Patents by Inventor Stephen Schaefer

Stephen Schaefer 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).

  • Publication number: 20180063479
    Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. Rule based logic is integrated into an automatic process for producing director quality video for videoconferencing. The automatic process uses sensor data to process video streams for video conferencing. A method and system for automatically processing sensor data on room activity into general room analytics for further processing by application of rules based logic to produce production quality video for videoconferencing is described. Sensory devices and equipment, for example motion, infrared, audio, sound source localization (SSL) and video are used to detect room activity or room stimulus. The room activity is analyzed (for example, to determine whether individuals are in the subject room, speaker identification and movement within the room) and processed to produce room analytics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Alain Elon Nimri, Shu Gao, Stephen Schaefer, Robert Murphy
  • Patent number: 9843770
    Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. Rule based logic is integrated into an automatic process for producing director quality video for videoconferencing. An automatic process can include a method for composing a display for use in a video system having an active talker video stream and a panoramic view video stream having more than one person in video. The method can include determining a region of interest in a panoramic view video using motion detection and presence sensors, and preparing the panoramic view video by centering the region of interest and by zooming towards the region of interest, based upon the location of persons in the panoramic view video. The method includes determining placement of panoramic view video on a composite display to prevent the panoramic view video overlaying display of an active talker on the active talker video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Elon Nimri, Shu Gao, Stephen Schaefer, Robert Murphy
  • Patent number: 9800835
    Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. Rule based logic is integrated into an automatic process for producing director quality video for videoconferencing. The automatic process uses sensor data to process video streams for video conferencing. A method and system for automatically processing sensor data on room activity into general room analytics for further processing by application of rules based logic to produce production quality video for videoconferencing is described. Sensory devices and equipment, for example motion, infrared, audio, sound source localization (SSL) and video are used to detect room activity or room stimulus. The room activity is analyzed (for example, to determine whether individuals are in the subject room, speaker identification and movement within the room) and processed to produce room analytics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Elon Nimri, Shu Gao, Stephen Schaefer, Robert Murphy
  • Publication number: 20170097745
    Abstract: Systems and methods for collaboratively controlling the display of information across multiple displays is disclosed. A plurality of electronic devices linked to a plurality of co-located display devices are accessed. At least one of the plurality of electronic devices is a master electronic device. Different users can select and transfer content elements from the set displayed on the master display device to the remainder of display devices, such that the selected and transferred content elements advance in order across the remainder of display devices. Users can select individual content elements from a device under their control for display by one or more display devices without the need to transfer an entire document or file from which the content element is taken. Once a content element is so displayed, other currently displayed content elements are advanced in a logical manner, or removed from display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Alain Elon Nimri, Junqing Shao, Shu Gao, Rob Murphy, Stephen Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20170099460
    Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. The process includes a method for positioning a 360 degree panoramic strip view of a room. The method includes receiving motion detection data, accepting presence sensor data, receiving video data from cameras related to a room view, and centering individuals in a room view, based on the received motion detection data, the accepted presence sensor data and received video data. The method also includes zooming onto the centered individuals in the room view, obtaining sound source localization data and active talker information, and determining how to arrange the display of individuals in a logical manner that is visually pleasing and aides understanding. Rule based logic is applied to assist with the automatic processing of video into director quality video production. Various video sources may be used as video stream sources for the automated system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Alain Elon Nimri, Shu Gao, Stephen Schaefer, Robert Murphy
  • Publication number: 20170099454
    Abstract: Systems for videoconferencing are designed for where people are seated around a video conferencing system. The systems include a camera so the far site can see the local participants and the systems include displays that show the far site. The displays are properly aligned with the cameras so that when people at the far site view the displayed images of the near site, it looks like they have eye contact with the near site. Obtaining the alignments of the camera and the displays to provide this apparent eye contact result requires meeting a series of different constraints relating to the various sizes and angles of the components and the locations of the participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Anthony Martin Duys, Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Shu Gao, Glenn G. George, Alvin Okunami
  • Publication number: 20170099461
    Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. Rule based logic is integrated into an automatic process for producing director quality video for videoconferencing. An automatic process can include a method for composing a display for use in a video system having an active talker video stream and a panoramic view video stream having more than one person in video. The method can include determining a region of interest in a panoramic view video using motion detection and presence sensors, and preparing the panoramic view video by centering the region of interest and by zooming towards the region of interest, based upon the location of persons in the panoramic view video. The method includes determining placement of panoramic view video on a composite display to prevent the panoramic view video overlaying display of an active talker on the active talker video stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Alain Elon Nimri, Shu Gao, Stephen Schaefer, Robert Murphy
  • Publication number: 20170099459
    Abstract: An automatic process for producing professional, directed, production crew quality, video for videoconferencing is described. Rule based logic is integrated into an automatic process for producing director quality video for videoconferencing. The automatic process uses sensor data to process video streams for video conferencing. A method and system for automatically processing sensor data on room activity into general room analytics for further processing by application of rules based logic to produce production quality video for videoconferencing is described. Sensory devices and equipment, for example motion, infrared, audio, sound source localization (SSL) and video are used to detect room activity or room stimulus. The room activity is analyzed (for example, to determine whether individuals are in the subject room, speaker identification and movement within the room) and processed to produce room analytics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Alain Elon Nimri, Shu Gao, Stephen Schaefer, Robert Murphy
  • Patent number: 9531996
    Abstract: Systems for videoconferencing are designed for where people are seated around a video conferencing system. The systems include a camera so the far site can see the local participants and the systems include displays that show the far site. The displays are properly aligned with the cameras so that when people at the far site view the displayed images of the near site, it looks like they have eye contact with the near site. Obtaining the alignments of the camera and the displays to provide this apparent eye contact result requires meeting a series of different constraints relating to the various sizes and angles of the components and the locations of the participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Martin Duys, Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Shu Gao, Glenn G. George, Alvin Okunami
  • Publication number: 20130002796
    Abstract: A videoconference device provides an interface for initiating and controlling a videoconference and incorporating and annotating content in the videoconference without a personal computer. The content may reside on a portable storage medium such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or other flash memory device inserted in the interface device or on the device itself. The interface device may be a dedicated device for controlling the videoconferencing system, navigating to desired content, and interacting with the shared content. The device may also be a portable device such as a tablet device or mobile phone that interfaces with a videoconference system via an installed application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: William Everett Hiller, Joseph Samuel, Stephen Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7969461
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system includes a first videoconferencing unit coupled to a network and associated with a first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit obtains a second instant messaging identity and automatically sends a request instant message requesting videoconferencing connection information to the second instant messaging identity. A second videoconferencing unit is coupled to the network and is associated with the second instant messaging identity. The second videoconferencing unit receives the request instant message and automatically returns a response instant message including videoconferencing connection information to the first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit receives the response instant message and automatically obtains the videoconferencing connection information from the response instant message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Rick Flott
  • Publication number: 20100118112
    Abstract: A group table top videoconferencing device for communication between local participants and one or more remote participants provides a camera assembly and display screens on the same housing—giving the remote participant the perception that the local participant is making direct eye-to-eye contact with him/her. The housing is placed such that the housing is within the field of view of every local participant viewing any other local participant. Because, the remote participant is always within the field of view of the local participant, the remote participant does not get the feeling of non-intimacy during the videoconference. A wall mounted display operates in conjunction with the videoconferencing device to display media content received from the remote participants. Keypad and a touch screen provide user interface for controlling the operation of the videoconferencing device. Speakers convert audio signals received from the remote participants into sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: POLYCOM, INc.
    Inventors: ALAIN NIMRI, Anthony Martin Duys, Brian A. Howell, Gary R. Jacobsen, Taylor Kew, Rich Leitermann, Kit Russell Morris, Brad Philip Collins, Nicholas Poteraki, Hayes Urban, Stephen Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7660428
    Abstract: An overhead microphone assembly using multiple unidirectional microphone elements. The microphone assembly is installed overhead, generally above all the desired sound sources and below the undesired sound sources. The signals from these multiple microphone elements are fed into a microphone steering processor which can mix and gate the signals to ensure the best signal/noise ratio. The steering processor may also track the sound source dynamically when such tracking (source locating) is desired. The resulting audio signal from the steering processor may be further processed, such as echo canceling, noise reduction and automatic gain control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rodman, Peter Chu, Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Martin G. Sexton
  • Patent number: 7548872
    Abstract: An example of a solution provided here comprises: performing a spending simulation, process simulation, information technology simulation, and value simulation, providing interactions among the simulations, and representing with the simulations the use by a client organization of one or more business transformation outsourcing services, such as sourcing, procurement, and payables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Les Keay, Craig Alan Keenan, John Arthur Ricketts, William Stephen Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20070263075
    Abstract: A videoconferencing system includes a first videoconferencing unit coupled to a network and associated with a first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit obtains a second instant messaging identity and automatically sends a request instant message requesting videoconferencing connection information to the second instant messaging identity. A second videoconferencing unit is coupled to the network and is associated with the second instant messaging identity. The second videoconferencing unit receives the request instant message and automatically returns a response instant message including videoconferencing connection information to the first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit receives the response instant message and automatically obtains the videoconferencing connection information from the response instant message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Polycom. Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Rick Flott
  • Publication number: 20060088173
    Abstract: An overhead microphone assembly using multiple unidirectional microphone elements. The microphone assembly is installed overhead, generally above all the desired sound sources and below the undesired sound sources. The signals from these multiple microphone elements are fed into a microphone steering processor which can mix and gate the signals to ensure the best signal/noise ratio. The steering processor may also track the sound source dynamically when such tracking (source locating) is desired. The resulting audio signal from the steering processor may be further processed, such as echo canceling, noise reduction and automatic gain control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rodman, Peter Chu, Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Martin Sexton