Patents by Inventor Francis S. Bernard

Francis S. Bernard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8726061
    Abstract: Multiple media devices are synchronized in a multi-media system having a computer system, a plurality of media devices, and a display system. Each media device to be synchronized receives a front-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a front-end counter. The front-end counter represents an unadjusted system time (UST). The media device obtains a frame of data to be displayed from a computer system. The media device also receives a back-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a back-end counter each time a frame of data is to he displayed. The back-end counter represents a media stream count (MSC). UST and MSC data are periodically transmitted to the computer system for analysis and use by a synchronization algorithm. Specifically, UST is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is obtained, and a UST/MSC pair is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: RPX Corporation
    Inventors: Michael K. Poimboeuf, Francis S. Bernard, Kevin A. Smith, Parkson Wong, Todd S. Stock, William R. Lawson
  • Publication number: 20120036388
    Abstract: Multiple media devices are synchronized in a multi-media system having a computer system, a plurality of media devices, and a display system. Each media device to be synchronized receives a front-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a front-end counter. The front-end counter represents an unadjusted system time (UST). The media device obtains a frame of data to be displayed from a computer system. The media device also receives a back-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a back-end counter each time a frame of data is to he displayed. The back-end counter represents a media stream count (MSC). UST and MSC data are periodically transmitted to the computer system for analysis and use by a synchronization algorithm. Specifically, UST is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is obtained, and a UST/MSC pair is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. POIMBOEUF, Francis S. Bernard, Kevin A. Smith, Parkson Wong, Todd S. Stock, William R. Lawson
  • Patent number: 7996699
    Abstract: Multiple media devices are synchronized in a multi-media system having a computer system, a plurality of media devices, and a display system. Each media device to be synchronized receives a front-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a front-end counter. The front-end counter represents an unadjusted system time (UST). The media device obtains a frame of data to be displayed from a computer system. The media device also receives a back-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a back-end counter each time a frame of data is to be displayed. The back-end counter represents a media stream count (MSC). UST and MSC data are periodically transmitted to the computer system for analysis and use by a synchronization algorithm. Specifically, UST is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is obtained, and a UST/MSC pair is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. Poimboeuf, Francis S. Bernard, Kevin A. Smith, Parkson Wong, Todd S. Stock, William R. Lawson
  • Patent number: 7305174
    Abstract: A system and method for compressing an image into bit streams allows data to be presented in either lossy or lossless quality. A lossy quality presentation results in some measurable degradation of an image's visual quality upon expansion. A lossless quality presentation displays the image in its original form. The method divides the image to be compressed into a plurality of regions. For each region, a plurality of adjacent pixels are selected and organized into a set. The corresponding sets for each respective region are identified as a group. The pixel sets within each group are encoded and arranged into two bit streams associated with each respective group. Next, each group's respective bit streams are written into a primary bit stream of constant size and possible a supplemental bit stream of variable length for presenting the image in either lossy or lossless quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Fabian W. Meier, Francis S. Bernard
  • Patent number: 6925249
    Abstract: A system and method for recording compressed data onto a storage medium so that it can be presented later in either lossy or lossless quality. The method receives a plurality of primary bit streams and supplemental bit streams representing data to be recorded onto the storage medium. Each primary bit stream is recorded onto the storage medium as it is received. As each of the supplemental bit streams are received, they are stored in a temporary memory location. After the primary bit streams have been recorded onto the storage medium, the supplemental bit streams are retrieved from the temporary memory location and recorded onto the storage medium. The recording process is completed when all the primary bit stream data and the supplemental bit stream data have been written onto the storage medium. To present the data, a user is given the option of viewing the data in either lossy quality or lossless quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Fabian W. Meier, Francis S. Bernard
  • Patent number: 6683980
    Abstract: A system and method for compressing an image into bit streams allows data to be presented in either lossy or lossless quality. A lossy quality presentation results in some measurable degradation of an image's visual quality upon expansion. A lossless quality presentation displays the image in its original form. The method divides the image to be compressed into a plurality of regions. For each region, a plurality of adjacent pixels are selected and organized into a set. The corresponding sets for each respective region are identified as a group. The pixel sets within each group are encoded and arranged into two bit streams associated with each respective group. Next, each group's respective bit streams are written into a primary bit stream of constant size and possibly a supplemental bit stream of variable length for presenting the image in either lossy or lossless quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Fabian W. Meier, Francis S. Bernard
  • Patent number: 5027201
    Abstract: A detector for detecting motion in an image represented by a video signal includes delay elements for providing lines of signal from five consecutive fields. Sums of signals from first and second fields are subtracted from sums of signals from third and fourth fields to generate first motion indicators. Differences of signals from the first and second fields are subtracted from differences of signals from the third and fourth fields to generate second motion indicators. Differences of signals from the first and fifth fields are generated to form third motion indicators. The first, second and third motion indicators are compared and the largest is provided as a motion signal which is subsequently limited, spread and scaled. Signals used in forming the motion indicators are selected to substantially reject any adverse influence of the chrominance subcarrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Francis S. Bernard
  • Patent number: 4731648
    Abstract: A system for generating an interstitial signal for a double scanning non-interlaced (progressive scan) television display is disclosed. When no motion is detected in the neighborhood of the interstitial pixel, a pixel generated from pixels in the adjacent fields to that of said interstitial pixel is supplied at the interstitial pixel for further processing. When motion in a relatively downward direction is detected, then a pixel generated from pixels in lower adjacent lines to, and in the same field as, that of the interstitial pixel is supplied as the interstitial pixel. When motion in a relatively upward direction is detected, then a pixel generated from pixels in upper adjacent lines to, and in the same field as, that of the interstitial pixel is supplied as the interstitial pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Francis S. Bernard, Chandrakant B. Patel
  • Patent number: 4494214
    Abstract: A method is described for generating continuously variable sets of weighting coefficients for application to weighting circuits of a sampled data filter. The generated coefficients are produced by scaling the time axis of the impulse response described by a set of standard or nominal weighting coefficients in an inverse manner to a desired scaling of the filter frequency response. The coefficient values at the scaled time points are calculated by a piecewise linear interpolation process and correspond to the scaled coefficients. By this technique, a large number of sets of weighting coefficients may be generated from a single set of coefficients with relatively few circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Francis S. Bernard, Steven M. Eliscu, Eric P. Batterman