Patents by Inventor Alexander G. MacInnis

Alexander G. MacInnis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120328000
    Abstract: System and method for decoding digital video data. The decoding system employs hardware accelerators that assist a core processor in performing selected decoding tasks. The hardware accelerators are configurable to support a plurality of existing and future encoding/decoding formats. The accelerators are configurable to support substantially any existing or future encoding/decoding formats that fall into the general class of DCT-based, entropy decoded, block-motion-compensated compression algorithms. The hardware accelerators illustratively comprise a programmable entropy decoder, an inverse quantization module, a inverse discrete cosine transform module, a pixel filter, a motion compensation module and a de-blocking filter. The hardware accelerators function in a decoding pipeline wherein at any given stage in the pipeline, while a given function is being performed on a given macroblock, the next macroblock in the data stream is being worked on by the previous function in the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Jose' R. Alvarez, Sheng Zhong, Xiaodong Xie, Vivian Hsiun
  • Patent number: 8335514
    Abstract: Dynamically splitting jobs in wireless system between agnostic processor may comprise evaluating a job that a wireless mobile communication device may be requested to perform. The wireless mobile communication (WMC) device may evaluate a requested job to determine if one or more tasks may be sent to a remote device. The WMC device may consider such factors as information pertaining to the WMC device itself, information relating to the connection between the devices, and/or information pertaining to the remote device. This information may comprise such data as power availability in the wireless mobile communication device, processing load in the WMC device, processing and/or storage capabilities of the remote device, and characteristics of the connectivity between the two devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Quigley, Alexander G. MacInnis, Arya Behzad, Jeyhan Karaoguz, John Walley, Mark Buer
  • Publication number: 20120307747
    Abstract: Adaptive wireless channel allocation in a multi-user environment based on quality of received video streams. During the transmission of encoded media streams from a wireless access device to at least first and second video devices over a wireless channel, transmission windows are allocated in shared transmission frame intervals for transmission of media packets to the first and second video devices, respectively. Relative priorities are set/adjusted for the video devices based, at least in part, on one or more of the following: channel estimation information, reception characteristics, transmission acknowledgment information, video device characteristics and/or user feedback. The relative priorities are utilized to adaptively (re)allocate at least one portion of the transmission frame intervals. In addition to channel reallocation, the prioritization of devices may be utilized to adaptively alter the encoding bit rate of one or more media streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Peyush Agarwal, Yasantha N. Rajakarunanayake
  • Publication number: 20120307884
    Abstract: Selective intra and/or inter-prediction video encoding. Based upon anticipation of a future communication channel rate (e.g., actual physical layer channel rate) or video data rate of a communication channel, a given prediction mode for video encoding may be adaptively selected. Prediction of a future or expected value corresponding to at least one parameter associated with the communication channel (e.g., channel rate, video data rate, etc.) can drive operational mode selection/adaptation in accordance with video coding. Alternatively, one or more actual measured values corresponding to at least one parameter can drive operational mode selection/adaptation in accordance with video coding. In some instances, neither intra-prediction nor inter-prediction is performed in accordance with a non-feedback operational mode, and an input video signal undergoes compression (e.g., without intra-prediction and/or inter-prediction).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alexander G. MacInnis
  • Publication number: 20120307746
    Abstract: A wireless access device transmits encoded media streams to at least first and second clients over a shared wireless channel. First and second transmission windows are established in a transmission frame interval for transmission of media packets to the first and second clients, respectively. An unused portion of one of the transmission windows is identified using, for example, transmission status information (from the wireless access device) associated with the media packets. The unused portion of the transmission window is adaptively reallocated for use in transmission of media packets associated with the other transmission window. In one mode of operation, the reallocation process may trigger a reversal in the order of the first and second transmission windows in subsequent transmission frame intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joachim S. Hammerschmidt, Peyush Agarwal, Yasantha N. Rajakarunanayake, Praveen K. Gopala, Alexander G. MacInnis
  • Publication number: 20120307886
    Abstract: Adaptive video encoding based on predicted wireless channel conditions. Based on at least one of a number of transmitter side indications of the available throughput of a wireless channel for video delivery, an encoder rate adaptation mechanism generates an estimate of the supportable throughput of the wireless channel under different operating conditions. An encoding parameter, such as encoder bit rate, is subsequently altered based on the estimated throughput value. In one instance, transmitter side throughput indicia is used to generate target encoder bit rates for multiple potential PHY data rates/channel MCS selections that may be used in video delivery. In anticipation of or immediately following a transition to one such PHY data rate/MCS selection, the encoder bit rate is altered in accordance with an associated target bit rate. In another mode, average transmit queue latency information is used to further regulate the encoder bit rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peyush Agarwal, James F. Dougherty, III, Yasantha N. Rajakarunanayake, Alexander G. MacInnis, James D. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20120268655
    Abstract: A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, and graphics input. The chip includes a single polyphase filter that preferably provides both anti-flutter filtering and scaling of graphics. Anti-flutter filtering may help reduce display flicker due to the interlaced nature of television displays. The scaling of graphics may be used to convert the normally square pixel aspect ratio of graphics to the normally rectangular pixel aspect ratio of video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Chengfuh Jeffrey Tang, Xiaodong Xie, James T. Patterson, Greg A. Kranawetter
  • Patent number: 8284844
    Abstract: System and method for decoding digital video data. The decoding system employs hardware accelerators that assist a core processor in performing selected decoding tasks. The hardware accelerators are configurable to support a plurality of existing and future encoding/decoding formats. The accelerators are configurable to support substantially any existing or future encoding/decoding formats that fall into the general class of DCT-based, entropy decoded, block-motion-compensated compression algorithms. The hardware accelerators illustratively comprise a programmable entropy decoder, an inverse quantization module, a inverse discrete cosine transform module, a pixel filter, a motion compensation module and a de-blocking filter. The hardware accelerators function in a decoding pipeline wherein at any given stage in the pipeline, while a given function is being performed on a given macroblock, the next macroblock in the data stream is being worked on by the previous function in the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Joseā€² R. Alvarez, Sheng Zhong, Xiaodong Xie, Vivian Hsiun
  • Patent number: 8274957
    Abstract: Wireless mobile communication (WMC) devices located in near proximity of each other may be enabled to form a mesh (ad hoc wireless) network. WMC devices may form and/or tear down intra-mesh connection with other WMC devices in the same mesh network. WMC devices may utilize information related to other WMC devices in the mesh network in determining formation and tearing down of intra-mesh connections. This information may comprise relative speeds, locations, and directions of movement of the WMC devices forming/tearing intra-mesh connections. Other information including data bandwidth and/or power consumption may be utilized in such determination. This information may also comprise available services advertised by WMC devices in the mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: John Walley, Thomas Quigley, Alexander G. MacInnis, Arya Behzad, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Mark Buer
  • Publication number: 20120236928
    Abstract: Presented herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for an integrated circuit with conversion capabilities for transferring data to a portable media player. In one embodiment, there is presented an integrated circuit for providing video data. The integrated circuit comprises at least one input, at least one output, an encoder, and at least another output. At least one input receives video data. At least one output provides the video data to a display screen. The encoder encodes the video data into a particular compressed format. The at least another output for provides the video data in the particular compressed format to an interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alexander G. MacInnis
  • Patent number: 8229002
    Abstract: System and method for decoding digital video data. The decoding system employs hardware accelerators that assist a core processor in performing selected decoding tasks. The hardware accelerators are configurable to support a plurality of existing and future encoding/decoding formats. The accelerators are configurable to support substantially any existing or future encoding/decoding formats that fall into the general class of DCT-based, entropy decoded, block-motion-compensated compression algorithms. The hardware accelerators illustratively comprise a programmable entropy decoder, an inverse quantization module, a inverse discrete cosine transform module, a pixel filter, a motion compensation module and a de-blocking filter. The hardware accelerators function in a decoding pipeline wherein at any given stage in the pipeline, while a given function is being performed on a given macroblock, the next macroblock in the data stream is being worked on by the previous function in the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Jose R. Alvarez, Sheng Zhong, Xiaodong Xie, Vivian Hsiun
  • Publication number: 20120165033
    Abstract: Dynamically splitting jobs in wireless system between agnostic processor may comprise evaluating a job that a wireless mobile communication device may be requested to perform. The wireless mobile communication (WMC) device may evaluate a requested job to determine if one or more tasks may be sent to a remote device. The WMC device may consider such factors as information pertaining to the WMC device itself, information relating to the connection between the devices, and/or information pertaining to the remote device. This information may comprise such data as power availability in the wireless mobile communication device, processing load in the WMC device, processing and/or storage capabilities of the remote device, and characteristics of the connectivity between the two devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Quigley, Alexander G. MacInnis, Arya Behzad, Jeyhan Karaoguz, John Walley, Mark Buer
  • Patent number: 8194732
    Abstract: Presented herein are system(s), method(s) and apparatus for an integrated circuit with conversion capabilities for transferring data to a portable media player. In one embodiment, there is presented an integrated circuit for providing video data. The integrated circuit comprises at least one input, at least one output, an encoder, and at least another output. At least one input receives video data. At least one output provides the video data to a display screen. The encoder encodes the video data into a particular compressed format. The at least another output for provides the video data in the particular compressed format to an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander G. MacInnis
  • Patent number: 8170099
    Abstract: A system and method that support both progressive and interlaced format video transmission and display. The system utilizes de-interlacing techniques to convert input interlaced format video to progressive format video, and compress and vertically scale the progressive format video to communicate videos more efficiently in a progressive format. The system also supports interlaced and progressive displays, where after decompressing and vertically rescaling the communicated compressed progressive format video, the video may be converted to interlaced format if the display supports interlaced format video. The system is capable of dynamically switching between the progressive and the interlaced format modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Sheng Zhong
  • Patent number: 8164601
    Abstract: A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, and graphics input. The chip includes a single polyphase filter that preferably provides both anti-flutter filtering and scaling of graphics. Anti-flutter filtering may help reduce display flicker due to the interlaced nature of television displays. The scaling of graphics may be used to convert the normally square pixel aspect ratio of graphics to the normally rectangular pixel aspect ratio of video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Chengfuh Jeffrey Tang, Xiaodong Xie, James T. Patterson, Greg A. Kranawetter
  • Publication number: 20120093215
    Abstract: A method for processing video data includes performing by one or more processors and/or circuits in a video processing device, the one or more processors and/or circuits including a video scaler, a memory, and a scaler engine, functions including receiving a video image by the video processing device. The functions also include determining whether the video scaler requires less memory bandwidth to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory or after reading the video image from the memory, and scaling the video image based on the determination. If the video scaler requires less memory bandwidth to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory, performing by the one or more processors and/or circuits scaling of the video image in the video scaler using a video input clock of the video scaler to generate a first scaled video image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Chengfuh Jeffrey Tang, Xiaodong Xie, James T. Patterson, Greg A. Kranawetter
  • Publication number: 20120087593
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for performing inverse quantization for multiple decoding standards, where the functional operations that comprise the inverse quantizer are modularly implemented and can be selectably performed. Each operation can be represented via a table entry in an associated memory area, with the functional operation being performed via reference to that table entry. Functional operations can be bypassed as needed if inverse quantization does not need to be performed on a set of data. Certain other processing operations can be performed between steps as needed to accommodate different coding standards. Macroblock data can be read from and written back to a common storage area, or a direct path is provided for writing the data directly to a subsequent inverse transform device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Vivian Hsiun, Alexander G. MacInnis, Xiaodong Xie
  • Patent number: 8130885
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing sub-carriers in a signal processing system. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise method steps and structure that receive a sampled signal. Various aspects may produce a synchronization signal based on the sampled signal. Various aspects may generate and store a cropped version of the received sampled signal. Various aspects may read a cropped sampled signal from memory that corresponds to the received sampled signal. Various aspects may generate a restored sampled signal by adding samples to the cropped sampled signal read from memory. Various aspects may, based on the synchronization signal, output the restored sampled signal coarsely synchronized to the received sampled signal. Various aspects may determine a phase difference between the output restored sampled signal and the output received sub-carrier. Various aspects may adjust the phase of the restored sampled signal in response to the determined phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Aleksandr Movshovich, Brad Delanghe, Ramkumar Prakasam
  • Patent number: 8131302
    Abstract: Dynamically splitting jobs in wireless system between agnostic processor may comprise evaluating a job that a wireless mobile communication device may be requested to perform. The wireless mobile communication (WMC) device may evaluate a requested job to determine if one or more tasks may be sent to a remote device. The WMC device may consider such factors as information pertaining to the WMC device itself, information relating to the connection between the devices, and/or information pertaining to the remote device. This information may comprise such data as power availability in the wireless mobile communication device, processing load in the WMC device, processing and/or storage capabilities of the remote device, and characteristics of the connectivity between the two devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Quigley, Alexander G. MacInnis, Arya Behzad, Jeyhan Karaoguz, John Walley, Mark Buer
  • Patent number: 8122206
    Abstract: Presented herein are system(s) and apparatus for a memory access unit for accessing data for a module. The memory access unit comprises an output port for providing access requests for lists of addresses in a memory over a link to a memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander G. MacInnis