Patents by Inventor Eric D. Edwards

Eric D. Edwards 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: 8687072
    Abstract: A system and method for creating composite images by utilizing a camera comprises a cradle device that transports the camera across a target area during a scanning procedure that captures and stores image data. During the scanning procedure, a motion detector captures and provides scan motion data to a scanning manager from the camera. The scanning manager may then responsively utilize the scan motion data to accurately extract still frames corresponding to the target area from the captured image data at pre-determined time intervals. A stitching software program may then access and combine the still frames generated by the scanning manager to thereby create composite images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Clay H. Fisher, Eric D. Edwards, Michael W. Blasgen
  • Patent number: 8558904
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Neal J. Manowitz
  • Patent number: 8553093
    Abstract: A super-resolution image is generated from a sequence of low resolution images. In one embodiment, the image shift information is measured for each of the low resolution images using an image stabilization component of an imaging device. The shift information is used to generate the super-resolution image. In another embodiment, the blurs are calculated for each of the low resolution images and are used to generate the super-resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Earl Quong Wong, Yoshihiro Murakami, Pingshan Li, Eric D. Edwards, Soroj Triteyaprasert, Hidenori Kushida, Makibi Nakamura, Mamoru Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8488908
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Clay Fisher
  • Publication number: 20130155259
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Neal J. Manowitz
  • Publication number: 20120154639
    Abstract: A system and method for creating composite images by utilizing a camera comprises a cradle device that transports the camera across a target area during a scanning procedure that captures and stores image data. During the scanning procedure, a motion detector captures and provides scan motion data to a scanning manager from the camera. The scanning manager may then responsively utilize the scan motion data to accurately extract still frames corresponding to the target area from the captured image data at pre-determined time intervals. A stitching software program may then access and combine the still frames generated by the scanning manager to thereby create composite images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Clay H. Fisher, Eric D. Edwards, Michael W. Blasgen
  • Patent number: 8134606
    Abstract: A system and method for creating composite images by utilizing a camera comprises a cradle device that transports the camera across a target area during a scanning procedure that captures and stores image data. During the scanning procedure, a motion detector captures and provides scan motion data to a scanning manager from the camera. The scanning manager may then responsively utilize the scan motion data to accurately extract still frames corresponding to the target area from the captured image data at pre-determined time intervals. A stitching software program may then access and combine the still frames generated by the scanning manager to thereby create composite images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Clay H. Fisher, Eric D. Edwards, Michael W. Blasgen
  • Publication number: 20120056979
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Clay Fisher
  • Patent number: 8120662
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Neal J. Manowitz
  • Patent number: 8086072
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Clay Fisher
  • Publication number: 20110090536
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient transfer of image data to a service provider comprises a digital image source, an image pump, and a communication path to the service provider. The digital image source may be connected to the image pump using any appropriate communication configuration. Digital image data from the digital image source is transferred to the image pump, which may format the digital image data to conform to requirements of the particular service provider. The image pump may also attach customer account information and user service selections to the digital image data. The image pump may then send the digital image data and any attached information to the service provider. The service provider responsively may perform the requested services and return a finished product to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Neal J. Manowitz, Steven G. Goldstein
  • Patent number: 7916326
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient transfer of image data to a service provider comprises a digital image source, an image pump, and a communication path to the service provider. The digital image source may be connected to the image pump using any appropriate communication configuration. Digital image data from the digital image source is transferred to the image pump, which may format the digital image data to conform to requirements of the particular service provider. The image pump may also attach customer account information and user service selections to the digital image data. The image pump may then send the digital image data and any attached information to the service provider. The service provider responsively may perform the requested services and return a finished product to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Neal J. Manowitz, Steven G. Goldstein
  • Publication number: 20100079608
    Abstract: A super-resolution image is generated from a sequence of low resolution images. In one embodiment, the image shift information is measured for each of the low resolution images using an image stabilization component of an imaging device. The shift information is used to generate the super-resolution image. In another embodiment, the blurs are calculated for each of the low resolution images and are used to generate the super-resolution image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Earl Quong Wong, Yoshihiro Murakami, Pingshan Li, Eric D. Edwards, Soroj Triteyaprasert, Hidenori Kushida, Makibi Nakamura, Mamoru Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20090073301
    Abstract: A method for processing digital images and displaying them on a television receiver is provided. Initially, an image processing device receives digital image data from a digital camera or other digital device. Next, the digital image is stored on a storage device associated with the image processing device. This digital image on the storage device is converted into television signals and supplied to a television receiver where it can be displayed. Another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing these images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Neal Manowitz, Eric D. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20090073270
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Neal J. Manowitz
  • Patent number: 7468751
    Abstract: A method for processing digital images and displaying them on a television receiver is provided. Initially, an image processing device receives digital image data from a digital camera or other digital device. Next, the digital image is stored on a storage device associated with the image processing device. This digital image on the storage device is converted into television signals and supplied to a television receiver where it can be displayed. Another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing these images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Neal Manowitz, Eric D. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7468744
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Neal J. Manowitz
  • Patent number: 7373017
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Edwards, Clay Fisher
  • Patent number: 7240099
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently performing data transfer operations includes a source device for providing transfer data through a communication path or network to a destination device. The source device has a transfer manager that determines various transfer parameters including a transfer data size, a transfer speed, and a transfer duration. The transfer parameters are then presented on a user interface for interactive use by a system user to manipulate the transfer data with various transfer options to thereby perform the data transfer operation in an optimal manner under current transfer conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Takako Miyazaki, Eric D. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7197192
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Eric D. Edwards