Full Field Patents (Class 348/463)
  • Patent number: 11836827
    Abstract: Providing optical watermark signals for a visual authentication session by performing at least the following: receive, at an anti-spoof engine, an instruction to perform visual authentication operations for a visual authentication session, generate, with the anti-spoof engine, an optical watermark signal based on receiving the instruction, wherein the optical watermark signal includes at least one optical identifier to authenticate images captured during the visual authentication session, obtain, with the anti-spoof engine, an image source that includes captured images of the visual authentication session, determine, with the anti-spoof engine, whether the image source includes a reflected optical watermark signal, and compare, with the anti-spoof engine, whether the reflected optical watermark signal matches the generated optical watermark signal based on the determination that the image source includes the reflected optical watermark signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: McAfee, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Nayshtut, Igor Muttik, Oleg Pogorelik, Adam Marek
  • Patent number: 11296903
    Abstract: A master of a bus system for process control with one slave and a bus. A transceiver circuit transmits and receives for process control by data packets. A channel has a receive memory area. The transceiver circuit is set up to write the receive data of a data packet received via the bus into the receive memory area. The channel has at least one selection circuit, an output of the selection circuit being connected to the transceiver circuit. The selection circuit has a first input for selecting initial data. The selection circuit has a second input, the second input being connected to the receive memory area, and the selection circuit is configured to select the transmit data from the initial data and/or the data written into the receive memory area and to output the transmitted data to the transceiver circuit for a data packet to be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Daniel Jerolm, Frank Quakernack
  • Patent number: 10325536
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely monitoring and controlling one or more electronic displays. The electronic display may be in communication with a network connection, which can be used to establish communication with a local area network and/or the internet to transmit reports and/or other data to a remote location. A color light sensor is provided and measures at least one attribute of a watermark that is displayed at least periodically on the electronic display. Operational characteristics of the electronic display may be determined via feedback from the color light sensor. Data from the color light sensor may be used at least to determine proper electronic display operation, to track content runtime, and/or for proof of play purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MANUFACTURING RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: John Schuch, Rick De Laet
  • Patent number: 10296998
    Abstract: Providing optical watermark signals for a visual authentication session by performing at least the following: receive, at an anti-spoof engine, an instruction to perform visual authentication operations for a visual authentication session, generate, with the anti-spoof engine, an optical watermark signal based on receiving the instruction, wherein the optical watermark signal includes at least one optical identifier to authenticate images captured during the visual authentication session, obtain, with the anti-spoof engine, an image source that includes captured images of the visual authentication session, determine, with the anti-spoof engine, whether the image source includes a reflected optical watermark signal, and compare, with the anti-spoof engine, whether the reflected optical watermark signal matches the generated optical watermark signal based on the determination that the image source includes the reflected optical watermark signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MCAFEE, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Nayshtut, Igor Muttik, Oleg Pogorelik, Adam Marek
  • Patent number: 10104379
    Abstract: The Embodiments of the invention relate to methods for hiding values of a hierarchically layered coding unit in other values comprised by the coding unit is provided. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention also relate to methods for reconstructing hidden data from an encoded coding unit. Embodiments of the invention are also related to the implementation of these encoding and decoding methods in an apparatus and on a non-transitory computer readable medium. According to the embodiments of the invention, data are hidden in values of different layers of a hierarchically structured coding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexey Konstantinovich Filippov, Vasily Alexeevich Rufitskiy
  • Patent number: 9606239
    Abstract: A high-linear amplifier receives, from an input bandpass filter, input signals including weak process signals and strong interference signals, amplifies the input signals, and transmits the amplified signals to an output bandpass filter. The high-linear amplifier includes a transistor and a feedback circuit that stabilizes the operating current of the transistor. The operating current includes the direct-current and low-frequency output signal currents of the transistor. The feedback circuit includes an interference detector that rectifies a portion of the high-frequency output signals of the transistor and extends the linear range of the high-linear amplifier. An interference indicator unit alerts an operator to the presence of excessively high levels of interference before the high-linear amplifier enters the non-linear mode. Amplified signals rejected by the output bandpass filter are reflected back to the high-linear amplifier stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrey Mikhailovich Sokolov, Dmitry Vitalievich Tatarnikov, Konstantin Mikhailovich Bachmanov, Rifat Khaidarovich Yusupov
  • Patent number: 9361273
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for providing at least one parameter for use with a forecast model. Implementations include actions of receiving a first context vector, the first context vector including a plurality of context attributes that describe a first context, retrieving a first parameter vector from a repository based on the first context vector, the repository electronically storing a plurality of parameter vector, each parameter vector being associated with a respective context and including one or more parameters, parameterizing the forecast model based on parameters provided in the first parameter vector to provide a parameterized forecast model, optimizing the parameterized forecast model to provide an optimized forecast model, and forecasting one or more values using the optimized forecast model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Lars Dannecker, Robert Schulze, Matthias Boehm, Wolfgang Lehner
  • Patent number: 8913189
    Abstract: Audio data and video data are processed to determine one or more audible events and visual events, respectively. Contemporaneous presentation of the video data with audio data may be synchronized based at least in part on the audible events and the visual events. Audio processing functions, such as filtering, may be initiated for audio data based at least in part on the visual events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard William Mincher, Todd Christopher Mason
  • Patent number: 8854555
    Abstract: Systems and methods for toggling between television channels that appear on a display. A listing of channels is received from a user, with the channels being prioritized in an order of preference. One or more toggle types are also received from the user, with each toggle type further including a toggle trigger. In use, a channel is displayed on the display until a toggle trigger is detected. Once detected, the channel on the display is changed to another channel from the list of channels. This process may continue with the detection of another toggle trigger causing another changing of the displayed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventors: Darryl Adderly, Brian Murray, Wenjian Qiao, Prasad Kashyap
  • Patent number: 8640170
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tuning scheme for coordinating schedule information and programs received from multiple sources (26, 28, 30 and 34). In the preferred embodiment, an identifier associated with the program's channel (52) is used to identify a source device (26, 28, 30 or 34). When a user selects a program (60 or 62) listed in displayed schedule information (50), the system (10) reads the source identifier attached to the program's channel (52). The system (10) then carries out an automatic switching/tuning such that the required source device (26, 28, 30 or 34) is input to the destination device (22), and a tuner is then tuned to the selected program's channel (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Lee Klosterman
  • Patent number: 8607296
    Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Personalized Media Communications LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher Harvey, James William Cuddihy
  • Patent number: 8555326
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus provide for detection by a display device of an idle mode of a remote sender device. Information received from a remote sender device by a display device is monitored during a normal operating mode of operation of the display device to determine whether the remote sender device is not providing primary content for display by the display device, such as might occur during a sleep or idle mode of the remote sender device. If the display device determines that primary content is not being provided by the remote sender device, then the display device acquires alternate content that may be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Robert N. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8279274
    Abstract: To provide a transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and an in-vivo information acquiring system that enable to acquire image information corresponding to one image, by assuredly synchronizing between a capsule endoscope and the receiving apparatus. According to the present invention, a capsule endoscope 2 that transmits a radio signal including at least an image signal S to the receiving apparatus includes a signal processor 12 that outputs the image signal S, a reference signal generator 24 that generates a reference signal including a different signal level and outputs a reference signal component D including at least the reference signal, an inserting unit 14 that inserts the reference signal component D into a predetermined heading period of the image signal S and at least a portion of a blanking period in which a signal component does not exist, and a transmitting unit 15 that wirelessly transmits the image signal S output from the inserting unit 14 to an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Shigemori
  • Patent number: 8149329
    Abstract: An image processing system, for processing display data and vertical blanking interval data carried by a composite signal, is disclosed. The image process system includes: a video decoder, for decoding the display data to generate corresponding image data; a VBI decoder, for decoding the VBI data to generate corresponding VBI image data; a converter, for converting the VBI image data into color index data; a transmission interface, for transmitting the decoded image data and color index data; and an image processing module, for receiving the image data and the color index data to deinterlace/scale the image data and converting the color index data back into the original VBI image data, mixing the processed image data and the VBI image data such that data to be displayed can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chin Hua Teng, Yueh-Hsing Huang, Jin-Sheng Gong
  • Patent number: 8036484
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for averaging data in packed format are provided. The data may be image data, such as data words containing color-specific data portions representative of pixels of a captured image. A first data word containing first image data is received. A second data word containing second image data is received. A logical AND of the first data word and the second data word is performed to generate a third data word. A logical exclusive OR (XOR) of the first data word and the second data word is performed to generate a fourth data word. A right shift of the fourth data word is performed. The third data word and the right shifted fourth data word are summed to generate a fifth data word that is an average of the first and second data words.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wenqing Jiang, Ying Cao, Li Hao, Weiping Pan
  • Patent number: 8031935
    Abstract: A method for removing color noise on a slowly varying component contained in color difference component image data of image data which is imported from an image sensor and converted to brightness and the color difference component image data, includes the steps of: sampling pixels of said color difference component image data by thinning out according to a first defined sampling format when not performing a color noise removal process on the slowly varying component; determining if the color noise removal process is necessary to be performed or not; producing the color difference component image data, corresponding to a compressed image data size smaller than an image data size without said color noise removal process, by thinning out according to a second defined sampling format when performing said color noise removal process; and recording the color difference and brightness component image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7916809
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a digital receiving apparatus for providing useful information to its user without interruption when reception quality deteriorates. It includes: an information separating unit 4 for reproducing a stream of demodulation signal S3, and separating it into stream signals S4 on multiplexed respective channels for output; a decoding unit 5 for decoding and outputting the stream signals S4; and a control unit 6 for switching and controlling a stream signal for the decoding unit 5 to decode out of the stream signals on the respective channels, and the control unit 6 switches to the stream signal on another channel and makes the decoding unit 5 decode it when physical information for indicating reception quality under reception and the data type of the stream signal on the channel selected out of the channels do not conform to a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Tsushima
  • Patent number: 7894686
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to determine frequency of occurrence information for a range of gray levels from luminance data of an input signal. The second circuit may be configured to selectively adjust enhancement for at least one portion of the range of grey levels based upon the frequency of occurrence information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Jang
  • Patent number: 7844995
    Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher Harvey, James William Cuddihy
  • Patent number: 7844072
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements are disclosed for embedding and detecting a watermark in a cinema movie, such that the watermark can be detected in a copy made by a handheld video camera. The watermark embedder divides each image frame into two areas. A watermark bit ‘+1’ is embedded in a frame by increasing the luminance of the first part and decreasing the luminance of the second part. A watermark bit ‘?1’ is embedded by decreasing the luminance of the first part and increasing the luminance of the second part. It is achieved with the invention that the embedded watermark survives ‘de-flicker’ operations that are often used to remove flicker caused by the different frame rates of cinema projection equipment and consumer camcorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Civolution B.V.
    Inventors: Adriaan Johan Van Leest, Johan Paul Marie Gerard Linnartz
  • Patent number: 7706565
    Abstract: The present invention provides digital watermarks through multiple channels. The channels can include, e.g., visible, ultraviolet and infrared channels. The non-visible channels can be selected to fluoresce either in the visible or IR/UV spectrums upon the appropriate illumination in the infrared or ultraviolet spectrums. The watermarks in the various multiple channels can cooperate to facilitate watermark detection or to authenticate an object in which the watermarks are embedded. In other implementations the multiple watermarks include so-called orientation components. A relative relationship between the orientation components is used to convey data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Levy, Steven W. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20100060786
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning channels of a broadcast receiver are provided. The channel scanning method includes determining whether to perform an entire channel scanning operation or a partial channel scanning operation in response to a channel scan command, if the entire channel scanning operation is determined to be performed, performing the entire channel scanning operation by scanning all channels and storing channel information regarding a channel in which a broadcast signal exists in a channel map, and if the partial channel scanning operation is determined to be performed, performing the partial channel scanning operation by scanning a channel which is not registered in a pre-created channel map, and storing channel information regarding the non-registered channel in which a broadcast signals exists in the non-registered channel map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon-soo Kim, Hae-joo Jeong, Young-jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7664288
    Abstract: A method of digital watermarking which can resist against local geometrical distortions such as random bending attack, global geometrical distortions as well as projective transforms, but does not necessary require the recovering of global affine transform or even the repetition of the same watermark pattern. Further, the watermark can resist common global affine transformations such as rotation, scaling, and changes of aspect ratio, cropping as well as other types of operations such as filtering, lossy compression, printing/scanning or detection of watermark in front of video, web or photo camera or any imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Universite de Geneve
    Inventors: Thierry Pun, Slava Voloshynovskiy, Frédéric Deguillaume
  • Patent number: 7489798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for detecting a watermark using informed detection. A first signal potentially having a watermark embedded is received (601) as is a second signal corresponding to the original signal. The signals are segmented (605) into symbol segments. For each symbol segment a first characteristic is determined (607) for a first section and a second characteristic is determined (609) for a second section in response to the first and second signals in those sections. Specifically, ratios between average envelopes are determined. Thus, the first and second characteristic is indicative of the variations of the envelope during a watermark symbol. A watermark symbol estimate is determined (611) from the first and second characteristic. A sequence of estimated watermark symbols is compared to reference watermark symbols and the presence of a watermark symbol is determined (615) depending on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Minne Van Der Veen, Aweke Negash Lemma
  • Patent number: 7295680
    Abstract: An apparatus for embedding digital watermark information in an image, includes an image divider dividing the image into a plurality of partial images; and an embedder embedding in each of the partial images a digital watermark which indicates the digital watermark information. The digital watermark includes a plurality of watermark elements arranged in a sequence which is different for each of the partial images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Taichi Isogai
  • Patent number: 7197164
    Abstract: A digital watermark embedder reduces a watermark signal as a function of time varying properties of video such that a watermark that would otherwise be static over frames is selectively reduced to make it imperceptible. The method computes a watermark signal corresponding to locations within a frame, where the watermark signal is mapped to locations in the video frame and is computed based upon attributes of the video within the frame. The method varies the strength of the watermark signal over time. The process of varying the strength includes reducing the strength of the watermark signal to make the digital watermark less perceptible in the video in locations where the video has time varying properties. The method embeds the watermark signal into the video at the locations with the varying strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Levy
  • Patent number: 7072493
    Abstract: A technology is described herein for the protection of rights in the content of a video sequence. In one example the technology embeds an information pattern in one or more regions of a video signal. A region includes a plurality of successive frames. The example does not embed the information pattern in one or more different regions which are interposed between the one or more regions. Further, in this example, for one or more regions, the information pattern is embedded into a frame of a region with a relative degree of intensity. One or more frames of that region have the patterns embedded therein which have a relative intensity that differs from the relative intensity of the pattern embedded in other frames of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ramarathnam Venkatesan, M. Kivanc Mihcak
  • Patent number: 6987862
    Abstract: An input content signal, e.g., representing video, is encoded to hide plural-bit auxiliary data therein. The process generates an intermediate signal that is a function of (a) the plural-bit auxiliary data, and (b) data related to human perception attributes of the content signal. This intermediate signal is then summed with the content signal to effect encoding. The plural-bit auxiliary data can include copy control data, i.e., data that can be sensed by a consumer electronic device and used to disable a copying operation. The intermediate signal may include a pseudo-random key signal so as to obscure the encoding and require knowledge of a corresponding key at the decoder to extract the auxiliary data from the encoded content. In some embodiments, calibration data is encoded in the content signal with the auxiliary data. This calibration data desirably has known properties (e.g., spectral attributes, data content, etc.) facilitating its identification in the encoded content signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 6975743
    Abstract: An implementation of a technology is described herein for the protection of rights in the content of a video sequence. This technology further generally relates to a technology facilitating embedding imperceptible, de-synchronization-resistant watermarks in video sequence and facilitating detecting such watermarks. These watermarks are resistant against unintentional and intentional modifications. In particular, the watermarks are resistant to de-synchronization. In addition, the watermarks are perceptually invisible. The watermarks are hidden in the video so that flicker is minimized or eliminated. More specifically, this technology hides a watermark (of portions thereof) over one or more regions of successive frames. Each region has a center defined by a hash value. A watermark (of portions thereof) is encoded into the region in a “plateau” manner. The mark (of portions thereof) is fully encoded in the frames surrounding the region's center, but trail off towards the edges of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ramarathnam Venkatesan, M. Kivanc Mihcak
  • Patent number: 6965729
    Abstract: A method of recording an encoded bit stream, said encoded bit stream representing a plurality of video objects comprising a sequence of cells together constituting a part of an MPEG2 Program Stream, on a disc like record carrier, such as an optical disc. The method comprises recording video objects comprising a sequence of contiguously recorded cells, each cell comprising a unique cell identification number within a video object, recording of a playback sequence of cells that defines a playable program chain of cells, wherein said sequence comprises references to the cell identification numbers and recording navigation data within said cells comprising said cell identification numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Wiebe De Haan
  • Patent number: 6961444
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method of embedding a digital watermark into a video signal using a time based perceptual mask such that the digital watermark is substantially imperceptible in the video signal. A digital watermark embedder computes a time based perceptual mask comprising gain values corresponding to locations within a frame. The gain value for a location in the frame is changed as a function of the change in one or more pixel values at the location over time. The embedder uses the gain values of the time based perceptual mask to control embedding of corresponding elements of a digital watermark signal such that the perceptibility of the elements of the digital watermark signal is reduced in time varying locations of the video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Levy
  • Patent number: 6778607
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-rate encoding of video sequences. The input data stream is received at a first bit rate. A domain transformation is performed on the input data and the transformed data is encoded into a series of output data streams each with a different bit rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: André Zaccarin, Boon-Lock Yeo
  • Patent number: 6771795
    Abstract: A channel is inserted into a sequence of frames for an image, by varying one or more display characteristics of the resulting image across the display. The watermark and other data channel may be employed to watermark the video signal, and the watermark may correspond to the presence of the channel or may be data in accordance with watermark information carried within the channel. For most display devices, display variations are minimized during the design process, but human viewers may still tolerate and accept subtle variations in a displayed image. For exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present invention, slightly changing one or more display characteristics from center-to-side in accordance with watermark information allows for watermarking of the image since viewers may not be aware that display characteristics are changing. For example, a tapering function may be used in a transmitter to vary one or more color components of the video signal representing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Isnardi
  • Patent number: 6731677
    Abstract: An interface, e.g., a modem-like interface for converting a digital information signal into an analog signal for use within an analog television studio infrastructure. Namely, the present invention employs a novel modulator that conveys compressed video data into analog video lines by creating an analog “video” signal that contains video gray-scale levels which correspond to digital data values, instead of containing an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Norman Hurst, Jr., Raymond Lowe
  • Patent number: 6563936
    Abstract: A channel is inserted into a sequence of frames for an image, by varying one or more display characteristics across a display in accordance with a spatio-temporal pattern applied to, for example, successive lines of each modified frame. The channel may be employed to watermark the image, and the watermark may be defined as W(x) and its complement [1−W(x)] in counter-phase rotations of successive lines in pairs of frames. The watermark information is applied in relatively still portions of the image with sufficient lightness level. A receiver includes a watermark detector that has a priori information about the watermark. The watermark detector examines specific regions of the displayed image over time, and tests the regions for the watermark during time intervals when the image remains relatively still.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Michael H. Brill, Michael A. Isnardi, Albert P. Pica
  • Publication number: 20030007092
    Abstract: A user views television programming while also receiving information related to specific occurrences during live events shortly after they occur. Some of these live events are associated with concurrently available television programming, such as a sporting contest that is associated with live a television program televising the contest. Example of such systems allow users to track progress of live events in which they are interested while viewing television programs that are not necessarily related to those events, and allow the users to directly access more detailed information about the events or television programs related to those events using an interactive interface on the users' television screens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Wes Sonner, Brian Roster, Jim Duval
  • Publication number: 20020138837
    Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) hardware card is disclosed. The card is insertable into a television tuning device having EPG capability. A non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, is situated within a case of the hardware card, and has data stored thereon representing one or more loader programs for the device. Each program corresponds to an EPG provider, and gives the device the capability to receive EPG information from this provider. The case of the hardware card may have a form factor such as a Smart Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media, or another form factor. Alternatively, the data stored on the card represents non-executable information corresponding to an EPG provider. A business model and a server-based embodiment are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Robert M. Fries, Michael E. Pietraszak
  • Patent number: 6456726
    Abstract: A data hiding system and method for providing a method of embedding multiple layers of hidden data into multimedia data. First, a media unit of the multimedia data is evaluated to determine an appropriate embedding procedure. Next during a first embedding pass, a ruling layer of primary hidden data is embedded into the media unit. In another embedding pass, a governing layer of secondary hidden data is embedded on top of the ruling layer. The secondary hidden data provides control information for controlling the primary hidden data and the host data. Control information such as error correction data, synchronization data, decoding data, and authentication data is embedded in the governing layer. Embedding schemes such as base domain and spectrum domain embedding are employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Heather Yu, Min Wu, Xin Li, Alexander D. Gelman
  • Patent number: 6370272
    Abstract: Data hidden in a plurality of contents is protected from illegal access by a third party. An embedding process is performed by using a frame pattern (mark) that is composed of multiple embedded block patterns comprising several different types and wherein the embedding process is varied in accordance with the time and the frame. One embedding method mixes at random several types of frame patterns having different arrangements of block patterns. The embedding method may change at random a range in which a block pattern is embedded. An embedded mark is detected by processing in parallel a plurality of patterns that are to be detected in contents, and if as a result of detection there is a reaction, it is ascertained that a mark is present. An illegal process may be traced by using an electronic fingerprint obtained by entering a false detection mark in a detector or by using an electronic fingerprint using a random sync signal for an embedding detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6339449
    Abstract: An additional information signal is superimposed on a video signal at a very low level so that it does not stand out on the reproduced image. Spectral spreading code sequences are generated corresponding to different predetermined parts of the video signal. Bit information signals of the additional information signal made up of plural bits are spectrally spread by the spreading codes to generate spectrally spread bit information signals corresponding to the plural bits. The spectrally spread bit information signals are superimposed on corresponding different predetermined parts of the video signal. Because high priority bit information signals of the spectrally spread additional information signal are superimposed on high priority parts of the video signal, high priority information in the additional information can be protected even if the video signal is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nozomu Ikeda, Akira Ogino, Hisayoshi Moriwaki, Takashi Kohashi, Yuji Kimura
  • Patent number: 6215526
    Abstract: An analog video tagging and encoding system is disclosed. The invention inserts an analog tag frame into the analog video stream such that the luminance (Y) values are made to approach zero, i.e., black, allowing a potential tag frame to be quickly identified. Tag information is then encoded as a structured color pattern into the chrominance (Cb and Cr) portions of the frame, making the tag itself invisible to the casual viewer and contains program start/stop information, program segment identification, or data downloads. The color pattern is chosen such that when it is converted into digital form according to the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard. In a simple embodiment of the invention, the structured analog color pattern may appear as a pattern of colored blocks aligned with the macroblock segmentation performed on the analog signal by the MPEG encoding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: TiVo, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Barton, Howard Look
  • Patent number: 6008857
    Abstract: Digital data comprised of bytes formed of a predetermined number of data bits are encoded for representation in a video frame. Each byte of digital data, or a portion thereof, is represented in a respective region of the video frame by one or more video component levels that are assigned to the region and which correspond to the numerical value of the data bits of the byte or of the portion. The digital data are represented in the video frames in place of a video image or, alternatively, are represented in the same frames in which video images are recorded but in the areas of the frame in which the video image is not ordinarily recorded. Digital data represented in the video frame are decoded from the video component levels assigned to the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A. Keery, Susumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 5838840
    Abstract: A video inspection device using a field mode CCD camera. In order to inspect the printing on a moving web, a field mode CCD camera is provided with a zoom lens and strobe light. The image obtained is processed so that only alternate pixels of the image are stored. When reading out the stored image, the image is blown up by a factor of two and the missing pixels are interpolated horizontally and vertically. The resultant image is displayed in a monitor for the operator to inspect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: BST/Pro Mark
    Inventors: Edwin E. King, Daniel T. Trabbic, Richard M. O'Grady, Brian S. Patrick
  • Patent number: 5737024
    Abstract: A system for converting user data between a computer data format and an NTSC format allows a video tape recorder (VTR) to be used as a data storage system. A buffer organizes the user data into scan group data for data recording from a host computer to the VTR, and separates the scan group data into the user data for data playback from the VTR to the host. The system of the invention receives the scan group data from the buffer and converts the scan group data into the NTSC format video fields for recording by the VTR. The invention also converts the NTSC format video fields into the scan group data for playback of data from the VTR to the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Chikira
  • Patent number: 5731841
    Abstract: A tuner specifically adapted for recovery of a data signal injected into a video signal and then subsequently transmitted over a television channel or cable is disclosed. The tuner includes an IF local oscillator that is phase locked to the input signal sync pulses and has filters that are designed to pass through only the data bandwidth. In addition, the circuit has a low noise figure of about 1.5 dB and a third order intercept point of +35 dBm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Wavephore, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Var Rosenbaum, Melvyn Engel
  • Patent number: 5719634
    Abstract: Digital data comprised of bytes formed of a predetermined number of data bits are encoded for representation in a video frame. Each byte of digital data, or a portion thereof, is represented in a respective region of the video frame by one or more video component levels that are assigned to the region and which correspond to the numerical value of the data bits of the byte or of the portion. The digital data are represented in the video frames in place of a video image or, alternatively, are represented in the same frames in which video images are recorded but in the areas of the frame in which the video image is not ordinarily recorded. Digital data represented in the video frame are decoded from the video component levels assigned to the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignees: Sony Corportion, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A Keery, Susumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 5666168
    Abstract: The instant application is directed to a cable facsimile machine which implements the upper vestigial chrominance sideband of a standard video signal for data transmission.Signal processors for permitting the transparent, simultaneous transmission and reception of a data signal in the video bandwidth is disclosed. The signal processor in the transmitter rasterizes the data at the horizontal scanning rate and modulates the data with a data carrier at a non-integral multiple of the horizontal scanning rate to obtain frequency interleaving. The data is transmitted during the active video portion of each video line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: WavePhore, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald D. Montgomery, Jay B. Norrish
  • Patent number: 5652626
    Abstract: In the apparatus for processing a color image, a data signal representing another information differs from the color image is generated by a generating means. The another information is embedded into the color image by varying one of a color difference and a chroma of the color image in accordance with the data signal by an image processing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Haruko Kawakami, Hidekazu Sekizawa, Naofumi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5347315
    Abstract: A X-MAC encoder enables a plurality of components to be encoded, each having a sequence of packets, with the packets being distributed in successive bursts each occupying a predetermined fraction of a television frame line. It comprises a plurality of blocks each having at least one packet encoder provided with a buffer memory for storing digital data coming from a source, and an encoder for distributing the packets in bursts of adjustable duration not greater than the duration of one television line. A base encoder assembly contains a programmable device for allocating a determined window of the television frame to each block. It calls a burst of length corresponding to the width within the window that is allocated by the programmable device, on the basis of the respective block burst encoder, at the beginning of each window in a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Matra Communication
    Inventors: Jean Mary, Jean-Michel Masson