Patents by Inventor Dominic Saul Mallinson

Dominic Saul Mallinson 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: 8577808
    Abstract: A product distribution and payment system for limited use or otherwise restricted digital software products. Digital content data comprising a software product to be rented is made available to customers through a detachable local storage medium, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, or over a network connection. The product digital content is capable of being accessed and played back through a computer or game console at the customer site. The software product may comprise a limited use product that is restricted in the number of plays or duration of use. The customer is allowed to download and purchase the product using his computer or playback console. The product purchase information is encoded and transmitted to the content distributor. When the preset time or number of plays has elapsed the software program is frozen and access to the program is not allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Masayuki Chatani, Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Patent number: 8284310
    Abstract: An audio/video system comprises an audio signal processing path having an audio path delay and a video signal processing path having a video path delay. The audio path delay may be different from the video path delay. The audio path delay and/or the video path delay may change, for example because of replacement of a component within the audio signal processing path or the video signal processing path. Delay matching (synchronization) in the audio/video system comprises adjusting the audio path delay to be substantially equal to the video path delay. Matching the audio path delay to the video path delay generally includes adding delay to the signal processing path with the lesser delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Publication number: 20110181776
    Abstract: An audio/video system comprises an audio signal processing path having an audio path delay and a video signal processing path having a video path delay. The audio path delay may be different from the video path delay. The audio path delay and/or the video path delay may change, for example because of replacement of a component within the audio signal processing path or the video signal processing path. Delay matching (synchronization) in the audio/video system comprises adjusting the audio path delay to be substantially equal to the video path delay. Matching the audio path delay to the video path delay generally includes adding delay to the signal processing path with the lesser delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Patent number: 7920209
    Abstract: An audio/video system comprises an audio signal processing path having an audio path delay and a video signal processing path having a video path delay. The audio path delay may be different from the video path delay. The audio path delay and/or the video path delay may change, for example because of replacement of a component within the audio signal processing path or the video signal processing path. Delay matching (synchronization) in the audio/video system comprises adjusting the audio path delay to be substantially equal to the video path delay. Matching the audio path delay to the video path delay generally includes adding delay to the signal processing path with the lesser delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Publication number: 20100115507
    Abstract: A product distribution and payment system for limited use or otherwise restricted digital software products. Digital content data comprising a software product to be rented is made available to customers through a detachable local storage medium, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, or over a network connection. The product digital content is capable of being accessed and played back through a computer or game console at the customer site. The software product may comprise a limited use product that is restricted in the number of plays or duration of use. The customer is allowed to download and purchase the product using his computer or playback console. The product purchase information is encoded and transmitted to the content distributor. When the preset time or number of plays has elapsed the software program is frozen and access to the program is not allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Masayuki Chatani, Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Publication number: 20100053430
    Abstract: An audio/video system comprises an audio signal processing path having an audio path delay and a video signal processing path having a video path delay. The audio path delay may be different from the video path delay. The audio path delay and/or the video path delay may change, for example because of replacement of a component within the audio signal processing path or the video signal processing path. Delay matching (synchronization) in the audio/video system comprises adjusting the audio path delay to be substantially equal to the video path delay. Matching the audio path delay to the video path delay generally includes adding delay to the signal processing path with the lesser delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Patent number: 7664709
    Abstract: A product distribution and payment system for limited use or otherwise restricted digital software products. Digital content data comprising a software product to be rented is made available to customers through a detachable local storage medium, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, or over a network connection. The product digital content is capable of being accessed and played back through a computer or game console at the customer site. The software product may comprise a limited use product that is restricted in the number of plays or duration of use. The customer is allowed to download and purchase the product using his computer or playback console. The product purchase information is encoded and transmitted to the content distributor. When the preset time or number of plays has elapsed the software program is frozen and access to the program is not allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Chatani, Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Patent number: 7636126
    Abstract: An audio/video system comprises an audio signal processing path having an audio path delay and a video signal processing path having a video path delay. The audio path delay may be different from the video path delay. The audio path delay and/or the video path delay may change, for example because of replacement of a component within the audio signal processing path or the video signal processing path. Delay matching (synchronization) in the audio/video system comprises adjusting the audio path delay to be substantially equal to the video path delay. Matching the audio path delay to the video path delay generally includes adding delay to the signal processing path with the lesser delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Publication number: 20080169930
    Abstract: A method for use with a media player includes playing an item of content for a user on the media player, wherein the media player includes one or more sensors configured to allow the user to interact with the media player, receiving information from at least one of the one or more sensors during the playing of at least a portion of the item of content; analyzing the received information, and forming at least an indication of the user's level of attention to the portion of the item of content based on the analysis of the received information. A storage medium storing a computer program executable by a processor based system causes the processor based system to execute similar steps. A system for use in playing media includes a media player portion and a processing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Publication number: 20080115045
    Abstract: A method for use in playing content that is made up of data includes establishing in a device a physical media storing a first portion of the data making up the content, receiving a streamed second portion of the data making up the content, wherein the second portion of the data includes essential information for reconstructing the content from the first portion of the data, and playing the content by combining the first portion of the data with the second portion of the data to correctly reconstruct the content. A method for use in enhancing security of content that is made up of data includes removing information from the data making up the content that is essential for playing the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Publication number: 20080115229
    Abstract: A method for use in providing content that is made up of data includes providing a first portion of the data making up the content to a user, and making available for a limited amount of time an ability to stream a second portion of the data making up the content to a device having the first portion of the data. The second portion of the data includes essential information for reconstructing the content from the first portion of the data. Also disclosed are a storage medium storing a computer program for causing a processor based system to assist with providing content, and a system for use in providing content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Patent number: 7174568
    Abstract: A product distribution and payment system for limited use or otherwise restricted digital software products. Digital content data comprising a software product to be rented is made available to customers through a detachable local storage medium, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, or over a network connection. The product digital content is capable of being accessed and played back through a computer or game console at the customer site. The software product may comprise a limited use product that is restricted in the number of plays or duration of use. The customer is allowed to download and purchase the product using his computer or playback console. The product purchase information is encoded and transmitted to the content distributor. When the preset time or number of plays has elapsed the software program is frozen and access to the program is not allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Chatani, Dominic Saul Mallinson
  • Publication number: 20020104019
    Abstract: A product distribution and payment system for limited use or otherwise restricted digital software products. Digital content data comprising a software product to be rented is made available to customers through a detachable local storage medium, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, or over a network connection. The product digital content is capable of being accessed and played back through a computer or game console at the customer site. The software product may comprise a limited use product that is restricted in the number of plays or duration of use. The customer is allowed to download and purchase the product using his computer or playback console. The product purchase information is encoded and transmitted to the content distributor. When the preset time or number of plays has elapsed the software program is frozen and access to the program is not allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Masayuki Chatani, Dominic Saul Mallinson