Patents Assigned to Sony Corporation of Japan
  • Publication number: 20110138422
    Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
  • Publication number: 20090313561
    Abstract: Techniques for animation of alphanumeric inputs include generating an animated graphical representation of an alphanumeric input and combining the animated graphical representation with content. The combined animated graphical representation and the content are then output on a monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Friedlander, Yuko Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090304205
    Abstract: Techniques for personalizing audio levels, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, provide different audio volumes to different locations in a room allowing for two or more users to enjoy the same audio content at different volumes. Differential level and delay compensation filtering based on a position of each of a plurality of speakers, the location of each user and the preferred relative audio volume of each user are utilized to produce different effective audio levels in localized regions of a room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Hardacker, Steven Richman
  • Publication number: 20090249322
    Abstract: Techniques for updating software include downloading a software image update from a first data structure wherein the software update image includes one or more content identifiers. Content is then downloaded from a second data structure based on the one or more content identifiers. The content may then be output during or after the software update download and installation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Sugiyama, Dipendu Saha, George Williams
  • Publication number: 20090228292
    Abstract: E-commerce techniques, in accordance with embodiments of the present technology, provide an improved buying experience integrated with the television viewing experience. A multimedia system for implementing the e-commerce techniques includes a two way communication system such as a set top box, display device and remote controller. The set top box and display device are used to present enhanced content including one or more offerings to users. The users can use the remote control to complete a purchase transaction for one or more of the offerings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Davender Agnihotri
  • Publication number: 20090015723
    Abstract: A High Definition Multi-media Interface (HDMI) switch emulating a Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) source device. A source device may be coupled to the HDMI switch, wherein the source device is incompatible with CEC protocol. Configuration information, e.g., a logical address corresponding to a port which couples the source device to the HDMI switch, may be determined and the result may be stored. In response to a user selection of a source device, the sink device may send a CEC message to the source device. The HDMI switch interprets the CEC message on behalf of the source device, e.g., by using the logical address. The switch then creates a logical connection between the selected source and the sink device. In this way, source devices connected to the switch are transparently visible and selectable from the sink device's menu and therefore provide the same usability as CEC devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Tohru Doumuki
  • Publication number: 20080148314
    Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
  • Patent number: 6807278
    Abstract: A decoder capable of decoding audio signals encoded using analog noise reduction techniques, particularly Dolby A, is implemented by means of digital signal processing. The encoded signal passes through one or more digital filters, producing the decoded signal. The decoded signal is fed back to drive control blocks, which determine the parameters of the digital filters. The determination of these parameters may be arranged so as to emulate closely a given analog noise reduction decoder, such as a Dolby A decoder. The one or more digital filters are relocated to the feed-forward portion of the decoder—they are located in the feedback portion of the encoder when performed using analog techniques—to overcome the problems caused by delay introduced by the digital implementation which prevent a direct conversion of the analog decoder to a digital one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Mercs, Paul M. Embree
  • Publication number: 20020145589
    Abstract: A desktop stand alone electronic data marker including a music marker is provided with a display unit and configured to display a user's electronic marks based on user input by illuminating a preassigned portion of the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Sony Corporation of Japan
    Inventor: John Tree
  • Patent number: 6374404
    Abstract: A client-side intelligent device having background caching of web pages within a digital television (DTV) system and method of same. The present invention includes a digital television system having an intelligent device for interfacing with a user/viewer and controlling the display of information on a display screen. The intelligent device, in one embodiment, is a set-top-box, but could be any intelligent electronic device or computer system. The set-top-box is configured to receive a DTV signal (e.g., land based cable or digital satellite system) that includes audio/visual information as well as data signals in a datacast format. The datacast format includes web pages, e.g., in the HTML (hypertext markup language) format of the world wide web. The DTV broadcasters support multiple channels of information on which content providers can supply a domain of web pages on a periodic basis. The present invention is able to display viewer-selected web pages on the DTV system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Udo Brotz, David S. Wang
  • Patent number: 6370565
    Abstract: A method of sharing computation load within a distributed virtual environment system. According to the present invention, entities within a virtual environment are gathered in groups based on their interactions. All the entities that can potentially interact together are gathered in one group based on the Area of Interest (or aura) of each entity. The groups are then mapped onto the available servers of the network. Once a group is mapped to a server, the server will become responsible for managing interaction between the entities of the group. In addition, a server has to perform collision detection for the entities of the group associated with it. According to the present invention, the server is also responsible for replicating the interaction group it manages so that every client related to the group can see all the entities within this group. Thus, by mapping the groups to the server, computation load can be evenly distributed among the servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hubert Le Van Gong
  • Patent number: 6367032
    Abstract: Method and system for debugging a microprocessor core. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of receiving as input a test program and test data for testing the microprocessor core. The method also comprises the step of storing multiple instructions of the test program into a first register of a debugging module in the microprocessor core. The method further comprises the step of storing a set of data into a second register of the debugging module, wherein the set of data is a subset of the test data. The method also comprises the step of executing those multiple instructions with the set of data. Importantly, those multiple instructions remain in the first register throughout the testing process such that those instructions need only be stored once for all of the test data, even though the test data is processed in separate sets of data. In one embodiment, the present invention includes the above and wherein the debugging module is based on a version of the IEEE 1149.1 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Eiji Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6362541
    Abstract: A system and method for reduced standby power consumption in a display device. In one embodiment, a circuit for power mode switching between a main mode and a standby mode of a display device is provided. In this embodiment, the circuit comprises a power supply unit coupled to a power source for receiving an input power signal and for generating output power signals when the display device is in the main mode. The circuit also includes an opto coupler coupled to a computer and responsive to a sync signal therefrom. The opto coupler is also coupled to the power supply unit for selectively sending an OFF signal thereto when the opto coupler does not detect the sync signal from the computer. Moreover, in this embodiment, the power supply unit shuts down and stops generating the output power signals in response to the OFF signal, thereby switching the display device to the standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiro Kawata
  • Patent number: 6363434
    Abstract: A method of managing resources within a network for consumer electronic media devices. In one embodiment, the method is implemented as a software resource manager which provides a centralized resource allocation, reservation and access control functionalities for a home entertainment server. Particularly, user applications of the home server receive instructions from a user or other entities for a media service, and converts the instructions into a request that identifies the necessary resources for providing the media service. The software resource manager then determines whether such resources are available upon receiving the request. Importantly, the software resource manager also determines whether a routing path between the necessary resources has sufficient bandwidth for performing the requested media service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Blaine Eytchison
  • Patent number: 6353843
    Abstract: A partitioned multiplier circuit which is designed for high speed operations. The multiplier of the present invention can perform one 32×32 bit multiplication, two 16×16 bit multiplications (simultaneously) or four 8×8 bit multiplications (simultaneously) depending on input partitioning signals. The time required to perform either the 32×32 bit or the 16×16 bit or the 8×8 bit multiplications is constant. Therefore, multiplication results are available with a constant latency regardless of operand bit-size. In one embodiment, the latency is two clock cycles but the multiplier circuit has a throughput of one clock cycle due to pipelining. The input operands can be signed or unsigned. The hardware is partitioned without any significant increase in the delay or area and the multiplier can provide six different modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Farzad Chehrazi, Vojin G. Oklobdzija, Aamir A. Farooqui
  • Patent number: 6349352
    Abstract: A method and system for providing basic command functionality and expanded command functionality between a plurality of devices in a network. When a first device is coupled to a home audio video network which includes a second device, a generic control module for the first device is generated by the second device. The generic control module is a basic abstraction of the capabilities of the first device. The generic control module enables the first device to respond to a basic set of commands from the second device. The second device then uses the generic control module to obtain descriptive information from the first device. The descriptive information describes the capabilities of the first device. The second device then generates a parameterized control module for the first device by modifying the generic control module based upon the descriptive information. The second device is then able to access the first device via the parameterized control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodger J. Lea
  • Patent number: 6330717
    Abstract: A process and system for compiling an application program for a distributed adaptive run-time platform. Using the present software run-time environment, application designers would be able to quickly develop distributed adaptive software, such as network or web software, without having to deal with the details of the distribution and adaptation. In one embodiment, compile-time and run-time components configure the application execution environments depending on hints provided with the application. In order to offer application designers an easy and intuitive access to the platform services, the present invention further comprises a compiler for assisting application designers in developing the complex code required by the platform, and for providing an easy access to services provided by the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre-Guillaume Raverdy, Rodger J. Lea
  • Patent number: 6324619
    Abstract: A method and system for managing run-time adaptation for general purpose distributed adaptive applications. Using the present software run-time environment, application designers would be able to quickly develop distributed adaptive software, such as network or web software, without having to deal with the details of the distribution and adaptation. To achieve both distribution and adaptation, meta-level object programming techniques and run-time monitoring techniques are applied. Importantly, a run-time adaptation manager is provided for configuring the application execution environments, and for managing adaptations for both reflective methods and adaptive methods. In addition, the adaptation manager coordinates the adaptation of multiple objects in a coherent manner by keeping track of instances of the adaptive classes and the platform services that they are using. The adaptation manager also records the adaptation policies and monitors the system state and user preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre-Guillaume Raverdy, Rodger J. Lea
  • Patent number: 6304132
    Abstract: A high side low voltage current source circuit having improved output impedance to reduce effects of leakage current. A current source circuit is described with a transistor having an emitter coupled to an emitter degeneration resistor which is coupled to a power supply voltage. The output of the current source is taken at the collector of the transistor. In one embodiment, the transistor is a PNP transistor device. The base of the transistor is coupled to the output of an operational amplifier. One input of the operational amplifier is coupled in a feedback loop to the emitter of the transistor. A direct current bias voltage is applied to the other input of the operational amplifier. The output impedance (R″o) of the current is source is based on the open loop gain of the operational amplifier (e.g., about 35 dB) and is therefore orders of magnitude larger than the output impedance of other prior art current source designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehrdad Nayebi, Stephen D. Edwards, Phil Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6301599
    Abstract: An improved Booth encoder/selector circuit having an optimized critical path. The Booth encoder has a number of inverters coupled to several of the input multiplier bits. The inverted/non-inverted multiplier bits are then fed as inputs to NAND gates as well as a series of pass gates. The outputs of the pass gates are then fed as inputs to other NAND gates. The output from the NAND gates serve as control signals for controlling the Booth selector. The Booth selector is comprised of inverters and pass gates. Multiplicand bits are input to the pass gates. The control signals generated by the Booth encoder are selectively coupled to the inverters and pass gates such that they control which one of a plurality of multiplicand bits are selected for output. Basically, the Booth selector functions as a multiplexer whereby one of the following is output: the multiplicand bit is multiplied by zero, multiplied by one, multiplied by negative one, multiplied by two, or multiplied by negative two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation of Japan, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Farzad Chehrazi, Vojin G. Oklobdzija, Aamir Alam Farooqui