Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Joseph J. Laks
  • Patent number: 7330448
    Abstract: A communications network (10) advantageously provides wireless telephony service to a mobile terminal user (16) from one of a first radio access mechanism (18, 20) of a wireless telephony network (12) and a second radio access mechanism (30, 32) of a wireless Local Area Network (14). The first radio access mechanism provides service at a first quality of service (QoS) level specified in a primary Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context established with the mobile terminal user during which the mobile terminal user is assigned an address for data communication. When the mobile terminal user transitions from the first access node to the second access node, the user receives service in accordance with a secondary PDP context activated by the mobile terminal user. The secondary PDP context specifies the same data address as the primary PDP context but a different QoS level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Shaily Verma, Guillaume Bichot
  • Patent number: 7330164
    Abstract: A method for setting opto-sensor detection sensitivity in a projection video display comprising the steps of sequentially generating video signals of different colors for illuminating a sensor with video images of the video signals. In responsive to the video signals automatically selecting respective detection thresholds. Sequentially detecting sensor signals in excess of the respective detection thresholds. Coupling the detected sensor signals for automated adjustment of the projection video display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: John Barrett George
  • Patent number: 7325943
    Abstract: An image-display panel is described. The panel includes a one-dimensional or two-dimensional matrix of organic electroluminescent cells deposited on a substrate and grouped together in rows or columns. Light extraction elements are deposited on each row or column of cells to form an extraction layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Pascal Benoit, Christophe Fery, Gunther Haas
  • Patent number: 7324737
    Abstract: Briefly, there is provided a method for manipulating content stored on a disk recorder/playback device using conventional transport commands, such as those used on a conventional videotape recorder (VTR). The method commences by detecting whether the content is in one of a prescribed set of modes, and by determining whether one of a stop, normal motion, a first rapid motion or second rapid motion buttons has been actuated. Depending on which of the stop, normal motion, a first rapid mode or second rapid motion buttons, the content is advanced in one of a first and second directions. The motion of the content is controlled in accordance with the detected content mode and to the degree to which one of the first rapid motion mode and second motion mode buttons has been actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Matthew Albert Ivey, Brian Charles Dunn, Mark Scott Hillebrandt
  • Patent number: 7321399
    Abstract: A system such as an audio and/or video system includes a multiplexed analog-to-digital converter arrangement. The arrangement includes an ADC for converting first and second analog signals to first and second digital signals, respectively, and for outputting the first digital signal during a first time interval and outputting the second digital signal during a second time interval. A digital filter is provided for filtering the first and second digital signals to generate first and second filtered signals, respectively, and for outputting the first and second filtered signals in a time-aligned manner during a third time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Mark Francis Rumreich
  • Patent number: 7321720
    Abstract: DVD Stream Recording allows to recover or permanently erase on-the-fly preliminarily erased cells on the disc. In case of very low-bitrate stream recording there could be less than one application packet and therefore timestamp per Stream Object Unit. In such situation, stuffing is necessary in order to guarantee the proper functioning of the Mapping List data retrieval. To make on-the-fly preliminarily erasure, complete recovery or permanent erase possible even for stuffing data packets located at cell boundaries, to two special timestamps defining a preliminarily erased cell and two other timestamps defining the location of a normal cell a different meaning is assigned under specific circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Marco Winter, Harald Schiller
  • Patent number: 7321717
    Abstract: The absence of MPEG processing in a consumer digital recorder player may preclude on-screen message display of recorder status. Various methods are disclosed which facilitate the on-screen display of recorder player status meassages. A first embodiment returns a reproduced decoded, analog video signal (102) to the digital recorder player (200) for insertion of status messages. In a further embodiment recorder message data (221) is coupled to the digital signal decoder (100, 117, 520) for inclusion with the decoded analog video signal (102). In another embodiment a recorder message command (TAG/CMD) is coupled to the decoder (100, 510) to access recorder specific graphical messages. In yet a further embodiment, recorder message data (221) is tagged and coupled to the decoder (100, 510) to select recorder specific graphical messages if available or to display recorder (200) message data. In yet another embodiment, digital or analog operating mode determines recorder message display position and timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Harold Blatter, Michael Francis Kvintus, Jr., Michael Joseph McLane
  • Patent number: 7319666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for concatenating and piggybacking data packets in a bi-directional communication device include, in response to a first transmission queue of the bi-directional communication device containing less than a threshold number of data packets, transferring a data packet from a second transmission queue in the bi-directional communication device to the first transmission queue, the transferred data packet comprising at least two concatenated data packets. The method and apparatus further include identifying the transferred data packet as a ready-to-send data packet in the first transmission queue after the transfer, and indicating the presence of a subsequent ready-to-send data packet in a primary ready-to-send data packet, the primary ready-to-send data packet and the subsequent ready-to-send data packet existing in a sequence of ready-to-send data packets in the first transmission queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Todd Foster Goosman
  • Patent number: 7319415
    Abstract: An encoder, decoder, and corresponding method are disclosed for deblocking pixel data processed with block transformations, the encoder including a conditional deblocking filter for filtering only block transitions meeting chroma difference measure criteria; the decoder including a conditional deblocking filter for filtering only block transitions meeting chroma difference measure criteria; and the method for deblocking including receiving chroma level signals for at least two pixels disposed on opposite sides of a block transition, computing a distance measure between the chroma levels of the at least two pixels, comparing the distance measure with at least one threshold, and conditionally filtering adjacent pixels including the at least two pixels at the block transition in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Cristina Gomila
  • Patent number: 7317493
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for processing a received television signal comprising one of a first type of television signal and a second type of television signal. Specifically, the method comprises amplifying the received television signal in response to a control signal. If the received television signal comprises the first type of television signal, the RF amplifier gain is reduced when the received television signal exceeds a first signal level. If the received television signal comprises the second type of television signal, the RF amplifier gain is reduced when the received television signal exceeds a second signal level. The second signal level is greater than the first signal level. A concomitant apparatus is also provided. As the first signal level is lower for the first type of television signal, reception of the first type of television signal is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Hutchinson, Gary Dean Grubbs, Matthew Thomas Mayer, Ricardo Haro
  • Patent number: 7318099
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling distribution of digital content from an device attached to a network to another device outside the network. The device receives a digital signal containing content, the digital signal having an authorization field indicative of a first transport mode authorizing the content for distribution outside the network, and of a second transport mode wherein the content is not authorized for transmission outside the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Thomas Licensing
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Stahl, David Jay Duffield, Eric Stephen Carlsgaard
  • Patent number: 7318023
    Abstract: The invention comprises the retrieval of a quantized spectrum of audio-data, which had been compressed conforming to psychoacoustic principles. This spectrum can be identified with the aid of sorted (and logarithmized) differences of the magnitude of the amplitude. A problem to be solved by the invention is to find the basis of sensitive indicators for the degree of quantization of a spectrum. The result of this calculation shows for a quantized spectrum several small values at amplitudes of the same quantization level, and obvious spikes at positions, where the amplitudes have reached a higher level of quantization, while a non-quantized spectrum typically resembles noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Peter Georg Baum
  • Patent number: 7317866
    Abstract: In the case of trick mode decoding e.g. single step backward, it is necessary to decode any picture in the GOP independently from its location within the GOP. The inventive method for reproducing a digital data stream containing program information for trick mode display includes the following steps of decoded the incoming digital data stream in normal playmode. Creating a group of picture history during normal decoding and storing the history in a GOP history logger. For trick mode playback the digital data stream is edited using the GOP history to achieve the correct display order. For trick mode operation the edited bitstream is decoded and the target picture is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dirk Adolph, Ralf Ostermann
  • Patent number: 7317578
    Abstract: A lens system for use in a two-stage projection system that relays light output from a first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis onto a second imager (e.g. an LCOS). The lens system includes a double gauss lens set having a distortion of less than about 0.015% with at least about 90% of the light energy of a specific pixel projected within about a 15.4 micrometer square. Thus a projection system that enhances the contrast ratio for video images, particularly in the dark state, and reduces contouring artifacts, can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Valter Drazic, Estill Thone Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7315526
    Abstract: To effect seamless transition of a mobile terminal user (16) from a first radio access network (12) to second radio access network (14), a temporary home agent (19) in the second radio access network assigns the user a co-location address which becomes the source address for all packets originated by the user while accessing the second network. Packets sent in reply to those originated with the co-location address as the source address pass directly to the mobile terminal user at the second network without first being tunneled through the first radio access network. Upon the transition of the mobile terminal user to the second radio access network, the first radio access network will forward any packets addressed to the user at the first source address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Junbiao Zhang, Guillaume Bichot
  • Patent number: 7315881
    Abstract: In a television system in which at least program title information for programs which are to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance to form a channel guide listing, apparatus is provided for searching the listing for specific user-entered information, and upon successful conclusion to the search, the apparatus schedules the tuning of the desired program, or in the alternative, notifies the viewer of the availability of the program by sending an e-mail message to an address provided by the viewer. In those instances where descriptive text accompanies the program listing, apparatus of the invention performs a search of the text for a particular text string which may relate to the title, the star, the director, or the context of the program, among other search criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Benoit Pol Menez
  • Patent number: 7313803
    Abstract: A video signal processing system for producing an output signal suitable for coupling to a display device to produce a displayed image, the video processing system having a system which blocks viewing of programs which are broadcast with ratings or spending information which is outside a profile set by a supervisor who has entered a password accepted by the control system, and which permits the supervisor to temporarily modify the ratings profile according to a set of override parameters. After completion of the time period(s) or supervisor-designated television broadcast(s), the system automatically returns to the normal ratings profile but retains the set of override parameters for easy reimposition by the supervisor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: David Johnston Lynch
  • Patent number: 7313316
    Abstract: There are different types of DVD systems, e.g. the replay-only DVD-Video system and the re-recordable DVD-VR system. A DVD-VR type disc containing a DVD-VR type bitstream is to be replayed on a DVD-VR type recorder or player. However, it is also possible to record a DVD-Video type bitstream on a DVD-VR type disc in a DVD-VR type recorder, for replay of that disc in a DVD-Video type player. Because the DVD-VR and DVD-Video formats are different and contain different content they are not compatible with each other and a disc containing a bitstream of the one type can not be replayed on a player of the other type, a user must make a choice of which type of bitstream recording on a disc. One solution to this problem would be to record a separate disc for each type of bitstream. According to the invention a special type of bitstream is assembled and recorded on a disc that can be replayed on both types of players. This special type of bitstream is compatible with the DVD-Video system as well as the DVD-VR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Marco Winter
  • Patent number: 7312767
    Abstract: Phosphor based display technologies show artefacts like “sticking” or “ghost” images produced by “marking” or “burn-in” effects. In order to remove these artefacts, it is proposed to activate a portion of the display screen as a wiper and to move the wiper at least one time over the complete display screen or a part of the display screen. The wiper will homogenize the complete video screen in order to make the ghost images less visible. Another embodiment is dedicated to the reduction of the short-term burning effect. Here, a dynamic correction of the displayed picture is done. A memorized picture could be subtracted from the current picture in order to reduce the visibility of the short term sticking effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Sébastien Weitbruch, Axel Goetzke, Rainer Zwing
  • Patent number: RE39949
    Abstract: In a broadcast receiver, a dc voltage operating source is coupled to an operating voltage terminal of a sound IF integrated circuit via a collector/emitter path of a transistor, and a second source of operating voltage is connected via an RC integrating network to the base of the transistor, with the base of the transistor being connected to ground via a zener diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Huan S. Chiok