Patents Examined by Robert J Hance
  • Patent number: 10972757
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding images. The image-decoding method comprises the steps of: receiving a bit stream including information regarding an NAL unit type; and checking whether or not the NAL unit in the bit stream is a reference picture based on said information regarding an NAL unit type and decoding the NAL unit. The information regarding an NAL unit type indicates whether the NAL unit is a reference reading picture or not a reference reading picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hendry Hendry, Yongjoon Jeon, Chulkeun Kim, Sangoh Jeong, Byeongmoon Jeon, Jungsun Kim
  • Patent number: 10964039
    Abstract: A depth sensing system includes a sensor having first and second sensor pixels to receive light from a surface. The system also includes a filter to allow transmission of full spectrum light to the first sensor pixel and visible light to the second sensor pixel while preventing transmission of infrared light to the second sensor pixel. The system further includes a processor to analyze the full spectrum light and the visible light to determine a depth of the surface. The filter is disposed between the sensor and the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Michael Link
  • Patent number: 10958967
    Abstract: A screen mirroring receiving device capable of receiving mirroring streams comprising audio-visual data, the mirroring streams conforming to different vendor-provided screen-mirroring protocols, and capable of processing the mirroring streams for audio-visual rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: App Dynamic ehf
    Inventor: Pratik Kumar
  • Patent number: 10955275
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for calibrating contrast measurements from laser speckle imaging systems to accurately determine unknown particle motion characteristics, such as flow rate. The calibration stores to memory calibration data, which may include a set of measurements from samples with known particle characteristics and/or estimates of noise, including the effects on contrast arising from undesired signals unrelated to the unknown particle motion characteristics. The calibration data may be accessed and used to correct an empirical measurement of contrast and/or interpolate a value of the unknown particle motion characteristic. The system may include a light source, photodetector, processor, and memory, which can be combined into a single device, such as a wearable device, for providing calibrated flow measurements. The device may be used, for example, to measure blood flow, cardiac output, and heart rate, and can be used to amplify the pulsatile signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Tyler Bywaters Rice, Sean Michael White, Bruce Yee Yang
  • Patent number: 10945034
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which the approach displays a main video feed and multiple secondary video feeds on a display. The multiple secondary video feeds are embedded in the main video feed at multiple locations based on visual characteristics sets of the multiple secondary video feeds. The approach dynamically detects a level of interest of a user at a first one of the locations in the main video feed based on a set of physical characteristics of the user. The approach identifies a first one of secondary video feeds that corresponds to the first location and, in turn, resizes the first secondary video feed based on the detected level of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Stephen C. Hammer
  • Patent number: 10921484
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that performs motion analysis in a field of interest. The system may include at least one gateway disposable proximal to the field of interest. Further, the system may include a plurality of motion sensors. Further, a motion sensor may include a photodetector array, a processor and a wireless transmitter. Further, the wireless transmitter may be configured to transmit the digital information to at least one of a motion sensor of the plurality of motion sensors and the at least one gateway. Additionally, the system may include a plurality of video cameras disposable at a plurality of key locations in the field of interest. Further, at least one video camera may be further configured to transmit a part of a corresponding image sequence to at least one of the remote monitoring center through the at least one gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: RELIANCE CORE CONSULTING
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Leduc
  • Patent number: 10924802
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems to collect audience measurement data are disclosed. Disclosed example systems include a first processor to collect (i) first media identification data corresponding to a first time period and (ii) second media identification data corresponding to a second time period after the first time period, the first media identification data and the second media identification data associated with a monitored location. Disclosed example systems also include a second processor to (i) develop behavior data based on the first media identification data and people meter data collected during the first time period with a people meter associated with the monitored location and (ii) identify an audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Brian Shane Fuhrer
  • Patent number: 10904621
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor media presentations are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include presenting information via a display of a media device, the information indicating that monitor software in the media device can be enabled, the monitor software to monitor media presented by the media device, the monitor software to be disabled by default. Disclosed example methods also include detecting a first user input that is to authorize the monitor software in the media device to be enabled, and in response to detection of the first user input: (i) enabling the monitor software in the media device to generate and report at least one of video fingerprints, audio fingerprints, video watermarks or audio watermarks representative of media presented by the media device, and (ii) transmitting, via a network interface, a notification to a remote monitoring entity to indicate that the monitor software in the media device has been enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Mark C. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10904614
    Abstract: A universal competition generating system and method are provided which may be configured to enable users to create competition events which may each have one or more competition tasks that establish or describe a competition behavior they want done or performed by one or more users. Users performing the competition tasks may record the competition task behavior as a completion proof via their client device by saving a picture, video, and/or other digital media, preferably with accompanying text description to a system database for retrieval. This uploading of proof is a “completion”, and the system may screen and accept only unique completion proofs as satisfying the competition task(s) of a competition event to prevent fraud. The completion proofs submitted by the users and the data associated with them may be used by the system to rank the users and groups thereby enabling competition between the users and/or groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Glenn Roy Thomas
  • Patent number: 10904499
    Abstract: A reference-color-list generating unit of a server generates a reference color list on the basis of reference color lists stored in a CLDB, at a timing reported from a program-information management unit. An S-metadata generating unit generates S metadata from TV program information stored in an RVDB and the reference color list. A C-metadata generating unit of a user terminal generates C metadata from individual information of each frame constituting a captured image and the reference color list. An authenticity determining unit determines whether to permit or deny check-in by a user on the basis of the obtained C metadata, the S metadata extracted by the CMDB, and program detail information managed by the program-information management unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CYGAMES, INC.
    Inventor: Shuichi Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 10904642
    Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to methods, apparatus, and computer readable media configured to adaptively process video data. Media presentation data is associated with video data encoded in a plurality of formats, each format associated with a different bit rate. The media presentation data is generated to include first data indicative of whether the media presentation data is for static video data or dynamic video data, and second data indicative of at least one location reference to a location of a content update to the video data. A client determines, from the media presentation data, the first data and the second data, and downloads a media segment of the video data based on the first data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: MEDIATEK Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Lulin Chen, Xin Wang
  • Patent number: 10893322
    Abstract: A method of displaying multimedia content includes determining a type, display capabilities, and a network connection associated with a user device, streaming at least one video stream to the user device, and inspecting the at least one video stream to determine an identity of a user and context associated with the at least one video stream, and a time the at least one video stream was displayed. The method includes comparing the at least one video stream to history, associated with the user, to determine whether the at least one video stream is typical in relation to the user, comparing the context with history of other users to determine whether a social variable is associated with the at least one video stream, and updating the history based on the context, time, type, whether at least one video stream was typical, and whether social variable was present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: MIMIK TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Seyed M. Sharif-Ahmadi, Fay Arjomandi
  • Patent number: 10893327
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for recommending a media asset based on a geographic location at which that media asset was frequently consumed. For example, the system may monitor a location, such as New York City or Times Square, to determine popular media assets watched there, such as “The Avengers,” and when another user visits New York City, the system may then notify the user that the movie, such as “The Avengers,” is associated with New York City. The system stores the geographic locations associated with the media asset in the database based on the consumption of the media asset so that other users may be notified which media assets are associated with each geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel C. Dalbec, Jonathan A. Logan, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Alexander W. Liston, William L. Thomas, Margret B. Schmidt, Mathew C. Burns
  • Patent number: 10887603
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an image-encoding method comprises the following steps: receiving image information; generating a restored block for the current block based on the image information; and generating a finally restored block for the current block by applying an in-loop filter to the restored block on the basis of the image information. According to the present invention, image-encoding/decoding efficiency may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Wook Park, Jae Hyun Lim, Jung Sun Kim, Joon Young Park, Young Hee Choi, Byeong Moon Jeon, Yong Joon Jeon
  • Patent number: 10880620
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing the playback of streamed content on multiple playback devices is disclosed. The systems and methods include receiving time information based on a network time source in the playback devices connected to a defined network. The playback clock in each playback device is set based upon the time information. A first playback device then generates presentation time information including a start time for playback and broadcast the presentation time information to the other playback device over the defined network. The playback devices use the presentation time information to adjust the presentation time stamps of the frames of the media content in the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: DIVX, LLC
    Inventor: William David Amidei
  • Patent number: 10880612
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for integrating a broadcast media stream with media streams from one or more amateur sources. In one implementation, a method includes receiving, at a stream integrator, one or more user media streams captured by one or more user capture devices, receiving a broadcast stream from a broadcast provider, selecting at least one of the one or more user media streams based on one or more parameters, and integrating one or more of the selected user media streams into the broadcast stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jason Anguiano
  • Patent number: 10873781
    Abstract: Methods and systems for packaging, transcoding, and fragmenting files (e.g., video content are described. Video content may be transcoded into fix size, variable duration fragments files that satisfy a target fragment file size. Those fragment files may be received, decoded to recover original frames of the underlying video, and then repackaged as new fragment files that are grouped based on overall file size. As a result, the new fragments may have different playback durations, but their overall file sizes may be the same and/or within a target fragment file size (TFS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Pikus, Ryan McMurray, Yasser F. Syed
  • Patent number: 10869089
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for preventing display of blocked content may include (i) displaying, by the computing device, content to a user, (ii) receiving, from a user, an indication to block the content, (iii) adding the content to a block list, (iv) receiving, at a later time, the content to display to the user, (v) determining the content is on the block list, and (vi) in response to determining the content is on the block list, performing a security action to prevent display of the content. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: NORTONLIFELOCK, INC.
    Inventor: Santhanakrishnan KC
  • Patent number: 10869073
    Abstract: A method for playing a movie asset in several playback devices. The method receives a request to play a movie asset and synchronizes clocks between a first device and a second device, which is a portable device. The method signals a start of the playback of the asset through the first and second playback devices, where playback on the second device is synchronized with playback on the first device. The method wirelessly transmits an alert message that identifies the asset through the first and second devices and includes a description of an upcoming or future segment of the asset, where a first version of the segment is played back through the first device. In response to receiving the alert message, the second device becomes configured to select a second version of the segment in accordance with i) user settings of the portable device and ii) the description of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley M. Mayalil, Cole M. Stewart, Rajesh Ambati
  • Patent number: 10869095
    Abstract: A media system, receives a received sequence of media content, for presentation at the media system and generates a comparison fingerprint of the received sequence of media content. The comparison fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the received sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for identification of additional content to a server system. The request is based at least in part on the comparison fingerprint. The media system receives a response to the request, including information enabling additional content to be selected for display at the media system based at least in part on the identification of the received sequence of media content, and presents a displayed sequence of media content that includes at least a portion of the received sequence of media content and at least a portion of the additional content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Gordon