Patents Examined by Christopher T. Braniff
  • Patent number: 9871997
    Abstract: Systems, processes and computer-readable media that incorporate the subject disclosure may include, for example, the establishment of wireless communications with a wireless communications device positioned for monitoring an event. A media stream including event media is received from the wireless communications device. The event media is generated by the wireless communications device obtained from the observation position. The media stream is forwarded to a media production processor. Upon selection, the media production processor uses the media stream to prepare media program coverage of the event. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Mario Kosseifi, Shravari Abnave, Jeremy Fix, Sheldon Kent Meredith
  • Patent number: 9866906
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and a method for providing a three-dimensional (3D) broadcasting service that may provide a two-dimensional (2D) fixed broadcasting service using a fixed broadcasting signal or a 2D mobile broadcasting service using a mobile broadcasting signal when a transmitter transmits each of a left image and a right image constituting a 3D image using the fixed broadcasting signal or the mobile broadcasting signal, and the receiver receives the fixed broadcasting signal and the mobile broadcasting signal, or may provide a 3D broadcasting service by composing an image received using the fixed broadcasting signal and an image received using the mobile broadcasting signal into a 3D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung-Hoon Kim, Chung Hyun Ahn, Sukhee Cho, Jin Woong Kim, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 9854246
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a video coder. The video coder may include an encoder to perform coding operations on a video signal in a first format to generate coded video data, and a decoder to decode the coded video data. The video coder may also include an inverse format converter to convert the decoded video data to second format that is different than the first format and an estimator to generate a distortion metric using the decoded video data in the second format and the video signal in the second format. The encoder may adjust the coding operations based on the distortion metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, David Singer, Guy Cote, Timothy J. Millet
  • Patent number: 9848202
    Abstract: This document discloses a method and apparatus for image encoding/decoding which support multiple layers. The method for image decoding comprises analyzing a video parameter set (VPS) extension for layer dependency on a current layer, analyzing slices for layer dependency on a current slice by determining whether not to apply layer dependency to the current slice or to apply new layer dependency to the current slice, the new layer dependency determining within a range of layer dependency analyzed from the VPS extension, and constructing a reference picture list about the current layer based on at least one of layer dependency analyzed from the VPS extension and layer dependency analyzed from the slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION GROUP OF SEJONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jung Won Kang, Ha Hyun Lee, Jin Ho Lee, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Woong Kim, Jong Ki Han, Jae Yung Lee
  • Patent number: 9838595
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the technical field of video recording and provides a video generating method and apparatus of a video generating system, the video generating system comprises a system target orientating camera, a target tracking camera and a panorama camera, the method comprises: when it is judged that a target object included in the image collected by the target tracking camera is a person, and the person lies within a scope of a lens of the target tracking camera, switching the target tracking camera such that it serves as a video generating source and generating a video according to images collected by the target tracking camera; when it is judged that the target object included in an image collected by the target tracking camera is a person, and the person lies out of the scope of the lens of the target tracking camera, or it is judged that the target object included in an image collected by the target tracking camera is not a person, switching the panorama camera such that it serves as
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SZ REACH TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Qu, Hai Liao, Xinglei Sun, Jie Yuan, Chong Xu, Zhen Qian
  • Patent number: 9838686
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for incorporating full-resolution frames in a coding order and corresponding thumbnail images of a motion video into compressed video data. A device to compress video frames includes a processor component; and a compression component for execution by the processor component to intersperse at least one compressed thumbnail frame (T-frame) among multiple compressed full-resolution frames of a motion video arranged in a coding order in a compressed video data, the T-frame comprising multiple thumbnail images of the motion video in compressed form. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ce Wang, Changliang Wang
  • Patent number: 9838690
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for selective prediction signal filtering. One aspect of the disclosed implementations is a method for encoding a frame of a video stream including determining a first performance measurement for a first set of prediction samples identified for a group of pixels using a first prediction mode, generating a filtered set of prediction samples by applying a filter to a second set of prediction samples, wherein at least one of the filtered set of prediction samples or the second set of prediction samples are identified using a second prediction mode, determining a second performance measurement for the filtered set of prediction samples, generating, using a processor, a residual based on the filtered set of prediction samples and the group of pixels if the second performance measurement exceeds the first performance measurement, and encoding the frame using the residual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Adrian Grange, James Bankoski, Paul G. Wilkins, Yaowu Xu
  • Patent number: 9826246
    Abstract: An image coding method for coding an image on a block-by-block basis, includes: selecting, for each of a plurality of sub-blocks included in a coding-target block and each including a plurality of coefficients, a context for performing arithmetic coding on a parameter indicating a coding-target coefficient included in the sub-block from a context set corresponding to the sub-block, based on at least one reference coefficient located around the coding-target coefficient, the coding-target block being a transform unit; and performing arithmetic coding on the parameter indicating the coding-target coefficient using probability information about the selected context, wherein, in the selecting, the context is selected from the context set, the context set corresponding to a sum of (i) a value indicating a position in a horizontal direction of the sub-block in the coding-target block and (ii) a value indicating a position in a vertical direction of the sub-block in the coding-target block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SUN PATENT TRUST
    Inventors: Kengo Terada, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara, Kyoko Tanikawa, Hisao Sasai, Toshiyasu Sugio, Toru Matsunobu
  • Patent number: 9810896
    Abstract: A microscope device includes an illumination optical system that illuminates a specimen with a light sheet, and a stereo image capturing device that captures images of the specimen in a plurality of different directions in which a resolution based on a triangulation method in a Z direction orthogonal to a direction of one or a plurality of light sheets formed on the specimen by the illumination optical system is less than a thickness in the Z direction of light sheet illumination that comprises the one or the plurality of light sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 9805278
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus includes a line-of-data judgment unit configured to judge a type of line-of-sight data indicating a direction of the line of sight of a driver; an estimation unit configured to estimate an attentive watching state of the driver on a target area to be attentively watched by performing based on the target area being set depending on a driving situation based on vehicle state information and a direction of the line of sight indicated by a plurality of pieces of line-of-sight data acquired in a judgment time; and a confidence-level-calculation unit configured to calculate a confidence level of an estimation result of the attentive watching state by performing based on one of setting accuracy of the target area, and a configuration state of line-of-sight data associated with each type of the plurality of pieces of line-of-sight data acquired in the judgment time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Asako Kitaura, Yasuhiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 9800865
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of stereoscopic vision systems and more particularly the management of the position of the focal plane in a stereoscopic scene. The invention aims to propose a method for managing the focal plane within a stereoscopic image or a sequence of stereoscopic images. A translation of the right and left images is effected in order to place the focal plane in front of the scene viewed. Advantageously, the depth of the major objects of the scene is estimated by a division of the images into a plurality of zones and estimation of the depth of each of the zones. The depth of the focal plane is then calculated so that most of the scene is behind the focal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SAS
    Inventors: Alexandre Delattre, Jerome Larrieu
  • Patent number: 9794583
    Abstract: An image coding method for coding an image on a block-by-block basis, includes: selecting, for each of a plurality of sub-blocks included in a coding-target block and each including a plurality of coefficients, a context for performing arithmetic coding on a parameter indicating a coding-target coefficient included in the sub-block from a context set corresponding to the sub-block, based on at least one reference coefficient located around the coding-target coefficient, the coding-target block being a transform unit; and performing arithmetic coding on the parameter indicating the coding-target coefficient using probability information about the selected context, wherein, in the selecting, the context is selected from the context set, the context set corresponding to a sum of (i) a value indicating a position in a horizontal direction of the sub-block in the coding-target block and (ii) a value indicating a position in a vertical direction of the sub-block in the coding-target block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SUN PATENT TRUST
    Inventors: Kengo Terada, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara, Kyoko Tanikawa, Hisao Sasai, Toshiyasu Sugio, Toru Matsunobu
  • Patent number: 9787992
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signaling of sample adaptive offset (SAO) parameters determined to minimize an error between an original image and a reconstructed image in video encoding and decoding operations. An SAO decoding method includes obtaining context-encoded leftward SAO merge information and context-encoded upward SAO merge information from a bitstream of a largest coding unit (MCU); obtaining SAO on/off information context-encoded with respect to each color component, from the bitstream; if the SAO on/off information indicates to perform SAO operation, obtaining absolute offset value information for each SAO category bypass-encoded with respect to each color component, from the bitstream; and obtaining one of band position information and edge class information bypass-encoded with respect to each color component, from the bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Elena Alshina, Alexander Alshin, Jeong-hoon Park
  • Patent number: 9769461
    Abstract: A method of depth map optimization using an adaptive structured light pattern is provided that includes capturing, by a camera in a structured light imaging device, a first image of a scene into which a pre-determined structured light pattern is projected by a projector in the structured light imaging device, generating a first disparity map based on the captured first image and the structured light pattern, adapting the structured light pattern based on the first disparity map to generate an adaptive pattern, wherein at least one region of the structured light pattern is replaced by a different pattern, capturing, by the camera, a second image of the scene into which the adaptive pattern is projected by the projector, generating a second disparity map based on the captured second image and the adaptive pattern, and generating a depth image using the second disparity map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Vikram VijayanBabu Appia
  • Patent number: 9767695
    Abstract: A blind spot detection system for a vehicle having an external rearview device including a substrate having an at least partially transmissive portion. An imaging device positioned behind the at least partially transmissive portion and including a field of view that extends through the substrate at an angle away from the vehicle in the general direction of a vehicle blind spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven G. Hoek, Frederick T. Bauer, Michael F. Lisowski
  • Patent number: 9762862
    Abstract: A device includes a projection and camera system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. The projection and camera system have a camera to image scattered light from the environment and determine depth of objects in the environment. The system also has a projector to project the images onto the scene. The projection images and captured environment images share a common optical path through the same lens. The system includes an image noise cancelation system to cancel, remove, or otherwise reduce unwanted image noise caused by internal reflection of the projection images from the environment images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Christopher D. Coley, Eric G. Marason, William Thomas Weatherford
  • Patent number: 9754373
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring distances between a pallino and one or more bocce balls on a bocce court. More particularly, one or more cameras are mounted above the bocce court which detect the position of the bocce balls and the pallino and use one or more algorithms to make a distance measurement from each bocce ball to the pallino. These distances can then be sorted from closest to furthest such that scoring results can instantly be shown on a monitor mounted in or near the bocce court. A scoring function can keep track of a cumulative score, round by round, until a team or player is declared the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Gregory J. Seita
  • Patent number: 9736492
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motion vector smoothing method. The motion vector smoothing method includes acquiring motion vectors of at least one block of a current image by using a reference image, acquiring a candidate motion vector of a current block, based on a motion vector of the current block, and at least one motion vector of at least one block adjacent to the current block, determining a threshold value of the current block according to gradient values of pixels included in the current block, and determining the motion vector of the current block according to the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyung-jun Lim, Hyun-wook Park, Dong-yoon Kim, Se-Hyeok Park, Tae-gyoung Ahn
  • Patent number: 9726873
    Abstract: In a microscope which can incline an imaging section, a height position of an observation target is automatically matched to a eucentric position. The microscope includes: a placement stage on which an observation target is placed; a lower stage lifting section that vertically movably supports the placement stage; a first driving mechanism that drives the lower stage lifting section; an imaging section that captures an image of the observation target; and an upper stage lifting section that vertically movably supports a fitting member along an optical axis and is swingable about a swinging axis orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein the first driving mechanism can drive the lower stage lifting section such that the surface of the observation target placed on the placement stage is matched to a focal position of imaging unit, or a height position of the swinging axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Inomata, Shohei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9729871
    Abstract: A video image decoding apparatus includes a plurality of predicted image generating units that generate predicted images according to respectively different methods. A predicted image combining unit combines the predicted images generated by the predicted image generating units to obtain a predicted image. A decoding unit decodes an encoded image by using, as side information, the predicted image obtained by the predicted image combining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhito Sakomizu