Patents by Inventor David A. Spooner

David A. Spooner 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).

  • Publication number: 20080246836
    Abstract: Embodiments use point clouds to recreate a camera. The point cloud of the object may be formed from analysis of two dimensional images taken by the camera. Once the virtual camera has been formed, the camera may be used in the process of generating stereoscopic three dimensional images of the scene within the 2D images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny D. Lowe, David A. Spooner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, Natascha Wallner, Steven Birtwistle, Jonathan Adelman
  • Publication number: 20080225042
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for controlling 2-D to 3-D image conversion. In one embodiment, stereo visualization and rendering of the final image is performed by allowing a user to independently select inter-ocular and convergence distances on a frame by frame basis. The user can view the effect of each selected parameter on a real-time basis and may, if desired, use interpolation and select parameters only for key frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080226128
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for controlling 2-D to 3-D image conversion and/or generation. The methods and systems use auto-fitting techniques to create a mask based upon tracking features from frame to frame. When features are determined to be missing they are added prior to auto-fitting the mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080226160
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for processing 2-D to 3-D image conversion. The systems and methods fill in light among image frames when object have been removed or otherwise changed. In one embodiment, light is treated as an object and can be removed during image processing. The light is added back during the rendering process using the created light object. In other embodiments, light from other frames is filled in using weighted averaging of the light depending upon temporal distance from a particular frame and a base frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080226123
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for processing 2-D to 3-D image conversion. The system and method includes erode filling when an object has been removed from an image. In one embodiment, a target binary t image mask of the removed object is used for comparison with a binary source mask of the image. In an iterative process, color differences between pixels in the target mask and pixels in the source mask are identified and the pixels in the target mask are changed working from the periphery of the target mask to the center of the mask. Color noise is eliminated in the filled region of the target mask and, if desired, random color noise is added to the filled target mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080226181
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for processing 2-D to 3-D image conversion. Rendering of left and right eye images is performed by order independent depth peeling. For each image that is created a number of scene traversals are performed that peel off each depth layer based on a previous traversals depth map. The peeled layers are then blended together and, if desired, unwanted jagged edges can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080225045
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for controlling 2-D to 3-D image conversion. In one embodiment, a mask is generated from an object model of the image. The mask is then used to from a 2-D mesh which is then converted to a 3-D volume mesh. The 3-D volume mesh is then used to produce 3-D image conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080228449
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for controlling 2-D to 3-D image conversion. The system and method includes receiving an image and masking the objects in the image using segmentation layers Each segmentation layer can have weighted values for static and dynamic features. Iterations are used to form the final image which, if desired, can be formed using less than all of the segmentation layers. A final iteration can be run with the weighted values equal for static and dynamic features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe, Jonathan Adelman
  • Publication number: 20080226194
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for processing 2-D to 3-D images. The system and method includes a procedure for optimizing occlusion and/or texturing by creating tolerances in which such texturing need not occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Birtwistle, Natascha Wallner, Gregory R. Keech, Christopher L. Simmons, David A. Spooner, Danny D. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080181486
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for interactive and iterative reconstruction in a manner that helps to reduce computational requirements by generating a model from a subset of the available data, and then refining that model using additional data. Example embodiments directed to scene reconstruction, reconstruct a 3D scene from a plurality of 2D images of that scene by first generating a model of the 3D scene from a subset a of the 2D images. The model can then be refined using specific characteristics of each image in the subset that are calculated using the other images in the subset. The model is further refined using images not in the original subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Spooner, Sonny Chan, Christopher L. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20070254631
    Abstract: Controlling access to a specific resource on a mobile telephone comprises the steps of (a) associating an identity with a permission state, in which an identity is a label applicable to one of several entities on whose behalf the resource could potentially be used and the permission state defines whether or not the resource can actually be used; and (b) allowing use of the resource solely to an entity or entities labelled with an identity associated with a permission state that does permit such use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Intuwave Limited
    Inventor: David Spooner
  • Publication number: 20070220494
    Abstract: A method of rapid software application development for a wireless mobile device, comprising the step of calling modular software elements, that each (i) encapsulate functionality required by the wireless mobile device and (ii) share a standard interface structure and (iii) execute on the device, under the control of a command line interface. Because the elements execute under the control of a command line interface (and hence are command line programs) it is far easier for a programmer to explore the functioning of the elements—in particular how an element responds to a given input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Intuwave Limited
    Inventor: David Spooner
  • Publication number: 20060061583
    Abstract: Some representative embodiments are directed to creating a “virtual world” by processing a series of two dimensional images to generate a representation of the physical world depicted in the series of images. The virtual world representation includes models of objects that specify the locations of the objects within the virtual world, the geometries of the objects, the dimensions of the objects, the surface representation of the objects, and/or other relevant information. By developing the virtual world representation, a number of image processing effects may be applied such as generation of stereoscopic images, object insertion, object removal, object translation, and/or other object manipulation operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Conversion Works, Inc.
    Inventors: David Spooner, Todd Simpson
  • Publication number: 20050034099
    Abstract: A method of developing a software program for resource constrained mobile computing devices comprises the step of using a library of three mandatory types of code which enable a system to be modelled, the three types of code being: (a) a first re-useable object which defines the transmission of raw binary data between a writer end and a reader end; (b) a second re-useable object which defines ordered name/value pairs and (c) an abstract API definition that defines how to write, create, call or use a task which handles the first and/or second objects. This very high level abstraction has been found, surprisingly, to apply to virtually all systems which have been analysed by the applicant. Hence, the present invention allows a small (deliberately restricted), core library of “primitives” to be built once and re-used very many times as building blocks by different applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventor: David Spooner
  • Publication number: 20050025161
    Abstract: A data packet router enables a mobile communication device to access a WAN such as the Internet via a PC connected to the WAN. The router comprises bearer plug-in modules which each enable connection between the mobile communication device and the computer over a different bearer. The PC is therefore used as an internet access point for mobile communication devices which can use any conventional bearer to connect to the PC (USB, RS232, Bluetooth wireless etc.). Hence, a mobile telephone could gain web access using conventional WAP or, with the present invention, it could also be connected to a PC using a convenient bearer and hence gain access to the internet via the PC. Because the router uses bearer plug-in modules, it is possible to write new bearer modules as and when new bearers are developed and to readily add them to upgrade existing implementations. This is valuable since new connectivity standards (and enhancements to old standards) are continually under development.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventor: David Spooner
  • Publication number: 20040255005
    Abstract: A mobile computing device comprising a web server; wherein the web server is capable of converting application specific data from a binary data format optimised for the device to a first agreed format which is a standard format not optimised for the device, in order to enable both (i) an application A, running on the mobile computing device and which can handle the standard format and also (ii) an application B, running on a further device remotely connected to the mobile computing device and which can also handle the standard I format, to read the application specific data stored on the mobile computing device. Converting application specific data stored on the mobile computing device in a native, proprietary binary format into an agreed standards based format, such as a mark-up language like HTML, makes that application specific data fully portable, a major advantage whilst mobile networks are expensive, and have reliability and latency issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: David Spooner
  • Publication number: 20010052899
    Abstract: A system and method providing for the generation of an image having enhanced three-dimensional attributes from a source image having only two-dimensional spatial domain information is disclosed. Object image discrimination through the use of machine vision techniques is utilized to identify objects within the source image. Thereafter, object images are dissected into image cells wherein the object images are supplemented to include missing information. Generation techniques are utilized to reassemble the image cells into an image having the desired enhanced three-dimensional attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: TODD SIMPSON, EDWARD C. VANWIEREN, DAVID A. SPOONER, LEONARD T. BRUTON
  • Patent number: 3996776
    Abstract: A system for controlling the thickness of strip in a tandem mill having at least three stands. At a first lower speed the thickness of the strip is corrected in only a first one of the stands of the mill, and at a second higher speed the thickness error is corrected only in a second one of the stands, the second stand being downstream from the first stand. At intermediate speed a thickness error correction takes place in both a first and a second stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Gec-Elliott Automation Limited
    Inventors: Greyham Frank Bryant, Peter David Spooner