Patents Examined by Tat Chio
  • Patent number: 8917975
    Abstract: A moving picture/still picture processing system includes a server and communication terminal communicating by network with the server. The communication terminal sends the server a request causing the server to decorate the picture according to a designated decoration method. When the server receives the request, the server generates request identification information (RII) identifying the request, stores the decoration method designated in the request and correlated with the RII, and transmits the RII to the communication terminal. When the communication terminal receives the RII, the communication terminal adds the RII to the picture and transmits it to the server. When the server receives the picture from the communication terminal, the server decorates the picture according to the decoration method corresponding to the RII that added to the picture, stores the decorated picture, and delivers the decorated picture that corresponds to a delivery request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Biglobe Inc.
    Inventors: Masami Eto, Rika Shimizu, Yumi Honaga
  • Patent number: 8903220
    Abstract: A video data outputting apparatus, connected to a display apparatus receiving a broadcast signal and transmits video data recorded in an internal recording unit and/or an inserted recording medium, and video data generated based on the received broadcast signal to the display apparatus play-backs the stored video data, acquires input selection information indicating the input source of the currently displayed video data, and performs control to display information about the broadcast channel corresponding to currently output video data and the video of the broadcast channel on an image area when the video data generated based on the broadcast signal is being output to the display apparatus after the playback is stopped and the display apparatus receives the video data transmitted from the video data outputting apparatus. Then, the video data outputting apparatus is caused to transition to a state where the power consumption of the own apparatus is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8891941
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is an editing apparatus and an editing method for editing a moving image. An editing apparatus, comprises: a means for playing back a moving image; a switching means for switching playback between a first moving image and a second moving image; and a means for, during playback of the first moving image, in response to switching playback from the first moving image to the second moving image, setting a reference point at a last played back position of the first moving image. The editing apparatus further comprises: a controller for receiving an instruction from a user, wherein the switching means carries out the switching from the first moving image to the second moving image, in response to the controller receiving a selection of the second moving image from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: GVBB Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Koichi Abe, Shogo Tsubouchi
  • Patent number: 8861926
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for streaming digital media content with transition effects. Audio data may be modulated and received by the streaming device for an audio fade-in effect. Similarly, video data may be modulated to perform various visual effects. Such a technique allows for fading-in of audio and/or video, fading-out of audio and/or video, and effects that blend audio from different content and video from different content during a transition from one digital media content to a different digital media content or within the same digital media content. The modulated audio and video data to generate the audio or video effect during a transition may be precomputed or computed in real-time and transmitted to the streaming device. The streaming device switches between original unmodulated content streams and effect content streams when transitions are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil D. Hunt, Christian Kaiser
  • Patent number: 8849097
    Abstract: Method and systems for operating a media equipment device having at least a full-power mode and an off-power mode are provided. A voltage supply to the media equipment device may be controlled by the media equipment device itself or by an external power management unit to automatically power-off the media equipment device, and power the device back on a future time. Prior to powering off the media equipment device, a portion of program schedule information stored in the volatile memory of the media equipment device may be mirrored to nonvolatile memory and may be restored on a priority basis after the media equipment device is powered back up. An external power management unit for controlling the media equipment device may also automatically detect and identify devices in the home based on a power signature of the device and manage the operation of the device based on the identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Richard Klappert
  • Patent number: 8836756
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for acquiring 3D depth information. The apparatus includes a pattern projection unit, an image acquisition unit, and an operation unit. The pattern projection unit projects light, radiated by an infrared light source, into a space in a form of a pattern. The image acquisition unit acquires an image corresponding to the pattern using at least one camera. The operation unit extracts a pattern from the image, analyzes results of the extraction, and calculates information about a 3D distance between objects existing in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ji-Young Park, Jae-Ho Lee, Seung-Ki Hong, Hee-Kwon Kim, Seung-Woo Nam
  • Patent number: 8824861
    Abstract: Certain interactive role performance systems and methods are disclosed that allow users to select a role to play in a prerecorded video, such as a movie scene, and to replace an original actor of that role with the user's performance. In certain examples, the user selects a prerecorded scene from which a character has been removed and records his or her performance. The interactive role performance system can insert the user's performance in place of the original character, thereby creating the appearance that the user is interacting, such as in real-time, with the other characters in the movie scene. Moreover, systems and methods can further utilize background subtraction techniques to isolate the user image. In further examples, the recorded user performance is stored separately from the prerecorded video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Yoostar Entertainment Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Gentile, John Gentile, Scott Wilker, Mark Waldrep, Matthew Veenstra
  • Patent number: 8818174
    Abstract: A reproducing unit reproduces/displays moving image data; a drawing unit enables a user to draw a freehand image on a displayed moving image while reproducing the moving image; a recording unit records freehand image data for reconstructing the freehand image drawn by the drawing unit in synchronism with a timing of reproducing the moving image data; an instruction unit causes reproduction of the moving image to start from an arbitrary point in the middle of the moving image; and a control unit reads out the freehand image before the instructed point by the instruction to start reproduction of the moving image from a point in the middle of a drawing operation of the freehand image, and displays the readout freehand image superimposed on a displayed moving image when the reproduction starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ota, Toshimichi Ise
  • Patent number: 8792780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recoding device, a recording method, a playback device, a playback method, a program, and a recording medium, whereby synchronization between a basic stream and an extended stream obtained by encoding a plurality of video data using a predetermined encoding method to be recoded in a recording medium such as a BD or the like using a predetermined encoding method can be secured. The same point-in-time information with PCR synchronization being secured at the time of encoding is set to a packet storing the data of a certain picture of a Base view video, and a packet storing the data of the picture of the corresponding Dependent view video. Even in the event that a Base view video stream and a Dependent view video stream are each included in a different TS, the same point-in-time information is set to a packet storing the data of the corresponding picture. The present invention may be applied to a playback device compatible with the BD-ROM standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinobu Hattori
  • Patent number: 8761573
    Abstract: A recording device includes: an input portion to which data to be recorded is input; and a recording control portion which transfers the data input to the input portion to a recording medium to record the data in the recording medium by using a certain file system, and specifies a partial region or some files in the data recorded in the recording medium to set the partial region or the files as recording information of an additional information region prepared in the file system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Kishikawa, Masayuki Tamura, Tsutomu Shimosato, Hisao Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8761577
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for playing an identical moving picture on different types of devices, in which one terminal registers both a moving picture played thereon and the play information thereof in a server, and another terminal can download the moving picture and the play information from the server and continuously play the moving picture from a scene at which the playing thereof had previously been terminated. A server according to the present invention includes a communication unit (410) for communicating with a user terminal. A picture management unit (420) receives a moving picture and play information thereof from the user terminal, and provides the moving picture and the play information to a terminal which is of a type different from that of the user terminal. A picture information database (430) stores the moving picture and the play information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Meon Bae
  • Patent number: 8761569
    Abstract: A method of storing multi angle data. Data for a plurality of angles of a scene are stored in interleaved blocks. Sizes of the interleaved blocks are integral multiples of sizes of integral numbered aligned units that include packets. Angle change points are included in each of the interleaved blocks, allowing a reproducing apparatus to seamlessly jump from one angle to another angle during reproduction of the multi angle data. A number of the angle points recorded on the information storage medium is computed so that a jumping distance required by the data during reproduction does not exceed a maximum jumping distance of a reproducing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-jin Moon, Kil-soo Jung, Sung-wook Park
  • Patent number: 8755671
    Abstract: A reproducing apparatus has three reproducing modes that are a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode. In the first mode, when a program that has been reproduction restricted is tried to be reproduced, the reproducing operation is paused and the user is asked whether he or she wants to reproduce the program. Corresponding to the user's reply, the reproducing operation is performed or prohibited. In the second mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is prohibited from being reproduced. In the third mode, a program that has been reproduction restricted is unconditionally reproduced. When the power of the apparatus is turned on at step S31, a prompt that causes the user to select one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode is displayed. At step S33, a process for designating a mode is performed. Information of the designated mode is stored in a nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Teppei Yokota, Nobuyuki Kihara, Takumi Okaue
  • Patent number: 8750682
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating interactions between a client browser and a video hosting server is provided. An interface can be generated that allows client devices and users to upload videos to the video hosting server. Modules in the video hosting server and/or the client device can process (transcode, compress, tag, and etc.) the videos and then store the videos to a video database. The interface can also enable searching for videos that are stored in the video database through keyword searches. The interface can also display related and/or suggested videos based on the video being displayed and/or contextual information about the user. The interface can be customizable with different views and layouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander David Nicksay, Jennifer Bilotta, Alexandra Jane Crane
  • Patent number: 8731373
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing editing tools that allow a user to manipulate media provided by a media content source. Media editing tools may include content analysis tools capable of extracting information from the media content itself, and may include segment identification and editing tools. Editing tools may be created by a user, and stored or shared with other users. Users may be able to specify and customize a set of storage space requirements that impose constraints on the type, quantity and content of stored assets. Automatic storage management tools provide tools with which stored and to-be-stored assets may be transformed in order to maintain satisfaction of storage preferences and requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald A. Gerbasi, III
  • Patent number: 8731375
    Abstract: In a recording mode for simultaneously recording moving image files onto a plurality of recording mediums, a recording apparatus adds same identification information to the respective moving image files to be simultaneously recorded onto the plurality of recording mediums and record the obtained files in such a manner that when a recording space capacity of one of the plurality of recording mediums is smaller than a predetermined value or when there is an instruction to stop the recording to a designated recording medium among the plurality of recording mediums, the respective moving image files which are being recorded onto the plurality of recording are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 8718441
    Abstract: A method is provided to perform anti-aging techniques in an informational display. An informational display is located on the front bezel of a consumer recording device that displays information related to the content being recorded or played or the operation of the device. To increase the life of the display, displayed text is shifted within the display so that pixel use in the display is more evenly distributed with the pixels in the display. To determine the direction and shape of the shift, real-time calculations of pixel use are made or a simulator is used to compute the probable use of each pixel in the display over a certain period of time. Another anti-aging technique is to dim the display of information after a specified amount of time of display at normal brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Hochberg, Charles Alexander, Andrew Marsh
  • Patent number: 8718446
    Abstract: A system comprising at least one processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to include at least one digital watermark in at least one piece of video content, wherein said digital watermark is invisible to the naked eye in an original recording of the at least one piece of video content but is visible to the naked eye in a recorded copy of the at least one piece of video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Isaac S. Daniel
  • Patent number: 8682137
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media content associated with a digital recording/playback device are disclosed. An example method for detecting space-shifted media content includes receiving media content at a first recording/playback device at a first viewing site at a monitored location, requesting data associated with the media content from a second device at the monitored location, and determining if the data associated with the media content indicates that the media content has been space-shifted to the first recording/playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: David Howell Wright, Arun Ramaswamy, Brian Mello, David James Croy, Jan Besehanic
  • Patent number: 8682139
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for starting playback of an audio portion of digital media content before a video portion of the digital media content is received. An advantage of the disclosed technique is that the perceived delay from the time when a user selects the digital media content to when playback of the digital media content begins is reduced. The audio may be faded-in and one or more still frames of video data may be displayed while the video stream is retrieved. Additionally, a license for DRM (Digital Rights Management) encryption of the title content may be retrieved before starting playback of the video stream, so that the digital media content that is retrieved is also protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil D. Hunt, Christian Kaiser