Patents Examined by M Good Johnson
  • Patent number: 9728157
    Abstract: A television receiver segments a part of an image depending on image information received from a communication device and pixel information representing the number of pixels in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction of the image. The television receiver judges a size between the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction and that in the lateral direction in the pixel information, and when it is judged that the number of pixels in the longitudinal direction is larger than that in the lateral direction, displays two screens in which the segmented image and another image are juxtaposed on a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nagano, Tsutomu Takahashi, Atsushi Ohnuma, Kenichi Kimura, Hiroyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9721388
    Abstract: A terminal device retains a character image of an own terminal user and a character image of a second terminal user acquired from an AR database server (or second terminal devices) as a character definition in an AR control unit. The terminal device can acquire the position of the second terminal device and a direction in which a camera unit is oriented. The terminal device of a photographer determines whether the user of the second terminal device which is being searched for is present in the acquired direction by causing image recognition unit to identify a face image of a specific user of the second terminal device. When the specific user of the second terminal device is present, the character image of the specific user of the second terminal device is combined in the vicinity of a face image region of the image obtained by the camera unit and is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Mikuni
  • Patent number: 9710972
    Abstract: A method may include displaying, on one or more display devices in a virtual-reality environment, a visual representation of a 3-D virtual scene from the perspective of a subject location in the virtual-reality environment. The method may also include displaying, on the one or more display devices, a chroma-key background with the visual representation. The method may further include recording, using a camera, an image of the subject in the virtual-reality environment against the chroma-key background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Mike Sanders, Kim Libreri, Nick Rasmussen, John Gaeta
  • Patent number: 9704298
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a 360 degree mixed virtual reality environment that provides a 360 degree view of an environment in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. In a number of embodiments, the 360 degree mixed virtual reality environment is obtained by (1) combining one or more real world videos that capture images of an environment with (2) a virtual world environment that includes various synthetic objects that may be placed within the real world clips. Furthermore, the virtual objects embedded within the 360 degree mixed reality environment interact with the real world objects depicted in the real world environment to provide a realistic mixed reality experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Paofit Holdings Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Tonny Espeset, Andrei Richard Frank, Marc Scott Hardy
  • Patent number: 9686346
    Abstract: A method is described. The method comprising the steps of detecting an electronic device being positioned at one of a plurality of discrete positions, and generating data pertaining to at least one application associated with the one detected discrete position for generating or modifying a display object on a display generated by a remote device. A device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Dan Zacharias Gärdenfors, Christopher Engström
  • Patent number: 9672649
    Abstract: A method of exchanging audio-visual communication information between users includes detecting using an image capturing device associated with a wearable communication device, a mirror or image reflecting surface disposed in an environment of a first user, detecting a boundary of the mirror or image reflecting surface in response to the mirror being detected in the environment of the first user, selecting a portion of a first image displayed on the mirror or image reflecting surface within the boundary of the mirror or image reflecting surface, and displaying the portion of the first image as an overlay on a second image to a second user. A corresponding system and computer-readable device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Svetlana Yarosh, Brian S. Amento, Kevin Ansia Li
  • Map
    Patent number: 9620033
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory that are configured to cause the apparatus at least to perform: causing display, in a first display area of a display, of a first map that represents a first geographic area, at a first scale, including a first location and that highlights the first location, wherein the first scale is controlled so that the first geographic area includes the first location but does not include a second location; causing simultaneous display, in a second different display area of the display, of a second map that represents a second geographic area, at a second scale, including the second location and that highlights the second location, wherein the second scale is controlled so that the second geographic area includes the second location but does not include the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Cui Yang Qing
  • Patent number: 9600163
    Abstract: A mobile phone includes a first display 11, a second display 21 arranged juxtaposed with the first display 11, and touch panels 12, 22 disposed on the displays 11, 21 for detecting that an icon has been dragged. In response to user's dragging an icon, a CPU 100 executes a reduced screen display processing of reducing in size a display screen of each of the displays 11, 21 to display the reduced display screens on the display on which the dragging operation is being performed. When the dragging operation has finished, the reduced display screens are returned to the display screens having the original size. Then, the CPU 100 displays the icon at a position, on the display screen having the original size, corresponding to the position of the icon on the reduced display screen at a time when the dragging operation has finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9589382
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering an image using a render setup graph are provided. The render setup graph may be used to configure and manage lighting configuration data as well as external processes used to render the computer-generated image. The render setup graph may include a dependency graph having nodes interconnected by edges along which objects and object configuration data may be passed between nodes. The nodes may be used to provide a source of objects and object configuration data, configure visual effects of an object, partition a set of objects, call external processes, perform data routing functions within the graph, and the like. In this way, the render setup graph may advantageously be used to organize configuration data and execution of processes for rendering an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DreamWorks Animation LLC
    Inventors: Robert Giles Wilson, Evan P. Smyth, Mark Lee, Max Requenes, Peter McNerney
  • Patent number: 9569463
    Abstract: A pre-fetching map data system and method identifies a subset of map data to corresponding to one or more points of interest to be displayed on the map. The map data is stored on a remote map database and in the form of map data tiles. The system identifies those map data tiles that correspond to the subset of map data corresponding to the one or more points of interest, where the identified pre-fetch map data tiles are sent from the remote database to a client device for cache storage. The pre-fetch map data tiles are identified using a variable map tile radius, which when extended from the points of interest defines the map tiles that qualify as pre-fetch map data tiles. The tile radius can be fixed or dynamically adjusted and changes across different map zoom levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gregory Nourse, Michael Siliski, Hans-Olav CaveLie, Ronghui Zhu
  • Patent number: 9566509
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for adaptive rendered environments using user context. The method comprises determining user context data corresponding to a user of a virtual environment, altering a feature of the virtual environment using the user context data to obtain an altered feature, and rendering the altered feature of the virtual environment for display. The feature may include a non-player character in the virtual environment, such as eyesight focus of the non-player character or a physical action of the non-player character. The user context data may correspond to real world position data of a user and may be determined using a camera, for example through image recognition, or using a user device. Additionally, the virtual environment may include a cinematic, interactive game, or user generated content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Paquet, Steven Makofsky
  • Patent number: 9558581
    Abstract: A method for representing virtual information in a view of a real environment is provided that includes the following steps: providing a system setup comprising at least one display device, determining a position of a viewing point relative to at least one component of the real environment, providing a geometry model of the real environment, providing at least one item of virtual information and its position, determining a visualization mode of blending in the at least one item of virtual information on the display device according to the position of the viewing point and the geometry model, calculating a ray between the viewing point and the item of virtual information, and determining a number of boundary intersections by the ray, wherein if the number of boundary intersections is less than 2, the item of virtual information is blended in a non-occlusion mode, otherwise in an occlusion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lejing Wang, Peter Meier, Stefan Misslinger
  • Patent number: 9542720
    Abstract: Captured or input image data is converted into an image of a size of a specific number of pixels. Then, predetermined plural types of different effects are applied to image data obtained through the conversion. Several types of image data items with the applied effects are arranged and simultaneously displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Shimomura, Yuka Jingushi, Hidehiro Komatsu, Akira Nishiyama, Noribumi Shibayama, Ryoko Amano, Miyuki Shirakawa, Kazuya Takeuchi, Takeshi Tanigawa, Daichi Yagi, Yasuhiro Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9536279
    Abstract: A processor is operable to generate a graphics data representation (GDR) for a graphic created at a first resolution and including two or more separated objects. The processor decomposes the objects into contours and determines features and control points along the contours. Additionally, the processor determines constraints for imposition upon the features and control points during scaling, where the constraints include spatial relationships between the control points. The processor stores the constraints, identifications of the features and control points, contour descriptions, and information identifying the first resolution to produce the GDR. Upon acquiring the GDR, a displaying device's processor determines a scaling value based on the first resolution and a second resolution at which the graphic will be displayed, adjusts features and control points of the contours based on the scaling value and the GDR constraints to produce a scaled graphic, and displays the scaled graphic at the second resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Stephen A. Deach
  • Patent number: 9530193
    Abstract: A high dynamic range image editing system for editing an image file having pixels spanning a first range of light intensity levels in an image editing system that only displays differences in the light intensity levels of pixels within a second range of light intensity levels that is less than the first range of light intensity levels, without reducing the range of light intensity levels in the image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Paul E. Debevec, Timothy S. Hawkins, Chris D. X. N. Tchou
  • Patent number: 9519997
    Abstract: Optimally-sized bounding boxes for scene data including procedurally generated geometry are determined by first determining whether an estimated bounding box including the procedural geometry is potentially visible in an image to be rendered. If so, the procedural geometry is generated and an optimal bounding box closely bounding the procedural geometry is determined. The generated procedural geometry may then be discarded or stored for later use. Rendering determines if the optimal bounding box is potentially visible. If so, then the associated procedural geometry is regenerated and rendered. Alternatively, after the estimated bounding box is potentially visible, the generated procedural geometry may be partitioned into subsets using a spatial partitioning scheme. A separate optimal bounding box is determined for each of the subsets. During rendering, if any of the optimal bounding boxes are potentially visible, the associated procedural geometry is regenerated and rendered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventor: David Ryu
  • Patent number: 9514554
    Abstract: When a new element is interactively arranged in cooperative with an input device and a display device, an element arranged just before is specified based on the time relation of the new element to already arranged elements, the association is made to provide a relation between the specified element and the newly arranged element, and the relation between them is displayed on the display device. Therefore, an actual condition in that a series of relational elements is arranged successively in time is utilized, to thereby associate the elements according to the time relation thereof to provide a relation therebetween. Hence, the relation between the elements is easily provided while reflecting the intention of user as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Ryohei Morishita
  • Patent number: 9489714
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding a size of a display screen of a display terminal that displays reflow format document data including a font with a set font size, a determining unit configured to determine whether the size of the display screen obtained from the information differs from a predetermined size, a setting unit configured to, if determined that the size of the display screen differs from the predetermined size, set the font size to a size determined based on the set font size, the size of the display screen, and the predetermined size, and if not determined that the size of the display screen differs from the predetermined size, keep the font size at the set font size, and a controlling unit configured to control the display screen to display the font at the font size set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Osaka
  • Patent number: 9483836
    Abstract: Various aspects of a method and apparatus for video processing may include a computing device communicably coupled to an external device. The computing device may be operable to determine an average vertical velocity and an average horizontal velocity of a subset of pixels in an image frame and determine a depth value for each pixel of the subset of pixels based on calculated motion vectors of the pixel of the subset of pixels, the average vertical velocity of the subset of pixels and the average horizontal velocity of the subset of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel Usikov
  • Patent number: 9449365
    Abstract: Some aspects relate to reception from a user, via a sensor, first data indicative of activity of the user, determination of one or more values of a metric based on the first data, determination of a display scale based on the one or more values, reception from the user, via the sensor, second data indicative of activity of the user over a time interval, determination of a second value of the metric based on the second data, generation of a first graphical indicator representing the second value based on the display scale and the second value, and display of the first graphical indicator on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FITBIT, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Roberts