Patents by Inventor Avner Levi

Avner Levi 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: 11954893
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to systems, methods, and software for indexing video. In an implementation, a method comprises identifying one or more regions of interest around target content in a frame of the video. Further, the method includes identifying, in a portion of the frame outside a region of interest, potentially empty regions adjacent to the region of interest. The method continues with identifying at least one empty region of the potentially empty regions that satisfies one or more criteria and classifying at least the one empty region as a negative sample of the target content. In some implementations, the negative sample of the target content in a set of negative samples of the target content, with which to train a machine learning model employed to identify instances of the target content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Oron Nir, Maria Zontak, Tucker Cunningham Burns, Apar Singhal, Lei Zhang, Irit Ofer, Avner Levi, Haim Sabo, Ika Bar-Menachem, Eylon Ami, Ella Ben Tov, Anika Zaman
  • Patent number: 11823453
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to a media indexer framework including a character recognition engine that automatically detects and groups instances (or occurrences) of characters in a multi-frame animated media file. More specifically, the character recognition engine automatically detects and groups the instances (or occurrences) of the characters in the multi-frame animated media file such that each group contains images associated with a single character. The character groups are then labeled and used to train an image classification model. Once trained, the image classification model can be applied to subsequent multi-frame animated media files to automatically classifying the animated characters included therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Oron Nir, Maria Zontak, Tucker Cunningham Burns, Apar Singhal, Lei Zhang, Irit Ofer, Avner Levi, Haim Sabo, Ika Bar-Menachem, Eylon Ami, Ella Ben Tov
  • Publication number: 20230112904
    Abstract: A system for indexing animated content receives detections extracted from a media file, where each one of the detections includes an image extracted from a corresponding frame of the media file that corresponds to a detected instance of an animated character. The system determines, for each of the received detections, an embedding defining a set of characteristics for the detected instance. The embedding associated with each detection is provided to a grouping engine that is configured to dynamically configure at least one grouping parameter based on a total number of the detections received. The grouping engine is also configured to sort the detections into groups using the grouping parameter and the embedding for each detection. A character ID is assigned to each one of the groups of detections, and the system indexes the groups of detections in a database in association with the character ID assigned to each group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Yonit HOFFMAN, Irit OFER, Avner LEVI, Haim SABO, Reut AMIOR
  • Patent number: 11501546
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing a media management system, for video data processing and adaptation data generation, are provided. At a high level, a video data processing engine relies on different types of video data properties and additional auxiliary data resources to perform video optical character recognition operations for recognizing characters in video data. In operation, video data is accessed to identify recognized characters. A video OCR operation to perform on the video data for character recognition is determined from video character processing and video auxiliary data processing. Video auxiliary data processing includes processing an auxiliary reference object; the auxiliary reference object is an indirect reference object that is a derived input element used as a factor in determining the recognized characters. The video data is processed based on the video OCR operation and based on processing the video data, at least one recognized character is communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Royi Ronen, Ika Bar-Menachem, Ohad Jassin, Avner Levi, Olivier Nano, Oron Nir, Mor Geva Pipek, Ori Ziv
  • Publication number: 20220318574
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to systems, methods, and software for indexing video. In an implementation, a method comprises identifying one or more regions of interest around target content in a frame of the video. Further, the method includes identifying, in a portion of the frame outside a region of interest, potentially empty regions adjacent to the region of interest. The method continues with identifying at least one empty region of the potentially empty regions that satisfies one or more criteria and classifying at least the one empty region as a negative sample of the target content. In some implementations, the negative sample of the target content in a set of negative samples of the target content, with which to train a machine learning model employed to identify instances of the target content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Oron NIR, Maria ZONTAK, Tucker Cunningham BURNS, Apar SINGHAL, Lei ZHANG, Irit OFER, Avner LEVI, Haim SABO, Ika BAR-MENACHEM, Eylon AMI, Ella BEN TOV, Anika ZAMAN
  • Patent number: 11450107
    Abstract: A system for indexing animated content receives detections extracted from a media file, where each one of the detections includes an image extracted from a corresponding frame of the media file that corresponds to a detected instance of an animated character. The system determines, for each of the received detections, an embedding defining a set of characteristics for the detected instance. The embedding associated with each detection is provided to a grouping engine that is configured to dynamically configure at least one grouping parameter based on a total number of the detections received. The grouping engine is also configured to sort the detections into groups using the grouping parameter and the embedding for each detection. A character ID is assigned to each one of the groups of detections, and the system indexes the groups of detections in a database in association with the character ID assigned to each group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yonit Hoffman, Irit Ofer, Avner Levi, Haim Sabo, Reut Amior
  • Publication number: 20220292284
    Abstract: A system for indexing animated content receives detections extracted from a media file, where each one of the detections includes an image extracted from a corresponding frame of the media file that corresponds to a detected instance of an animated character. The system determines, for each of the received detections, an embedding defining a set of characteristics for the detected instance. The embedding associated with each detection is provided to a grouping engine that is configured to dynamically configure at least one grouping parameter based on a total number of the detections received. The grouping engine is also configured to sort the detections into groups using the grouping parameter and the embedding for each detection. A character ID is assigned to each one of the groups of detections, and the system indexes the groups of detections in a database in association with the character ID assigned to each group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Yonit HOFFMAN, Irit OFER, Avner LEVI, Haim SABO, Reut AMIOR
  • Patent number: 11366989
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to systems, methods, and software for indexing video. In an implementation, a method comprises identifying one or more regions of interest around target content in a frame of the video. Further, the method includes identifying, in a portion of the frame outside a region of interest, potentially empty regions adjacent to the region of interest. The method continues with identifying at least one empty region of the potentially empty regions that satisfies one or more criteria and classifying at least the one empty region as a negative sample of the target content. In some implementations, the negative sample of the target content in a set of negative samples of the target content, with which to train a machine learning model employed to identify instances of the target content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Oron Nir, Maria Zontak, Tucker Cunningham Burns, Apar Singhal, Lei Zhang, Irit Ofer, Avner Levi, Haim Sabo, Ika Bar-Menachem, Eylon Ami, Ella Ben Tov, Anika Zaman
  • Publication number: 20220157057
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to a media indexer framework including a character recognition engine that automatically detects and groups instances (or occurrences) of characters in a multi-frame animated media file. More specifically, the character recognition engine automatically detects and groups the instances (or occurrences) of the characters in the multi-frame animated media file such that each group contains images associated with a single character. The character groups are then labeled and used to train an image classification model. Once trained, the image classification model can be applied to subsequent multi-frame animated media files to automatically classifying the animated characters included therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Oron NIR, Maria ZONTAK, Tucker Cunningham BURNS, Apar SINGHAL, Lei ZHANG, Irit OFER, Avner LEVI, Haim SABO, Ika BAR-MENACHEM, Eylon AMI, Ella BEN TOV
  • Patent number: 11270121
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to a media indexer framework including a character recognition engine that automatically detects and groups instances (or occurrences) of characters in a multi-frame animated media file. More specifically, the character recognition engine automatically detects and groups the instances (or occurrences) of the characters in the multi-frame animated media file such that each group contains images associated with a single character. The character groups are then labeled and used to train an image classification model. Once trained, the image classification model can be applied to subsequent multi-frame animated media files to automatically classifying the animated characters included therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Oron Nir, Maria Zontak, Tucker Cunningham Burns, Apar Singhal, Lei Zhang, Irit Ofer, Avner Levi, Haim Sabo, Ika Bar-Menachem, Eylon Ami, Ella Ben Tov
  • Publication number: 20210081699
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing a media management system, for video data processing and adaptation data generation, are provided. At a high level, a video data processing engine relies on different types of video data properties and additional auxiliary data resources to perform video optical character recognition operations for recognizing characters in video data. In operation, video data is accessed to identify recognized characters. A video OCR operation to perform on the video data for character recognition is determined from video character processing and video auxiliary data processing. Video auxiliary data processing includes processing an auxiliary reference object; the auxiliary reference object is an indirect reference object that is a derived input element used as a factor in determining the recognized characters. The video data is processed based on the video OCR operation and based on processing the video data, at least one recognized character is communicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Royi RONEN, Ika BAR-MENACHEM, Ohad JASSIN, Avner LEVI, Olivier NANO, Oron NIR, Mor Geva PIPEK, Ori ZIV
  • Patent number: 10936630
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for inferring topics from a file containing both audio and video, for example a multimodal or multimedia file, in order to facilitate video indexing. A set of entities is extracted from the file and linked to produce a graph, and reference information is also obtained for the set of entities. Entities may be drawn, for example, from Wikipedia categories, or other large ontological data sources. Analysis of the graph, using unsupervised learning, permits determining clusters in the graph. Extracting features from the clusters, possibly using supervised learning, provides for selection of topic identifiers. The topic identifiers are then used for indexing the file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Royi Ronen, Oron Nir, Chin-Yew Lin, Ohad Jassin, Daniel Nurieli, Eylon Ami, Avner Levi
  • Publication number: 20210056362
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to systems, methods, and software for indexing video. In an implementation, a method comprises identifying one or more regions of interest around target content in a frame of the video. Further, the method includes identifying, in a portion of the frame outside a region of interest, potentially empty regions adjacent to the region of interest. The method continues with identifying at least one empty region of the potentially empty regions that satisfies one or more criteria and classifying at least the one empty region as a negative sample of the target content. In some implementations, the negative sample of the target content in a set of negative samples of the target content, with which to train a machine learning model employed to identify instances of the target content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Oron Nir, Maria Zontak, Tucker Cunningham Burns, Apar Singhal, Lei Zhang, Irit Ofer, Avner Levi, Haim Sabo, Ika Bar-Menachem, Eylon Ami, Ella Ben Tov, Anika Zaman
  • Publication number: 20210056313
    Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to a media indexer framework including a character recognition engine that automatically detects and groups instances (or occurrences) of characters in a multi-frame animated media file. More specifically, the character recognition engine automatically detects and groups the instances (or occurrences) of the characters in the multi-frame animated media file such that each group contains images associated with a single character. The character groups are then labeled and used to train an image classification model. Once trained, the image classification model can be applied to subsequent multi-frame animated media files to automatically classifying the animated characters included therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Oron Nir, Maria Zontak, Tucker Cunningham Burns, Apar Singhal, Lei Zhang, Irit Ofer, Avner Levi, Haim Sabo, Ika Bar-Menachem, Eylon Ami, Ella Ben Tov
  • Patent number: 10762375
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing a media management system, for video data processing and adaptation data generation, are provided. At a high level, a video data processing engine relies on different types of video data properties and additional auxiliary data resources to perform video optical character recognition operations for recognizing characters in video data. In operation, video data is accessed to identify recognized characters. A video OCR operation to perform on the video data for character recognition is determined from video character processing and video auxiliary data processing. Video auxiliary data processing includes processing an auxiliary reference object; the auxiliary reference object is an indirect reference object that is a derived input element used as a factor in determining the recognized characters. The video data is processed based on the video OCR operation and based on processing the video data, at least one recognized character is communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Royi Ronen, Ika Bar-Menachem, Ohad Jassin, Avner Levi, Olivier Nano, Oron Nir, Mor Geva Pipek, Ori Ziv
  • Publication number: 20200089802
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for inferring topics from a file containing both audio and video, for example a multimodal or multimedia file, in order to facilitate video indexing. A set of entities is extracted from the file and linked to produce a graph, and reference information is also obtained for the set of entities. Entities may be drawn, for example, from Wikipedia categories, or other large ontological data sources. Analysis of the graph, using unsupervised learning, permits determining clusters in the graph. Extracting features from the clusters, possibly using supervised learning, provides for selection of topic identifiers. The topic identifiers are then used for indexing the file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Royi RONEN, Oron NIR, Chin-Yew LIN, Ohad JASSIN, Daniel NURIELI, Eylon AMI, Avner Levi
  • Patent number: 10560734
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing video segmentation are provided. A video management system implements a video segment manager that supports generating enhanced segmented video. Enhanced segmented video is a time-based segment of video content. Enhanced segmented video is generated based on a video content cognitive index, segmentation dimensions, segmentation rules and segment reconstruction rules. The video content cognitive index is built for indexing video content. Segmentation rules are applied to the video content to break the video content into time-based segments, the time-based segments are associated with corresponding segmentation dimensions for the video content. Segment reconstruction rules are then applied to the time-based segments to reconstruct the time-based segments into enhanced segmented video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ohad Jassin, Avner Levi, Oron Nir, Ori Ziv
  • Publication number: 20190236396
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing a media management system, for video data processing and adaptation data generation, are provided. At a high level, a video data processing engine relies on different types of video data properties and additional auxiliary data resources to perform video optical character recognition operations for recognizing characters in video data. In operation, video data is accessed to identify recognized characters. A video OCR operation to perform on the video data for character recognition is determined from video character processing and video auxiliary data processing. Video auxiliary data processing includes processing an auxiliary reference object; the auxiliary reference object is an indirect reference object that is a derived input element used as a factor in determining the recognized characters. The video data is processed based on the video OCR operation and based on processing the video data, at least one recognized character is communicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Royi RONEN, Ika BAR-MENACHEM, Ohad JASSIN, Avner LEVI, Olivier NANO, Oron NIR, Mor Geva PIPEK, Ori ZIV
  • Patent number: 10116981
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing video segment playlist generated are provided. A video management system implements a video segment manager that supports generating video segment playlists for video content. Generating a video segment playlist is based on enhanced segmented video associated with segmentation dimensions. An enhanced segmented video is a time-based segment of video content generated based on segmentation dimensions, segmentation rules and segment reconstruction rules. The video segment manager receives a search query. The video segment manager identifies a plurality of relevant enhanced segmented videos that satisfy the search query. A selection of at least a subset of the plurality of relevant enhanced segmented videos is received to generate a video segment playlist. The video segment manager generates the video segment playlist comprising references to the subset of the plurality of relevant enhanced segmented videos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ohad Jassin, Avner Levi, Oron Nir, Ori Ziv
  • Patent number: D840751
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Avner Levi