Patents Assigned to Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
  • Publication number: 20150317826
    Abstract: In an image processing device, an information processing section performs information processing according to an instruction input by a user. An alpha buffer generating block of an image processing section generates an alpha buffer representing, in an image plane, the alpha value of each pixel when designated objects formed by a plurality of objects are collectively regarded as one object. A rendering block reads each piece of model data from an image data storage section, and renders an image also including other objects than the designated objects. A shading processing block approximately calculates degrees of occlusion of ambient light on the image plane, and subjects the rendered image to shading processing on a basis of a result of the calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Koguchi, Masaaki Oka
  • Publication number: 20150317043
    Abstract: An operation button 22 carries out an operation of an electronic apparatus 10 through a key input. A touch panel 50 is a display area of the electronic apparatus 10 and carries out an operation of the electronic apparatus 10 through a touch operation. A display controlling unit 100 displays, in response to the operation of at least one of the operation button 22 and the touch panel 50, a menu including at least one choice relating to the operation of the electronic apparatus 10 on a display device. Here, the display controlling unit 100 displays a menu to be displayed in response to the operation of the operation button 22 and a menu to be displayed in response to the operation of the touch panel 50 such that the menus include at least one common choice and besides the common choice is disposed in layouts different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Hayashi, Kensaku Ishizuka, Eiji Yamada, Yuki Kobayashi, Manabu Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 9174122
    Abstract: A technique which easily removes the motion element of the game controller which is attributed to the vibrating motion of a vibrator from the output data of an acceleration sensor or reduces the element can be achieved by the present invention. In a game controller, an acceleration sensor detects the movement of the game controller. LPF is installed at the output of the acceleration sensor. Vibrators are installed inside of a housing. The cutoff frequency of LPF is set lower than the peak value of the natural frequency of the game controller. The cutoff frequency of LPF may be set to two thirds or less of the peak value of the natural frequency of the game controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Yoshio Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9177532
    Abstract: Provided is an image display device, including: display means for displaying on a screen a partial area image indicating a given area within an image to be displayed; display area moving means for moving the given area in response to a predetermined operation performed by a user; and determination means for determining whether or not the given area is located at an end portion of the image to be displayed, in which, when the given area is located at the end portion of the image to be displayed, the display means changes a display magnification of the partial area image displayed on the screen and display the partial area image on the screen in response to the predetermined operation performed by the user (S1023, S1026).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Takase, Munetaka Tsuda, You Asakura, Takashi Hatakeda
  • Patent number: 9177387
    Abstract: Methods for real time motion capture for control of a video game character is provided. In one embodiment, a method initiates with defining a model of a control object. Then, a location of a marker on the model is identified. Next, movement associated with the control object is captured. Then, the movement associated with the control object is interpreted to change a position of the model. Next, movement of the character being presented on the display screen is controlled according to the change of position of the model. A computer readable media and a processing system enabling control of video character through real time motion capture are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Marks
  • Patent number: 9179341
    Abstract: Performance of WiFi devices, including WiFi access points are affected by a variety of parameters, including the location of setup of device and nearby sources of interference. Optimization of WiFi setup is enabled via quality metrics observed by the WiFi device and provided to the user. The system enables a user to change conditions that affect connection performance, such as the location of the WiFi access point, while the system automatically measures performance for each set of conditions. The system can then determine for the user which set of conditions provides the system with optimized WiFi connection performance. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Corson
  • Patent number: 9177118
    Abstract: A content distribution system includes a content distribution server and a portable game terminal. The content distribution server retains a first license for comprehensively permitting the use of multiple digital contents and issues to the portable game terminal a second license for individually permitting the use of a digital content selected by a user from among the multiple digital contents. The portable game terminal retains the second license and permits the use of the selected digital content if it is within the license period of the second license at the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tsunehisa Kazawa, Kenjiro Komaki, Akihiko Kusumoto, Kaoru Morishita, Motoki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9172941
    Abstract: A moving image processing device is configured such that a frame data acquisition unit configured to acquire frame data in which a parallax image for the left eye and a parallax image for the right eye are arranged across an active space. An image processing unit configured to subject the frame data to image processing. An active space setting unit configured to identify the position of the active space processed by the image processing unit and to set the pixel values of the active space to be fixed values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Akihiro Sugimura
  • Patent number: 9172989
    Abstract: Of the types of content included in a broadcast signal, a type of content different from broadcast content is selectively stored. A broadcast signal reception block receives a broadcast signal of a selected channel. A display control block controls such that broadcast content included in the broadcast signal received by the broadcast signal reception block is displayed on a display block. If storage content that is content identified to be stored is included in the broadcast signal received by the broadcast signal reception block, then a storage content output block outputs this storage content to a storage block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Nobutoshi Koyama, Hisashi Tomita
  • Patent number: 9165392
    Abstract: Provided is an image generating device for generating an image of an object including a plurality of elements connected to one another. The image generating device includes: a calculating section for iteratively calculating a motion of each element of the plurality of elements based on a physical constraint condition of the each element with respect to another connected element; a parent-child information acquiring section for acquiring parent-child information corresponding to a connection between the each element and the another element based on information indicating an element having a predetermined relationship with another object; a correcting section for correcting a position of a child element with respect to a parent element based on the parent-child information and the motion of the each element; and an image generating section for generating information on the image of the object based on the corrected position of the each element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: SONY COPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuike, Junichi Hosono, Tomohito Ito, Hitoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9165439
    Abstract: A center device communicates with a plurality of controller devices each having a light emitter, receives an instruction operation from a user of each device, and carries out a process based on the instruction operation, where light emission control is carried out such that each light emitter of the plurality of the controller devices emits light of a different color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mariko Hino, Satoshi Hashimoto, Ken Kutaragi
  • Patent number: 9164600
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile device including a magnetic sensor and a posture detection sensor for detecting a posture of the mobile device independently of the magnetic sensor, which acquires output data of the magnetic sensor as a plurality of sampling data items in a plurality of states in which the posture detection sensor determines that the mobile device is directed in directions different from one another, the plurality of sampling data items respectively corresponding to the plurality of states, and calculates an offset value which is estimated to be output by the magnetic sensor when the magnetic sensor is not sensing geomagnetism based on the acquired plurality of sampling data items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Profitt
  • Patent number: 9167071
    Abstract: Methods for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices are disclosed. The method includes receiving signals indicative of setting of each of a plurality of wireless devices in pairing mode. Then, detecting a physical contact between two or more of the plurality of wireless devices. The physical contact setting a pairing of the wireless devices to a group for communication with the base computing system, and enabling the group to participate in interaction with a first multimedia feed. The method further includes detecting switch signal from one of the wireless devices of the group. The switch signal discontinuing the first multimedia feed and enabling interaction with a second multimedia feed, such that each of the wireless devices of the group switch together as a group from the first multimedia feed to the second multimedia feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic S. Mallinson, Anton Mikhailov
  • Patent number: 9159165
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using a position of a mobile device with an integrated display as an input to a video game or other presentation are presented. Embodiments include rendering an avatar on a mobile device such that it appears to overlay a competing user in the real world. Using the mobile device's position, view direction, and the other user's mobile device position, an avatar (or vehicle, etc.) is depicted at an apparently inertially stabilized location of the other user's mobile device or body. Some embodiments may estimate the other user's head and body positions and angles and reflect them in the avatar's gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Stafford, Yunpeng Zhu, Steven Osman
  • Patent number: 9155970
    Abstract: An application execution unit executes a game program. A play item acquisition processing unit generates item acquisition information by using an item ID associated with a met play requirement of a game, and a hard disk drive stores the generated item acquisition information. The play item acquisition processing unit refers to execution information stored in an execution information storing unit and generates an item acquisition table that maps an item ID to attribute information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Koyama, Yasutaka Miwa
  • Patent number: 9152985
    Abstract: A processor-implemented method includes: acknowledging, using a first affiliator identifier obtained from content assigned the first affiliator identifier, an application from a user other than an owner of the content for the same type of content as the accessed content, an affiliator identifier being used to identify an affiliator for the purpose of providing affiliate service, embedding, in the content provided to the other user, a second affiliator identifier identifying the other user; providing the content assigned the second affiliator identifier to the other user; and identifying an affiliator owning the content assigned the first affiliator identifier, based on the first affiliator identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuya Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9153235
    Abstract: One or more test features are extracted from a time domain signal. The test features are represented by discrete data. The discrete data is represented for each of the one or more test features by a corresponding one or more fitting functions, which are defined in terms of finite number of continuous basis functions and a corresponding finite number of expansion coefficients. Each fitting function is compressed through Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA) to generate corresponding sets of principal components. Each principal component for a given test feature is uncorrelated to each other principal component for the given test feature. A distance between a set of principal components for the given test feature and a set of principal components for one or more training features with the processing system is calculated. The test feature is classified according to the distance calculated with the processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Chenhao Zhang, Ruxin Chen, Thomas Fang Zheng
  • Patent number: D740885
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Taichi Nokuo
  • Patent number: D741952
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Taichi Nokuo
  • Patent number: D742384
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Tetsu Sumii