Patents Examined by Heather Jones
  • Patent number: 9332264
    Abstract: A motion estimation engine may be implemented to include a skip checking module, an integer search module, a macroblock partitioning module, a fractional search module, a bidirectional motion estimation refinement module, and an intra search module. The motion estimation engine may perform fractional search/bidirectional motion estimation refinement and intra search in parallel. Additionally, modules in the motion estimation engine may be partially or fully turned on or off to accommodate different motion estimation requirements. Furthermore, the motion estimation engine may implement early exit strategy to further save computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Lu, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 9325929
    Abstract: A method of managing power consumption in a video device capable of displaying encoded multi-stream video is disclosed. Power reduction is achieved by limiting the amount of video and audio decoding and processing performed on at least some of the encoded streams, by taking particular application contexts into account. In a normal power consumption mode, audio/video data from all streams are decoded and digitally processed for output. In response to detecting a reduced power consumption mode, audio/video from at least some of the streams are processed in a modified manner to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: David I. J. Glen
  • Patent number: 9319678
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives a frame type storage medium including frame type decisions made by a first encoding process to encode a video at a first bitrate to generate a first encoded video. While performing a second encoding process to encode the video at a second bitrate to generate a second encoded video, the method performs: retrieving information from the storage medium regarding a frame type decision made during the first encoding process; inserting a keyframe in the second encoded video based on the retrieved information from the storage medium, wherein the inserted keyframe in the second encoded video is aligned with a corresponding keyframe in the first encoded video; and continuing to retrieve information from the storage medium and inserting keyframes in the second encoded video. Keyframes in the first encoded video are aligned with keyframes in the second encoded video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: HULU, LLC
    Inventor: Baptiste Coudurier
  • Patent number: 9311961
    Abstract: The image processing device includes an image data input unit for receiving data of moving images and still images; an image grouping unit for classifying the moving images and the still images into groups; an image analyzer for analyzing the moving images and the still images classified by group, and obtaining analysis information of the images, and information on relationship between the moving images and the still images; a frame image extractor for extracting frame images from the moving images according to at least one of the analysis information and the relationship information; a layout determining unit for determining a layout of the still images and the frame images according to at least one of the analysis information and the relationship information; and an image arranging unit for arranging the still images and the frame images according to the layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Yamaji
  • Patent number: 9310842
    Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system includes a tablet unit and a cradle. The tablet unit includes a display and a touch screen input device disposed on a front surface, a first electrical connection, a first mounting mechanism, and a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver is configured to receive media data from a wireless network and the touch screen input device is configured to receive input from a user. The cradle is disposed in a headrest in a vehicle and includes a second electrical connection and a second mounting mechanism. The tablet unit is electrically connected to the cradle via the first and second electrical connections, and is physically coupled to the cradle via the first and second mounting mechanisms upon mounting the tablet unit to the cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Tranchina, Patrick M. Lavelle, Raymond Ford
  • Patent number: 9300925
    Abstract: A method or system for multi-user access of a facility including multiple controlled locations is disclosed. In one step, an image of a person is obtained from a data store. An image capture device is correlated to a controlled location. An image is received for the controlled location. One or more sub-images of the image are determined. At least one of the sub-images is compared with the image of the person. Information is retrieved for the person and a control rule is retrieved for the controlled location. The system determines whether the person is allowed to access the controlled location. Depending on the determination, the system then sends a signal indicating access availability to the controlled location for the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Jack Ke Zhang
  • Patent number: 9300983
    Abstract: A method comprises extracting a picture type and size per picture frame from encoded first moving picture data, calculating a first characteristic quantity per picture frame and a first variation point indicating a variation point of the first characteristic quantity on the basis of the extracted picture type and size, extracting a picture type and size per picture frame from encoded second moving picture data, calculating a second characteristic quantity per picture frame and a second variation point indicating a variation point of the second characteristic quantity on the basis of the extracted picture type and size, and comparing the first characteristic quantity and variation point with the second characteristic quantity and variation point, and determining whether or not the first moving picture is similar to the second moving picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Makiko Konoshima
  • Patent number: 9294718
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for automated alerts are provided. Communication, via a processor and communication interface of a communication device, occurs with one or more remote communication devices in a communication session. Data is received at the processor, from a camera device. In response, to the data, an alert is transmitted, via the communication interface, to the one or more remote communication devices in the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: James Allen Hymel, Jonathan Andrew Evans, Janine Mary Hodder, Edvard Kikic, Alec Reid Thomas
  • Patent number: 9286941
    Abstract: The system enables conversion of black and white images to color images and/or two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images based on adding color and/or depth to images using masks for regions in the images, as well as reshaping of masks to cover objects that have moved and changed shape as the objects move in a sequence of images. Also, includes motion picture project management system for reviewers, coordinators and artists. Artists utilize image analysis and image enhancement and computer graphics processing for example to convert two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images or otherwise create or alter motion pictures. Enables the efficient management of projects related to motion pictures to enable enterprises to manage assets, control costs, predict budgets and profit margins, reduce archival storage and otherwise provide displays tailored to specific roles to increase worker efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: LEGEND3D, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Sandrew, Tony Baldridge, Jared Sandrew, Anthony Lopez
  • Patent number: 9275054
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for searching media files using a set-top box (STB), a television receiver, digital video recorder (DVR), placeshifting device or other media device, or any type of network host that communicates with a media device of any sort. Search criteria is received from a user, and the search criteria is identified in listings of media programming available from one or more sources. In some implementations, a combined search result can be provided that identifies instances of the search criteria found in program guide listings, files stored on a digital video recorder (DVR), available on-demand content, or any other sources as desired. Some implementations may prioritize search results using information about files stored on a DVR, user preferences, or any other information as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sling Media, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul, Myles Cagney, Peter Mark Hennessy
  • Patent number: 9263089
    Abstract: Herein disclosed are an editing apparatus, an editing method, and an editing program allowing quick editing of video data. In order to clip a section in the video data and play it to be broadcasted as a replay, receiving a request to start playback from a desired position, an in-point is set in response to the request, and an out-point is set in response to a request to finish playback. Then, other video data from the video data of a section between the in-point and the out-point is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GVBB Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Koichi Abe, Shogo Tsubouchi, Yasushi Okamoto, Toru Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 9262831
    Abstract: In a device and a corresponding method for joining a plurality of individual digital images to form a total image, a plurality of features is determined in a first individual image by means of a selection unit using a feature-based algorithm and then tracked in a second individual image by means of a tracking unit. A transformation matrix, with which the individual images are joined in an output unit to form the total image, is calculated from the determined feature correspondences in a transformation unit. The individual images can be joined in real time and with a high degree of accuracy by means of the feature-based algorithm in combination with a robust algorithm to calculate the transformation matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG e.V., Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
    Inventors: Christian Münzenmayer, Christian Winter, Thomas Wittenberg, Stephan Rupp, Dietrich Paulus, Tobias Bergen, Steffen Ruthotto
  • Patent number: 9259906
    Abstract: An optical laminated body includes a phase difference layer that has two or more kinds of phase difference regions having different directions of a slow axis from each other, a polarization plate contacted with a bottom face of the phase difference layer with a bonding layer or an adhesive layer in between, a base material contacted with a top face of the phase difference layer with a bonding layer or an adhesive layer in between, and an antireflection layer or an anti-glare layer directly contacted with a face not contacted with the phase difference layer of the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kei Obata
  • Patent number: 9261960
    Abstract: A system includes a video recorder configured to record video data, a sensor configured to sense movement of an object and output sensor data representative of the movement of the object, a transformer configured to transform the sensor data into a haptic output signal, a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect to a user based on the haptic output signal, a display configured to display a video, and a processor configured to synchronize the video data and the haptic output signal, and output the video data to the display and the haptic output signal to the haptic output device so that the haptic effect is synchronized with the video displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Lacroix, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Jamal Saboune
  • Patent number: 9247284
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a media playback device is disclosed comprising a first interface configured to communicate with a media output device, a second interface configured to communicate with a data storage device, and control circuitry. In one embodiment, the control circuitry is configured to receive information identifying media files from a data storage device (DSD) over the second interface; generate a user interface for the media output device, the user interface identifying at least one of the media files; transmit the user interface to the media output device over the first interface; receive a play command from a user to play a selected media file; and transmit the play command over the second interface to the DSD to stream the selected media file on the media output device, wherein the media stream from the DSD bypasses the media playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lambertus Hesselink
  • Patent number: 9247289
    Abstract: A transport signal transmitted from a television receiver apparatus through a signal line is subjected to a separation operation by a transport-signal processor and decoded by a video-signal decoding unit and an audio-signal decoding unit. A decoded video signal is supplied through a signal line to the television receiver apparatus. Video processing time of the television receiver apparatus is obtained by a delay-information obtaining unit through a signal line. An audio-signal delaying unit delays an audio signal decoded by the audio-signal decoding unit in accordance with the video processing time obtained by the delay-information obtaining unit and outputs the audio signal to a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gen Ichimura, Yasuhisa Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9247133
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to devices, methods, and computer readable media for performing image registration. A few generalized steps may be used to carry out the image registration techniques described herein: 1) acquiring image data from an image sensor; 2) selecting a pair of overlapping image portions from the acquired image data for registration; 3) determining an area of “maximum energy” in one of the image portions being registered; 4) placing an image registration window over both image portions at the determined location of maximum energy; 5) registering the overlapping image portions using only the image data falling within the image registration windows; and 6) determining, according to one or more metrics, whether the image registration window should be shifted from a current location before registering subsequently acquired image portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Doepke, Todd S. Sachs, Kevin L. Hunter, Alexis Gatt
  • Patent number: 9240897
    Abstract: A plurality of devices and a device system are disclosed, in which a plurality of input devices generate an input AV signal, a related device records and reproduces the AV signal, and a display device displays the AV signal. The input devices, the related device and the display device are interconnected to configure an AV system having a bus for transmitting or receiving the AV signal and management information. The related device of the AV system includes a recording medium for recording the AV signal, and the input devices transmit to the related device a request to secure a recording area on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Chiyo Akamatsu, Tsukasa Hasegawa, Tamotsu Ito, Hidefumi Goto, Takaharu Noguchi, Yasunori Ohara
  • Patent number: 9225955
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing of media data (3), as well as to corresponding management of the processed media data (3). Proceeding from a state of the art that makes it possible to provide media data with additional product and advertising information with regard to selected objects, a system is proposed, within the scope of the invention, which allows processing of media data (3) with current product and advertising information called up in real time, in contrast to the state of the art. This is made possible in that an XML file (4) is generated for a media file to be processed accordingly, in which file the data are compiled not statically, but rather dynamically, for example in the form of links. Furthermore, the system offers dynamic management of the system-related data in the form of tables that are dynamically connected with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: nrichcontent UG
    Inventors: Marc Langner, Ilhan Sakinc, Serjik Margosian Khoygani
  • Patent number: 9208227
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic apparatus including: a storage to store first and second contents, each of which includes scenes, and meta-information items each indicating a feature of each scene of the first and second contents; a reproducer to reproduce the first and second contents; an operation receiver to receive an input of an operation by a user; and a controller to control the storage to store an operation-history information item indicating an operation history of the user for each scene during reproduction of the first content while it is associated with the meta-information item of each scene, to calculate a similarity between scenes of the first and second contents based on the meta-information items, and to control the reproducer to change a reproduction mode for each scene based on the operation-history information item and the similarity during reproduction of the second content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kashima, Tatsumi Sakaguchi, Hiroshi Oryoji, Masashi Eshima