Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Darren M. Simon
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Patent number: 6564002Abstract: To improve the efficiency of primary editing of a video tape, a shot mark as a mark at the time of primary editing is determined. With a video tape of a digital VTR format, the shot mark may be recorded onto a user's bit on a time code track. Even at the time of editing, this shot mark may be appended. At the time of primary editing, a predetermined range specified with reference to the position of the shot mark is defined as a portion to be used, thereby preparing a master tape.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1999Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hirofumi Murakami, Katsuhiko Aihara, Yasushi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 6564180Abstract: A data processing apparatus processes input data and outputs the processed data. The data processing apparatus includes a first processing section including a real-time learning section for learning in real time a processing method by which the input data and the output data corresponding to the input data are evaluated and the input data is processed according to the evaluation such that the output data is improved as time elapses; and a data processing section for adaptively processing the input data according to the processing method learned by the real-time learning section and outputting the output data; and a second processing section for processing preceding input data which has been input in time prior to focused input data which is processed by the first processing section, according to the focused output data corresponding to the focused input data and the evaluation of the focused output data to output the preceding output data corresponding to the preceding input data.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1999Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Kazutaka Ando, Naoki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 6556240Abstract: An image pickup system that is small in scale, handy to maneuver, easy to operate and advanced in editing capabilities is disclosed. A commander device is used both as a remote commander and as a microphone in operating a video camera for image pickup. Wearing a headset on the head, a user looks at images appearing on a headset display to monitor and verify recorded images without recourse to a view finder of the video came. Function of the components making up the system are changed by operation of a mode switch attached to the video camera.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1998Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroki Oka, Toshiyuki Hisatsune, Tetsu Sumii, Osamu Sakurai, Shigeya Yasui
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Patent number: 6556769Abstract: Another operation such as searching for information recorded is achieved without interrupting recording of input information. A CPU controls a VCR block so that input information is recorded on a video tape when the video tape is ready for recording. When the video tape is not ready for recording, such as when searching for information recorded on the video tape is performed, the CPU controls a RAM block so that input information is temporarily recorded in RAM. When the video tape shifts from a state of not ready for recording to a state of ready for recording, the CPU controls the VCR block and the RAM block so that the information recorded in the RAM is transferred to the video tape for recording.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1998Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Shigeru Akahane, Fumihiro Nagasawa, Takeo Nishijima
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Patent number: 6556205Abstract: Video special effects apparatus comprises a core program object; and a plurality of render processor plug-in program objects responsive to the core program object, the render processors being arranged in directed acyclic graph, each operable to render an output result relating to successive images of a video signal from input data relating to that and/or other images received from a preceding render processor in the directed acyclic graph and in response to operational parameters relating to that render processor; in which each operational parameter is defined by a parameter plug-in object arranged to communicate a parameter value to the render processor plug-in object.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Sony United Kingdom LimitedInventors: Antony James Gould, Nicholas Mark Collins
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Patent number: 6549682Abstract: An image data processing apparatus wherein patterns obtained on the basis of common image information shared by a plurality of pre-conversion pixels with one post-conversion pixel are stored in a calculation data selector, and there is decided a pattern conforming with the pixel data inputted to the calculation data selector via an A/D converter and a frame memory. A calculation coefficient selector selects the calculation coefficients corresponding to the pattern thus decided, and outputs the selected coefficients to a calculator. Then the calculator calculates new pixel data by the use of such calculation coefficients and pixel data inputted thereto. In this apparatus, the post-conversion image formed by converting the number of its pixels can be displayed clearly.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1999Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Hidehiko Okada
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Patent number: 6545964Abstract: The optical beam of the read power corresponding to the rotating velocity is radiated to a recording medium. Thereby, the rotating velocity of optical disc can be detected and the optical beam of read power corresponding to the detected rotating velocity can be radiated to an optical disc.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tsunemitsu Takase, Takashi Sasaki
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Patent number: 6545708Abstract: A personal computer detects the current state of a video camera with reference to setting information transmitted thereto from a work station. When a command for controlling the video camera is inputted from a mouse, the personal computer predicts an image, which is assumed to be shot by the video camera upon execution of the command, with reference to both the information transmitted from the work station and the command inputted from the mouse, and then displays the predicted image on a CRT monitor. Referring to the image being displayed on the CRT monitor, a user performs a manipulation to instruct execution of the command in the case of executing the previous input command. As a result, the command inputted previously is transmitted to the work station via an internet, thereby controlling the video camera and a pan tilter. Thus, the video camera connected via a network or the like can be controlled smoothly.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1998Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Ken Tamayama, Tadafusa Tomitaka, Masakazu Koyanagi, Toshiyuki Iijima, Naoyasu Hosonuma
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Patent number: 6545997Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission method and a transmission apparatus for transmitting signals on the basis of a OFDM/TDMA-system, wherein a plurality of subcarriers being orthogonal to each other are allocated to a variable number of channels, each channel containing a variable number of subcarriers depending on information to be transmitted in said signals, wherein, for the transmission of said signals in a GSM-system having a constant number of predetermined GSM-frequency channels and a constant number of predetermined GSM-timeslots being grouped in GSM-frames, the number of said subcarriers is allocated corresponding to the bandwidth of said GSM-frequency channels, so that a multiple of one resulting OFDM/TDMA-timeslot matches with one or a multiple of one GSM-timeslots, wherein a pilot symbol is allocated to every n-th subcarrier in said GSM-frequency-channels, whereby n is an integer and>1, and wherein said signals are transmitted.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Sony International (Europe) GmbHInventors: Ralf Böhnke, Seiichi Izumi
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Patent number: 6540610Abstract: A portable computer is removably connected to a video game machine which processes data, and a digital camera is connected to the video game machine. Image data supplied from the portable computer or the digital camera to the video game machine is processed or combined by the video game machine, and the processed or combined image data is outputted to the portable computer or the digital camera. The portable computer and the digital camera, which are difficult to connect directly to each other, are simultaneously connected to the video game machine for sending and receiving image data between the portable computer and the digital camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.Inventor: Masayuki Chatani
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Patent number: 6542518Abstract: Each of the data amount of a video stream multiplexed in one video frame period and the data amount of an audio stream multiplexed in a predetermined period is almost constant in any video frame period. The data amount of a transport stream generated in one video frame period is almost constant in any video frame period. In addition, corresponding to a target video encoding rate and a target audio encoding rate, schedule data for multiplexing a video stream and an audio stream is generated. Corresponding to the schedule data, a video stream and an audio stream are multiplexed and output as a transport stream to a decoding unit so that an SDT buffer of the decoding unit does not overflow.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1998Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Satoshi Miyazawa
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Patent number: 6535172Abstract: Realizing a small-sized antenna device whose protruding length from a main apparatus is made minimum when installed and adding radio communication function thereto and has polarization diversity characteristics. A module main body 5 has a circuit board 22 built therein, an antenna device 1, and a connection terminal 23, and adds radio communication function to a main apparatus 2 when inserted to a slot 3 thereof. The antenna device 1 is mounted to the module main body 5 on a second side 5b located on the opposite.side of a first side 5a which has formed thereon the connection terminal 23. The antenna substrate 8 which has at least an inversed F type antenna pattern and a meander type antenna pattern formed on the main surface 8a thereof by printed wiring is supported perpendicular to the insertion direction toward the main apparatus 2.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Takayuki Hirabayashi
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Patent number: 6532567Abstract: A method and apparatus for Viterbi detection to detect a code sequence containing a sync word, from an output sequence on a transmission path, by using a trellis detection that has a time-variant structure. The apparatus comprising a base counter for measuring time during the trellis detection, a comparator for comparing the time when the sync word is detected and outputting a coincidence/non-coincidence signal, and a selector for selecting either an output of an ACS (Add Compare Select) circuit or a predetermined initial metric value. The likelihood of a state in which the sync word starts or ends in the trellis detection is initialized only if the time the sync word is detected does not coincide with a time extrapolated before the sync word is detected.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1999Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Hiroyuki Ino
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Patent number: 6532242Abstract: A digital signal encoding, editing and transmitting method enabling seamless coupling of plural video bitstreams without causing disruption of a decoder buffer. In coupling a second bitstream from an encoding unit 20 to the trailing end of a first bitstream from an encoding unit 10, an encoding unit 12 imposes limitations in encoding for securing a data buffer volume required for startup of the second bitstream in the vicinity of the trailing end of the first bitstream responsive to the control signal from a terminal 14, while an encoding unit 22 imposes limitations in encoding for securing a data buffer volume required for startup of the second bitstream in the vicinity of the leading end of the second bitstream responsive to the control signal from a terminal 24.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1997Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Katsumi Tahara
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Patent number: 6526146Abstract: An optical disc recorder/reproducer, a personal computer, a television receiver, an IRD and so forth are connected mutually via a 1394 serial bus. When data transmitted from the personal computer to the optical disc recorder/reproducer via the 1394 serial bus are to be recorded, an isochronous packet is sent to the recorder/reproducer inclusive of the data to indicate whether the personal computer is a device capable of cognizing copy control information. And depending on whether the source of the transmitted data is a copy control information cognizant device or not, the optical disc recorder/reproducer updates the copy control information with reference to a selected table, and then the updated copy control information is recorded on the optical disc. This system can distinguish between a prerecorded disc and a user-recorded disc, hence achieving exact management of copy control information.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1999Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Megumu Hashimoto, Yoshitomo Osawa, Tomoyuki Asano
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Patent number: 6526579Abstract: In a system, tabulated information on broadcasting programs is supplied through a network. When a user selects information on a desired program from the tabulated information of programs, supplemental information attached to the individual program information is converted into an remote control signal to remote-control a user's receiver to receive the desired program.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Kazuhiro Sato
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Patent number: 6525894Abstract: A method of mounting a volume from a tape medium on a tape drive apparatus. The method reads a bar-code indicating the volume from a tape cartridge, attaches the tape cartridge to a tape drive, and detects the current track position on the basis of a longitudinal track. The method then determines whether a beginning volume label or a last used area volume label is nearer to the current track position, reads the nearer volume label from the tape medium, confirms the volume by comparing the nearer volume label with the bar-code, and mounts the volume onto the tape drive.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2000Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Hideki Nakamura
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Patent number: 6522329Abstract: A trace line picture which is manually drawn with a pen is taken in by a camera or a scanner, and is supplied to a personal computer as an original line drawing. The personal computer carries out thinning processing on the supplied line drawing, and paints all pixels in a closed area surrounded by the thinned line with a color designated by an operator. Then, the computer thickens the original trace line and colors pixels on the thickened trace line with a predetermined color, in accordance with a command from the operator. The computer synthesizes the picture of the closed area surrounded by the thinned line and the thickened picture in accordance with a predetermined synthesis formula. Finally, the computer checks whether or not pictures synthesized over several frames are displayed as an appropriate dynamic image. By the above-described production processing, an animation color image can be quickly produced by using the computer.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1999Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yushi Ihara, Yuji Matsumoto, Eiichi Ishii, Chizuru Makita, Kohei Nojiri
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Patent number: 6522829Abstract: The invention relates to a data recording and reproducing apparatus capable of highly accurate editing such as a cross-fade and a mute on audio signal by use of randomly accessible recording medium such as RAID in a broadcasting station. The inventive apparatus comprises a plurality of encoders, a plurality of decoders, an RAID and a system controller 115. The encoders and decoders respectively are accessible to the RAID in their allocated time slot. In the decoder, flag inserting circuit for inserting flag designating editing process into portions of audio data read from the RAID, is included. Edit DSP circuit performs the editing process on the audio data, based on the flag inserted into the audio data.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Kenichi Muramatsu, Hiroshi Nakano
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Patent number: 6519353Abstract: A motion vector detecting circuit calculates a residual between the reference block read from a frame memory and retrieving block at the predetermined position of a retrieving frame to output to an operation control circuit. The operation control circuit discriminates whether a residual value supplied from the motion vector detecting circuit is larger than the threshold value Th1 and the threshold value Th2 which is smaller than Th1 or not respectively and controls the vector detecting circuit corresponding to such discrimination result. When the residual value is larger than the threshold value Th1, the motion vector detecting circuit instructs execution of the motion vector detecting process utilizing the comparatively wider retrieving range. When the residual value is less then the threshold value Th1 and is larger than the threshold value Th2, the motion vector circuit instructs execution of the motion vector detecting process utilizing the comparatively narrower retrieving range.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1999Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Eiji Ogura