Patents by Inventor Billy Chen

Billy Chen 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: 8941641
    Abstract: In one example, images may be used to create a model of a three-dimensional space, and the three-dimensional space may be annotated and/or edited. When a three-dimensional model of a space has been created, a user may associate various items with points in the three-dimensional space. For example, the user may create a note or a hyperlink, and may associate the note or hyperlink with a specific point in the space. Additionally, a user may experiment with the space by adding images to, or deleting images from, the space. Annotating and editing the space, rather than the underlying images, allows annotations and edits to be associated with the underlying objects depicted in the images, rather than with the images themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek
  • Publication number: 20140375091
    Abstract: A tattoo chair, comprises a backrest (1), a seat (2), a brace (3) for supporting the said seat (2), and a base (4) for allowing the chair to stand stably, characterized in that: the lower end of the said backrest (1) is rotatablely attached to the inner side of the said seat (2); a supporting fixed plate (5) is provided under the bottom surface of the said seat (2); at least one fixed gear rack (10) is mounted from top to bottom on the rear surface of the said backrest (1); a supporting rod (50) is provided on the said supporting fixed plate (5); one end of the said supporting rod (50) is rotatablely attached to the said supporting fixed plate (5), and the other end is put into one of grooves of the said gear rack (10) on the rear surface of the said backrest (1). The present utility model facilitates the person to be tattooed to adopt different poses, so that the tattoo artist can work more easily; further, when getting tattooed, the person will feel free and easy from any discomfort in the various poses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Wen Wei, Michael Chen, Billy Chen
  • Patent number: 8864233
    Abstract: A tattoo chair includes a backrest, a seat, a brace for supporting the seat, and a base for allowing the chair to stand stably. The lower end of the backrest is rotatably attached to the inner side of the seat. A supporting fixed plate is provided under the bottom surface of the seat. At least one fixed gear rack is mounted from top to bottom on the rear surface of the backrest. A supporting rod is provided on the supporting fixed plate. One end of the supporting rod is rotatably attached to the supporting fixed plate, and the other end is put into one of grooves of the gear rack on the rear surface of the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventors: Wen Wei, Michael Chen, Billy Chen
  • Patent number: 8823797
    Abstract: Simulated high resolution, multi-view video based on video input from low resolution, single-direction cameras is provided. Video received from traffic cameras, security cameras, monitoring cameras, and comparable ones is fused with patches from a database of pre-captured images and/or temporally shifted video to create higher quality video, as well as multiple viewpoints for the same camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek
  • Patent number: 8773424
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for providing user interfaces through which a user may interact with a top-down map of a reconstructed structure within a 3-D scene. An application provides one or more user interfaces allowing a user to select a camera pose, a reconstruction element, a point, or a group of points on the top-down map. The application then determines at least one representative photograph from the visual reconstruction based on the selection of the user, and the displays a preview of the representative photograph on the top-down map as a thumbnail image. The provided user interfaces may further allow the user to navigate to the representative photograph in the local-navigation display of the visual reconstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek, Gonzalo Alberto Ramos, Jonathan Robert Dughi, David Maxwell Gedye
  • Patent number: 8769396
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide techniques for calibrating and annotating video content. In one or more embodiments, an instance of video content can be calibrated with one or more geographical models and/or existing calibrated video content to correlate the instance of video content with one or more geographical locations. According to some embodiments, geographical information can be used to annotate the video content. Geographical information can include identification information for one or more structures, natural features, and/or locations included in the video content. Some embodiments enable a particular instance of video content to be correlated with other instances of video content based on common geographical information and/or common annotation information. Thus, a user can access video content from other users with similar travel experiences and/or interests. A user may also access annotations provided by other users that may be relevant to a particular instance of video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek, Bo Zhang, Ying-Qing Xu
  • Publication number: 20140098107
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for transitioning between a top-down map display of a reconstructed structure within a 3-D scene and an associated local-navigation display. An application transitions between the top-down map display and the local-navigation display by animating a view in a display window over a period of time while interpolating camera parameters from values representing a starting camera view to values representing an ending camera view. In one embodiment, the starting camera view is the top-down map display view and the ending camera view is the camera view associated with a target photograph. In another embodiment, the starting camera view is the camera view associated with a currently-viewed photograph in the local-navigation display and the ending camera view is the top-down map display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek, David Maxwell Gedye, Jonathan Robert Dughi, Mark Ruane Dawson, Joshua Podolak
  • Patent number: 8640020
    Abstract: Intuitive and user-friendly user interface (UI) techniques are provided for navigating street view applications on a mobile device enabling users to view different angles and segments of available street level images. Additionally, retrieval and presentation of street view images are managed to mitigate delays in retrieval of desired images from a server over wireless connections through techniques such as textual representations, replacement views, scheduling image requests, and comparable ones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek, Michael Cohen, Johannes Kopf, Casey Stein
  • Patent number: 8624902
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for transitioning between a top-down map of a reconstructed structure within a 3-D scene and an associated local-navigation display. An application transitions between the top-down map and the local-navigation display by animating a view in a display window over a period of time while interpolating camera parameters from values representing a starting camera view to values representing an ending camera view. In one embodiment, the starting camera view is the top-down map view and the ending camera view is the camera view associated with a target photograph. In another embodiment, the starting camera view is the camera view associated with a currently-viewed photograph in the local-navigation display and the ending camera view is the top-down map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek, David Maxwell Gedye, Jonathan Robert Dughi, Mark Ruane Dawson, Joshua Podolak
  • Patent number: 8494566
    Abstract: A hybrid positioning system for continuously and accurately determining a location of a mobile device is provided. Samples of GPS locations from a pool of mobile devices and accompanying cell tower data, WLAN data, or other comparable network signals are used to construct a dynamic map of particular regions. The dynamic map(s) may be sent to and stored on individual mobile devices such that the mobile device can compare its less accurate, but more readily available, data like cell tower signals to recorded ones and estimate its position more accurately and continuously. The position data may be sent to a server for user in location based services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek
  • Patent number: 8488040
    Abstract: Automated photographic capture assistance and analysis is effectuated to assist users in capturing sufficient and optimal images of a desired image scene for use in a photographic end product. Photographic capture assistance is implemented on the device that includes a user's camera. Photographic capture assistance can include audio and/or graphic information generated in real time locally on the device that includes the user's camera and informs the user where additional images of the image scene ought to be captured and/or whether or not sufficient captured images currently exist for the image scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Eyal Ofek
  • Publication number: 20130174087
    Abstract: A device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface: displays a geographic map in a first mode of an application, the geographic map including a plurality of landmarks, the geographic map being displayed at a first magnification level; detects a first input, the first input including a first finger contact at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to a first landmark on the display; in response to detecting the first input: when the first input does not satisfy one or more predefined mode-change conditions, changes the magnification level in accordance with the first input and remains in the first mode; and when the first input satisfies the mode-change conditions, selects the first landmark and enters a second mode of the application; while in the second mode, detects a second input; and, in response to detecting the second input, displays information about the first landmark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Patrick Steven Piemonte
  • Publication number: 20130162534
    Abstract: An electronic device displays on a display a first three-dimensional map view of a respective map location. The first three-dimensional map view is viewed from a first angle while an orientation of the electronic device corresponds to a first orientation. The electronic device detects a rotation of the electronic device with at least one orientation sensor, and determines a respective orientation of the electronic device. The respective orientation is distinct from the first orientation. While detecting the rotation of the electronic device, the electronic device updates the first three-dimensional map view with a respective three-dimensional map view of the respective map location. The respective three-dimensional map view is viewed from a respective angle distinct from the first angle. The respective angle is determined in accordance with the respective orientation of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Billy Chen, Chris Blumenberg, Patrick Steven Piemonte
  • Patent number: 8446367
    Abstract: Technologies for a camera-based multi-touch input device operable to provide conventional mouse movement data as well as three-dimensional multi-touch data. Such a device is based on an internal camera focused on a mirror or set of mirrors enabling the camera to image the inside of a working surface of the device. The working surface allows light to pass through. An internal light source illuminates the inside of the working surface and reflects off of any objects proximate to the outside of the device. This reflected light is received by the mirror and then directed to the camera. Imaging from the camera can be processed to extract touch points corresponding to the position of one or more objects outside the working surface as well as to detect gestures performed by the objects. Thus the device can provide conventional mouse functionality as well as three-dimensional multi-touch functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Daniel Allen Rosenfeld, Eyal Ofek, Billy Chen, Shahram Izadi, Nicolas Villar, John Helmes
  • Publication number: 20130083055
    Abstract: Position tracking subsystems and onboard sensors enable a mobile device to navigate virtually a location in panoramic imagery. Physically moving the device through space provides translation data that can be used to move up or down a virtual street or other navigation actions. In some implementations, forward and backward translation enables the user to enter a structure (e.g., a commercial venue) or enter an intersection and navigate a turn onto another street at the intersection. In some implementations, information or an information layer can be displayed when translating. In some implementations, distance data can be used to move up or down a street a particular distance. Distance data can be obtained from motion and/or image sensors onboard the device. The distance data can be scaled to a virtual distance in the panoramic scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Piemonte, Billy Chen
  • Patent number: D677224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Chen, Wen Wei, Billy Chen
  • Patent number: D683513
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventors: Wen Wei, Billy Chen, Michael Chen
  • Patent number: D686728
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Chen, Wen Wei, Billy Chen
  • Patent number: D691263
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Chen, Wen Wei, Billy Chen
  • Patent number: D722692
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Chen, Wen Wei, Billy Chen