Patents Examined by Tat Chio
  • Patent number: 9619887
    Abstract: A motion analysis is applied to a signal to identify high-motion regions and low-motion regions. An analysis of low-level characteristics of the signal, such as a skin tone or contrast analysis, is used to generate a map of regions with low-level characteristics. The map is filtered to identify regions having both low-level characteristics and low motion. Based on a comparison of the area of the regions having both low-level characteristics and low motion to a threshold, regions of interest are identified. If the area is greater than the threshold, the regions of interest are identified as a function of the high-motion regions and of the regions that have both low-level characteristics and low motion. Otherwise, the regions of interest are identified as a function of the high-motion regions and of regions identified using face detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Tea Anselmo, Daniele Alfonso, Diego Andres Angulo Pabon
  • Patent number: 9607401
    Abstract: Estimation techniques for vision-aided inertial navigation are described. In one example, a vision-aided inertial navigation system (VINS) comprises an image source to produce image data for a keyframe and one or more non-keyframes along a trajectory, the one or more non-keyframes preceding the keyframe along the trajectory. The VINS comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to produce IMU data indicative of a motion of the VINS along the trajectory for the keyframe and the one or more non-keyframes, and a processing unit comprising an estimator that processes the IMU data and the image data to compute state estimates of the VINS. The estimator computes the state estimates of the VINS for the keyframe by constraining the state estimates based on the IMU data and the image data for the one or more non-keyframes of the VINS without computing state estimates of the VINS for the one or more non-keyframes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Stergios I. Roumeliotis, Esha D. Nerurkar
  • Patent number: 9609324
    Abstract: An image encoding and decoding method comprising: a coefficient calculator for calculating adaptive interpolation filter coefficient of a current frame; an image encoder for interpolating reference frames using the adaptive interpolation filter coefficient of the current frame and encoding the current frame using the interpolated reference frames; a filter flag encoder for generating and encoding a coefficient-inserted flag or coefficient non-inserted flag as a filter flag according to the adaptive interpolation filter coefficient of the current frame; a coefficient encoder for encoding the adaptive interpolation filter coefficient of the current frame when the filter flag is a coefficient-inserted flag; and a bit stream generator for generating and outputting a bit stream, which includes the encoded current frame and encoded filter flag, and further includes encoded adaptive interpolation filter coefficient of the current frame when the filter flag is the coefficient-inserted flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayoon Kim, Donghoon Han, Kioh Kim, Daeyeon Kim, Yunglyul Lee, Joohee Moon, Haekwang Kim, Byeungwoo Jeon
  • Patent number: 9602856
    Abstract: Software authenticates a first user of a first mobile device and a second user of a second mobile device. Each user agrees or has previously agreed to share video data captured by the user with other authenticated users. The software determines whether the first mobile device is located proximate to the second mobile device. Then the software receives video data captured by the second mobile device and transmits the video data to the first mobile device for display along with an annotation, if the first mobile device is proximate to the second mobile device. The annotation indicates the location of the second mobile device relative to the first mobile device and includes data as to camera angle of the second mobile device received from the second mobile device. The software persistently stores the video data upon receipt of a command from the user of the first mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc
    Inventors: Marco de Sa, David Ayman Shamma, Elizabeth Churchill
  • Patent number: 9600743
    Abstract: A method for directing the field of vision based on personal interests. The method includes receiving a keyword and/or an image file and processing the keyword and/or image file to generate data representing a user interest. The method includes receiving a video input from a camera representative of the field of vision of the camera and processing the video input to identify a visible element in the field of vision of the camera. The method further includes comparing the visible element in the field of vision of the camera and the data representing the user interest to determine whether the visible element is of interest to the user. A notification is provided to the user for identified visible elements that are of interest to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Anderson, Scott B. Katzman, Jacob C. Schneider, Kaleb D. Walton
  • Patent number: 9601126
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for splitting the audio of media content into separate content files without introducing boundary artifacts is described. An exemplary method of streaming media content including audio and video involves a computing system receiving a plurality of content files and staging the encoded portion of the audio of the content files for presentation as a continuous stream. Each of the content files comprises an encoded portion of the video encoded according to a frame rate and having a fixed-time duration and an encoded portion of the audio encoded according to a codec-enforced frame size and having a plurality of full audio frames having the codec-enforced frame size. A duration of the encoded portion of the audio of one or more of the content files is greater than or less than the fixed-time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Calvin Ryan Owen
  • Patent number: 9583139
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for automatically driving portions of a video production workflow according specifications governed by a data-rich storyboard. Embodiments operate in context of a novel video production workflow in which much or all of the production expertise of a traditional production workflow collaborates at a storyboard phase of the workflow to architect a single, data-rich storyboard according to concepts and rules. The rich storyboard is generated and stored in a data framework that drives specifications over the workflow in such a way that portions of the workflow can be automated and consistently repeated. For example, the rich storyboard drives generation of automated coaches for acquisition and pre-auditing of individualized story assets from storymakers. The rich storyboard can then drive automated rendering of the assets into multiple, individualized storyvine video products that each conforms to the rich storyboard concepts, rules, and specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Storyvine, LLC
    Inventor: Kyle Shannon
  • Patent number: 9571813
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a playback device, a playback method, a program, and a recording medium that enable 3D playback in accordance with the capabilities of the playback device. A storage unit 24 stores a one-plane offset capability flag indicating whether or not 3D playback is possible in a one-plane offset mode, which is a mode in which one of two images obtained by shifting an image recorded on a disc 11 in a horizontal direction is output as a left-eye image and the other is output as a right-eye image, and a two-plane capability flag indicating whether or not 3D playback is possible in a two-plane mode, which is a mode in which a left-eye image and a right-eye image that are recorded on the disc are output as they are. A control unit 22 sets a playback mode for 3D playback in accordance with the one-plane offset capability flag and the two-plane capability flag stored in the storage unit 24. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Uchimura
  • Patent number: 9562762
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for automatically generating media and/or data associated with an item. An item imaging apparatus may apply an imaging sequence based on an item being imaged to gather media and/or data associated with the item. The media and/or data associated with the item may be used in the generation of additional data associated with the item. The media and/or data may be in a profile of the item in an electronic marketplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan G. McGuire, Sarah D. Benjamin, Sunil Ramesh, Peter D. Rowley, Matthew Warren Amacker
  • Patent number: 9564042
    Abstract: A communication system and method provide fight detection capability. Bodily parameters associated with fighting, such as limb movements, are pre-stored and individualized for a particular user. The characterization of a fight using limb movements allows for a system that can recognize a fight even when a user is unable to call for assistance. Other bodily parameters are further monitored and weighted to distinguish a fight from other activities. The automatic notification to a dispatch center or control center and notification to peer radios expedites the ability to bring aid to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Fabio M. Costa, Alejandro G. Blanco, Scott M. Alazraki, Shervin Sabripour, Freddy R. Torres
  • Patent number: 9560378
    Abstract: An image coding method includes selecting two or more transform components from among a plurality of transform components that include a translation component and non-translation components, the two or more transform components serving as reference information that represents a reference destination of a current block; coding selection information that identifies the two or more transform components that have been selected from among the plurality of transform components; and coding the reference information of the current block by using reference information of a coded block different from the current block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SUN PATENT TRUST
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshikawa, Hisao Sasai, Kengo Terada
  • Patent number: 9560389
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for network-based storage of requested content are provided. A request for a content item may be received by a content storage device from a customer. Portions of the content item may be extracted from the content item. The content storage device may store the extracted portions of the content item specific to the customer. Additionally, the remainder of the content item may be stored by the content storage device separately from the stored extracted portion. The content item may be reconstructed for the customer using the extracted portions of the content item specific to the customer and the remainder of the content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: John Civiletto, Edgar V. Shrum, Jr., Francisco Gonzalez, Louise Mary Wasilewski
  • Patent number: 9552383
    Abstract: A distributed database management system provides a central database resident on a server that contains database objects. Objects, e.g., program guide data, to be replicated are gathered together into distribution packages called “slices,” that are transmitted to client devices. A slice is a subset of the central database which is relevant to clients within a specific domain, such as a geographic region, or under the footprint of a satellite transmitter. The viewer selects television programs and Web content from displayed sections of the program guide data which are recorded to a storage device. The program guide data are used to determine when to start and end recordings. Client devices periodically connect to the server using a phone line and upload information of interest which is combined with information uploaded from other client devices for statistical, operational, or viewing models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TiVo Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Beach, David C. Platt
  • Patent number: 9551597
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a mobile measurement system includes a handheld device, a measurement device, and an optical sensing device. The measurement device and the optical sensing device are communicatively coupled to the handheld device. The handheld device receives measurement data that comprises at least one measured electrical parameter corresponding to a physical property of an external system. The measurement device generates measurement data that corresponds to a period of time. The measurement device communicates the generated measurement data to the handheld device. The optical sensing device generates optical data corresponding to an interface of the measurement device and the external system where the measurement data is being generated. The generated optical data corresponds to a particular time within the measurement period of time. The mobile measurement system associates and stores the generated optical data for the particular time with measurement data corresponding to the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: David Lawrence Epperson, Glen Howard Vetter
  • Patent number: 9554100
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein utilize a vision sensor that integrates a special-purpose camera with dedicated computer vision (CV) computation hardware and a dedicated low-power microprocessor for the purposes of detecting, tracking, recognizing, and/or analyzing subjects, objects, and scenes in the view of the camera. The vision sensor processes the information retrieved from the camera using the included low-power microprocessor and sends “events” (or indications that one or more reference occurrences have occurred, and, possibly, associated data) for the main processor only when needed or as defined and configured by the application. This allows the general-purpose microprocessor (which is typically relatively high-speed and high-power to support a variety of applications) to stay in a low-power (e.g., sleep mode) most of the time as conventional, while becoming active only when events are received from the vision sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Evgeni P. Gousev, Alok Govil, Jacek Maitan, Nelson Rasquinha, Venkat Rangan
  • Patent number: 9554141
    Abstract: A method for decoding high efficiency video coding, comprising determining whether a coding unit is within an intra slice or an inter slice, determining whether intra block copy has been enabled, reviewing syntax for said coding unit for an intra block copy flag when the coding unit is within an intra slice and intra block copy has been enabled, and omitting reviewing the syntax for the intra block copy flag when the coding unit is within an inter slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Yu, Limin Wang
  • Patent number: 9549184
    Abstract: A method is provided for computing a predicted frame from a first and a second reference frames, the method comprising, for each block of pixels in the predicted frame, the acts of defining a first block of pixels in the first reference frame collocated with a third block of pixels which is the block of pixels in the predicted frame; defining a second block of pixels corresponding, in the second reference frame, to the first block of pixels along the motion vector of the first block from the first to second reference frames; computing a first set of coefficients allowing the transformation of the pixels of the first block into pixels of the second block; computing pixels of the third block using the first set of coefficients and pixels from a fourth block collocated in the first reference frame with the second block of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Orange
    Inventors: Ronggang Wang, Yongbing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9546955
    Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby luminescence images are captured from as-cut or partially processed bandgap materials such as multicrystalline silicon wafers. These images are then processed to provide information about defects such as dislocations within the bandgap material. The resultant information is then utilized to predict various key parameters of a solar cell manufactured from the bandgap material, such as open circuit voltage and short circuit current. The information may also be utilized to apply a classification to the bandgap material. The methods can also be used to adjust or assess the effect of additional processing steps, such as annealing, intended to reduce the density of defects in the bandgap materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: BT IMAGING PTY LTD
    Inventors: Thorsten Trupke, Robert A. Bardos
  • Patent number: 9544664
    Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to adjust the group of pictures size for an encoder during encoding operations. In some implementations, group of pictures size can be reduced during periods of higher likelihood of channel change, and increased during periods of lower likelihood of channel change. Such adjustment can facilitate faster display of pictures after a channel change due to anchor frames being more quickly received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Carol J. Ansley
  • Patent number: 9538240
    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 detecting, at a router, a data packet transmitted from a first media device of a home network to a second media device of the home network; and determining, at the router, that media associated with the data packet is space-shifted when the data packet comprises at least one of media data or command data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: David Howell Wright, David James Croy, Arun Ramaswamy, Jan Besehanic, Brian Mello