Patents Examined by David Harvey
  • Reproducing apparatus, reproducing method, reproducing program, and recording medium for managing reproduction of a data stream
    Patent number: 9106884
    Abstract: A computer readable medium may have a data structure for managing reproduction of a data stream including a navigation area for storing navigation data associated with the data stream representing a portion of at least one reproduction path, the navigation data including data of minimum extent size and indication information, the indication information for indicating whether the data stream represents multiple reproduction paths or the data stream represents a single reproduction path. The navigation data may include path number information and an indicator associated with each reproduction path, the path number information for identifying path numbers respectively of the multiple reproduction paths, and the indicator for indicating a file associated with the associated one of the multiple reproduction paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiya Hamada, Motoki Kato
  • Methods and apparatus for 3D UV imaging
    Patent number: 9091748
    Abstract: A 3D ultraviolet (UV) imaging LADAR system includes a UV source configured to generate a UV interrogation beam, a sensor configured to receive a UV return beam reflected from a target and to produce an electrical signal, and an imaging module coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the electrical signal and to generate a corresponding 3D image of the target. In one example, the sensor includes a down-shifting device configured to down-shift the UV return beam to a down-shifted light beam of a different wavelength, for example, in the visible or SWIR wavelength ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam M. Kennedy, Michael D. Jack, James Asbrock, Frank B. Jaworski
  • Image processing apparatus and image processing method for image correction
    Patent number: 9088715
    Abstract: Both tilt information included in an image and positional information are acquired in order to calculate a relative tilt angle between at least two images. Whether the tilt information can be used to estimate the tilt angle (whether the tilt information is fake information) is determined from a distribution characteristic in the image of the acquired positional information. The tilt angle is estimated from the tilt information determined to be able to be used. A tilt included in the acquired image is corrected using the estimation result, and the image having the correct orientation can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Jun Ohmiya, Hitoshi Yamada
  • Recording device, recording method, reproduction device, reproduction method, recording medium, and program for encoding and decoding video data of a plurality of viewpoints
    Patent number: 9088775
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording device, a recording method, a playback device, a playback method, a recording medium, and a program that enable a recording medium, such as a BD, storing a stream of base image and a stream of extended image obtained by encoding video data of a plurality of viewpoints using a predetermined encoding method to be played in a device incompatible with playback of video data of a plurality of viewpoints. In an Access Unit storing Base view video, encoding of an MVC header is prohibited. As for a view component stored in an Access Unit without an MVC header, definition is made so that view_id thereof is recognized as 0. The present invention can be applied to a playback device compatible with the BD-ROM standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinobu Hattori
  • Media player with networked playback control and advertisement insertion
    Patent number: 9083938
    Abstract: A media player enables insertion of advertising content during playback of received content. This facilitates targeted product placement, advertisements, and the like. The media player identifies an advertising insertion event, which may be based on a viewer profile. Upon identification of an advertising insertion event, the media player varies playback of the received content to add advertising information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Gary Zalewski
  • Control system, control device, image system, eyeglasses, and image display device
    Patent number: 9077984
    Abstract: Technology for controlling image display according to the state of a viewer wearing eyeglasses to view 3D images is provided. When an inclined angle of eyeglasses is in a predetermined range, an image display device alternately displays a left-eye image and a right-eye image. When the inclined angle of the eyeglasses exceeds the predetermined range, the image display device does not switch the left-eye image with the right-eye image. For example, the image display device displays 2D images. Optical shutters of the eyeglasses are synchronized with the left-eye image and the right-eye image. When the image display device does not switch the left-eye image with the right-eye image, the optical shutters are both open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshida, Yoichi Hasegawa, Takashi Naiki
  • Video recording apparatus for automatically redistributing recorded video
    Patent number: 9071860
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for personal video recorders (PVRs) and other devices configured for recording and playing back media content from a data storage unit, preferably a random access unit such as a hard drive. A system is described having network connectivity, such as a power-line communications, with other PVRs or similar units, wherein media content can be automatically shifted from one unit to another over the network, such as in response to changes in available storage space. Content transfers and deletions within the system being intelligently performed based on content status, user preference settings, and user preference information such as received from a preference engine, toward optimizing the value to the user of the content which is retained network wide. An additional aspect provides content restoration after mistaken deletion by the user or automated deletion functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Kim A. Ryal
  • Collaborative production asset management
    Patent number: 9070415
    Abstract: In an approach, a method of spotting music for a motion picture comprises: receiving music editor (MXE) cue related data defining a plurality of cues each having a start timecode value and an end timecode value; based on the MXE data, creating and storing an MXE timecode path, a composer (CMP) timecode path, and a cue sheet timecode path; copying one or more of the MXE cue related data to CMP cues in the CMP timecode path in a CMP spotting dataset; receiving one or more changes to the CMP cues without also modifying the MXE cue related data; applying an editing lock to the CMP cues; auto-populating the CMP cues to cue sheet cues in the cue sheet timecode path; receiving one or more changes to the cue sheet cues without also modifying the CMP cues; finalizing and distributing a cue sheet based on the cue sheet cues; wherein the method is performed by one or more special-purpose computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: QWIRE HOLDING, LLC
    Inventors: Leigh B. Roberts, Jr., Jonathan Louis Ehrlich, Scott Freiman
  • User-specified event-based remote triggering of a consumer digital video recording device
    Patent number: 9049415
    Abstract: A method, digital video recording (DVR) device/system and computer program provide a mechanism for recording video content associated with unpredictable events. A user specifies particular event classifications, keywords, or other control parameters from which the occurrence of an event can be determined, and when such event is detected, the DVR is triggered to record content from a specified channel/location. The events can be detected from feeds such as RSS feeds, websites, video content scans or other mechanisms. The event detection may be provided by a remote service that is accessible for user-configuration via a network, or the event detection may be performed in a DVR device or local computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Amsterdam, Kulvir S. Bhogal, Gregory J. Boss, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Playback device, playback method, and program for identifying a stream
    Patent number: 9049427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a playback device, a playback method, and a program, which enable a 3D content to be played by determining which stream of a basic stream and an extended stream is a left image stream in the event of displaying a 3D image for example. In the event that the value of view_type is 0, of the data stored in a DPB 151, data obtained by decoding a Base view video packet which is identified by PID=0 is output to an L video plane generating unit 161. The value 0 of the vie and w_type represents that a Base view video stream is an L view stream. In this case, data obtained by decoding a Dependent view video packet which is identified by a PID other than 0 is output to an R video plane generating unit 162. The present invention can be applied to a playback device compatible with the BD-ROM standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinobu Hattori
  • Image processing apparatus and image processing method for image correction
    Patent number: 9049370
    Abstract: Both tilt information included in an image and positional information are acquired in order to calculate a relative tilt angle between at least two images. Whether the tilt information can be used to estimate the tilt angle (whether the tilt information is fake information) is determined from a distribution characteristic in the image of the acquired positional information. The tilt angle is estimated from the tilt information determined to be able to be used. A tilt included in the acquired image is corrected using the estimation result, and the image having the correct orientation can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Jun Ohmiya, Hitoshi Yamada
  • Determining a position in media content based on a name information
    Patent number: 9036979
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the playing of an advertisement may be detected by identifying the persons associated with the faces in the advertisement portion of the media content and determining that the identified persons are not actors listed for the media content. In an embodiment, the advertisement may be enhanced with additional content pertaining to the product or service being advertised. In an embodiment, the advertisement may be automatically fast-forwarded, muted, or replaced with an alternate advertisement. In an embodiment, only a non-advertisement portion of the media content may be recorded by skipping over the detected advertisement portion of the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Amir H Gharaat, James Barton, Mukesh K Patel
  • Motion-based image stitching
    Patent number: 9007428
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for stitching or aligning multiple images (or portions of images) to generate a panoramic image are described. In general, techniques are disclosed for using motion data (captured at substantially the same time as image data) to align images rather than performing image analysis and/or registration operations. More particularly, motion data may be used to identify the rotational change between successive images. The identified rotational change, in turn, may be used to generate a transform that, when applied to an image allows it to be aligned with a previously captured image. In this way, images may be aligned in real-time using only motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jianping Zhou
  • Media generating system and method
    Patent number: 9002177
    Abstract: A media generation system and method are provided that automatically directs one or more users to perform in one or more shots specified in the marked-up script and automatically combines the one or more shots into a piece of media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sceneplay, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann Greenberg, Philippe Piernot
  • Application enhancement tracks
    Patent number: 8997161
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing enhanced digital media playback through application enhancement tracks are described. Application enhancement tracks are derived from the main content that they are associated with and are encoded to aid the performance of one or more functions related to the content, such as visual-search using a video application enhancement track, or trick-play track. In several embodiments, a method of decoding a media file for play back includes obtaining a media file containing compressed content and an accompanying application enhancement track which is a subset of the compressed content, playing back the compressed content, and decoding frames of the application enhancement track at a rate proportional to a visual-search speed and from a location determined by the portion of the compressed content most recently played back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sonic IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaiwal Priyadarshi, Kourosh Soroushian, Roland Osborne, Jason Braness, John Kelley
  • Iterative, maximally probable, batch-mode commercial detection for audiovisual content
    Patent number: 8995820
    Abstract: Identification of starting and ending times of commercial breaks and commercials within those commercial breaks found in audiovisual content is disclosed. A solution to a “batch optimization” problem is used in which commercial locations within a set of audiovisual content are detected as a group by choosing a set of commercial locations which optimizes a cost function which can include considerations of, for example, 1) one or more cues, 2) relative locations of commercials within the audiovisual content, and/or 3) probability models based on statistics obtained regarding characteristics of typical commercial and commercial breaks. Optimization can be done over the total set of commercial location decisions, rather than on a per-commercial basis. Additionally, the cost function can be iteratively evaluated and many more types of cues and combinations of cues can be used in detection of commercials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Harville
  • Video importance rating based on compressed domain video features
    Patent number: 8989559
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying important video frames and segments in multimedia content such as a segmented compressed domain video. Video frames in a segment are analyzed to determine intensity, contrast, and motion values for the frames and their segments. The values among frames and segments are compared to identify one or more video segments likely to be important to a viewer. The systems and methods may additionally be augmented with audio data other characteristics associated with the video frames and segments analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: George Chen, Mohamed Khames Ben Hadj Miled, Asad Islam
  • Systems and methods for revolving recording conflicts
    Patent number: 8983274
    Abstract: A method for recording multimedia content. The method includes providing instructions to record a plurality of segments of multimedia content, each of the plurality of segments having a recording start time and a recording end time associated therewith. The method further includes providing instructions regarding recording settings for one or more first segments of multimedia content to be recorded. The method also includes comparing modified start time and/or modified end times with the recording start times and/or the recording end times associated with the plurality of segments of multimedia content and determining, based at least in part on the comparison, whether to record the one or more first segments with the modified start time and/or the modified end time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael Alexander
  • Mobile device video decision tree
    Patent number: 8977113
    Abstract: An example method for managing a plurality of media is provided. The method includes providing a composite media file with a plurality of scenes and a plurality of events; playing a scene of the media on a display with at least one event of the plurality of events positioned over the scene; determining if an event of the at least one event has been selected while the scene is playing; and responsive to the event being selected, taking an action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Rumteen, Zhobin Napoleon Rumteen
  • Image processing systems for increasing resolution of three-dimensional depth data
    Patent number: 8953021
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a calculation unit, a reconstruction unit, a confidence map estimation unit and an up-sampling unit. The up-sampling unit is configured to perform a joint bilateral up-sampling on depth information of a first input image based on a confidence map of the first input image and a second input image with respect to an object and increase a first resolution of the first input image to a second resolution to provide an output image with the second resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Hyuk Bae, Kyu-Min Kyung, Tae-Chan Kim