Patents Assigned to Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
  • Method and apparatus for area-efficient graphical user interface
    Patent number: 9122394
    Abstract: A GUI screen image is a standard screen image, and displays a first combined GUI area, which is a combination of a GUI of the directional keys and a GUI of a joystick, and a second combined GUI area, which is a combination of a GUI of the four-type operation buttons and a GUI of a joystick, at the lower left and at the lower right on the screen image, respectively. Depending on an area in the first combined GUI area or in the second combined GUI area to which a user newly touches, which of the combined GUI to be used is determined and a screen image is switched, and if a finger or a thumb detaches, the screen image switches back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Funabashi, Shunsuke Kunieda, Brian Johnson
  • Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing system
    Patent number: 9123158
    Abstract: An image acquisition unit acquires an image captured by a first imaging device provided in a HMD for presenting an image observed when a three-dimensional image in a virtual three-dimensional space is projected onto a real-world setting, the first imaging device being configured to visualize an area including a field of view of a user wearing the HMD. A marker detection unit detects a marker included in the image captured by the first imaging device and acquired by the image acquisition unit. The image acquisition unit acquires an image captured by a second imaging device having an angle of view that at least partially overlaps an angle of view of the first imaging device. If the marker is not captured in the image captured by the first imaging device, the marker detection unit detects the marker in an image captured by the second imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Nishimaki, Yoshinori Ohashi
  • Apparatus and method for displaying images
    Patent number: 9124867
    Abstract: A control point detector detects controls points, with which moving images are associated with a region of a panoramic image, by detecting feature points between the panoramic image and a frame of part of the moving images. An alignment processing unit adjusts the alignment of the moving images relative to the panoramic image, based on the control points. A mapping processing unit maps the panoramic image and a still image frame of the moving images the alignment of which adjusted by the alignment processing unit, onto a three-dimensional (3D) panoramic space as textures. A 3D image generator generates a 3D panoramic image, when the three-dimensional panoramic image is viewed in a specified line of sight. When a moving image reproduction unit receives instructions to reproduce the moving images in the 3D panoramic image, the moving image reproduction unit reproduces the moving images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoko Furumura, Shinichi Hirata, Takeshi Yamagishi
  • Methods and Systems for Social Sharing Head Mounted Display (HMD) Content With a Second Screen
    Publication number: 20150243078
    Abstract: Systems and method for processing video frames generated for display on a head mounted display (HMD) to a second screen are provided. One example method includes receiving the video frames formatted for display on the HMD, and while passing the video frames to the HMD, selecting a portion of content from the video frames and processing the portion of the content for output to a second screen. The video frames viewed in the HMD are a result of interactive play executed for viewing on the HMD. The second screen configured to render an undistorted view of the interactive play on the HMD. In one example, the method and system enable additional content to be rendered on the second screen (e.g., second screen content, such as social interactive play with others, other non-game content, player-player communication, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Watson, Anton Mikhailov, Jeffrey Stafford, Glenn Black
  • Three-dimensional image playback method and three-dimensional image playback apparatus
    Patent number: 9117396
    Abstract: When the video images to be played back are three-dimensional (3D) images each including a first parallax image and a second parallax image obtained when an object in a 3D space is viewed from different viewpoints, a video attribute determining unit determines whether or not the frame rate of the images is within a predetermined frame rate range at which a flicker is likely to occur. When the frame rate of the 3D images is within the predetermined frame rate range, a frame rate converter raises the frame rate of the 3D images until the frame rate exceeds the predetermined frame rate range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Koichi Takenaka
  • Image processing apparatus and image processing method for shifting parallax images
    Patent number: 9118894
    Abstract: A viewpoint position sets, when a stereoscopic video image is provided that includes a left-eye parallax image and a right-eye parallax image having a predetermined parallax distribution and that is observed from a given viewpoint, a virtual viewpoint for observing a subject from another viewpoint. A parallax image generation unit generates a left-eye and a right-eye parallax image for providing a desired parallax distribution that are obtained when an observation is made from the virtual viewpoint, by shifting the image cut-out position of at least one of the left-eye or the right-eye parallax image. When the shift amount at the image cut-out position changes due to a position change of the virtual viewpoint, the parallax image generation unit generates a parallax image while changing the shift amount in stages from a shift amount obtained before the change to a shift amount obtained after the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shinohara, Hidehiko Morisada, Aritoki Kawai
  • INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20150231505
    Abstract: An acquisition unit 200 acquires image data in which game play is recorded or image data of a game currently being played. A display processing unit 202 displays an image of game play using the acquired image data and displays an image for acquiring game software while the image of the game play is being displayed or after the completion of the display of the image of the game play. When a reception unit 204 receives an input operation in the image for acquiring the game software, a request generation unit 206 generates a request for downloading that indicates, as a destination of the game software, another information processing apparatus different from the information processing apparatus, and a transmission unit 208 transmits the generated request for downloading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi lmai, Shigeru Enomoto, Hiroshi Saito, Toshimasa Aoki, Satoshi Hashimoto
  • Haptic Device
    Publication number: 20150235530
    Abstract: There is provided a haptic device including a small-size haptic unit. The haptic device includes a weight, a magnet fixed to the weight, a coil that generates a magnetic field to reciprocate the magnet along a predetermined direction, and a current control unit that presents a haptic sensation to a user by controlling a current flowing in the coil to vibrate the weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Osawa, Takeshi Yamagishi
  • Image generating device, image generating method, and non-transitory information storage medium
    Patent number: 9111391
    Abstract: An image generating device includes: a gravity parameter changing section for changing a parameter relating to gravity of each of a plurality of rigid bodies which are constrained to one another and included in a first object based on a positional relationship between each of the plurality of rigid bodies and a second object; a physical calculation section for physically calculating a motion of each of the plurality of rigid bodies included in the first object based on the changed parameter; and an image rendering section for rendering an image representing a surface of the first object based on the motions of the plurality of rigid bodies included in the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Fumito Ueda, Hitoshi Ishikawa, Rui Guerreiro, Atsuhiko Terada, Chihiro Kanno, Toshihiro Kamei
  • Media fingerprinting for social networking
    Patent number: 9113217
    Abstract: Audio fingerprinting and other media matching technologies can be used to identify media, such as movies, television shows, and radio broadcasts. A user device can record image, audio, and/or video information and upload information to a matching service that is able to use matching technology to identify the media and provide supplemental content or information to the user. The user then can share this information with other users, such as by uploading to a social networking site or passing the information to peers on a peer network as part of a container. Users can have the ability to add tagged content, provide comments and ratings, and otherwise interact based at least in part upon the tagged media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Dominic S. Mallinson
  • Systems and methods for determining controller functionality based on position, orientation or motion
    Patent number: 9108105
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to an interactive program are presented. An interactive system includes a server for executing the interactive program, and a game client interfaced with the server over a network. The game client is configured to send, over the network, position data defining a position of a controller device. The server is configured to define interactive zones, each interactive zone being defined by a spatial region having an associated specified function for an action of the controller device when the controller device is located within that interactive zone. The server is further configured to set the functionality of the action of the controller device to the specified function associated with the interactive zone within which the controller device is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Mao, Noam Rimon
  • Headphones with oscillator for vibrating the arm portion
    Patent number: 9113255
    Abstract: Headphones include a headband, an arm portion, a pair of headphone units that respectively retain a speaker, a hinge structure that supports the headphone unit at the arm portion, and an oscillator that vibrates the arm portion. The oscillator is contained in a transducer box and clamped and supported by the arm portion and the headband. A vibration conducting unit connects the arm portion with the headphone unit and conducts vibration of the arm portion to the headphone unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Takamasa Araki, Kazuyoshi Murata
  • MOVING PICTURE COMPRESSION APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, MOVING PICTURE COMPRESSION METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND DATA STRUCTURE OF MOVING PICTURE COMPRESSION FILE
    Publication number: 20150229927
    Abstract: A tile image sequence 250 obtained by dividing a frame into a predetermined size is further divided into another predetermined size on an image plane to generate a voxel (for example, a voxel 252) (S10). If a redundancy in a space direction or a time direction exists, then data is reduced in the direction (S12), and sequences in the time direction are deployed on a two-dimensional plane (S14). Voxel images are placed on an image plane of a predetermined size to generate one integrated image 258 (S16). In a grouping pattern which exhibits a minimum quantization error, pixels are collectively placed in the region of each voxel image for each group (integrated image 262) (S18). The integrated image 262 after the re-placement is compressed in accordance with a predetermined compression method to generate a compressed image 266 and reference information 264 for determining the position of a needed pixel (S20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsugo Inada, Akio Ohba, Hiroyuki Segawa
  • Remote dynamic configuration of telemetry reporting through regular expressions
    Patent number: 9105178
    Abstract: A system for dynamic configuration of telemetry data may comprise a client to place a library call to a configuration server, the library call including identifying information associated with the client. The system may further comprise a processor to receive, from the configuration server, one or more regular expressions for configuration of the telemetry data collected at the client, based on the identifying information, collect, at the client, the telemetry data based on predetermined criteria, match the one or more regular expressions to the telemetry data, based on the match, selectively provide the telemetry data based on the one or more regular expressions to produce filtered telemetry data, and periodically report the filtered telemetry to the server, the filtered telemetry data including or excluding the telemetry data matching the one or more regular expressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A. Carlson, Vivek Chopra
  • Electronic apparatus
    Patent number: 9105296
    Abstract: A slide cover is curved such that a central portion thereof in a front and rear direction is positioned higher than a front edge and a rear edge thereof. A disk accommodation section in which an optical disk is to be disposed is covered with the slide cover which is positioned at a closed position. A rotational driving portion configured to be fitted in a center hole of the optical disk to rotate the optical disk is provided on the disk accommodation section. With this electronic apparatus, the cost can be reduced, and an installation operation of an optical disk by a user can be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Sogabe, Yasuhiro Ootori
  • Communication Device and Communication Method
    Publication number: 20150223011
    Abstract: A communication system includes a game machine and a headset. The headset detects a state change in the present device, the state change in the present device being caused by a predetermined action of a user, and transmits a signal indicating the state change in the present device to the game machine. The game machine receives, from at least one of one or more external devices, a signal indicating a state change in the external device. The game machine identifies a partner device in predetermined communication processing from among the one or more external devices on the basis of the received signal indicating the state change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Chitoku Yato
  • Combined broadcast and backchannel delivery of streaming content
    Patent number: 9100585
    Abstract: Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. Related apparatus and methods for receiving and distributing streaming content are described. A receiving device may receive a packet of information in the form of a broadcast signal from a broadcast source. The packet of information may contain one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Payton R. White, Stephen C. Detwiler, Gary M. Zalewski
  • Information processing apparatus
    Patent number: 9098372
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus displays, on a screen of a display device, a program-related image which relates to an application program in a state in which the application program is not executed, starts execution of the application program in a case where an operation of giving an instruction to execute the application program is received from a user in a state in which the program-related image is displayed on the screen, and applies update data to the application program to update the application program in a case where an operation of giving an instruction to apply the update data is received from the user in the state in which the program-related image is displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Motoki Kobayashi, Yasutaka Miwa
  • Source separation by independent component analysis with moving constraint
    Patent number: 9099096
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for signal processing are disclosed. Source separation can be performed to extract moving source signals from mixtures of source signals by way of independent component analysis. Source motion is modeled by direct to reverberant ratio in the separation process, and independent component analysis techniques described herein use multivariate probability density functions to preserve the alignment of frequency bins in the source separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jaekwon Yoo, Ruxin Chen
  • Case for multimedia player
    Patent number: D737053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Taichi Nokuo