Patents by Inventor Colin P. Williams

Colin P. Williams 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: 11024274
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for segmenting musical compositions are described. Discrete, musically-coherent segments (such as intro, verse, chorus, bridge, solo, and the like) of a musical composition are identified. Distance measures are used to evaluate whether each bar of a musical composition is more like the bars that directly precede it or more like the bars that directly succeed it, and each respective series of musically similar bars is assigned to the same respective segment. Large changes in the distance measure(s) between adjacent bars may be used to identify boundaries between abutting musical segments. Computer systems and computer program products for implementing segmentation are also described. The results of segmentation may advantageously be applied in computer-based composition of music and musical variations, as well as in other applications involving labelling, characterizing, or otherwise processing music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Obeebo Labs Ltd.
    Inventor: Colin P. Williams
  • Patent number: 10957293
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for encoding digital representations of musical compositions are described. Various components of a musical composition that are defined in modern music theory, such as notes and bars, are encoded as respective hierarchically-dependent data objects in a data file. The hierarchically-dependent data objects encode the musical composition in a tree-like data structure with modular nodes and adjustable relationships between nodes. Note start times and beat start times are encoded independently of one another and characterized by a timing relationship that captures the expressiveness imbued when notes and beats are not precisely synchronized. Musical variations that preserve the timing relationship between the notes and beats of the original composition are also generated and encoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Obeebo Labs Ltd.
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Gregory Gabrenya
  • Publication number: 20200402488
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for encoding the harmonic structure of a musical composition in a digital data structure are described. Tonal and rhythmic commonalities are identified across the musical bars that make up a musical composition. Individual bars of the musical composition are each analyzed to characterize their respective harmonic fingerprints in various forms, and the respective harmonic fingerprints are compared to sort the musical bars into harmonic equivalence categories. Isomorphic mappings between hierarchical data structures that encode the musical composition based on musicality and harmony, respectively, are also described. The systems, devices, and methods for encoding the harmonic structure of a musical composition in a digital data structure have broad applicability in computer-based composition and variation of music.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Colin P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20200402487
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for encoding digital representations of musical compositions are described. Various components of a musical composition that are defined in modern music theory, such as notes and bars, are encoded as respective hierarchically-dependent data objects in a data file. The hierarchically-dependent data objects encode the musical composition in a tree-like data structure with modular nodes and adjustable relationships between nodes. Note start times and beat start times are encoded independently of one another and characterized by a timing relationship that captures the expressiveness imbued when notes and beats are not precisely synchronized. Musical variations that preserve the timing relationship between the notes and beats of the original composition are also generated and encoded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Gregory Gabrenya
  • Patent number: 10629176
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for encoding digital representations of musical compositions are described. Various components of a musical composition that are defined in modern music theory, such as notes and bars, are encoded as respective hierarchically-dependent data objects in a data file. The hierarchically-dependent data objects encode the musical composition in a tree-like data structure with modular nodes and adjustable relationships between nodes. Note start times and beat start times are encoded independently of one another and characterized by a timing relationship that captures the expressiveness imbued when notes and beats are not precisely synchronized. Musical variations that preserve the timing relationship between the notes and beats of the original composition are also generated and encoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Obeebo Labs Ltd.
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Gregory Gabrenya
  • Publication number: 20170011305
    Abstract: Systems and methods that employ interactions between quantum computing systems and digital computing systems are described. For an iterative method, a quantum computing system may be designed, operated, and/or adapted to provide a rate of convergence that is greater than the rate of convergence of a digital supercomputer. When the digital supercomputer is iteratively used to evaluate an objective function at a cost incurred of C per iteration, the quantum computing system may be used to provide the input parameter(s) to the objective function and quickly converge on the input parameter(s) that optimize the objective function. Thus, a quantum computing system may be used to minimize the total cost incurred CT for consumption of digital supercomputer resources when a digital supercomputer is iteratively employed to evaluate an objective function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Colin P. Williams
  • Patent number: 9471880
    Abstract: Systems and methods that employ interactions between quantum computing systems and digital computing systems are described. For an iterative method, a quantum computing system may be designed, operated, and/or adapted to provide a rate of convergence that is greater than the rate of convergence of a digital supercomputer. When the digital supercomputer is iteratively used to evaluate an objective function at a cost incurred of C per iteration, the quantum computing system may be used to provide the input parameter(s) to the objective function and quickly converge on the input parameter(s) that optimize the objective function. Thus, a quantum computing system may be used to minimize the total cost incurred CT for consumption of digital supercomputer resources when a digital supercomputer is iteratively employed to evaluate an objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Williams
  • Patent number: 9400499
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating quantum computing systems into mobile systems for the purpose of providing real-time, quantum computer-based control of the mobile systems are described. A mobile system includes a data extraction subsystem that extracts data from an external environment of the mobile system and a quantum computing subsystem that receives data from the data extraction subsystem and performs a quantum computing operation in real-time using the data from the data extraction subsystem. A result of the quantum computing operation influences a behavior of the mobile system, such as the navigation of the mobile system or an action performed by the mobile system. The on-board quantum computing subsystem includes on-board quantum computing infrastructure that is adapted to suit the needs and spatial constraints of the mobile system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: D-WAVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Jeremy P. Hilton
  • Publication number: 20160026183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating quantum computing systems into mobile systems for the purpose of providing real-time, quantum computer-based control of the mobile systems are described. A mobile system includes a data extraction subsystem that extracts data from an external environment of the mobile system and a quantum computing subsystem that receives data from the data extraction subsystem and performs a quantum computing operation in real-time using the data from the data extraction subsystem. A result of the quantum computing operation influences a behavior of the mobile system, such as the navigation of the mobile system or an action performed by the mobile system. The on-board quantum computing subsystem includes on-board quantum computing infrastructure that is adapted to suit the needs and spatial constraints of the mobile system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Jeremy P. Hilton
  • Patent number: 9207672
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating quantum computing systems into mobile systems for the purpose of providing real-time, quantum computer-based control of the mobile systems are described. A mobile system includes a data extraction subsystem that extracts data from an external environment of the mobile system and a quantum computing subsystem that receives data from the data extraction subsystem and performs a quantum computing operation in real-time using the data from the data extraction subsystem. A result of the quantum computing operation influences a behavior of the mobile system, such as the navigation of the mobile system or an action performed by the mobile system. The on-board quantum computing subsystem includes on-board quantum computing infrastructure that is adapted to suit the needs and spatial constraints of the mobile system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: D-WAVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Jeremy P. Hilton
  • Publication number: 20140337612
    Abstract: Systems and methods that employ interactions between quantum computing systems and digital computing systems are described. For an iterative method, a quantum computing system may be designed, operated, and/or adapted to provide a rate of convergence that is greater than the rate of convergence of a digital supercomputer. When the digital supercomputer is iteratively used to evaluate an objective function at a cost incurred of C per iteration, the quantum computing system may be used to provide the input parameter(s) to the objective function and quickly converge on the input parameter(s) that optimize the objective function. Thus, a quantum computing system may be used to minimize the total cost incurred CT for consumption of digital supercomputer resources when a digital supercomputer is iteratively employed to evaluate an objective function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Colin P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20140214257
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating quantum computing systems into mobile systems for the purpose of providing real-time, quantum computer-based control of the mobile systems are described. A mobile system includes a data extraction subsystem that extracts data from an external environment of the mobile system and a quantum computing subsystem that receives data from the data extraction subsystem and performs a quantum computing operation in real-time using the data from the data extraction subsystem. A result of the quantum computing operation influences a behavior of the mobile system, such as the navigation of the mobile system or an action performed by the mobile system. The on-board quantum computing subsystem includes on-board quantum computing infrastructure that is adapted to suit the needs and spatial constraints of the mobile system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: D-Wave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Jeremy P. Hilton
  • Patent number: 7590607
    Abstract: A quantum circuit performing quantum computation in a quantum computer. A chosen transformation of an initial n-qubit state is probabilistically obtained. The circuit comprises a unitary quantum operator obtained from a non-unitary quantum operator, operating on an n-qubit state and an ancilla state. When operation on the ancilla state provides a success condition, computation is stopped. When operation on the ancilla state provides a failure condition, computation is performed again on the ancilla state and the n-qubit state obtained in the previous computation, until a success condition is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Colin P. Williams, Robert M. Gingrich