Patents by Inventor Ian E. McDowall

Ian E. McDowall 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: 6920479
    Abstract: A system for supplying streaming media or other media sources to clients, which provides for selection of internet based audio contest providers based on arbitrarily assigned numbers that function as proxies for the URL or IP address of the audio content providers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: IM Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas, Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 6684249
    Abstract: A method for inserting advertisements into streaming audio for transmission over a world wide network of computers. The method includes transmitting audio data from a first server location to a client location. The audio data include a flag and audio content data. The method also includes monitoring the audio data and identifying the flag on the audio data. A step of inserting an advertisement, which is based upon a user profile, into the audio data based upon the flag is also included. The method also outputs the audio content data comprising the advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sonicbox, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Frerichs, Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
  • Publication number: 20020140634
    Abstract: A compliant structure which includes a means for sensing translation and rotation of a top plate is disclosed. The structure is composed of a base plate and three supporting legs. The legs are compliant. The deflections of the structure are substantially in a plane and the translation and twist of the top platform may be measured by the gimbaled sensor assembly attached to one of the legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Russell Mead, Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
  • Patent number: 6441815
    Abstract: A computer system and computer-implemented method for rendering images in real-time with a three-dimensional appearance. Using a database including at least one pair of texture maps uses as a stereo pair behind a portal to simulate a scene. An input database can be processed to generate a processed database by performing texture mapping to replace at least one portion of the input data representing a view (or object) by data indicative of a pair of texture maps and an associated polygon or polygons. One of the texture maps represents the view (object) from a left-eye viewpoint; the other represents the view (object) from a right-eye viewpoint. In some embodiments, to generate the texture map pairs, the input database analyzed to produce the images. In other embodiments the images are from photographs or other sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
  • Publication number: 20020073171
    Abstract: A system for supplying streaming media or other media sources to clients, said system providing for selection of internet based audio content providers based on arbitrarily assigned numbers that function as proxies for the URL or IP address of the audio content providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas, Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 6389463
    Abstract: An device for receiving streaming audio or other audio sources netcast in analogous fashion to a radio broadcast, said device providing an interface analogous to a radio receiver, eliminating the necessity of an intervening personal computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: IM Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Bolas, Ian E. McDowall
  • Publication number: 20010042109
    Abstract: An device for receiving streaming audio or other audio sources netcast in analogous fashion to a radio broadcast, said device providing an interface analogous to a radio receiver, eliminating the necessity of an intervening personal computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: MARK T. BOLAS, IAN E. MCDOWALL
  • Patent number: 6285370
    Abstract: A computer system and computer-implemented method for rendering images in real-time with a three-dimensional appearance. Using a database including at least-one pair of texture maps uses as a stereo pair behind a portal to simulate a scene. An input database can be processed to generate a processed database by performing texture mapping to replace at least one portion of the input data representing a view (or object) by data indicative of a pair of texture maps and an associated polygon or polygons. One of the texture maps represents the view (object) from a left-eye viewpoint; the other represents the view (object) from a right-eye viewpoint. In some embodiments, to generate the texture map pairs, the input database analyzed to produce the images. In other embodiments the images are from photographs or other sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Fakespace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
  • Patent number: 6128004
    Abstract: A data input glove for use with a computer system, virtual reality system or the like, with numerous electrodes place on the glove and interconnected with electronic controls enabling sensing of contact between any combination of the electrodes, with electrodes made of flexible electrically conductive fabric, silk-screened electrically conductive paint or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Fakespace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas, Russell C. Mead, Jr., Christian Greuel
  • Patent number: 5905499
    Abstract: A computer system and computer-implemented method for rendering images in real-time with a three-dimensional appearance. Using a database including at least one pair of texture maps uses as a stereo pair behind a portal to simulate a scene. An input database can be processed to generate a processed database by performing texture mapping to replace at least one portion of the input data representing a view (or object) by data indicative of a pair of texture maps and an associated polygon or polygons. One of the texture maps represents the view (object) from a left-eye viewpoint; the other represents the view (object) from a right-eye viewpoint. In some embodiments, to generate the texture map pairs, the input database analyzed to produce the images. In other embodiments the images are from photographs or other sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Fakespace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
  • Patent number: 5528262
    Abstract: Describes the application of field-sequential color techniques to create a line field-sequential color display with particular advantages for head-mounted and head-coupled displays. The display is composed of a gray-scale CRT or other white display and a color shutter with fast switching time. The shutter is switched during blanking to create a color display in a sequential color fashion where the color fields are not entire frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Fakespace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
  • Patent number: 5513129
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the control and manipulation of a virtual environment (such as virtual objects therein) in response to a music signal. The music is either interpreted directly to effect the control and manipulation. Alternatively, a control track corresponding to an audio signal (such as a music signal) is prerecorded, played back with the audio signal, and the control track is processed to control and manipulate the virtual world (or to control some other process of a computer system) as the audio signal is playing. In preferred embodiments, a computer creating a virtual world interprets the music, the control track, or both, and uses the resulting information to modify, create, and or control objects in the virtual environment. Preferred embodiments of the inventive system include apparatus for delaying input music to compensate for lag introduced by the system components, such as delay required to implement processing of control tracks corresponding to the input music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Fakespace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Bolas, Ian E. McDowall, Michael N. Bolas
  • Patent number: 5436638
    Abstract: An image display method and system in which exertion of a user's viewpoint orienting muscle groups is yoked to sensors measuring displacement and/or force to provide feedback information for control of a virtual-world without requiring full physical-motion by the user. The yoked muscle exertion is mapped to the rate and direction of movement in the virtual-world. Preferably, force exerted by, and/or rotation or translation of, the yoking device in one direction in response to exertion of the muscle groups is mapped to virtual-motion in a corresponding direction in the virtual-world. Due to the fluidity of the human vertebral column, the invention effectively yokes rotational movement of a human's viewpoint orienting muscles to virtual movement in a virtual-world without the disadvantages of a head-mounted display. To orient toward an area-of-interest in a leftward portion of a virtual-world, the user simply and naturally activates muscles that would be used to orient left in the physical world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Fakespace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Bolas, Ian E. McDowall, Russell Mead