Patents Examined by Heather Jones
  • Patent number: 9965958
    Abstract: A real-time surveillance system for aiding vehicle drivers and portable first unit for use therein is provided. The unit includes an image sensor that generates a sequence of images from received light. The system further includes a support to detachably support the unit on the vehicle so that the sensor is capable of receiving light from obstacles, hazards or individuals located in a blind spot region of the vehicle. A display is supported on the vehicle so that the images are viewable by a driver of the vehicle in real time. The system further includes a mechanism to authenticate a person desirous of using the system or removing the unit from the vehicle as an authorized person based, at least in part, on an authenticator. The authenticator includes at least one of a password, a passphrase, a personal identification number, a security token, a security card, and a biometric identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Global IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Norman M. Winget
  • Patent number: 9966112
    Abstract: In order to organize and reference multimedia content that is presented on a television or other media devices, a tagging system and method are utilized. An approach is described to tag multimedia content at specific times, record text, audio and/or video, and comment at specific times in the multimedia content. For tagging, commenting, and sharing particular moments of multimedia content, automatic content recognition (ACR) is used. ACR supports tagging and recording of snippets of the multimedia content at specific times. Snippets are displayed by using a thumbnail of pictures or small multimedia clips. The snippets can be commented on and shared with selected users or groups of users. An automatic highlight playlist of a multimedia content can be generated, and various filtering operations of the tags, comments and snippets can also be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Oleksiy Bolgarov
  • Patent number: 9966103
    Abstract: Recording in a memory configured to temporarily record captured images is controlled in response to a shift instruction from a user. A control unit receives, from the user, the shift instruction containing an information item of specifying any of images displayed on a display unit, and updates an image recording start position in the memory in response to the shift instruction. A recording region for preceding captured images with respect to the updated recording start position is set as an overwritable region so that subsequent captured images can be recorded. The display unit displays, for example, images captured at intervals of a predetermined time period so that the user can select any of the images and issue the shift instruction. In this way, a region preceding a position of a selected image in the memory is set to be overwritable so that the subsequent captured images are recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Hashizume, Hiroshi Sudo
  • Patent number: 9955159
    Abstract: In some aspects, methods and systems described herein provide for preparing component videos for combining into a bitstream. An example system may receive a source video. The system may also receive data representing a compression format. The system may encode a reference frame as an intra-coded picture that is sub-divided into intra-coded units. The system may encode the sequence of source frames as a sequence of predictive-coded pictures conforming to the compression format. The sequence may be divided into groups of pictures that include a first predictive-coded picture followed by one or more second predictive-coded pictures. The first predictive-coded picture may be sub-divided into intra-coded units that represent respective portions of a source frame by describing the pixels of the portion so as to simulate intra-coded pictures. The system may concatenate the sequence of predictive-coded pictures after the intra-coded picture so as to produce a bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Benedict Lewis, Richard Zarek Cohen
  • Patent number: 9952020
    Abstract: In a method for visually adaptively camouflaging objects, the background and/or the surroundings in front of which and/or in which the object is situated are/is detected by means of a camera or a sensor array. The background and/or the surroundings thus detected are/is reproduced as an image (3) in a device for camouflaging the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SSZ CAMOUFLAGE TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventor: Rene Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9942475
    Abstract: System and method of performing various transformations between an omnidirectional image model and a rectilinear image model for use in vehicle imaging systems. In particular, a panel transform system and method for transforming an omnidirectional image from an omnidirectional camera positioned on a vehicle to a rectilinear image. The rectilinear image is then displayed to the driver for use while performing vehicle maneuvers. The panel transform system and method also provide a rectilinear image model based on the omnidirectional camera for use with existing rectilinear imaging processing systems. The rectilinear image model is determined based on a variable set of input parameters that are defined by both automatic and manual system inputs such as a steering wheel angle sensor and a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Matthew T. Baran
  • Patent number: 9936205
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of processing content, such as, video and/or audio are disclosed. The operations of processing content may include receiving user input, such as, a content file, a type of content format, and a content destination. Other operations include determining necessary operations needed to complete the content processing and determining the applications available to the user on a local machine used by the user. The operations further include determining whether the user's local machine includes the necessary applications to perform the content processing, and determining a codec that will be used to process the content, and formatting the content using the codec and distributing the content to the content destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
    Inventor: Harper Kent Potter
  • Patent number: 9934454
    Abstract: A method, an imaging and light source module insertable in a reverse vending machine, and a reverse vending machine including an opening for entering objects into a chamber, a plurality of light sources and a plurality of imaging devices allowing at least one feature of an object in the chamber to be read, wherein the plurality of imaging devices and the plurality of light sources are arranged as a plurality of imaging and light units around the perimeter of the chamber, wherein each imaging and light unit including one 2D imaging device and one light source, the 2D imaging device and the light source is viewing and illuminating the object at a first and a second oblique angle, respectively, wherein the first and second oblique angles are in the range 45-75° relative to a center-symmetrical line of the imaging and light units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Vidar Kirkerud, Tom Lunde
  • Patent number: 9930374
    Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Danny R. Gaydou, M. Scott Reichardt, Joseph P. Baumgartner, William L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9918062
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus which captures an image of a subject with an image sensor having pixels each including a plurality of areas and generates a RAW image for each of the plurality of areas from a signal generated by the image sensor. The apparatus generates a first RAW image and a second RAW image from the RAW images, generates first image data by performing first development on the first RAW image, generates first RAW image data and second RAW image data by compressing the first RAW image and the second RAW image and performs second development on the first RAW image having a higher processing load than the first development. Second image data is generated by the second development on the first RAW image by using the second RAW image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Gunji
  • Patent number: 9905266
    Abstract: A system and method allows users to provide, edit and order photos or videos that other users can use to determine interest in that user. If both users indicate interest in one another, communications between such users are enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Zoosk, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna W. Yen, Eric R. Barnett, Charmagne Kringstein, Dani Y. Li, Danielle Chandler, James E. Infusino
  • Patent number: 9892322
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a subject using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are disclosed. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes an onboard camera to capture/stream multiple images. An onboard visual recognition module isolates image elements by analyzing the captured images, and determines whether the image elements correspond or do not correspond to the subject. Current image elements corresponding to a subject are stored in a positive database, and non-corresponding current image elements are stored in a negative database. An onboard subject tracking module defines the chosen subject, determines attributes of the subject based on comparisons of image elements, and follows the subject by directing the attitude control system to adjust the velocity and orientation of the UAV based on the determined attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Beard, Cameron Chell, Jamie Clarke, Craig McDermott, Erika Racicot, Paul Readwin
  • Patent number: 9886980
    Abstract: A device may communicate a delay request value to downstream devices in order to synchronize A/V streams. For example, rather than adding the delay required to synchronize audio and video streams, an A/V splitter may instead communicate to downstream devices, asking them to add the amount of delay desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sergey Yarygin, Taliaferro Smith
  • Patent number: 9883156
    Abstract: Techniques for displaying multimedia data during operating system initialization are described. In some embodiments, a method may comprise initializing a computing system, initializing a media playback system of the computing system using a first processor circuit and initializing an operating system of the computing system using a second processor circuit. In various embodiments, during the operating system initialization, one or more multimedia streams may be outputted using the media playback system. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hua Zhou, Qing Jian Song
  • Patent number: 9881085
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for aggregating and presenting multiple videos of an event are provided. In some implementations, a method for identifying related video content is provided, the method comprising: receiving a first video and first video metadata that describes the first video from a first camera device; receiving a second video and second video metadata that describes the second video from a second camera device; comparing the first video metadata and the second video metadata; determining whether the first video and the second video are associated with an event based on the comparison; in response to determining that the first video and the second video are associated with the event, grouping the first video and second video into a plurality of videos associated with the event; and causing the plurality of videos to be displayed to a viewer based on the viewer requesting at least one of the plurality of videos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Weihua Tan
  • Patent number: 9852766
    Abstract: A method for recording voice samples for video rendered on an electronic device including a display unit and a microphone. The video includes image data and voice data, and the voice data has one or more time intervals when the voice data is to be rendered with corresponding image data. The method is executed by a processor of the electronic device and includes displaying on the GUI a videoplayer element and a graphical or progress element representing progress of the video, the progress element including one or more selectable elements, each being associated to a time interval of the voice data and positioned on the progress element according to the time interval. When a user selection is received on a first selectable element, the microphone records sound data while the video player element is simulataneously played. The image data corresponds to the time interval associated to the first selectable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ORANGE
    Inventors: Chris Arkenberg, Kevin Cheong, Guillaume Payan
  • Patent number: 9832418
    Abstract: A method for displaying content between loops of a looping media item is provided herein. The method includes receiving a request for a primary media item and determining that the requested primary media item is a looping media item. The method further includes steps of identifying, by a processing device, a secondary media item for the primary media item and of providing the primary media item and the secondary media item for presentation between loops of the primary media item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Greene, Tim Johnson
  • Patent number: 9830948
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an automated, intelligent visualization of data through text and graphics for connecting a wide range of data sources to graphics visualization software and automating its presentation, including building on a standard template driven system for generating graphics from data. Some of these building mechanisms include: Service Handlers, which are plugin components with their own process for converting the data into something uniform, Input Behaviors, which define actions and data to deliver from a service, a system for matching templates to input behaviors by the set of variables in each and the rules for matching them, a Schedule Request mechanism, which connects the data from the service, via the input behavior mechanism, to the correct titles, and handles the assignment of data and then conducts the appropriate actions, and the use of handler defined queues for managing the order of things in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NEWBLUE INC.
    Inventor: Todor Fay
  • Patent number: 9819928
    Abstract: Device for the calibration of a multi-camera recording device for three dimensional picture recording, where the calibration occurs on two depth levels consisting of a calibration chart which features at least one characteristic for geometric positioning on a two-dimensional space and if applicable at least one characteristic for the calibration of further traits of the camera system characterized by the calibration chart being used for near calibration and it being at least partially transparent or a space being cut out of it and where behind the calibration chart at least one additional natural or artificial calibration element is available for distance calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Florian Maier
  • Patent number: 9805505
    Abstract: Objects within two-dimensional video data are modeled by three-dimensional models as a function of object type and motion through manually calibrating a two-dimensional image to the three spatial dimensions of a three-dimensional modeling cube. Calibrated three-dimensional locations of an object in motion in the two-dimensional image field of view of a video data input are determined and used to determine a heading direction of the object as a function of the camera calibration and determined movement between the determined three-dimensional locations. The two-dimensional object image is replaced in the video data input with an object-type three-dimensional polygonal model having a projected bounding box that best matches a bounding box of an image blob, the model oriented in the determined heading direction. The bounding box of the replacing model is then scaled to fit the object image blob bounding box, and rendered with extracted image features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corproation
    Inventors: Ankur Datta, Rogerio S. Feris, Yun Zhai