is performed on a body part. In addition, the method includes monitoring the travel of the pointer from a predetermined first location to a second location, wherein the second location coincides with a touch endpoint on a body part; and identifying the location of body part that was touched by the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Rachid M. Alameh, Timothy Dickinson