Patents Examined by David Harvey
  • Patent number: 8792026
    Abstract: A video disk player includes (i) a disk reading section for reading out video data, a program, synchronization timing information from an optical disk; (ii) a clock for generating a clock signal; (iii) a decoder for converting, in accordance with the clock signal, the video data into decompressed video data for reproduction output; (iv) a video reproducing section including a synchronization control section for transmitting, in accordance with the clock signal, a synchronization control signal to the program executing section at a timing specified by a field timing contained in the synchronization timing information, and (v) a program executing section for executing a program in accordance with the synchronization control signal received from the synchronization control section. This makes it possible to efficiently execute the program in synchronization with reproduction of AV data or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Kiyama, Hideaki Kizuki, Katsushi Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 8780203
    Abstract: The present invention enables an effective use of a ring buffer. A video recording apparatus includes a first thinning process unit which reduces a data size of camera videos transmitted from a camera to a frame rate number of the camera videos, and which stores the camera videos having undergone a thinning process in a ring buffer, and a second thinning process unit which further reduces the data size of the videos stored in the ring buffer at a frame rate number in accordance with a condition among a plurality of conditions. The first thinning process unit stores the camera videos in the ring buffer at a frame rate that is the lowest common multiple of the frame rate numbers of the plurality of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisayuki Suematsu, Isao Shinada, Syouta Tsutsui, Hiroaki Arima, Kimio Oura
  • Patent number: 8774594
    Abstract: A DTV operating screen is displayed on the CRT display screen of a DTV which is the controlling apparatus of a network. In the event that the user selects the DVHS from the buttons displayed on the DTV operating screen, data corresponding to the DVHS operation screen is input to the DTV, and a DVHS operation screen is displayed on the CRT display screen 61. The user operation executed regarding the DVHS operation screen are notified from the DTV to the DVHS, so the DTV can execute control corresponding to the operations of the user, without transmitting commands for directly controlling the DVHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Sato, Makoto Sato, Mari Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 8768139
    Abstract: A system comprising: a plurality of lead computers; a plurality of player workstations; a plurality of audio receivers and transmitters for capturing audio signals and converting said audio signals to a transmittable form, wherein at least one audio receiver and transmitter is associated with each player; a plurality of video receivers and transmitters for capturing images and converting said images to a transmittable form, wherein at least one video receiver and transmitter is associated with each player; a storage device and a processor for receiving and processing signals from said audio and video receivers and transmitters and; an output device for outputting each audio and video receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: First Principles, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith A. Raniere
  • Patent number: 8761567
    Abstract: A moving image reproducer includes a generation section, a calculation section, a determination section, a correction section and a control section. The generation section generates an interpolation frame image interpolating between two adjacent frame images among a plurality of frame images. The calculation section sequentially calculates a progress level of a predetermined musical piece between the two adjacent frame images reproduced in synchronization with the predetermined musical piece. The determination section determines whether the progress level has varied along with a change in a tempo of the predetermined musical piece defined in the tempo information. The correction section corrects the progress level so as to reduce the variation in the progress level along with the change in the tempo if the progress level is determined to have varied. The control section controls the generation section to generate an interpolation frame image corresponding to the corrected progress level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Watanuki, Tetsuji Makino, Masaaki Sasaki, Hyuta Tanaka, Michihiro Nihei, Katsunori Ishii
  • Patent number: 8750680
    Abstract: A video disk player includes (i) a disk reading section for reading out video data, a program, synchronization timing information from an optical disk; (ii) a clock for generating a clock signal; (iii) a decoder for converting, in accordance with the clock signal, the video data into decompressed video data for reproduction output; (iv) a video reproducing section including a synchronization control section for transmitting, in accordance with the clock signal, a synchronization control signal to the program executing section at a timing specified by a field timing contained in the synchronization timing information, and (v) a program executing section for executing a program in accordance with the synchronization control signal received from the synchronization control section. This makes it possible to efficiently execute the program in synchronization with reproduction of AV data or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Kiyama, Hideaki Kizuki, Katsushi Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 8749671
    Abstract: A video disk player includes (i) a disk reading section for reading out video data, a program, synchronization timing information from an optical disk; (ii) a clock for generating a clock signal; (iii) a decoder for converting, in accordance with the clock signal, the video data into decompressed video data for reproduction output; (iv) a video reproducing section including a synchronization control section for transmitting, in accordance with the clock signal, a synchronization control signal to the program executing section at a timing specified by a field timing contained in the synchronization timing information, and (v) a program executing section for executing a program in accordance with the synchronization control signal received from the synchronization control section. This makes it possible to efficiently execute the program in synchronization with reproduction of AV data or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Kiyama, Hideaki Kizuki, Katsushi Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 8737810
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for the retrieval of subtitle layer data from a storage medium, the subtitle layer data containing graphic subtitle elements, the extraction of cropping information from the retrieved subtitle layer data, the cropping information including a parameter for horizontal position, a parameter for vertical position, a parameter for width and a parameter for height and the automatic cropping of rectangular parts of the subtitle elements to be displayed, where the cropped parts to be displayed are defined by the cropping information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Patent number: 8737821
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of managing media playback. The method includes displaying a media program on a touch screen of an electronic device. The method includes detecting, via the touch screen, an input from a user indicating that the user wishes to fast forward or rewind the media program. The method includes triggering, in response to the detected input from the user, an appearance of a scroll bar including an indicator on the touch screen. The indicator is configured to be moved along the scroll bar. A length of the scroll bar represents a predefined amount of time that is a fraction of a total duration of the media program. A position of the indicator relative to the scroll bar corresponds to a time location of the media program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Eric Qing Li
  • Patent number: 8737808
    Abstract: A method for previewing and retrieving a video is disclosed. The method includes: (101) setting a variable-length buffer sequence; (102) acquiring and processing a video file to obtain images; (103) detecting scene shots in the obtained images and key frames of the scene shots, and storing the detected scene shots and key frames into the variable-length buffer sequence; and (104) acquiring the scene shots and key frames from the variable-length buffer sequence, matching and comparing the scene shots and key frames with a specified target image to perform image retrieval. A mobile terminal for previewing and retrieving a video is further disclosed. With the technical solution, content preview and fast retrieval of a video file are achieved in a mobile terminal with relatively limited processing capacity and memory resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Minggang Gao
  • Patent number: 8731369
    Abstract: A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sonic IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam H. Li, Jason Braness, Christopher Durham, Timothy Sayre, Benjamin Cote, Darrius Thompson, Jerome Rota, Alastair Mayo, Eric William Grab, Jerald Donaldson, Heather Hitchcock, Damien Chavarria, Michael John Floyd, Ahsan Butt, Brian Fudge
  • Patent number: 8724967
    Abstract: Identification of starting and ending times of commercial breaks and commercials within those commercial breaks found in audiovisual content is disclosed. A solution to a “batch optimization” problem is used in which commercial locations within a set of audiovisual content are detected as a group by choosing a set of commercial locations which optimizes a cost function which can include considerations of, for example, 1) one or more cues, 2) relative locations of commercials within the audiovisual content, and/or 3) probability models based on statistics obtained regarding characteristics of typical commercial and commercial breaks. Optimization can be done over the total set of commercial location decisions, rather than on a per-commercial basis. Additionally, the cost function can be iteratively evaluated and many more types of cues and combinations of cues can be used in detection of commercials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Interval Licensing LLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Harville
  • Patent number: 8724029
    Abstract: Video content from a layer of multiple multimedia content layers may be moved to a lowest content layer. The region of the multimedia content layer that previously contained the video content may be replaced with a transparent region. Additional layers that exist between the layer from which the video content was removed and the lowest layer may likewise have corresponding regions replaced with transparent regions. The content layers may be composited together at a display time. Accordingly, the video content of the lowest content layer may be viewed through the transparent regions, which may allow the video to be seen as originally authored. The lowest content layer may be rendered independently of other layers. In some embodiments, the content layer containing video may be performed with dedicated hardware (e.g., a GPU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Tinic Uro, Benoit G. Ambry
  • Patent number: 8712208
    Abstract: A device to detect location data, store a first location of the device within metadata of visual media if the location data is available, and store a second location within the metadata of the visual media if the location data is unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert P Cazier, Shane D Voss, Jason Yost
  • Patent number: 8705943
    Abstract: A method for editing the playback speed of a partial sequence of video and a digital device therefor are disclosed. A video editing method includes providing a timeline interface corresponding to a video sequence, receiving a first user input for specifying a first location on the timeline interface and a second user input for specifying a second location on the timeline interface, setting an editing interval between the first location and the second location of the timeline interface, receiving a third user input with respect to the editing interval, adjusting at least one of the thickness and length of the editing interval in response to the third user input, and editing playback attributes of the partial sequence based on the adjusted thickness and length of the editing interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Eunhyung Cho
  • Patent number: 8682145
    Abstract: A method for interpreting messages, user-defined alert conditions, voice commands and performing an action in response is described. A method for annotating media content is described. A method for presenting additional content associated with media content identified based on a fingerprint is described. A method for identifying that an advertisement portion of media content is being played based on a fingerprint derived from the media content is described. A method of one media device recording particular media content automatically in response to another media device recording the particular media content is described. A method of concurrently playing media content on multiple devices is described. A method of publishing information associated with recording of media content is described. A method of deriving fingerprints by media devices that meet an idleness criteria is described. A method of loading, modifying, and displaying a high definition frame from a frame buffer is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Poniatowki, Richard Matthews
  • Patent number: 8675140
    Abstract: Hierarchically-encoded video image data and audio data associated with a predetermined encoded layer of the hierarchically-encoded video image data are received, and the audio-associated encoded layer with which the audio data is associated is specified from among a plurality of encoded layers of the hierarchically-encoded video image data. Then, the ratio of the field of view of a decoded video image of an encoded layer to be played back to the field of view of a decoded video image of the audio-associated encoded layer is calculated. A prestored audio correction amount is multiplied by the calculated ratio, and the resulting new audio correction amount is used to correct the audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Urabe, Atsushi Mizutome
  • Patent number: 8666232
    Abstract: An image voice play apparatus for playing an AVI file includes: a control portion that when an instruction for a time search is issued, estimates the “number of voice chunks in one movi chunk,” determines in which AVI chunk a voice chunk for the time search is situated, reads an idx1 chunk in the “determined AVI chunk” without reading an idx1 chunk in an AVI chunk other than the “determined chunk,” and determines a play start position that corresponds to the time search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Tani
  • Patent number: 8644677
    Abstract: A network media player enables user-controlled playback of video or other content from various sources according to a playback control record. The network media player includes a content input port, an output port, and a processor configured to retrieve input content from one or more sources using the content input port. The processor is also configured to generate output content from the retrieved input content according to a playback control record so as to vary the playback of the retrieved input content. The processor is also configured to output the generated output content to the output port. In some embodiments, the playback control record includes an applicability identifier usable to determine whether the playback control record is applicable to input content and a content variation descriptor that defines an alteration to be applied to the retrieved input content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Gary Zalewski
  • Patent number: 8634700
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus records a AV stream, clip information and play list information. The information processing apparatus includes generating a start address information of a domain in which system time clock in the AV stream is continuous, and generating information correlating time information in the AV stream and data address information in the AV stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Kato, Toshiya Hamada