Patents Examined by Kristine Kincaid
  • Patent number: 8225366
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating a bi-directional control channel into an entertainment display device to deliver content and exchange control information. The system collects request and response information from the entertainment display device. The system also provides format translation of received and collected content to and from a plurality of formats such as N-PCS technology formats and video display formats in such a manner that the integrated system is independent of broadcasters, satellite, IPTV and cable operators. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Brant L. Candelore
  • Patent number: 8220028
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a content transmission apparatus connected to a content reception apparatus at a remote place via a network, the content transmission apparatus including: a broadcast signal reception section configured to receive a broadcast content on one or more channels; a recording/reproducing section configured to compress and record data of at least 24 hours of broadcast content on each channel, and reproduce the recorded compressed data; a communication section configured to transmit the compressed data to the content reception apparatus via the network; and a delay control section configured to control the recording/reproducing section to control a delay time between a broadcasting time of the content and a time at which the compressed data is transmitted. The delay time is set in accordance with time difference information indicating a time difference between places where the content transmission apparatus and the content reception apparatus are placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ohga, Satoru Maeda
  • Patent number: 8218085
    Abstract: A signal separator for separating luminance and color signals from a composite video signal includes: a first band pass element for passing a part of the composite video signal within a color signal band and within a predetermined frequency band; a second band pass element for passing a part of the first filtered signal within the color signal band and without the predetermined frequency band; and a first subtraction element for subtracting the first filtered signal from the composite video signal, wherein the predetermined frequency band is a frequency range in which the separation of the composite video signal into the color and the luminance signals is difficult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 8218084
    Abstract: A signal separator for separating luminance and color signals from a composite video signal includes: a first line delay element for delaying the composite video signal by one line period; a second line delay element for delaying the composite video signal by two line periods; an adder element for adding the first and second delay signals; a subtraction element for subtracting the second delay signal from the first delay signal; a control signal generator for passing a part of the addition signal within a predetermined frequency band therethrough; and a gain control element for reducing a level of the subtraction signal based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 8214866
    Abstract: A video processing apparatus, a mobile apparatus and a control method of the video processing apparatus are provided. The video processing apparatus includes: a communicating unit which communicates with a video file supplying source that stores a video file and a header file corresponding to the video file, in which the video file contains video information and header information stored behind the video file information and transmitted later than the video information and used for reproducing the video information; a video processing unit which processes the video file to be reproduced; and a controller which receives the header file and the video file from the video file supplying source through the communicating unit and controls the video processing unit to reproduce the video file on the basis of the header file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-kook Ahn
  • Patent number: 8212924
    Abstract: A multimedia processor includes an audio processor configured to process an audio input signal to generate an audio output signal and an assistant signal, and a video processor coupled with the audio processor and configured to process video input signal and the assistant signal to generate a video output signal simultaneously according to the video input signal and the assistant signal. Provided with the assistant signal, the video processor acquires more video processing-related information for rendering video content in a more realistic manner. Mal-motion detection can thus be prevented, and video quality can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Tzung-ren Wang
  • Patent number: 8212927
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a technology of appropriately improving image resolution. According to an image signal processing method of the present invention, an input video signal contains an image signal whose pixel size is converted at a specified magnification scale. The input image signal is used to calculate sampling frequencies for image signals before and after the pixel size conversion. A ratio of sampling frequencies before and after the pixel size conversion is used to determine the specified magnification scale. A sampling phase for the image signal before the pixel size conversion is calculated from the input image signal after the pixel size conversion. A sampling carrier for the image signal before the pixel size conversion is generated from the sampling frequency and the sampling phase both before the pixel size conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kageyama, Koichi Hamada, Kenichi Yoneji
  • Patent number: 8214865
    Abstract: A video signal receiving apparatus, includes: a plurality of receiving parts which receive a video signal; a plurality of communicating parts which transmit the video signal to a plurality of external display devices, and transmit and receive control data for changing a display property of the video signal and a setting of the display devices to and from the external display devices; and a control part which controls the communicating parts to transmit the video signal received by the receiving part to the external display devices, and to receive the control data and to transmit a signal which controls the corresponding display devices if the control data is input from the external display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8209725
    Abstract: A method for providing a GUI for selecting a broadcast program, and an AV apparatus are provided. According to the method for providing a GUI, a user selection regarding the broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected is set according to a user operation that is input in an area containing graphics representing broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected by a user. Therefore, if a user makes errors in selecting broadcast programs, for example, if a user selects two or more broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected, the errors may be corrected more easily, instantly and intuitively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-yoon Jung, Hye-young Seong
  • Patent number: 8208071
    Abstract: A method for determining the aspect ratio of an image signal and an image apparatus using the same is provided. The image apparatus includes a sync signal separation unit which separates a sync signal from an image signal, an aspect ratio determination unit which determines an aspect ratio of the image signal using a voltage level of the separated sync signal, and a signal processing unit which processes the image signal according to the aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Deok-jin Yang
  • Patent number: 8209727
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for method and apparatus for distributing signals. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communications interface (CI) (101 having a controller that manages a transceiver (102) coupled to a residential gateway (RG) (118) and one or more set top boxes (STBs) (116). The controller can be programmed to receive (202) a very high bit rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) signal, transmit (204, 208) the VDSL signal to the RG over a select one of a plurality of coaxial interfaces, and receive (210) an IP signal from the RG for distribution to the one or more STBs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Ahmad Ansari, Vernon Reed, Pierre Costa, David Hartman
  • Patent number: 8205227
    Abstract: A method is provided to designate visual content that is accessible from a computer readable storage device and that correspond to programs distributed according to a predetermined schedule comprising: comparing attribute information of a respective program metadata record with respective attribute information of multiple respective content metadata records to measure similarity between corresponding attributes; determining respective program-content attribute match scores for each of the compared content metadata records as a function of the measure of similarity between the program attributes of the respective compared program metadata record and corresponding visual content attributes of respective content metadata records and of relative weighting of respective attribute comparisons; and selecting a respective visual content based upon the determined program-content attribute match score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Frontier Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Eric E. Del Sesto, Tony T. Chan, Michael Luton
  • Patent number: 8205236
    Abstract: The contents distribution system for distributing contents to a terminal of each user through a communication network, including a distribution server which connects to each terminal through the communication network to distribute contents, in which the distribution server sequentially divides data of contents to be distributed into frames to generate frames coded by a predetermined plurality of different coding systems, selects, based on a request from the terminal of the user, a frame appropriate for the request from among the generated frames and transmits the selected frame to the terminal in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kozo Satoda
  • Patent number: 8205228
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamically managing a user's favorite channels are provided. The apparatus includes a user input unit receiving a channel change input from the user, a channel list storage unit storing an entire channel list comprising channels receivable using a tuner and channel preference information regarding the user's preference degrees for channels, a control unit calculating a preference degree for a channel selected in response to the channel change input received by the user input unit and analyzing a pattern of channel change inputs, and an output unit providing content of the selected channel according to calculation and analysis results of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuk-hyun Han, Jae-ook Kwon
  • Patent number: 8201201
    Abstract: Techniques are described that permit the flexible introduction of branding elements into or around video rendered by a media player. One or more sets of metadata related to the presentation of branding elements may be collected, and then one or more sets of the metadata may be selected based on business rules when the media player requests a particular piece of content. The selected metadata may indicate what branding element is to be displayed, and how it is to be displayed (e.g., position of element in video rendering window). The media player is then instructed based on the metadata to access and appropriately place the branding elements in or outside of the video rendering window (e.g., overlayed on top of the video content).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Lightningcast LLC
    Inventor: G. Thomas Des Jardins
  • Patent number: 8199254
    Abstract: In a device for separating a synchronous signal in a video signal, a capacitor receives the video signal to obtain a coupling signal, a level determining circuit receives the coupling signal and compares a voltage level of the coupling signal with a number of reference voltages. The reference voltages define several reference voltage ranges, one of which is a predetermined reference voltage range. The level determining circuit outputs an adjusting signal according to a reference voltage range corresponding to a minimum voltage level of the coupling signal within a predetermined time period. A level adjusting circuit has several current sources for receiving the adjusting signal and thus controls the current sources to adjust a DC level of the coupling signal. A synchronous signal separating circuit separates the synchronous signal from the coupling signal when the minimum voltage level of the coupling signal is substantially within the predetermined reference voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Su, Kuo-Chan Huang
  • Patent number: 8201196
    Abstract: SMS messages are conveyed via a TV communication infrastructure for receipt by a TV set-top box having a unique ID. The SMS messages are sent by a cellular telephone to a cellular service provider and are encoded with a unique ID of a destination TV subscriber's TV set-top box so as to be identifiable as destined for the TV communication infrastructure. After identifying that an SMS message is destined for the TV communication infrastructure, the cellular service provider forwards the SMS message to a TV communication gateway, which processes the SMS message, including identifying the unique ID of the TV subscriber's TV set-top box, and forwards data relating to the SMS message to the TV subscriber's TV set-top box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Comverse, Ltd.
    Inventors: Erez Michael, Shlomi Kringel
  • Patent number: 8201195
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment a method is disclosed for inserting data objects into a video stream including but not limited to decomposing using a compression technique video content into a plurality of video portions, a low-quality video portion of the plurality of video portions capable of reproducing a low quality version of the video content, the other video portions capable of reproducing higher quality versions of the video content when combined with the low quality portion; sending the low-quality video portion to the subscriber terminal for storage at the subscriber terminal; and receiving from the subscriber terminal a selection request corresponding to the video content after sending the low-quality video portion to the subscriber terminal. A computer readable medium and apparatus for performing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: Brad A. Medford
  • Patent number: 8191099
    Abstract: Included are embodiments of a method for detecting errors in a set top terminal (STT). At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving error data related to at least one error that occurred in at least one STT and comparing the received error data to at least one signature file, the at least one signature file including a pattern related to at least one documented error. Additional embodiments of the method may also include in response to determining that the received error data does not match the pattern related to at least one documented error, creating a new signature file, the new signature file including at least one pattern associated with the received error data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventors: Lee R. Johnson, James Michael Blackmon, William Felts, III
  • Patent number: 8191093
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for accessing services in a television system. In one embodiment, a DHCT presents a subscriber an EPG presentation containing a plurality of selectable bi-directional services that are purchasable for a period of time and rendered to a buying subscriber on an individualized basis as offered by the cable television system. The subscriber navigates an EPG menu presentation with an input device such as a remote control device and selects a purchasable service by choosing the visual representation that corresponds to the desired service. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selected command into an executable program call that queries service availability and, if the service is available, initiates the selected bi-directional audiovisual service on a personalized session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Arturo A. Rodriguez