Patents by Inventor Bret Ahlstrom

Bret Ahlstrom 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: 7242809
    Abstract: A method and system for segmenting video into an optimal set of video clusters that correspond loosely to one or more events, date ranges, time ranges, chapters or other logical segmentations of the digital video that is meaningful to the user. Video shots are selected from one or more video files on a computer-readable medium. The video shots are arranged in chronological order and a distance (e.g., time gap) between each successive pair of the arranged video shots is determined. Video clustering are generated as function of the determined ‘distances’ and/or user input, and an optimal video clustering is identified. After the optimal video clustering is identified, a time span for each of the video clusters is determined and a label is generated for each cluster. The clusters are then displayed for the user to browse using the generated labels and thumbnails derived from the video clips, transferred to a separate medium for display on another computer or other electronic device (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt M. Hunter, Ian Cameron Mercer, Bret Ahlstrom
  • Publication number: 20070074115
    Abstract: Automatic editing of video clips detected during the capture of a video data stream. A media editing application identifies video clips as a function of determined property values of each of a series of video frames included in the video. An edit component automatically edits video clips during the capture of the video data stream. A user interface allows the user to view individual video clips during the video capturing process and to define desired transition effects to apply between successive video clips and/or a desired special effect to apply to selected video clips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Patten, Bret Ahlstrom, Ian Mercer, Russell Randall, Warren Burch
  • Publication number: 20060206800
    Abstract: A divided table cell is generated by selecting one cell in a table and creating a new cell to display over the selected cell. Both cells contain a constraint that define an area where that cell cannot display objects. Objects comprise alphanumeric characters, graphical symbols or any representation in a table cell. The cells are displayed over top of each other such that the display area of one cell coincides with the constraint area of the other cell. The display shows a divided cell capable of accepting and editing objects. The divided cell also retains the characteristics of other cells in the table. The object layout in a cell with a constraint utilizes test rectangles to calculate the height and width of the displayable area of the cell. An initial test rectangle is calculated using the full width of the cell and the height of the objects to be placed in it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Siddharth Agrawal, Bret Ahlstrom, Meredith McClurg, Cy Cedar
  • Publication number: 20050111824
    Abstract: A method and system for segmenting video into an optimal set of video clusters that correspond loosely to one or more events, date ranges, time ranges, chapters or other logical segmentations of the digital video that is meaningful to the user. Video shots are selected from one or more video files on a computer-readable medium. The video shots are arranged in chronological order and a distance (e.g., time gap) between each successive pair of the arranged video shots is determined. Video clustering are generated as function of the determined ‘distances’ and/or user input, and an optimal video clustering is identified. After the optimal video clustering is identified, a time span for each of the video clusters is determined and a label is generated for each cluster. The clusters are then displayed for the user to browse using the generated labels and thumbnails derived from the video clips, transferred to a separate medium for display on another computer or other electronic device (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Kurt Hunter, Ian Mercer, Bret Ahlstrom