Patents Represented by Attorney Miller Patent Services
  • Patent number: 7628811
    Abstract: A prosthetic breast form that is worn external to the human body to simulate a missing breast or portion thereof. A fabric pouch defines an outer shape that approximates a breast shape or portion thereof, and that further defines an inner compartment. A filler is disposed within the inner compartment, the filler comprising a free flowing blend of fiber filler and beads that are intermingled. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Test Me Out, Inc.
    Inventor: Janis Twiddy Gaskill
  • Patent number: 7623662
    Abstract: An apparatus for default encryption of content for distribution, consistent with certain embodiments, has a conditional access system. A conditional access management system communicates with and manages the conditional access system. A memory stores default encryption information for use by transmission equipment containing content encryption capability to encrypt certain content upon a communication failure between the content encryption system and the conditional access management system controlling it. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from certain embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Leo M. Pedlow, Jr., Davender Agnihotri
  • Patent number: 7620180
    Abstract: A method of processing content in a video on demand (VOD) system consistent with certain embodiments of the invention, wherein the content is identified by a first set of packet identifiers (PIDs), involves receiving content, the content having marked packets designating packets that are to be encrypted by a first encryption system by setting an encryption flag for all packets designated to be encrypted. Packets are selected in the content according to a selective encryption selection criterion to produce selected packets. The selected packets are duplicated to produce duplicate copies of the selected packets and these duplicate copies are identified using a second set of PIDs. The duplicate copies identified by the second set of PIDs are inserted into the content. All encryption flags in the content are cleared except for the selected packets having the first set of PIDs, so the encryption to follow is selective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Leo M. Pedlow, Jr., Davender Agnihotri
  • Patent number: 7619999
    Abstract: A wireless communication method consistent with certain embodiments involves, at a first portable wireless device (PWD), receiving a beacon indicating that the first PWD has entered a wireless network's communication range; the first PWD responding to the beacon with a request for authorization on wireless network; receiving authorization for the first PWD to communicate using the wireless network; sending a request for the first PWD to be associated with the wireless network; the first PWD receiving confirmation of association with the wireless network; the first PWD broadcasting a first announcement over the wireless network, the announcement comprising at least an identifier that notifies other PWDs associated with the wireless network of the identity of the first PWD; receiving at least one reply announcement broadcast from a second PWD associated with the wireless network that identifies the second PWD; and at the first PWD providing a first shared public folder with contents that can be accessed by the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Behram DaCosta
  • Patent number: 7615931
    Abstract: A dielectric barrier plasma discharge device consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention has a pair of electrodes spaced apart by an electrode gap. A dielectric is disposed between the electrodes. The electrode gap is provided with a gas at a specified pressure. A rapid rise time voltage pulse generator produces a voltage pulse across the electrodes to cause an extreme overvoltage condition, wherein the rapid rise time is less than a plasma generation time so that the extreme overvoltage condition occurs prior to current flow across the electrode gap. Due to the high voltages and high current densities, the product yields an extremely high instantaneous power density. This extreme overvoltage condition is also believed to lead to production of shock waves and runaway free electrons. The resulting plasma can be utilized to carry out many potential tasks including, but not limited to etching, deposition, and sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Technology Center
    Inventors: William McClure Hooke, Allen Richard Martin, Mark Alan Ray, Gary Elder McGuire
  • Patent number: 7612138
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation attenuating material or coating consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention uses a binding matrix with an operative quantity of electromagnetic radiation attenuating nano-particles suspended in the binding matrix, wherein, the electromagnetic radiation attenuating nano-particles comprise onion-like-carbon (OLC) particles. In other embodiments, freestanding structures, aerosols and powders or suspensions contained within an enclosure provide EM or Radar absorption, particularly in the range of about 500 MHz to about 30 THz. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Technology Center
    Inventors: Vladimir Lvovich Kuznetsov, Olga Alexander Shenderova
  • Patent number: 7602912
    Abstract: A method of selecting data for multiple carriage partial encryption consistent with certain embodiments involves examining unencrypted packets of data in a digital audio/video data stream to identify a packet type; and selecting packets of the identified packet type for multiple partial encryption, wherein the amount of data to be encrypted is sufficient to render a portion of an entire frame unviewable. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Brant L. Candelore, Robert Allan Unger, Leo M. Pedlow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7596673
    Abstract: A method for storing data across N storage devices S1 . . . SN, wherein at least one the storage devices has a storage capacity not equal to a storage capacity of others involves identifying a storage device SMAX having a largest capacity; encoding the data with an erasure encoder to produce F erasure codewords, where F= ? K = 1 N ? F K and distributing the erasure codewords among storage devices S1 . . . SN in approximate proportion to the storage capacity CK of each of S1 . . . SN so that enough erasure codewords are stored in each of the N storage devices to assure that if any one of the storage devices become unavailable, all of the data stored in the systems can be restored using the fountain codewords stored in the remaining storage devices. The erasure codewords can be fountain codewords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Jensen Read
  • Patent number: 7594253
    Abstract: A digital television autoprogramming and tuning method and apparatus. In a digital television which can tune both MPEG 2 and PSIP format signals, a method of tuning uses one or more tables of information populated during an autoprogramming process. For MPEG 2 channels, the physical channel equals the major channel number and can be directly tuned. For PSIP channels, the major channel indexes a TSID which is used to determine a physical channel. If the TSID does not correspond to the correct program, the correct TSID is determined from the Program Specific Information in the data transport stream 134 and the system re-tunes to the correct physical channel. The autoprogramming process sequentially steps through each physical channel and populates the autoprogramming tables with information about each channel it finds, saving only a single TSID for a given major PSIP channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Damien Kessler, David McNamara
  • Patent number: 7593469
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating use of OCAP (OpenCable™ Applications Platform) standard in a host cable television device, the host cable television device having a connector consistent with certain embodiments has a removable module. An OCAP engine resides on the removable module suitable for execution of Java™ code as specified by the OCAP specification. A module side connector is affixed to the removable module, the connector being suitable for mating with the connector of the host device. The module side connector has connections suitable for carrying graphics video data from the OCAP engine to the host device suitable presentation to a video display. The module side connector further has connections suitable for carrying Java™ code instructions to the OCAP engine for execution. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: George Williams, Xudong Yu, Toshiro Ozawa, Rolf Toft, Leo M. Pedlow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7584094
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented for Automated Digital voice recorder to Personal information manager Synchronization (ADPS) message creation that allow a user to indicate that an ADPS message is to be created, select and ADPS type selection relating the ADPS message to be created to a type of Personal Information. Manager (PIM) application, record audio content for the ADPS message, and create an ADPS message by organizing the ADPS type selection and the audio content into the ADPS message and store the ADPS message in the memory. Apparatus and methods are presented for downloading ADPS messages directly to a target PIM application. Apparatus and methods are presented for uploading configuration modifications and informational lists to the DVR. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract without departing from certain embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Shai A. Laronne, Stephen Teplansky
  • Patent number: 7569205
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of processing detonation nanodiamonds to fractionate the detonation nanodiamonds involves, in order forming a combination of detonation nanodiamonds and a solvent, said solvent containing at least approximately 10% DMSO (v/v), applying a dispersive technique to said combination, subjecting said combination to a procedure that causes nanodiamond particles of a first size range to be substantially spatially separated from nanodiamonds of a second size range, and collecting said nanodiamonds of said first size range essentially free of said second size range. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: International Technology Center
    Inventors: Suzanne Ani Ciftan Hens, Scott L. Wallen, Olga Alexander Shenderova
  • Patent number: 7561624
    Abstract: Binary data signal multi-line interval encoding and decoding arrangements supporting high speed data communications consistent with certain embodiments produce a signal having a plurality of pulses with a minimum pulse duration of T. The pulses are arranged in a signal pattern selected as one of M possible signal patterns of L bits transmitted over N time intervals, with each time interval being of T seconds in duration, to represent one of M possible message sequence, where M>2N. The plurality of pulses have transitions that occur at times falling between the boundaries of the time interval T. Embodiments may be implemented in hardware, with a computer executing a software program within, or with both. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventors: John P. Fonseka, Jin Liu
  • Patent number: 7555860
    Abstract: A display device for displaying sport helmets consistent with certain embodiments has a substrate that includes a planar surface. A plurality of pegs are attached to the substrate's planar surface and protrude from the surface of the substrate, each peg has an outer diameter that is suitably sized to create an interference fit with an air hole in the sport helmet, and by the interference fit attach the helmet to the display device. The plurality of pegs are attached to the substrate's planar surface disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the substrate, and with the plurality of pegs being oriented parallel with a plane of horizontal orientation of the display device. Preferably, the plurality of pegs are arranged in rows and columns exhibiting vertical and horizontal symmetry. The display device is especially suitable for miniature helmets such as pocket sized football helmets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Michael T. Ivanitch
  • Patent number: 7555464
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for enabling a single assembly of content to be played on a plurality of player devices, each having at least one available digital rights management (DRM) algorithm involves registering a plurality of player devices associated with a client with a database registry, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured; upon registering the plurality of player devices, registering the one or more associated DRM algorithms with each player device; upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, searching the database registry for a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the content; obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content, at least one for each DRM algorithm for the player devices associated with the client; obtaining the content from a content provider; and encrypting the content under each of the DRM algorithms to produce m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Brant L. Candelore
  • Patent number: 7545939
    Abstract: A method consistent with certain embodiments, of processing a received encrypted frame signal, wherein the received encrypted frame signal is indicative that a specific video frame is encrypted, involves receiving a video signal including the received encrypted frame signal; wherein the received video signal comprises a received bit stream; synthesizing the received encrypted frame signal to produce a synthesized encrypted frame signal that is in synchronization with the received encrypted frame signal; determining if a sink wireless receiver is locked to the received bit stream, and if so, passing the received encrypted frame signal to the sink device; and if the sink wireless receiver is not locked to the received bit stream, passing the synthesized encrypted frame signal to the sink device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Allan Unger, Mark Champion
  • Patent number: 7546628
    Abstract: A Set-Top Box configured with a modem and a Main Circuit Board consistent with certain embodiments learns the modem's IP address by establishing a predetermined relationship between a hardware address of the modem and a hardware address of the Main Circuit Board; at the Main Circuit Board: ascertaining the hardware address of the modem from the predetermined relationship; sending a query from the Main Circuit Board to the hardware address of the modem requesting the modem's IP address; and receiving a reply from the modem providing the modem's IP address to the Main Circuit Board. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert Ho Yin Tsang, Takahiro Fujimori, Eric Chen
  • Patent number: 7526450
    Abstract: A transaction for downloadable digital data is facilitated over an electronic network. A presence is maintained on the electronic network to which a consumer may connect. A page is transmitted from the presence to the consumer over the electronic network, the page including information concerning the downloadable digital data. A command is received from the consumer over the electronic network indicating that the consumer wishes the transaction for the downloadable digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Hughes, Allen J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7502178
    Abstract: An imaging device consistent with one of numerous embodiments has an opaque planar sheet with a plurality of pinholes defining a photon sieve in the sheet, wherein, the photon sieve comprises at least first and second regions. The first region exhibits a first focal length, a first field of view, a first transmissivity, a first resolution and a first wavelength, and the second region exhibiting a second focal length, a second field of view, a second transmissivity, a second resolution and a second wavelength. At least one of the first focal length, the first wavelength, the first transmissivity, the first resolution and the first field of view is different from the second focal length, the second wavelength, the second transmissivity, the second resolution and the second field of view. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Technology Center
    Inventors: Olga Alexander Shenderova, Gary E. McGuire, Alexander David Shenderov
  • Patent number: 7463877
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments consistent with the invention, a power line communication (PLC) bridge circuit, consistent with certain embodiments, has a first coupler that couples data signals to and from a main power line circuit. A second coupler couples data signals to and from a branch power line circuit, wherein the branch power line circuit is branched from the main power line circuit. A first communication transceiver is connected to the first coupler for transferring data signals to and from the first coupler. A second communication transceiver is connected to the second coupler for transferring data signals to and from the second coupler. A controller examines data signals from the first transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the second transceiver, so that data that is not destined for the second transceiver is considered local data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Corporation Inc.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Iwamura