Patents by Inventor Anthony D. Masterson

Anthony D. Masterson 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).

  • Patent number: 9350968
    Abstract: An enhanced digital video recording device is provided to enhance digital video recording performance, features and user experience. The recording device has a processor and a storage unit, where the storage unit has multiple computer memory units, such as SSDs, HDDs, and video transcoder for transcoding video data in a data stream. The video transcoder interacts with a controller of the storage module to differentiate between video data packets and non-video data packets of the data stream based on one or more determination criteria. Responsive to data stream being video data stream, the video transcoder transcodes the data packets of the data stream. Responsive to the data packets being encrypted, the video transcoder obtains and/or generates encryption keys and decrypts the data packets. The video transcoder also periodically provides feedback data generated from transcoding process to enhance the transcoding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Masterson
  • Patent number: 9161030
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing compressed video with layered graphics to at least one screen are described herein. An On Screen Display (OSD) system receives a command from a remote set top box coupled to a screen. The command instructs the OSD system to process the input video stream according to various processing functions including layering at least one graphics plane on top of the video stream. The OSD system processes the input video stream to generate an output video stream with the layered graphics planes and outputs, in a compressed format, the output video stream to the screen. The system advantageously provides a central OSD processing unit that can output video with layered graphics in a compressed format to multiple displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Amir M. Mobini
  • Publication number: 20150163540
    Abstract: A content delivery gateway receives a video sequence transmitted over an Internet Protocol network and the video sequence is destined to multiple digital display devices. The content delivery gateway transcodes the video sequence into one of multiple video formats, e.g., high efficiency video coding (HEVC) format to advanced video coding (AVC) format, HEVC OR AVC to MPEG-2 format. The content delivery gateway generates an IP-based user interface including video overly that allows existing quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) based set-top boxes and digital TV adapters to receive features associated with IP video technology. The content delivery gateway further adds content protection by transcripting the video sequence. By deploying IP to QAM bridges, the content delivery gateway serves increasingly large numbers of IP-based digital display devices including tablets and smartphones while continuing to support existing QAM-based display devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Masterson
  • Patent number: 9053752
    Abstract: Systems and methods for layering a graphics plane on top of a compressed video signal are disclosed herein. A processed video stream is received from a video processing path, wherein the processed video stream comprises a stream of video macroblocks. A graphics plane is received from a graphics processing path, wherein the graphics plane comprises a set of graphics macroblocks. The graphics plane is layered on top of the processed video stream to generate an output video stream. Layering comprises blending a video macroblock from the stream of video macroblocks with a graphics macroblock from the set of graphics macroblocks. By layering one macroblock at time, graphics overlay can occur in real time or faster than real time as the compressed input stream is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Masterson
  • Patent number: 8872856
    Abstract: A method and/or system of scaling images by providing a horizontal macroblock scaler with pixels of the images in units of macroblocks and a vertical macroblock scaler where the pixels of the output image are in units of macroblocks. For the horizontal macroblock scaler macroblocks decoded or vertically scaled are read into the horizontal scaler to generate horizontally scaled macroblocks of pixels. The horizontal scaler need not access data stored in a memory, which reduces the memory bandwidth need for scaling the image. For the vertical macroblock scaler macroblocks decoded or horizontally scaled are read into the vertical scaler from memory to generate vertical scaled macroblocks of pixel. The output of the vertical scaler can be sent directly to an encoder without going through memory first, which reduces the memory bandwidth need for scaling the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Masterson
  • Patent number: 8743954
    Abstract: A system and method includes adjusting bit rate based on measured quality in a video conversion module. The video conversion module may be, for example, an encoder or a transcoder. In one embodiment, the video conversion module receives an input stream in a first format and converts the input stream to an output stream in a second format. The video conversion module is coupled to a bit rate controller that controls the bit rate of the output stream. A bit rate controller compares the output quality of the output stream to a target quality, and adjusts the output bit rate responsive to the comparison having a difference greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Masterson
  • Patent number: 8698838
    Abstract: Systems and methods for layering multiple graphics planes on top of a compressed video signal are disclosed herein. A processed video stream is received from a video processing path, wherein the processed video stream comprises a stream of video macroblocks. A composite graphics plane is received from a graphics processing path, wherein the composite graphics plane comprises a set of graphics macroblocks. The composite graphics plane comprises a plurality of layered graphics planes. The composite graphics plane is layered on top of the processed video stream to generate an output video stream. Layering comprises blending a video macroblock from the stream of video macroblocks with a graphics macroblock from the set of graphics macroblocks. By layering one macroblock at time, graphics overlay can occur in real time or faster than real time as the compressed input stream is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Masterson
  • Patent number: 8619570
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing media streams for transport over a network based on network conditions. An integrated circuit comprises a media processing unit coupled to receive feedback from a network processing unit. The media processing unit converts a media stream from a compressed input stream to a compressed output stream such that the compressed output stream has characteristics that are best suited for the network conditions. Network conditions can include, for example, characteristics of the network (e.g., latency or bandwidth) or characteristics of the remote playback devices (e.g., playback resolution). Changes in the network conditions can result in a change in the conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Amir M. Mobini
  • Patent number: 8588300
    Abstract: Transcoder chip having a buffer for temporarily storing decoded macroblocks and compressed domain parameters. A video decoding module of the transcoding chip decodes and stores the decoded macroblocks in the buffer in a first sequence. The video encoding module then reads the data from the buffer in a second sequence different from the first sequence to encode the macroblocks in a different format. The buffer can also be used for deblocking the macroblocks and for filtering motion vectors. By using the buffer, data traffic between the transcoding chip and external memory is reduced, increasing the speed for transcoding a video sequence from one format to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, William Ka-ming Chan
  • Patent number: 8582650
    Abstract: An integrated circuit receives a compressed input stream having a first compression format. A media processing module converts the compressed input stream to an intermediary compression format for processing without fully decompressing the compressed input stream. After processing, a compressed output stream having a second compression format is generated from the intermediary compression format. Processing is dynamically adjusted responsive to changing network conditions. Optionally, the integrated circuit can receive live, raw video, partially encode it into the intermediary compression format, process it with the media process module as well as take the intermediary compression format, decode and output the live, raw video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Amir M. Mobini
  • Patent number: 8526465
    Abstract: A method and/or system of transmitting media items using aggregating bandwidths of disparate communication channels between a media source and a media player. By using the combined bandwidth of more than one communication channel, a media item that requires a bandwidth larger than a single communication channel can be transmitted. The media source also converts the media item depending on the available bandwidth of the communication channels. By dynamically changing the formats of the media item, more robust and reliable communication between the media source and the media player can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Amir M. Mobini
  • Patent number: 8508661
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating predictors performs motion estimation of a target macroblock in a target field against data segments in reference fields. The same motion estimation engine is used to perform various image processing operations to efficiently use resources of the apparatus. Different reference fields are used depending on modes of operation. In a deinterlacing mode, deinterlacing is performed using directional interpolation, recursive motion compensated deinterlacing, and motion adaptive deinterlacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Alexander N. Kipnis, Dzung Tien Hoang
  • Patent number: 8503533
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating predictors performs motion estimation of a target macroblock in a target field against data segments in reference fields. The same motion estimation engine is used to perform various image processing operations to efficiently use resources of the apparatus. Different reference fields are used depending on modes of operation. In a deinterlacing mode, deinterlacing is performed using directional interpolation, recursive motion compensated deinterlacing, and motion adaptive deinterlacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Alexander N. Kipnis, Dzung Tien Hoang
  • Patent number: 8488679
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a streamlined transcoder architecture. A transcoder system includes an encoder and a decoder. The encoder compares a decoded frame and a encoder reference frame to produce an output stream. The decoder produces the decoded frame including decoder reference frame and the encoder reference frame. The decoded frame is produced from an input stream, and the encoder reference frame is produced from the output stream of the encoder. In one embodiment, the encoder refines motion vectors, quantization, and macroblock type/mode from the input stream for reuse in the output stream. Furthermore, the decoded frames from the input stream can be modified in various ways including changing picture resolution and performing image enhancement on them before encoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Dzung T. Hoang, Alexander N. Kipnis
  • Patent number: 8483389
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing compressed video with layered graphics to at least one screen are described herein. An On Screen Display (OSD) system receives a command from a remote set top box coupled to a screen. The command instructs the OSD system to process the input video stream according to various processing functions including layering at least one graphics plane on top of the video stream. The OSD system processes the input video stream to generate an output video stream with the layered graphics planes and outputs, in a compressed format, the output video stream to the screen. The system advantageously provides a central OSD processing unit that can output video with layered graphics in a compressed format to multiple displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Amir M. Mobini
  • Patent number: 8351510
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating predictors performs motion estimation of a target macroblock in a target field against data segments in reference fields. The same motion estimation engine is used to perform various image processing operations to efficiently use resources of the apparatus. Different reference fields are used depending on modes of operation. In a deinterlacing mode, deinterlacing is performed using directional interpolation, recursive motion compensated deinterlacing, and motion adaptive deinterlacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Alexander N. Kipnis, Dzung Tien Hoang
  • Patent number: 8311114
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a streamlined transcoder architecture. A transcoder system includes an encoder and a decoder. The encoder compares a decoded frame and a encoder reference frame to produce an output stream. The decoder produces the decoded frame including decoder reference frame and the encoder reference frame. The decoded frame is produced from an input stream, and the encoder reference frame is produced from the output stream of the encoder. In one embodiment, the encoder refines motion vectors, quantization, and macroblock type/mode from the input stream for reuse in the output stream. Furthermore, the decoded frames from the input stream can be modified in various ways including changing picture resolution and performing image enhancement on them before encoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Dzung T. Hoang, Alexander N. Kipnis
  • Patent number: 8265168
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing a trick mode of video streams transmitted over a network without increasing the amount of data transmitted over the network. A video server transrates a source video stream to a target video stream by removing pictures from the source video stream. The target video stream has a reduced number of pictures compared to the source video stream. Therefore, when the target video stream is played on a display device, the target video stream has a playback speed faster than the playback speed of the source video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Amir M. Mobini
  • Patent number: 8199820
    Abstract: A system (and a method) for compressing reference frames in a video transcoder. A transcoder receives a compressed input stream in a first compressed format and output a compressed output stream in a second compressed format. A decoder and an encoder in the transcoder use compressed reference frames. The reference frames are compressed by transforming a block of pixels from a spatial domain to a frequency domain to generate a coefficient array. The coefficient array is quantized and encoded to compress the size of the coefficients array to the size of a fixed bucket. The values of the entropy coded and quantized array are stored in a memory for use in decoding and/or encoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, Dzung Tien Hoang
  • Patent number: 8179964
    Abstract: Transcoder chip having a buffer for temporarily storing decoded macroblocks and compressed domain parameters. A video decoding module of the transcoding chip decodes and stores the decoded macroblocks in the buffer in a first sequence. The video encoding module then reads the data from the buffer in a second sequence different from the first sequence to encode the macroblocks in a different format. The buffer can also be used for deblocking the macroblocks and for filtering motion vectors. By using the buffer, data traffic between the transcoding chip and external memory is reduced, increasing the speed for transcoding a video sequence from one format to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Zenverge, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Masterson, William Ka-ming Chan