Patents Examined by William Tran
  • Patent number: 8670652
    Abstract: A television PC 40 detects an advertisement of a program scheduled to be broadcasted from within pictures based on TV signals transmitted by any one of TV broadcasting stations, then acquires program information for specifying this program (S101-S107), and registers reservation information based on the program information according to an instruction given from a viewer of the pictures in a reservation information management table 43d, thereby reserving the recording of the program (S108, S109).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yuki Yai, Masashi Urushihara, Takashi Terasaki
  • Patent number: 8666227
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a capture module which acquires video data and audio data output from a first module to a second module, a time stamp module which respectively adds time information to the video data and audio data acquired by the capture module, an effect module which performs correction processing of at least one of the video data and audio data acquired by the capture module, and a synchronization output module which synchronizes and outputs the video data and audio data at least one of which has undergone the correction processing by the effect module to the second module based on the time information added by the time stamp module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Seiichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8655151
    Abstract: An editing apparatus is disclosed. A story determination block determines a story expressed by a time function and provides a reference for selecting an image from among candidate images. An evaluation value computation block computes an evaluation value for each of the candidate images for each selection time in the story based on the story determined by the story determination block and at least one feature value indicative of a feature of each of candidate images set to each thereof. An image selection block selects an image for each selection time from among the candidate images based on the computed evaluation value. An editing processing block links selection images that are images selected by the image selection block for each selection time to each other in a time-dependent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8634697
    Abstract: A sound signal control device includes a change determining unit to determine a change of a reproduction speed of input data containing a moving picture signal and a sound signal; a changeover detecting unit to detect, as a changeover timing, a period in which a degree of coincidence of a moving picture is equal to or larger than a predetermined value when the change determining unit determines the change to a different reproduction speed during the reproduction; a reproducing unit to reproduce a sound and the moving picture based on the input data and, when the change determining unit determines the change of the reproduction speed, changing over the reproduction speed at the changeover timing; and a sound control unit to mute a sound output based on the sound signal at the changeover timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Futjitsu Limited
    Inventor: Toshiro Ohbitsu
  • Patent number: 8611731
    Abstract: A digital television (DTV) transmitting system includes a first frame decoder, a second frame decoder, and a frame multiplexer. The first frame decoder forms first enhanced data frames, encodes each data frame for error correction, forms a first super frame by combining the encoded first frames, and interleaves the first super frame. The second frame decoder forms second enhanced data frames, encodes each data frame for error correction, forms a second super frame by combining the encoded second frames, and interleaves the second super frame. The frame multiplexer multiplexes the interleaved first and second enhanced data frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kim, In Hwan Choi, Kook Yeon Kwak, Jong Moon Kim, Won Gyu Song, Hyoung Gon Lee, Byoung Gill Kim
  • Patent number: 8606081
    Abstract: A stream data recording device is provided for recording stream data on a recording medium. The stream data recording device includes a stream reception/analysis unit (101), acquiring stream data from reception data, a a missing portion detection unit (102) detecting a missing packet portion in the acquired stream data, a section information generation unit (103) generating time information specifying the duration of the unreceivable section including the packets whose missing portion has been detected and position information specifying the position of the unreceivable section in the stream data, and a recording unit (105) recording the acquired stream data, the generated time information and position information on the recording medium. Thus, even if the recording-target stream data is missing a portion during reception of the stream data, the data can be correctly played back from the seek time specified by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Hirayama, Akihiro Miyazaki, Michiko Fuchikami, Norihiro Matsui, Nobunari Murai
  • Patent number: 8600213
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for reconstructing a video signal such that selected signal components have been emphasized. Methods are disclosed for reducing the source video data to its independent signal components for selection. The source video is reconstructed, in a manner more fully disclosed herein, such that the selected component(s) are emphasized in the reconstructed video during video playback. The methods disclosed herein provide a solution for filtering an original video such that technicians can use the reconstructed video to visually examine, for instance, a dominant region of a patient's vital signals. The teachings hereof find their uses in a wide array of remote sensing applications and, in particular, the telemedicine arts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lalit Keshav Mestha, Takashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8565586
    Abstract: Embodiments of a recorder vacation mode are described. In various embodiments, a recording scheduler is implemented to schedule recordings of media assets according to a standard profile that includes a priority list of the media assets to be recorded. The recording scheduler initiates a user interface for display from which a vacation mode can be enabled to manage recordings of a subset of the media assets when a digital video recorder is likely to be unattended for a duration that is associated with a vacation. The recording scheduler can enable the vacation mode to activate a vacation profile that includes a vacation priority list of the subset of the media assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Imran Arif Maskatia, Matt Henry Van der Staay
  • Patent number: 8532463
    Abstract: Provided is a network system having connected thereto (i) a plurality of television receivers each having a function for specifying television program reservations, and (ii) a recording device, such that a list of the program reservations configured by all of the television receivers can be viewed on one television receiver. The recording device produces a predefined common reservation code, and sequentially receives and records the program reservation instructions with the common reservation codes in memory. When a list of the reservations is requested by one television receiver, a program reservation instruction is sent from memory with the common reservation code, and a list of reservations is compiled based on the common reservation codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8483545
    Abstract: A reproduction method is disclosed that creates an index file including start point and termination point information connected with user designated specified section of a motion picture file (MPF), and MPF storage location. According to index file selection and related reproduction request, the specified section of the corresponding MPF is reproduced with reference to above information stored in the index file, allowing convenient viewing of the specified section of the MPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Min-Ji Lee
  • Patent number: 8463100
    Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system for synchronizing a mobile device with video output by a video output device. In one embodiment, the system comprises a data reader, a remote control, and a router. The data reader is configured to be connected to a video output device for reading digital codes associated with video or audio signals output by the video output device. The remote control has a user input mechanism and is configured to transmit an activation signal to the data reader after activation of the user input mechanism. The router is configured to be connected to a wide area network for transmitting data from the data reader to a remote data server. The router is also configured to establish a local data connection between the data reader and a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Cosmo Research Company Limited
    Inventors: Hon Kwan Tse, Jonathan O. Browne, Joseph F. Rifkin
  • Patent number: 8422862
    Abstract: In a data recording method, a data recording apparatus and a data recoding medium, for downloading plural numbers of contents, thereby to record them, additionally, onto a same recording medium, while maintaining the compatibility of reproduction with using an existing player, a maximum file number, which is already recoded on the recording medium, is noticed to a server, and thereby additional contents is downloaded after changing management information in such that the file numbers do not duplicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akinobu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8385727
    Abstract: In a recording apparatus, a succeeding chapter of a video stream is recorded by being connected to the preceding chapter of the video stream contained in a multiplexed stream. When transfer of the succeeding chapter of the video signal from a video encoder to a VBV buffer starts, a multiplexer is controlled in such a manner that the fullness of the VBV buffer will exceed a set threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Togita
  • Patent number: 8374479
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a method of generating an enhanced audio stream. The enhanced audio stream is generated from live audio received and accompanies a live video broadcast. This live audio is buffered and combined with a visual description of the live video broadcast. Together these form an enhanced audio stream. The visual description is entered by a visual describer while they are viewing a an instantaneously updated visual buffer size display. The visual buffer size display is calibrated to a pre-set maximum buffer size, and shows the pre-set maximum buffer size and the current buffer size in a visual manner. Further, live audio from the buffer that is inserted into the enhanced audio stream is compressed in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: National Public Radio, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Irving Starling
  • Patent number: 8374490
    Abstract: An integrated circuit or system receives a bit pattern from a metadata, IPG, and or EPG signal. This bit pattern is then coupled to a circuit to provide a content control command to a recorder or to a processing circuit to generate a content control signal. In particular the bit pattern may be utilized in a manner to program, enable, or disable the generated control signal. Furthermore this content control signal provides resistance to a circumvention device. For example, the circumvention device is unable to remove sufficiently the content control signal, and content control is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald Quan
  • Patent number: 8374481
    Abstract: An electronic device and a corresponding managing method include arranging a plurality of cameras into two camera groups, and setting a switch interval. A plurality of analog to digital converters (ADCs) in the electronic device uses first channels to acquire a first image and a second image from each camera from a first camera group. If the second image matches the corresponding first image of each camera in the first camera group and the switch interval elapses, the first channels of the ADCs are switched to second channels to acquire images from each camera in a second camera group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 8369685
    Abstract: A device has an interface to the recorder and an interface to the television receiver and can connect the recorder to the television receiver. The device detects switching from a television program being viewed to the next television program to be next received and judges whether or not the current television program being viewed at the detection is registered as a television program to be recorded. When it is judged that the current television program is registered as a television program to be recorded, the device allows the recorder to start recording the current television program. After the recording is started, the device instructs the television receiver to switch the channel being received from the current television program channel to the next television program channel selected by the switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoji Kimura
  • Patent number: 8369683
    Abstract: A state transition of a player operation is explicitly defined to facilitate the production of interactive contents. As a player model for reproducing a disk, a model including a player 300 for reproducing a stream, a platform 301 providing an interface between the player 300 and a hardware, and a script player 302 for realizing a scenario intended by a content producer is conceived. The states of the player 300 are defined by four states defined by combinations of two states as to whether the play list reproduction is performed or not and two states as to whether the command 311 is accepted or not. The state transition of the player 300 among the four states is generated by a method 313 from the script layer 302, but not by the player 300 itself or the command 311. The states of the player 300 are small in number, and the conditions for state transition are definite. Therefore, the interactive contents can be easily produced and mounted on devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiya Hamada, Yasushi Fujinami, Tatsuya Kakumu, Shusuke Utsumi, Koji Ihara
  • Patent number: 8369684
    Abstract: Disclosed is a data processing apparatus that includes a plurality of ports inputting and outputting a clip including a plurality of types of essence, a memory storing the clip when recording or playing back of the clip from a recording medium, and a generator storing types of essence in separate regions of the memory, and generate identification information identifying the types of essence, while generating linking information indicating an association between regions of the memory storing one of the types of essence as a master essence and regions of the memory storing the remaining types of essence. The apparatus further includes a control unit outputting the master essence in the regions and the remaining essence in the regions associated therewith via linking information from the designated ports when the master essence in the clip of the video data subjected to playback request designating the ports is stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Mizumachi, Shingo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8364027
    Abstract: A moving image reproduction apparatus making it possible to rapidly and reliably find a target frame by search with simple manipulations. It is determined whether or not a currently manipulated frame move button is the same as that manipulated at the immediately preceding manipulation. If the current and preceding manipulations are performed on the same frame move button, a moving image is moved over the same number of frames as the number of frames over which the moving image was moved at the preceding manipulation. If the current and preceding manipulation are performed on different frame move buttons, the moving image is moved over a smaller number of frames than the number of frames over which the movement occurred at the preceding manipulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyota Saito