Patents Examined by M Good Johnson
  • Patent number: 9279602
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for provisioning a site with an energy system such as a solar energy system. A system according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a user interface module providing a graphical user interface for receiving information from a user, for example a potential purchaser. The information includes location information for the site to be provisioned. An image retrieval module is coupled to the user interface module and to a source of geographical information. The image retrieval module retrieves at least one image of the site corresponding to the location provided by the user. A sizing module is configured to enable a user to measure an installation surface represented in the image. Energy system components are selected based on the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SUNGEVITY INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Ian Kennedy, Adam Pryor, Andrew Birch
  • Patent number: 9275487
    Abstract: A method for performing non-affine deformations. The method includes receiving data representing mathematical vectors associated with elements defining an object. The elements are organized in a hierarchy, a different subset of mathematical vectors is associated with one or more elements, and the mathematical vectors within each subset are defined relative to a local coordinate space associated with each element. The method further includes determining that a first non-affine deformer is to be applied to a first set of the elements, and, for each element in the first set, applying the first non-affine deformer to world coordinate space values corresponding to the mathematical vectors within the subset of mathematical vectors associated with the element to generate modified world coordinate space values for the mathematical vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Pixar Animation Studios
    Inventors: Dirk Van Gelder, George Elkoura, Adam Woodbury
  • Patent number: 9268411
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for controlling a display, which method comprises the steps of displaying a portion of a visual presentation (VP) on the display (4) and aiming a pointing device (1) comprising a camera (2) at a target area (A) to indicate a target (PT) in the visual presentation (VP), whereby the target (PT) may be inside or outside of a portion (14) of the visual presentation (VP) currently visible on the display (4). An image (3) of the target area (A) aimed at by the pointing device (1) is generated and interpreted to determine the location of the target (PT) within the visual presentation (VP). The visual presentation (VP) is adjusted as necessary to display that portion of the visual presentation (VP) which encompasses the target (PT). The invention also describes a pointing device (1), a display control interface (8, 8?, 8?) and a system comprising such a pointing device (1) and display control interface (8, 8?, 8?) suitable for applying this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V
    Inventors: Eric Thelen, Holger R. Scholl
  • Patent number: 9256362
    Abstract: Provided is a network system including at least first and second communication terminals capable of communicating with each other via a network. The first communication terminal causes handwritten data input in response to an instruction for a point on an image to be displayed in a certain position on the image corresponding to this point, associates the point information about the point with the handwritten data and transmits the point information and the handwritten data to the second communication terminal. Based on the point information and the handwritten data from the first communication terminal, the second communication terminal causes at least a part of the image to be displayed on a second display and also causes the handwritten data to be displayed in a location in accordance with the point information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Yamamoto, Masahide Takasugi, Misuzu Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9253416
    Abstract: A device and method of background substitution are disclosed. One or more cameras in a mobile device obtain a depth image. A processor in or external to the device segments the foreground from the background of the image. The original background is removed and a stored background image or video is substituted in place of the original background. The substituted background is altered dependent on the attitude and motion of the device, which is sensed by one or more sensors in the device. A portion of the stored background selected as the substitute background varies in correspondence with the device movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Dunn, Terance B. Blake
  • Patent number: 9240076
    Abstract: Disclosed is an information processing apparatus including virtual object management section (104) that manages virtual object management information of the information processing apparatus thereof on a virtual object disposed in an augmented real space shared by a group to which this information processing apparatus belongs. Communication section (107) receives virtual object management information of another information processing apparatus from this other information processing apparatus belonging to another group, the information regarding a virtual object disposed in an augmented real space shared in the other group. Reference point setting section (103) sets a common reference point based on the virtual object management information of the information processing apparatus and the virtual object management information of the other information processing apparatus, the common reference point being commonly used by the other group and the group to which the information processing apparatus belongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nishikawa, Ryo Yokoyama, Keisuke Hayata, Masaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9224322
    Abstract: A method and a system involve the insertion of digital data into a number of video frames of a video stream, such that the video frames contain both video content and the inserted digital data. The video, including the inserted digital data is then visually conveyed to and received by an augmented reality device without the use of a network connection. In the augmented reality device, the digital data is detected, processed and used to provide computer-generated data and/or information. The computer-generated data and/or information is then presented on a display associated with the augmented reality device or otherwise reproduced through the augmented reality device, where the computer-generated data and/or information supplements the video content so as to enhance the viewing experience of the augmented reality device user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: APX LABS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Martellaro, Brian Ballard, Jeffrey E. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9224219
    Abstract: Systems and method for presenting a free-form drawing are described. In some aspects, a first point, a second point, and a third point from an input curve in the free-form drawing are received. A first quadratic Bezier curve is determined, where a control point of the first quadratic Bezier curve includes the second point and endpoints of the first quadratic Bezier curve include the first point and the third point. A first portion of the first quadratic Bezier curve is provided for display, where endpoints of the first portion of the first quadratic Bezier curve include the first point and a second terminal point, and where the first portion of the first quadratic Bezier curve does not include the third point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: CITRIX SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Frederic Mayot
  • Patent number: 9218680
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems for rendering pages or documents with both graphical and textual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil, Paul Albrecht, Peter Chapman, Jeff Brewer
  • Patent number: 9218789
    Abstract: An image positioning system provides an interactive visualization that includes a representation of a geographic area and several camera pose indicators, each of which indicates a location within the geographic area at which a corresponding image was obtained. An operator may select one a pose indicators and adjust the position of the pose indicator relative to the representation of the geographic area. In response, the image positioning system may automatically generate a corrected location at which the image corresponding to the selected pose indicator was obtained. The corrected location then may be stored in a database and used for various applications that utilize image positioning data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Lininger, Dragomir Anguelov
  • Patent number: 9205330
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to virtual world navigation and provide a method, system and computer program product for applying temporal rankings to elements in a virtual world. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for temporally ranking locations in a virtual world can be provided. The method can include timing a duration of visit for different locations in a virtual world, computing a temporal score for the different locations, and displaying a ranking of the locations by temporal score. For instance, computing a temporal score for the different locations can include computing a sum of durations for each of the different locations, or computing an average of durations for each of the different locations, to name two examples. Optionally, computing a temporal score for the different locations also can include filtering the durations according to a date or time range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Philip S. P. Chan, Kenneth Sabir
  • Patent number: 9208593
    Abstract: A system and method for storing a plurality data points, each data point representing a geographic location, a first set of data points representing a first geometric object and a second set of data points representing a second geometric object. The system and method then remove a first data point from the first set of data points representing the first geometric object based on at least a distance between a first location represented by the first data point and a second location represented by a second data point of the second set of data points representing a second geometric object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael L. Asher
  • Patent number: 9202304
    Abstract: A system provides for display of results from performance data analysis that presents mini-chart overlays on a topology map based on intelligent analytics for components in a I/O data path of a host or other object. The mini-charts may be advantageously used to show criticality of impact to assist a user with incident avoidance and/or to provide fast incident resolution. When launching into the topology map, the user may enable mini-charts and visually see from the charts where a possible performance bottleneck is detected by the analytics. In an embodiment, the mini-charts for the most relevant metrics may be displayed and identified for criticality, such as by color. The colors may be determined by thresholds, that may be set by a user and/or determined by the system, and may be calculated automatically based on learned base line, maximum line and minimum line operations over set times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Rony R. Baenziger, Hanna Yehuda, Gary K. Roberts, JoAnne Hubbard, Mark A. Arakelian, Katarzyna Leskow
  • Patent number: 9182898
    Abstract: A method for operating a display device of a motor vehicle, by which image content in a shift step or in a plurality of shift steps which are carried out one after another with an image repetition frequency are shifted to a target position on a screen, and in the process the target position is predefined by a memory content of a target position memory, and the memory content is changed as a function of signal pulses which are generated by an operator control element, activated by a user, the pulse rate of which is lower than the image repetition frequency. The scrolling is intended to take place uniformly. For this purpose, a sequence composed of a plurality of component pulses is generated for at least one of the signal pulses, and the memory content is changed with the image repetition frequency on the basis of the component pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Georg Schlagbauer
  • Patent number: 9165405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for representing a virtual object in a real environment, having the following steps: generating a two-dimensional image of a real environment by means of a recording device, ascertaining a position of the recording device relative to at least one component of the real environment, segmenting at least one area of the real environment unmarked in reality in the two-dimensional image for identifying at least one segment of the real environment in distinction to a remaining part of the real environment while supplying corresponding segmentation data, and merging the virtual object with the two-dimensional image of the real environment with consideration of the segmentation data such that at least one part of the segment of the real environment is removed from the image of the real environment. The invention permits any collisions of virtual objects with real objects that occur upon merging with a real environment to be represented in a way largely close to reality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Metaio GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Meier, Stefan Holzer
  • Patent number: 9165388
    Abstract: A method for rectangular cropping including the steps of: (i) providing a sequence of images on a graphical interface device; (ii) analyzing each pixel in the first image included in the sequence of images; (iii) locating a boundary between the background of the first image and the border of the first image; (iv) determining the degree off true horizontal of the first image; (v) rotating the first image based on the determining step; (vi) applying a cropping operation to the first image; and (vii) automatically applying the cropping operation to each other image in the sequence of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Delia, Wayne M. Delia
  • Patent number: 9165538
    Abstract: A method of generating an image comprises receiving a signal over a USB interface comprising encoded display data for one or more rectangular group of pixel tiles within an image and position data for the or each group of pixel tiles. The coefficients are obtained from the encoded display data, maybe by converting variable bit length fields into AC coefficients and an inverse Haar transform performed on them to generate pixel data for each rectangular group of pixel tiles. A frame buffer, which may be part of the display, is then updated with the generated pixel data ready for output to the display device. Copy protection may also be incorporated using AES negotiated over HDPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: DisplayLink (UK) Limited
    Inventor: William Stoye
  • Patent number: 9165533
    Abstract: Display rotation management is described. A device may include sensors disposed within a housing that produce an output usable to determine an orientation of a display device disposed on a surface of the housing. A rotation manager module disposed within the housing may process the output of the sensors to determine the orientation of the display device. The rotation manager module may calculate an average orientation of the display device over a time interval and a variance of the orientation. Based on the variance of the orientation in relation to a threshold amount, the rotation manager module can set a screen orientation of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin P. Paulson
  • Patent number: 9163492
    Abstract: Downhole fluid treatment planning systems and methods should enable efficient creation, review, and editing of downhole fluid treatment plans. In some of the disclosed embodiments, a downhole fluid treatment planning method includes receiving downhole environment information. The method also includes generating a polar graph with multiple stage type wedges to visually represent fluid coverages or volumes of a downhole fluid treatment plan based on the downhole environment information. Meanwhile, a system for downhole fluid treatment planning includes a memory having software and an output device. The system also includes a processor coupled to the memory to execute the software. The software configures the processor to receive downhole environment information and to output a polar graph. The polar graph includes multiple stage type wedges to visually represent fluid coverages or volumes of a downhole fluid treatment plan based on the downhole environment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Zoltan D. Stiffel, Dwight D Fulton, Jaynee B Lafferty
  • Patent number: 9153073
    Abstract: A source video stream is processed to extract a desired object from the remainder of video stream to produce a segmented video of the object. Additional relevant information, such as the orientation of the source camera for each frame in the resulting segmented video of the object, is also determined and stored. During replay, the segmented video of the object, as well as the source camera orientation are obtained. Using the source camera orientation for each frame of the segmented video of the object, as well as target camera orientation for each frame of a target video stream, a transformation for the segmented video of the object may be produced. The segmented video of the object may be displayed over the target video stream, which may be a live video stream of a scene, using the transformation to spatially register the segmented video to the target video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Tobias Martin Langlotz, Mathaus Zingerle, Gerhard Reitmayr