Patents Assigned to SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA
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Patent number: 9233309Abstract: Methods for playing a video game executed by a game cloud system are provided. One method includes generating a user interface for displaying game interactivity for playing the video game. The user interface includes controls for selecting a mode of play that includes a shadow mode. The method further includes detecting game play of the video game by a current user and identifying one or more previous plays of the video game by other users. After one of the other users is selected to be used in the shadow mode, for a set period of time, the shadow mode is enabled for the selected other user such that an image of the object controlled by the other user along a game sequence that is to be played by the current user of the video game is displayed.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: Ueli Gallizzi, David Perry, Warren Benedetto
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Patent number: 9237258Abstract: A method for use with content includes analyzing a sequence of frames of the content, determining whether an area exists in a scene depicted by the sequence of frames where additional content such as advertising can be inserted without obstructing activity in the scene, for any such area, determining an amount of time that the area is available when the sequence of frames is being played, and for any such area, determining a size of the area. A storage medium storing a computer program for causing a processor based system to execute these steps and an apparatus for use with content are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventor: Gary M. Zalewski
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Patent number: 9227139Abstract: A computer-implemented system for providing a virtualized application hosting environment comprising: a plurality of application/game servers each having a memory for storing application program code and data and a processor for executing the application program code and processing the data on behalf of a client; a virtualization service executed on each of the application/game servers, the virtualization service comprising a file redirection module for redirecting file system operations generated by the application program code to one or more virtualized file locations; and a registry redirection module for intercepting registry operations generated by the application program code and executing the registry operations on behalf of the application program code at one or more virtualized registry locations.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: Vinod Mamtani, Brett McLarnon, Jay Markello
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Patent number: 9216354Abstract: Methods and systems for emotion-based game character manipulation are provided. Each character is associated with a table of quantified attributes including emotional attributes and non-emotional attributes. An adjustment to an emotional attribute of a game character is determined based on an interaction with another game character. The emotional attribute of the first game character is adjusted, which further results in an adjustment to a non-emotional attribute of the first game character. The behavior of the first game character is then determined based on the adjusted non-emotional attribute.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLCInventor: Ed Annunziata
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Patent number: 9211473Abstract: A computing system is configured to execute a computer program on a server and to provide a video stream of the program output to a geographically remote client over a communication network. The computing system is further configured to provide executable content of the computer program to the client over the communication network in parallel with the video stream. When a sufficient amount of the executable content has been provided to the client execution of the computer program is transitioned from the server to the client. The transition optionally includes communicating a state of the computer program from the server to the client. The executable content can be provided to the client in an order that is determined based on the state of the computer program. Those parts of the executable content deemed most likely to be necessary to support game play on the client are given priority.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira, David Perry, Andrew Buchanan Gault
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Publication number: 20150350037Abstract: A packet reception state monitoring unit calculates a target stored data number as a target number of audio packets stored in a memory based on the variation in the reception intervals of audio packets, and a reproduction control unit controls the audio reproduction speed in accordance with the difference between the target stored data number and a memory-stored data number. When the memory-stored data number is smaller than the target stored data number, reproduction control is performed in a low-speed reproduction mode at a lower speed than a regular reproduction speed. When the memory-stored data number is larger than the target stored data number, reproduction control is performed in a high-speed reproduction mode at a higher speed than the regular reproduction speed. A reproduction speed changing process is performed, with hysteresis being given to transitions of the difference between the memory-stored data number and the target stored data number.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLCInventors: Takanori Minamino, Khoi Nguyen
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Patent number: 9203685Abstract: A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU. The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: David Perry, Andrew Buchanan Gault, Rui Filipe Andrade Pereira
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Methods for interfacing with an interactive application using a controller with an integrated camera
Patent number: 9197878Abstract: A method for determining a position of a controller in a three-dimensional space is disclosed. One method includes an operation to calibrate a computer program to identify a group of recognized fixed points from a plurality of fixed points within the three-dimensional space using a depth camera integrated with the controller. Another operation activates use of the controller and depth camera during interface with the application. During use of the controller, image and depth data within the three-dimensional space is captured with the depth camera of the controller. The captured data can then be used to enable input to a computer system.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventor: Gary Zalewski -
Patent number: 9195991Abstract: A system and method for placing an advertisement in a digital environment based upon a user's choice, subject to certain predetermined parameters, is disclosed. Through the method, a user is assigned a rating based upon, for example, his performance in a game. A list of advertisements which correspond to that rating is displayed to the user, who may then select a desired advertisement from the list. The selected advertisement is then displayed in the digital environment. Reports may be generated based upon the advertisements selected and the number of selections and/or impressions (e.g., uses or viewings) by the user, which may be sent to advertisers.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: Glen van Datta, Marty Poulin
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Patent number: 9192859Abstract: A system and method for performing video compression and streaming video from an online hosted video game or application. The online hosted video game or application is streamed to the client with a latency such that the user has the perception that the selected video game or application is responding instantly to the control signals received from the client device. In addition, feedback information received from the client device is used to determine characteristics of a communication channel between a server and the client. The video stream encoding is adjusted based on the detected communication channel characteristics, while maintaining a latency such that the user has the perception that the selected video game or application is responding instantly.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2009Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: Stephen G. Perlman, Roger van der Laan, Timothy Cotter, Scott Furman, Robert McCool, Ian Buckley
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Patent number: 9189211Abstract: Method and apparatus and computer program code for cross programming language transformation. This transcoding permits automation of a video game asset conditioning process by using introspection and reflection capabilities of high level tool languages to generate optimally-packed, platform-specific binary memory images as well as the code, such as C++ to read the images.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLCInventor: Charles Nicholson
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Patent number: 9183753Abstract: Methods and systems are shown which may enable users to create custom playback schemes for sensory works, including television shows, where a community of users may share thin time-based metadata edit control structures that are processed to enable playback devices to reproduce reference programming material according to the edits or cuts made any user.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventor: Gary Zalewski
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Patent number: 9180365Abstract: A game controller includes a first mock firearm action associated with a first weapon mode and a second mock firearm action associated with a second weapon mode. If first mock firearm action is enabled, it can generate a load command when the first mock firearm action is operated. If second mock firearm action is enabled, it can generate a load command when the second mock firearm action is operated. The game controller includes a mode selector, to enable the first mock firearm action when the game controller is in the first weapon mode and to enable the second mock firearm action when the game controller is in the second weapon mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: David P. Torre, Roy Dimalanta
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Patent number: 9183670Abstract: Multi-sample resolution of a re-projection of a two-dimensional image is disclosed. One or more samples of a two-dimensional image are identified for each pixel in the three-dimensional re-projection. One or more sample coverage amounts are determined for each pixel of the re-projection. Each coverage amount identifies an area of the pixel covered by the corresponding two-dimensional sample. A final value is resolved for each pixel of the re-projection by combining each two-dimensional sample associated with the pixel in accordance with its weighted sample coverage amount.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLCInventor: Barry M Genova
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Patent number: 9178774Abstract: Data transmitted over different channels may be updated by receiving one or more input data streams containing data for one or more digital data services, wherein the data is in the form of a plurality of packets, wherein each packet includes information identifying a channel and a number of related downstream packets; determining from the plurality of packets a time that an update packet containing data for one of the digital data services will be transmitted as part of the signal; and generating a schedule packet containing the time that the update packet will be transmitted as part of a signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLCInventor: Gary M. Zalewski
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Publication number: 20150310660Abstract: Systems and methods for processing three-dimensional graphics depicting a sequence of motion with an enhanced illusion of depth are described. The graphics may include three-dimensional content mapped to a two dimensional viewing window with an additional reference image rendered onto the viewing window. The reference image may be defined at one or more portions of the viewing window and rendered as occluding the content or being occluded by the content depending on the depth of the content at each portion of the viewing window.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: Bret Mogilefsky, Richard B. Stenson
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Patent number: 9168457Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for retaining system state of an online application such as a video game. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: executing a application on a server in response to user input from a client; transmitting video generated by the application over a network connection from the server to the client; detecting that the network connection has become unusable or impaired; responsively pausing the execution of the application from a current point of execution; and resuming the execution of the application from the current point of execution upon detecting that the network connection has become usable or unimpaired.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: John Speck, Stephen G. Perlman
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Patent number: 9168460Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for at least partially automating content generation of blog entries chronicling an entity's interaction with a multiuser environment. The same may combine automatic data generation with user-generated and/or user-edited or created narrative. The systems and methods may be employed for automatically generating and publishing descriptions, such as posting blog articles. In one implementation, a system automatically posts blog articles with automatic screenshots and automatically-generated descriptive copy of events that occur within a video game, such as in a massive multiplayer online role-playing game.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventor: Nathan Pearce
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Patent number: 9155969Abstract: Methods and systems are described for automatically sending a popup or other message to another person's electronic device upon finishing a predetermined goal in a video game. The predetermined goal can be, for example, killing a first boss in under five minutes. The message to the friend can include a link or button enabled such that the friend can begin the game on his device in the same room, mission, scenario, etc. that the first player started out in so that the friend can attempt to duplicate or ‘one up’ the first player's achievement. Friends who are interested in receiving such messages can be determined from existing social networking sites.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLCInventor: Nathan Gary
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Patent number: 9155962Abstract: A system and method are described below for encoding interactive low-latency video using interframe coding. For example, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method for performing video compression comprises: logically subdividing each of a sequence of images into a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles having a defined position within each of the sequence of images, the defined position remaining the same between successive images; detecting motion or high scene complexity within the sequence of images occurring at each of the positions of each of the tiles; and encoding each tile within each image of the sequence of images using a specified number of bits, the number of bits selected based on the detected amount of motion at the position of each tile across the sequence of images.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLCInventors: Roger van der Laan, Stephen G. Perlman