Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Annau

Thomas M. Annau 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: 9930238
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for stitching image frames. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: receive image frames that are captured by two or more camera modules at a particular time; interpolate a virtual camera between a first set of camera modules from the two or more camera modules; determine a set of disparity maps between the first set of camera modules; generate, based on the set of disparity maps, a virtual camera image associated with the particular time for the virtual camera from a set of image frames captured by the first set of camera modules at the particular time; and construct a left panoramic image and a right panoramic image associated with the particular time from the image frames captured by the two or more camera modules and the virtual camera image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Arthur Van Hoff, Daniel Kopeinigg
  • Patent number: 9911454
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3× field of view overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20180059783
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for receiving viewing data that describes a location of a first user's gaze while viewing virtual reality content. The method also determining an object of interest in the virtual reality content based on the location of the first user's gaze. The method also includes generating a social network that includes the first user as a member of the social network. The method also includes performing an action in the social network related to the object of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen
  • Patent number: 9864805
    Abstract: A search engine system, including a slashtag server configured to detect at least a search operator in a search query, the search operator being associated with a category of content from a social network site. Also, a web server configured to, in response to detecting the search query, generate a first search result based on at least the category of content associated with the search operator, and display the first search result in a web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Gregory B. Lindahl, Samuel Makonnen, Michael Markson, Keith Peters, Robert Michael Saliba, Al Sary, Rich Skrenta, Dan Swartz, Robert N. Truel, Timothy Walters
  • Patent number: 9851793
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for receiving viewing data that describes a location of a first user's gaze while viewing virtual reality content. The method also determining an object of interest in the virtual reality content based on the location of the first user's gaze. The method also includes generating a social network that includes the first user as a member of the social network. The method also includes performing an action in the social network related to the object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen
  • Publication number: 20170236149
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for generating virtual reality content. For example, the disclosure includes a method for generating virtual reality content that includes a stream of three-dimensional video data and a stream of three-dimensional audio data with a processor-based computing device programmed to perform the generating, providing the virtual reality content to a user, detecting a location of the user's gaze at the virtual reality content, and suggesting an advertisement based on the location of the user's gaze. Another example includes receiving virtual reality content that includes a stream of three-dimensional video data and a stream of three-dimensional audio data to a first user with a processor-based computing device programmed to perform the receiving, generating a social network for the first user, and generating a social graph that includes user interactions with the virtual reality content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: JAUNT INC.
    Inventors: Jens CHRISTENSEN, Thomas M. ANNAU, Arthur VAN HOFF
  • Publication number: 20170236162
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for generating virtual reality content. For example, the disclosure includes a method for generating virtual reality content that includes a stream of three-dimensional video data and a stream of three-dimensional audio data with a processor-based computing device programmed to perform the generating, providing the virtual reality content to a user, detecting a location of the user's gaze at the virtual reality content, and suggesting an advertisement based on the location of the user's gaze. Another example includes receiving virtual reality content that includes a stream of three-dimensional video data and a stream of three-dimensional audio data to a first user with a processor-based computing device programmed to perform the receiving, generating a social network for the first user, and generating a social graph that includes user interactions with the virtual reality content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: JAUNT INC.
    Inventors: Jens CHRISTENSEN, Thomas M. ANNAU, Arthur VAN HOFF
  • Publication number: 20170213252
    Abstract: The subject matter of this document generally relates to reducing noise in aggregated data using frequency analysis. In some implementations, a system for reducing data noise using frequency analysis includes a data storage device that stores content and a network association processor in data communication with the data storage device. The network association processor aggregates, for a given group, content of one or more additional groups that each have overlapping members with the given group. The network association processor reduces noise in the aggregated content of the one or more additional groups using frequency analysis by determining, for each portion of content in the aggregated content, a frequency of occurrence of the portion of content within the aggregated content and filtering, from the aggregated content, each portion of content that has a frequency of occurrence that is less than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Terrence Rohan, Tomasz J. Tunguz-Zawislak, Jeremiah Harmsen, Sverre Sundsdal, Thomas M. Annau, Megan Nance, Mayur Dhondu Datar, Julie Tung, Bahman Rabii, Jason C. Miller, Michael Hochberg, Andres S. Perez-Bergquist
  • Patent number: 9685198
    Abstract: The method may include generating an encoded audio signal. The method may include receiving metadata from a user about an event. The method may also include generating a unique identifier (ID) that is associated with the metadata. The method may also include providing the metadata and the unique ID to a database. The method may also include encoding the unique ID in an audio signal using a robust signal modulation scheme. The method may also include playing, using a mobile device, the audio signal, where the audio signal is played within an audible detection range of recording devices configured to record the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Michael Hill
  • Publication number: 20170078647
    Abstract: A camera system is configured to capture video content with 360 degree views of an environment. The camera array comprises a housing including a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant, wherein each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant form a plurality of apertures, a chassis bottom that is removably coupled to the housing, and a plurality of camera modules, each camera module comprising a processor, a memory, a sensor, and a lens, wherein each of the camera modules is removably coupled to one of the plurality of apertures in the housing, wherein the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant each include a subset of the plurality of camera modules. Each of the plurality of camera modules includes a heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Publication number: 20160373640
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Patent number: 9451162
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20160239576
    Abstract: A search engine system according to one embodiment includes a slashtag server having a hardware processor and memory storing instructions configured to cause the slashtag server to receive a search query regarding a search of an internet, detect at least one key word in the search query, search the internet based on the at least one key word, analyze results of the search query to determine relevant filter criteria in the results of the search query, generate an alternative search query based on the relevant filter criteria, and send the web server the alternative search query, where the alternative search query includes a search operator wrapped in a predetermined syntax and inserted by the slashtag server, and where a last entered key word of the at least one key word in the search query is removed such that it is not included in the alternative search query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Gregory B. Lindahl, Samuel Makonnen, Michael Markson, Keith Peters, Robert Michael Saliba, Al Sary, Rich Skrenta, Dan Swartz, Robert N. Truel, Timothy Walters
  • Publication number: 20160191815
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. Lens distortion effects may be removed from the frames described by the video data. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3× field of view overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Arthur van Hoff, Jens Christensen
  • Patent number: 9363569
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for receiving viewing data that describes a location of a first user's gaze while viewing virtual reality content. The method also determining an object of interest in the virtual reality content based on the location of the first user's gaze. The method also includes generating a social network that includes the first user as a member of the social network. The method also includes performing an action in the social network related to the object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen
  • Patent number: 9342607
    Abstract: A search engine system, including a slashtag server configured to detect at least one key word in a search query and generate an alternative search query from the at least one key word, the alternative search query being based at least on computing an intermediary search of a plurality of characters from the at least one key word as the plurality of characters are being typed by a user, and for use in searching unaltered internet documents. Also a web server that may be configured to generate a first search result based on the alternative search query and cause display of the first search result in a web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Gregory B. Lindahl, Samuel Makonnen, Michael Markson, Keith Peters, Robert Michael Saliba, Al Sary, Rich Skrenta, Dan Swartz, Robert N. Truel, Timothy Walters
  • Patent number: D786331
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Jaunt Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: D787580
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: D813921
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: D813931
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn