Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Creative Technologies LTD
  • Patent number: 8217985
    Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for adjusting at least one parameter of a video stream being received on a recipient screen, the video stream being captured by a sender's video capturing apparatus. The method includes providing a control device to a recipient to adjust the at least one parameter of the video stream captured by the sender's video capturing apparatus; interfacing the control device with a secondary application; the recipient using the control device for adjustment of the at least one parameter of the video stream captured by the sender's video capturing apparatus; and the recipient receiving and viewing the video stream on the recipient screen. There is also provided a control device for adjusting at least one parameter of a video stream being received on a recipient screen, the video stream being captured by a sender's video capturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Stoen, Min Qin Huang, Toh Onn Desmond Hii
  • Patent number: 8219390
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for modifying an audio signal. A pitch associated with the audio signal is detected. A portion of the audio signal that is associated with the detected pitch is modified. Controlling the modification of a primary audio signal is disclosed. The level of a secondary audio signal is monitored. Modification of the primary audio signal is enabled if the level of the secondary audio signal rises above a first prescribed threshold at a time when the primary audio signal is not being modified. Modification of the primary audio signal is disabled if the level of the secondary audio signal drops below a second prescribed threshold at a time when the primary audio signal is being modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Jean Laroche
  • Patent number: 8204237
    Abstract: A stereo audio signal is processed to determine primary and ambient components by transforming the signal into vectors corresponding to subband signals, and decomposing the left and right channel vectors into ambient and primary components by matrix and vector operations. Principal component analysis is used to determine a primary component unit vector, and ambience components are determined according to a correlation-based cross-fade or an orthogonal basis derivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Michael M. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8194887
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamic bass frequency control, the system comprising: a bandwidth filter coupled to a plurality of switchable electronic components for filtering a frequency range of an input signal; an amplifier coupled to the bandwidth filter and the plurality of switchable electronic components, the amplifier being configured for adjusting amplitude of the filtered frequency range of the input signal based on a configuration of the plurality of switchable electronic components; and a signal level detector coupled to the switchable electronic components for determining signal strength of the input signal, the signal level detector being configured to switch the plurality of switchable electronic components between more than one configuration based on the signal strength of the input signal, each configuration determining the frequency range of the input signal to be filtered by the bandwidth filter and the amplitude adjustment to be made to the filtered frequency range of the input signal by the am
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Chee Sin Cheah, Huoy Ru Rachel Koh, Thean Kuie Christopher Chang, Cunsheng Vincent Dong
  • Patent number: 8186083
    Abstract: There is provided a method and an apparatus for marketing an object. The apparatus includes a display with a first mode and a second mode; and a housing for containing the object adjacent to the display. The display may preferably be coupled to a controller circuit for activating transition of the display between the first mode and the second mode, with the object being viewable through the display in the second mode. The method includes carrying out activities to create an association between the apparatus and the object; using the apparatus for containment of items; and causing an increase in awareness in the object through use of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Johnson Chua, Yam Fei Lian, Boon Keat Eddy Toh, Jeng Khim Tan, Kar Choon Ng
  • Patent number: 8189805
    Abstract: Allpass arrays of arbitrary order are presented. The transducers in the arrays are configured with weights corresponding to the FIR approximation of an allpass filter such that a nearly uniform array response is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Michael M. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8184835
    Abstract: A transducer array includes speaker drivers having nonuniform asymmetric spacing. The array includes at least three drivers formed along a line or arc. The first of the drivers is positioned having a first spacing from an adjacent second driver that is different from a second spacing between the second driver and its adjacent third driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Michael M. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8154580
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating user communication from a location. The system comprises two or more cameras for capturing two or more videos at a first location, a control unit for streaming one or more of the videos captured to a first communication unit at the first location through a first network, and streaming one or more of the videos captured to a second communication unit located at a second location through a second network, a server for identifying a location data of the first location based on an identifier of the control unit, and a communication platform associated with the first location. The communication platform is accessible by the first and second communication units through the first and second networks respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Wong Hoo Sim, Kah Kheong Steven Loh
  • Patent number: 8130980
    Abstract: There is provided an automatic gain control circuit for volume control receiving at least one audio signal input via either a wired connection or a wireless connection. The circuit includes an output signal regulator receiving a first portion of the at least one audio signal input, with the regulator being able to vary an amplitude of the first portion of the at least one audio signal input when a control signal from a circuit controller is received. The circuit controller may be powered by a DC generator; with the DC generator receiving a second portion of the at least one audio signal input. A signal from the output signal regulator may be passed through an acoustic generator. It is preferable that the first portion of the at least one audio signal input is substantially more than the second portion. It is also preferable that the output signal regulator varies the amplitude of the at least one audio signal input by reducing the amplitude. A corresponding method of volume control is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Kok Ghay Wong, Thean Kuie Christopher Chang, Chee Sin Cheah, Huoy Ru Rachel Koh
  • Patent number: 8086448
    Abstract: Processing an audio signal associated with a sound recording made available to be rendered to an end user is disclosed. The audio signal is received. A high-order perceptual attribute of the audio signal as rendered is changed by modifying the audio signal. The modification may be based on real-time analysis of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael Goodwin, Carlos Avendano, Ramkumar Sridharan, Martin Wolters
  • Patent number: 8015013
    Abstract: There is provided a method for accessing at least one digital file from a collection comprising more than one digital file in an electronic device, including: generating one index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one digital file in the collection, with each digital file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry; receiving a speaker independent speech input in at least one language during a speech reception mode; determining a language of the speech input; and setting the speech reception mode to the language of the speech input; comparing the speech input received during the speech reception mode with the entries in the index. The file may advantageously be accessed when the speech input coincides with at least one of the information entries in the index. The digital files may be stored in the electronic device, any device functionally connected to the electronic device or a combination of the aforementioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Chi Fai Chiu, Hing Fai Louis Chong, Ching Wai Jimmy Lee, Hong Chung Leung, Chi Wai Dennis Wee, Wei To William Wang
  • Patent number: 7554989
    Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for sending an encoded signal between a host station and a client station in which the host station encodes data, encodes the error data resulting from that encoding process and generates user data. Thus, the host station generates three types of data and it accords different priorities to those three data types. The first type of data, the encoded original data is accorded the highest priority and is guaranteed delivery to a client station. Thus, a minimum signal quality is guaranteed at the client end. The second type of data, user data, is accorded a lower priority and will be delivered to the client station if there is available bandwidth once the encoded original data has been successfully delivered. The third type of data, encoded error data is accorded the lowest priority and is only delivered to the client station if there is available bandwidth once the encoded original data and the user data have been delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Siew Kiat Leow, Song Gee Lim, Eng Yeow Cheu
  • Patent number: 6928433
    Abstract: A method, performed by software executing on the processor of a portable music playback device, that automatically files tracks according to hierarchical structure of categories to organize tracks in a logical order. A user interface is utilized to change the hierarchy, view track names, and select tracks for playback or other operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Creative Technology LTD
    Inventors: Ron Goodman, Howard N. Egan
  • Patent number: 6795556
    Abstract: Original head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are modified for a non-standard dimensioned head. The HRTF includes a near-ear response function, a far-ear response function, and an inter-aural time delay (ITD). The modified HRTF resembles an HRTF approximating that derived for a listener having different head and/or ear dimensions to the standard dimensions. The ITD value of the HRTF is multiplied by a given scaling factor independent of frequency. The near ear and/or far ear response function of the HRTF is multiplied by a constant scaling factor in the frequency domain independent of time delay, to expand or compress the functions in the frequency domain. The near ear and/or far ear response function of the HRTF are provided with a positive or negative offset value in the frequency domain. The amplitude of the near ear and/or far ear response function of the original HRTF(s) is (are) multiplied by a given gain factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Creative Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alastair Sibbald, Richard David Clemow, Michael Percy
  • Patent number: D628564
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingliang Chong, Huang Pheng Vince Ang
  • Patent number: D635606
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Zheng Guang Han, Nicholas Stephen Marchand, Rudy Kurniawan Tedja