Patents by Inventor Brian T. MacIntosh
Brian T. MacIntosh 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).
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Publication number: 20220261567Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20210241607Abstract: Mobile phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others concern user interface improvements. Other aspects relate to imaging architectures, in which a mobile phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Still other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the mobile device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing (e.g., simple filtering and edge detection) can be performed on the mobile phone, while other operations can be referred out to remote service providers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Tony F. Rodriguez, John D. Lord, Nicole Rhoads, Brian T. MacIntosh, William Y. Conwell
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Publication number: 20210192162Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20210157998Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Patent number: 10956964Abstract: An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and/or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for the same product using the APIs of Walmart and/or Best Buy. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations are shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Eoin C. Sinclair, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20210004550Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2017Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Brian T. MacIntosh, Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell
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Publication number: 20200380226Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20200372228Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20190311422Abstract: An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and/or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for the same product using the APIs of Walmart and/or Best Buy. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations are shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Eoin C. Sinclair, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Patent number: 10262356Abstract: An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and/or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for the same product using the APIs of Walmart and/or Best Buy. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations is shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Eoin C. Sinclair, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20180373959Abstract: Methods and arrangements involving portable user devices such smartphones and wearable electronic devices are disclosed, as well as other devices and sensors distributed within an ambient environment. Some arrangements enable a user to perform an object recognition process in a computationally- and time-efficient manner. Other arrangements enable users and other entities to, either individually or cooperatively, register or enroll physical objects into one or more object registries on which an object recognition process can be performed. Still other arrangements enable users and other entities to, either individually or cooperatively, associate registered or enrolled objects with one or more items of metadata. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Yang Bai, Tony F. Rodriguez, Eliot Rogers, Ravi K. Sharma, John D. Lord, Scott Long, Brian T. MacIntosh, Kurt M. Eaton
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Publication number: 20180233028Abstract: Mobile phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others concern user interface improvements. Other aspects relate to imaging architectures, in which a mobile phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Still other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the mobile device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing (e.g., simple filtering and edge detection) can be performed on the mobile phone, while other operations can be referred out to remote service providers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Tony F. Rodriguez, John D. Lord, Nicole Rhoads, Brian T. MacIntosh, William Y. Conwell
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Patent number: 9990565Abstract: Methods and arrangements involving portable user devices such smartphones and wearable electronic devices are disclosed, as well as other devices and sensors distributed within an ambient environment. Some arrangements enable a user to perform an object recognition process in a computationally- and time-efficient manner. Other arrangements enable users and other entities to, either individually or cooperatively, register or enroll physical objects into one or more object registries on which an object recognition process can be performed. Still other arrangements enable users and other entities to, either individually or cooperatively, associate registered or enrolled objects with one or more items of metadata. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Yang Bai, Tony F. Rodriguez, Eliot Rogers, Ravi K. Sharma, John D. Lord, Scott Long, Brian T. MacIntosh, Kurt M. Eaton
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Patent number: 9986282Abstract: Supplemental network services are synchronized with a program using the program's audio signal. A synchronization method employs local caching of portions of a fingerprint database to manage network services for identifying which programs a user's mobile device is exposed to and the timing of events within the program. The system enables background recognition and synchronization of network services in a way that consumes less device power and bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Brian T. MacIntosh, Tony F. Rodriguez, Ravi K. Sharma, Matthew M. Weaver
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Patent number: 9978095Abstract: An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and/or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for product matches using the APIs of affiliated retailers. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations is shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Eoin C. Sinclair, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Patent number: 9886845Abstract: Mobile phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others concern user interface improvements. Other aspects relate to imaging architectures, in which a mobile phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Still other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the mobile device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing (e.g., simple filtering and edge detection) can be performed on the mobile phone, while other operations can be referred out to remote service providers.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Nicole Rhoads, Brian T. MacIntosh, William Y. Conwell
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Patent number: 9788043Abstract: A portable device, such as a cell phone, is used to “forage” media content from a user's environment. For example, it may listen to a television viewed by a traveler in an airport lounge. By reference to digital watermark or other data extracted from the content, the device can identify the television program, and enable a variety of actions. For example, the device may instruct a DVR to record the remainder of the television program—or determine when the program will be rebroadcast, and instruct the DVR to record the program in its entirety at that later time. The device may also identify content that preceded (or follows) the foraged content. Thus, a user who tunes-in just at the end of an exciting sporting event can capture one of the following commercials, identify the preceding program, and download same for later viewing.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Bruce L. Davis, Tony F. Rodriguez, Brian T. MacIntosh, William Y. Conwell
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Publication number: 20170249491Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Brian T. MacIntosh, Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell
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Publication number: 20170236037Abstract: Methods and arrangements involving portable user devices such smartphones and wearable electronic devices are disclosed, as well as other devices and sensors distributed within an ambient environment. Some arrangements enable a user to perform an object recognition process in a computationally- and time-efficient manner. Other arrangements enable users and other entities to, either individually or cooperatively, register or enroll physical objects into one or more object registries on which an object recognition process can be performed. Still other arrangements enable users and other entities to, either individually or cooperatively, associate registered or enrolled objects with one or more items of metadata. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Yang Bai, Tony F. Rodriguez, Eliot Rogers, Ravi K. Sharma, John D. Lord, Scott Long, Brian T. MacIntosh, Kurt M. Eaton
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Publication number: 20170236407Abstract: Mobile phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others concern user interface improvements. Other aspects relate to imaging architectures, in which a mobile phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Still other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the mobile device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing (e.g., simple filtering and edge detection) can be performed on the mobile phone, while other operations can be referred out to remote service providers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2014Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Nicole Rhoads, Brian T. MacIntosh, William Y. Conwell