Patents by Inventor Stephen Chau

Stephen Chau 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: 8666815
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums for directing a user to an image of an advertiser's geolocation are provided. An exemplary method includes retrieving a first image associated with a geolocation, where the geolocation is based on a user action. At least one advertising unit is also selected based on at least the geolocation associated with the first image. Each advertising unit includes at least one geolocation associated with an advertiser. At least one advertising unit is then placed on the first image. Finally, a second image is retrieved when a placed advertising unit is selected by the user. The second image is retrieved based on the geolocation associated with the placed advertising unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Chau
  • Patent number: 8600981
    Abstract: Configurations for processing status-related and time-related signals for activities are disclosed. A given activity can be stored in a global activity database that includes data defining two or more activities. The data for each activity includes one or more global parameters. The global parameters include a timing-related priority. The time-related signal is related to at least one time-related parameter of the one or more global parameters. An activity assistant server can update the timing-related priority of the given activity based on the time-related signal using the activity assistant server. The activity assistant server can determine a subset of the plurality of activities. The activity assistant server can determine a rank for each activity in the determined subset of the plurality of activities based at least in part on the timing-related priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Chau, Andrew T. Szybalski, Stephane Lafon, Andrea Lynn Frome, Jerry Howard Morrison, Derek Prothro, Huy Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20130218967
    Abstract: The subject technology suggests one or more activities based on one or more contacts of a user. In some configurations, a user selects one or more contacts. The subject technology then performs a query determining one or more activities based on the selected contacts that at least a subset of the users have indicated a desire to do a respective activity. For instance, each of the determined activities include a parameter indicating such a desire (e.g., a “want to do” parameter). The activities determined from the query are ranked based on one or more different criteria. In one example, the activities are ranked according to a number of selected contacts associated with a corresponding activity. Additionally, a group message can be provided for each selected contact associated with a respective activity in order to facilitate communication between the user and contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen Chau, Andrew Timothy Szybalski, Andrea Lynn Frome, Derek King Prothro, Stephane Lafon
  • Patent number: 8515207
    Abstract: A technique for efficient processing of annotations in images such as panoramic images is herein disclosed. In an embodiment, a first user annotation is received for a feature in a first panorama, and a second user annotation for the same feature is received in a second panorama. The coordinates for the feature can then be generated by computing the intersection between data generated for the first user annotation and for the second user annotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Chau
  • Patent number: 8511229
    Abstract: A microcavity structure. In an illustrative embodiment, the microcavity structure includes a first substrate, which has a region of interest. A second substrate with a perforation therein is bonded to the first substrate. The perforation coincides with the region of interest. In a specific embodiment, the first substrate is implemented via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The region of interest includes one or more circuit components, including an actuator, such as a bridgewire, thereon or therein. A smoothing layer is included between the PCB and the actuator. A bonding gasket adheres the first substrate to the second substrate. The perforation accommodates energetic material that is selectively ignited via the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventors: Amish Desai, Bob Melendes, Ming Lu, Brian Fuchs, Stephen Chau
  • Patent number: 8428873
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable displaying a plurality of driving direction steps that form a driving directions path between a start address and a destination address; receiving input selecting a driving direction step of said plurality of driving direction steps; and displaying a panoramic image of a geographic area where a driving action associated with said selected driving direction step would be performed by a driver. In other embodiments, the panoramic image is replaced and/or complemented with one or more of 3D models, full-motion video, full-motion video of 360 degrees images, and live feeds from video cameras to provide enhanced driving directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Chau, Stephane Lafon, Jie Shao, Andrew Timothy Szybalski, Luc Vincent
  • Publication number: 20120120100
    Abstract: In one aspect, the system and method provides a modified image in response to a request for a street level image at a particular location, wherein the previously captured image is modified to illustrate the current conditions at the requested location. By way of example only, the system and method may use local weather, time of day, traffic or other information to update street level images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Stephen Chau
  • Publication number: 20110254915
    Abstract: A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Vincent, Daniel Filip, Stephen Chau, Stéphane Lafon, Zhonghao Yang, Andrew Timothy Szybalski
  • Patent number: 7990394
    Abstract: A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Vincent, Daniel Filip, Stephen Chau, Stéphane Lafon, Zhonghao Yang, Andrew Timothy Szybalski
  • Publication number: 20100293173
    Abstract: A system and method is provided whereby, in one aspect, advertisements are displayed based on search terms that were selected based on the angle at which a user is viewing a street level image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Charles Chapin, Stephane Lafon, Augusto Roman, Xinyu Tang, Shalini Agarwal, Vibhor Nanavati, Luc Vincent, Stephen Chau
  • Publication number: 20100250581
    Abstract: In one aspect, the system and method provides a modified image in response to a request for a street level image at a particular location, wherein the previously captured image is modified to illustrate the current conditions at the requested location. By way of example only, the system and method may use local weather, time of day, traffic or other information to update street level images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Chau
  • Publication number: 20090240431
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable displaying a plurality of driving direction steps that form a driving directions path between a start address and a destination address; receiving input selecting a driving direction step of said plurality of driving direction steps; and displaying a panoramic image of a geographic area where a driving action associated with said selected driving direction step would be performed by a driver. In other embodiments, the panoramic image is replaced and/or complemented with one or more of 3D models, full-motion video, full-motion video of 360 degrees images, and live feeds from video cameras to provide enhanced driving directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Chau, Stephane Lafon, Jie Shao, Andrew Timothy Szybalski, Luc Vincent
  • Publication number: 20080291217
    Abstract: A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Vincent, Daniel Filip, Stephen Chau, Stephane Lafon, Zhonghao Yang, Andrew Timothy Szybalski
  • Publication number: 20080292213
    Abstract: A technique for efficient processing of annotations in images such as panoramic images is herein disclosed. In an embodiment, a first user annotation is received for a feature in a first panorama, and a second user annotation for the same feature is received in a second panorama. The coordinates for the feature can then be generated by computing the intersection between data generated for the first user annotation and for the second user annotations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Chau
  • Publication number: 20080276819
    Abstract: A microcavity structure. In an illustrative embodiment, the microcavity structure includes a first substrate, which has a region of interest. A second substrate with a perforation therein is bonded to the first substrate. The perforation coincides with the region of interest. In a specific embodiment, the first substrate is implemented via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The region of interest includes one or more circuit components, including an actuator, such as a bridgewire, thereon or therein. A smoothing layer is included between the PCB and the actuator. A bonding gasket adheres the first substrate to the second substrate. The perforation accommodates energetic material that is selectively ignited via the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Amish Desai, Bob Melendes, Ming Lu, Brian Fuchs, Stephen Chau