Patents Examined by Creighton Smith
  • Patent number: 10182207
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to handling nuisance in teleconference system. An endpoint device (400) for use in a teleconference includes an acquiring unit (401), a judging unit (402), a controller (403) and a processing unit (404). The acquiring unit acquires a media stream for presentation in the teleconference, and receives information from another device. The information includes a first estimation on whether the media stream is a nuisance to the teleconference. As the nuisance to a teleconference, audio or video signals are perceived by users as actually not relevant to the conference session or causing unpleasant feeling or confusion. The judging unit decides whether the media stream is the nuisance at least based on the information. The controller controls the processing of the media stream to degrade or suppress the presentation of the media stream in case that the media stream is decided as the nuisance. The processing unit processes the media stream under the control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Taoran Lu, Hariharan Ganapathy-Kathirvelu, Peng Yin, Glenn N. Dickins, Xuejing Sun
  • Patent number: 10182206
    Abstract: In an image display system for viewing, by a user in a first space, an image of a second space remote from the first space, image data indicating an image acquired by an imaging device placed in the second space is received from the imaging device. A partial image of the image indicated by the received image data is displayed on a display screen in the first space, the partial image having a display size corresponding to the size of the display screen. At least one of the position, the facial direction, the visual line, or the facial position of the user in the first space is detected by a detector. When a detection result of the detector changes while the partial image is being displayed, it is determined which partial image of the image indicated by the image data is to be displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Takahashi, Hiroki Matsumoto, Tsukasa Nakano, Takashi Orime, Yuichiro Takeuchi, Yasushi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 10176366
    Abstract: Video relay services, communication systems, and methods are disclosed herein. The video relay service for providing automatic translation services during a real-time communication session. The video relay service comprises at least one server configured to receive a video stream containing sign language content from a video communication device associated with a hearing-impaired user; automatically translate the sign language content into a verbal language translation during the real-time communication session without assistance of a human sign language interpreter; and transmit the verbal language translation to a far-end communication device associated with a hearing-capable user during the real-time communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SORENSON IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Conrad A. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 10178371
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to operations, systems, and computer readable media to capture images of a scene using a camera array and process the captured images based on a viewer's point of view (POV) for immersive augmented reality, live display wall, head mounted display, video conferencing, and similar applications. In one implementation, the disclosed subject matter provides a complete view to a viewer by combining images captured by a camera array. In another implementation, the disclosed subject matter tracks the viewer's POV as he moves from one location to another and displays images in accordance with his varying POV. The change of the viewer's POV is inclusive of movements in the X, Y, and Z dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo J. Motta, Gary L. Vondran, Jr., Manohar B. Srikanth, Brett D. Miller
  • Patent number: 10163111
    Abstract: A system for remote servicing of customers includes an interactive display unit at the customer location providing two-way audio/visual communication with a remote service/sales agent, wherein communication inputted by the agent is delivered to customers via a virtual Digital Actor on the display. The system also provides for remote customer service using physical mannequins with interactive capability having two-way audio visual communication ability with the remote agent, wherein communication inputted by the remote service or sales agent is delivered to customers using the physical mannequin. A web solution integrates the virtual Digital Actor system into a business website. A smart phone solution provides the remote service to customers via an App. In another embodiment, the Digital Actor is instead displayed as a 3D hologram. The Digital Actor is also used in an e-learning solution, in a movie studio suite, and as a presenter on TV, online, or other broadcasting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: Ratnakumar Navaratnam
  • Patent number: 10165363
    Abstract: An active noise equalization (ANE) system may be run on the existing audio/infotainment system as a software library. The ANE system may share components (e.g., microphones and sensors) with other audio applications. Some ANEs include a complex-domain formulation of a multiple-frequency multiple-channel ANE that requires less memory and processing requirements. The complex-domain system replaces the multiplication of multiple real gains with multiple real signals with a single complex multiplication operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Robert Every, Kyle Tegan MacDonald, Michael Andrew Percy
  • Patent number: 10152719
    Abstract: A system for remote servicing of customers includes an interactive display unit at the customer location providing two-way audio/visual communication with a remote service/sales agent, wherein communication inputted by the agent is delivered to customers via a virtual Digital Actor on the display. The system also provides for remote customer service using physical mannequins with interactive capability having two-way audio visual communication ability with the remote agent, wherein communication inputted by the remote service or sales agent is delivered to customers using the physical mannequin. A web solution integrates the virtual Digital Actor system into a business website. A smart phone solution provides the remote service to customers via an App. In another embodiment, the Digital Actor is instead displayed as a 3D hologram. The Digital Actor is also used in an e-learning solution, in a movie studio suite, and as a presenter on TV, online, or other broadcasting applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Ratnakumar Navaratnam
  • Patent number: 10135965
    Abstract: A digital assistant operating on a device is configured to be engaged as an active participant in communications between local and remote parties by listening to voice and video calls and participating in messaging sessions. The digital assistant typically can be initiated by voice using a key word or phrase and then be requested to perform tasks, provide information and services, etc. using voice or gestures. The digital assistant can respond to the request and take appropriate actions. In voice and video calls, the interactions with the digital assistant (i.e., the request, response, and actions) can be heard by both parties to the call as if the digital assistant was a third party on the call. In a messaging session, messages are generated and displayed to each participant so that they can see the interactions with the digital assistant as if it was a participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kerry Woolsey, Larry Jin, Pat Halvorsen, Susan Chory, Rylan Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10136058
    Abstract: An example virtual presence system includes at least a first and second mobile device in electronic communication with one another, a panoramic camera coupled to the second mobile device. A user of the first mobile device can specify a position (e.g., location or orientation), such as via a joystick or head-mounted display. The specified position is transmitted to the second mobile device, which selectively obtains image data from the panoramic camera corresponding to the specified position. The selected image data is transmitted as a video stream or other format to the first mobile device, thereby allowing the user of the first mobile device to view surrounding environment available at the second mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Shakil Hussain
  • Patent number: 10135970
    Abstract: A system for the active silent and undetected monitoring of the video and audio communication session involving one or more video and audio participants may alternately engage, intervene or participate in the video/audio communication session. Such monitoring and engagement may include multiple and various locations with the monitoring participant having capacity to manage them from a first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Apham Nnaji
  • Patent number: 10129503
    Abstract: An image-capturing device is disclosed. The image-capturing device may include two cameras, a watch body, and a watch band coupled to the watch body. The two cameras may simultaneously capture images. A processor of the image-capturing device may combine image data of the simultaneously-captured images from the two cameras into resultant image data representing a single continuous image. The images captured by the cameras may be moving images (i.e., video). The processor may identify a tracking target within the captured images and may continuously output target image data representing a target area of the image including the tracking target. Where the tracking target is a face captured from a low angle, the processor may angle-adjust the image so that the output target image data represents the face from a different angle (e.g., a front angle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Seung Wook Kim, Megan A. McClain
  • Patent number: 10129504
    Abstract: Provided is a quality-of-video call measuring method and system. The quality-of-video call measuring method may include capturing a display screen of a second electronic device that performs video call with a first electronic device over network. The captured display screen may include a frame image associated with first electronic device and a frame image associated with second electronic device. The frame image associated with first electronic device may include a first time value. The frame image associated with second electronic device may include a second time value. The quality-of-video call measuring method may include analyzing the captured display screen, and extracting the first time value included in the frame image associated with first electronic device and the second time value included in the frame image associated with second electronic device; and calculating at least one parameter indicating a quality of video call using the extracted first and second time values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Line Corporation
    Inventor: Jung nam Gwock
  • Patent number: 10129302
    Abstract: A processor-implemented method, computer system, and computer program product for managing a plurality of audio-visual teleconference distractions, including the detection of a new participant to a teleconference call; the monitoring of a stream of the detected new participant for a plurality of distraction markers; calculation of a level of distraction based on the plurality of distraction markers; and alterations performed on the monitored stream based on the calculated level of distraction satisfying a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, Jonathan Dunne, Liam Harpur, Asima Silva
  • Patent number: 10122967
    Abstract: A control system includes a receiver configured to receive information relating to starting or ending a call between a first communications terminal and a second communications terminal while a session, which is for sending content data between the first communications terminal and the second communications terminal, is established; and a transmitter configured to send, to the first communications terminal, control information for starting output of content based on content data sent from the second communications terminal, in response to receiving the information relating to starting the call by the receiver, and to send, to the first communications terminal, the control information for stopping output of the content based on the content data sent from the second communications terminal, in response to receiving the information relating to ending the call by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeru Inoue
  • Patent number: 10122972
    Abstract: A videoconferencing endpoint includes at least one processor a number of microphones and at least one camera. The endpoint can receive audio information and visual motion information during a teleconferencing session. The audio information includes one or more angles with respect to the microphone from a location of a teleconferencing session. The system evaluates the audio information is evaluated to determine at least one candidate angle corresponding to a possible location of an active talker. The candidate angle can be analyzed further with respect to the motion information to determine whether the candidate angle correctly corresponds to person who is speaking during the teleconferencing session. The person's face can then be framed within a frame view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventor: Jinwei Feng
  • Patent number: 10116898
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for displaying participants in an interface during a group call, and is particularly well-suited to use with small displays. A full-size call interface may be shrunk down into a chathead that makes good use of limited screen real estate, especially when being used on a mobile device. On the smaller chathead, the dominant user is shown, and a roster of users is shrunk and may exhibit reduced functionality. The chathead may be moved around the screen, and other applications may continue to run in the space not occupied by the chathead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Duckjin Kang, Zhengping Zuo, Stephane Taine, Brendan Benjamin Aronoff
  • Patent number: 10116899
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally include a system and a method of configuring and/or controlling one or more electronic devices using a portable electronic device based on the interaction of the portable electronic device with a beacon signal generating system that is disposed at a desired location. Embodiments of the disclosure may include a system and a method of collecting and analyzing useful information received by the portable electronic device based on the receipt of a beacon signal. The portable electronic device may then perform one or more desirable functions or processes based the portable electronic device's interaction with the beacon signal generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: LOGITECH EUROPE, S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Delorenzi, Olivier Gay, Mathieu Meisser, Thomas Luc Rouvinez, Nicolas Sasselli, Remy Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 10110851
    Abstract: A video-enabled communication system includes a camera to acquire an image of a local participant during a video communication session and a control unit that selects a lighting configuration for the local participant to be captured by the camera for provision to a remote endpoint for display to another participant. The lighting configuration selection is based on information describing a local participant or context of the video communication session. The processor conditions a change from providing, to the remote participant endpoint for display, a first image captured under a first lighting configuration selected at a first time to a second image captured under a different lighting configuration selected at a second time upon a difference between the first and second times having at least a threshold magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Alrod, Tamar Barzuza
  • Patent number: 10104338
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for automatically framing participants in a video conference using a single camera of a video conferencing system. A camera of a video conferencing system may capture video images of a conference room. A processor of the video conferencing system may identify a potential region of interest within a video image of the captured video images, the potential region of interest including an identified participant. Feature detection may be executed on the potential region of interest, and a region of interest may be computed based on the executed feature detection. The processor may then automatically frame the identified participant within the computed region of interest, the automatic framing including at least one of cropping the video image to match the computed region of interest and rescaling the video image to a desired resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Erwin Goesnar
  • Patent number: 10104337
    Abstract: Implementations generally relate to displaying a presenter during a video conference. In some implementations, a method includes providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, where the first user is associated with a first endpoint and the second user is associated with a second endpoint. The method also includes determining view rank values for each of the first endpoint and the second endpoint. The method also includes causing the user interface to display a first user video stream in a current presenter position and to display a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position based on the view rank values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Paul David Johnson