Patents Examined by Andrew Faile
  • Patent number: 7636510
    Abstract: In a private video recorder for recording contents of TV program delivered from TV stations, data of the contents of TV program (contents data) are memorized into segments in a contents data memory area, and the contents data are controlled as one video picture file by appointing the segments memorizing the contents data in segment appointing information of the video picture file. When the contents recorded in the private video recorder is edited, only the appointment of the segments in the segment appointing information is rewritten without cutting, copying or inserting the contents data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Takagi, Kenichiro Okabe, Yoshihisa Nagamura, Kazuhiko Tani
  • Patent number: 7088911
    Abstract: Audio signals and video signals are recorded as follows. Three video PES packets, each being formed of one video frame, are combined to form a video editing unit. Then, the video editing unit and the associated audio editing unit are alternately disposed on a magnetic tape. The recorded PES packets are output as a TS as follows. A STC is initialized, and then, PSI packets of a PAT and a PMT are output. TS packets specially used for a PCR for storing the STC are then output at certain intervals. Subsequently, video PES packets are converted into TSs, and the output of the video TSs is started while synchronizing a time obtained by subtracting vbv_delay from the first I-picture DTS with the STC. Audio PES packets are converted into TSs, and the output of the audio TSs is started while synchronizing a time obtained by subtracting the start up delay from the first frame with the STC. Data streams are recorded in the following manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuji Himeno, Yoichiro Tauchi, Toshinori Kouzai, Tsukasa Hashino, Hidehiko Teshirogi, Fumiyoshi Abe
  • Patent number: 6978080
    Abstract: A video switching apparatus in which an operating mode (recording/reproduction) of a recording/reproducing apparatus is discriminated from a video output signal of the recording/reproducing apparatus by recording/reproduction detecting portion, thereby enabling an automatic switching of a setting mode of the video switching apparatus. It is possible to prevent recording failures which may be otherwise caused due to an inconsistency between the mode settings of the video switching apparatus and the recording/reproducing apparatus connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuneaki Ishimura, Kazuo Nozaki
  • Patent number: 6961096
    Abstract: An apparatus for, a method of, and a computer program product for processing location information associated with an image of picture-taking, in a wide range of usage, inputs the location information associated with the image of picture-taking, and converts the input location information to a plurality of signals in different representation forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 6938269
    Abstract: An Internet broadcast system includes a video file providing apparatus and a video receiving/reproducing apparatus that are connected via the Internet. The providing apparatus includes a storing unit for storing a video file consecutively storing a plurality of sets of sectional video data. The receiving/reproducing apparatus stores a plurality of video reproduction tables specifying sets of sectional video data in an order of reproduction. A viewer designates one of the video reproduction tables. An information processing unit in the receiving/reproducing apparatus generates a transfer instruction for each set of sectional video data specified in the designated table, and transmits the generated instruction to the providing apparatus. Upon receiving the instruction, the providing apparatus reads a set of sectional video data from the video file, and transmits the read set to the receiving/reproducing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., LTD
    Inventor: Kazuo Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 6928230
    Abstract: In order to match up individual recordings in a sequence (150) of recordings with corresponding items in a sequence (151) of separately-stored auxiliary data items concerning those recordings, both the recordings and auxiliary data are time-stamped, though from different clocks. The process of subsequently matching up the recordings and auxiliary data involves matching the pattern of timestamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert Francis Squibbs
  • Patent number: 6928228
    Abstract: A system and method for detection and analysis of video recording is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a video recording, calculating complexity values of video recording received, comparing the calculated complexity values with reference complexity values, and displaying analysis of video recording on a user interface is disclosed. The system comprises an input device for receiving video recording, a computing device for calculating complex values of received video recording, a comparator device for comparing complex values of video recording, and a storage device for storing internal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Gordonomics Ltd.
    Inventor: Goren Gordon
  • Patent number: 6925251
    Abstract: In optical disc apparatus, time data recorded on an optical disc is read out, and a read-out time at this timing is compared with an immediately previous display time. Only when the read-out time is within a time range that is obtained by adding a predetermined time to the immediately previous display time, the display time is updated and the updated display time is output. When the read-out time is outside the time range, the display time is not updated and the immediately previous display time continues to be output. Even in case where the read-out time is outside the predetermined time range, when read-out times are stored a predetermined number of times and time continuity exists in the read-out times, the display time is updated to the latest one of the plural stored read-out times, and the updated display time is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fusao Ishiguchi
  • Patent number: 6907616
    Abstract: A transfer rate controller, has input means of inputting a picture or sound stream; packet rate adjusting means of controlling a transfer rate of the stream by adjusting an interval between packets respectively belonging to each frames of the inputted stream; and output means of outputting the stream outputted from the packet rate adjusting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Yamauchi, Junichi Komeno, Yoshitaka Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 6901206
    Abstract: A method for storing video data files upon an array of multiple storage devices on a frame-by-frame basis, with the larger video frames placed upon devices having more free storage capacity, so as to preserve the video data stream continuity, optimize the capacity of the storage devices within the array, minimize or negate the need for any redundant storage, and at the same time, provide a means for easily expanding the overall storage capacity of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Pelco
    Inventor: Daniel R. DaSilva
  • Patent number: 6889001
    Abstract: A disk player includes a system controller. The system controller creates marked-playback-start-position specifying data every time a user presses a playback position marking key of an operation unit to mark a playback start position. If the user presses a menu screen display key of the operation unit to instruct the display of a marked-playback-start-position selection-menu screen, the system controller displays an image corresponding to each playback start position on the marked start position menu screen. If title playback is stopped or paused, the system controller creates stop position specifying data for specifying a stop position and stores the data in a RAM. The system controller displays a stop position menu screen including stop-position-related information based on the stop position specifying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidenori Nikaido, Koji Akita
  • Patent number: 6871356
    Abstract: A mobile video system includes a first video source, a second video source, a first video monitor, a second video monitor, an audio signal receiver, and a wireless transmitter. One of the first video source and the second video source generates a first audiovisual signal. One of the first video monitor and the second video monitor receives a video portion of at least one of the first audiovisual signal and the second audiovisual signal. The wireless transmitter transmits an audio portion of one of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal to the audio signal receiver. A video portion of the first audiovisual signal or the second audiovisual signal is displayed on the first video monitor, on the second video monitor, or on both the first video monitor and the second video monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Safety, Inc.
    Inventor: Chung L. Chang
  • Patent number: 6865337
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting whether a video signal is modified by a video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying process. A proper portion of the video signal is identified and filtered, and potential anti-copying artifacts in the filtered signal are counted by comparing the filtered output against a threshold derived from the video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying process. By cross-correlating the number of potential anti-copying artifacts, found on multiple scan lines across multiple frames, with an expected minimum range and/or number of anti-copying artifacts derived from the video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying process, anti-copying modifications of the video signal are detected. In this fashion, traditional video-tape-recorder-design based anti-copying processes are applied to modem digital video recording systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Muller
  • Patent number: 6813776
    Abstract: The method of the present invention allows a viewer/listener to schedule a future event based on information which is embedded in a multimedia presentation, such as a promotional commercial. The viewer or the viewer's equipment, on the basis of the viewer's preferences, causes the event to be scheduled at the appropriate time. The types of events that can be scheduled include: scheduling the reception of a future television/radio/data download program, including turning the processing device on and switching to a correct channel or station; scheduling play of audio or visual reminders for informing of the imminent start of a scheduled program; scheduling the recordation of future program or data imbedded in such a program on a recording device, e.g., VCR, audio recorder, computer medium recorder; and schedule the downloading of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Steven Chernock, Frank Andre Schaffa, David Israel Seidman
  • Patent number: 6792615
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for creating and distributing programming content carried by a digital streaming media to be a plurality of remote nodes located over a large geographic area to create customized broadcast quality programming at the remote nodes. At the remote nodes, a multi-window screen display simultaneously shows different programming including national programming and local programming content. The remote nodes utilize a remote channel origination device to assemble the customized programming at the remote location that can be controlled from a central location. An encapsulated IP and IP encryption system is used to transport the digital streaming media to the appropriate remote nodes. Also disclosed is a graphical user interface (“GUI”) providing a software control interface for creating and editing shows or programs that can be aired or played on a remote display device having a multi-window display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: New Horizons Telecasting, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn T. Rowe, John A. Heinen, Peter A. Ernst, Gary H. Olson
  • Patent number: 6785904
    Abstract: A computer and internet-based system and method for providing television and radio programming information and channel assignments to users, which is based upon a household level determination of a location of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Decisionmark Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Franken, Toufic Moubarak, Jack Perry
  • Patent number: 6775840
    Abstract: A device, system and method are disclosed for locating clean channels for upstream data carriers that are certain to have lower noise levels than the currently utilized channel used for carrying data upstream, thereby enabling intelligent placement of an upstream data carrier in a cable television system utilizing cable modems for two-way data transmission. A spectrum analyzer is placed in a cable modem termination system located in a headend of a cable television system. The spectrum analyzer contains a programmable device comprised of programmable circuitry. The circuitry is operable in a first mode to receive a signal having an associated frequency spectrum made up of several channels. The circuitry also determines a noise level for each of the channels. The circuitry is also operable in a second mode to receive the signal described above and filter the signal to generate several filtered signals where each filtered signal corresponds to one of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Naegel, Mark E. Millet
  • Patent number: 6769133
    Abstract: A communication system (100) processes forward signals generated by headend equipment (105) and reverse signals generated by subscriber equipment (135). A communication medium (110, 120), such as fiber optic cable or coaxial cable, connects the headend equipment (105) and the subscriber equipment (135), and amplifiers (400) are positioned at various locations along the medium (110, 120) to amplify the forward and reverse signals. The amplifiers (400) include a dual forward/reverse test circuit (FIG. 6) having a forward test point (406) coupled to the forward signal, a reverse test point (408) coupled to the reverse signal, and a single directional coupler (404) connected to the forward test point (406), for providing the forward signal thereto, and to the reverse test point (408), for providing the reverse signal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Blashewski, John W. Brickell
  • Patent number: 6763522
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an electronic program guide for broadcasted digital television wherein the electronic program guide displays only currently broadcasting minor channels, and timely event and contextual information. The system of the present invention includes program code in a memory for causing a tuner/de-multiplexor subsystem to tune to a preselected major channel broadcast frequency and to provide thereby at least one transport stream comprising a plurality of associated digital data elementary streams. The elementary streams include minor channel audio and video, as well as program and system information tables (PSIT), all of which are associated by packet identifiers to provide a table hierarchy. The system of the present invention compares presently broadcasting minor channel and PSIT information with corresponding information in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeharu Kondo, David S. Wang, Jesse Ellenbogen, Priscilla Man-San Chung
  • Patent number: 6760915
    Abstract: A digital signal playback apparatus is disclosed that includes at least one digital signal input receiver, at least one digital signal output decoder, and a universal ratings manager. The universal ratings manager analyzes an incoming digital data signal to determine if the content rating for the signal is acceptable for decoding by the content rating received by the ratings manager from the user. The ratings manager is capable of analyzing multiple input signals and then outputting them simultaneously. The content rating may be based on the type of content acceptable by the user. This content includes sexual situations, language, violence, time of viewing, content author, and content source, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventor: Linden A. deCarmo