Patents by Inventor Gandolph

Gandolph 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: 10353547
    Abstract: Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the representation of a menu button may vary, depending on its state. An image or an image sequence, e.g. cartoon, may be associated to a buttons state, providing user animation. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. A data structure is disclosed which allows storage of such menu data e.g. on a Blu-ray disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS
    Inventors: Jobst Hoerentrup, Dirk Gandolph, Ralf Ostermann, Harald Schiller, Hui Li
  • Patent number: 10127671
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating a superpixel cluster for an image or a sequence of images. A primary clustering unit generates a primary superpixel cluster using a fixed reference superpixel, whereas a secondary clustering unit generates two or more secondary superpixel clusters using a propagating reference superpixel. A combining unit then combines intersections between the primary superpixel cluster and the two or more secondary superpixel clusters to generate a final superpixel cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Wolfram Putzke-Roeming
  • Patent number: 9971951
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating superpixel clusters A method and an apparatus (20) for generating a superpixel cluster for an image are described. A clustering unit (23) generates (10) an initial superpixel cluster based on an initial cluster center. The clustering unit (23) further generates (12) one or more further superpixel clusters based on one or more further cluster centers. A determining unit (24) determines (11) the one or more further cluster centers from the initial superpixel cluster. A merger (25) then merges (13) the initial superpixel cluster and the one or more further superpixel clusters to obtain the superpixel cluster for the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Wolfram Putzke-Roeming, Andrej Schewzow
  • Patent number: 9928574
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating superpixels for a sequence of images are described. A segmenter segments an image of the sequence of images into a set of initial superpixels. A motion analyzer then determines static and non-static areas in the sequence of images. Based on an output of the motion analyzer the segmenter generates updated superpixels for non-static areas of the sequence of images, and maintains those superpixels of the set of initial superpixels belonging to static areas of the sequence of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: THOMPSON LICENSING SA
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Joern Jachalsky, Wolfram Putzke-Roeming
  • Publication number: 20170324925
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Dirk GANDOLPH, Jobst HOERENTRUP, Ralf OSTERMANN, Hartmut PETERS, Harald SCHILLER
  • Patent number: 9749576
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hoerentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Publication number: 20170206633
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus (20) for up-scaling an input image (12) are described, wherein a cross-scale self-similarity matching using superpixels is employed to obtain substitutes for missing details in an up-scaled image. The apparatus (20) comprises a superpixel vector generator (7) configured to generate (10) consistent superpixels for the input image (12) and one or more auxiliary input images (I1, I3) and to generate (11) superpixel test vectors based on the consistent superpixels. A matching block (5) performs a cross-scale self-similarity matching (12) across the input image (12) and the one or more auxiliary input images (I1, I3) using the superpixel test vectors. Finally, an output image generator (22) generates (13) an up-scaled output image (O2) using results of the cross-scale self-similarity matching (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Dirk GANDOLPH, Jordi SALVADOR MARCOS, Wolfram PUTZKE-ROEMING, Axel KOCHALE
  • Publication number: 20170195618
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Dirk GANDOLPH, Jobst HOERENTRUP, Ralf OSTERMANN, Hartmut PETERS, Harald SCHILLER
  • Publication number: 20170118440
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hoerentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Patent number: 9635306
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hoerentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Patent number: 9626595
    Abstract: A method for pixel mapping between an origin superpixel in a first image and a target superpixel in a second image and an apparatus configured to perform the method. The apparatus comprises a feature vector determining unit, which determines a feature vector of an origin pixel of the origin superpixel and which further determines feature vectors of target pixels of the target superpixel. A mapping pixel selector selects a mapping pixel for the origin pixel among the target pixels based on a comparison of the feature vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Wolfram Putzke-Roeming, Andrej Schewzow
  • Patent number: 9595293
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hoerentrop, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Patent number: 9529501
    Abstract: A method for generating an on-screen menu comprising menu buttons and other menu items, e.g. help text, is characterized in that one or more groups of menu buttons or menu items are defined, wherein a group comprises one or more menu buttons or menu items and has associated a defined area on the screen. A state is assigned to a button, the state being “enabled” or “disabled”, wherein only an enabled button or item may be displayed, and wherein within a group not more than one button or item may be enabled. The state of a button can be changed by commands associated with other buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jobst Hoerentrup, Dirk Gandolph, Carsten Herpel, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters
  • Patent number: 9509969
    Abstract: Consumer electronic devices, such as e.g. high-definition movie players for removable storage media such as optical discs, may provide possibilities for advanced interactivity for the user, implemented as software applications. A question arising generally with such software applications is what the life cycle of such an application is, and who may control it. The invention provides a method for executing software applications within a playback device for audio-video data, wherein data from a first removable storage medium are read for a software application to be executed within said playback device, and the data comprise an indication defining a termination condition for the application. Based on said termination code and depending on how the medium holding the application is ejected, the application is terminated or may survive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Carsten Herpel, Jobst Hoerentrup, Uwe Janssen, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Andrej Schewzow, Marco Winter
  • Patent number: 9503678
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including a processor for retrieving subtitle layer data, wherein the subtitle layer data contains a graphic subtitle elements. The processor extracts from retrieved subtitle layer data, subtitle display region information for defining a subtitle display region, a cropping flag, and subtitle display region cropping information, for cropping the display region, the subtitle display region cropping information including a parameter for horizontal position of the cropped subtitle display region, a parameter for vertical position of the crossed subtitle display region, a parameter for width of the cropped subtitle display region, and a parameter for height of the cropped subtitle display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hoerentrop, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Publication number: 20160321517
    Abstract: In some example embodiments, there is provided a method. The method may include determining whether a communication terminal is within range of a wireless gateway to enable connection establishment between the wireless gateway and the communication terminal; and establishing at least one connection between the wireless gateway and the communication terminal, when the communication terminal is determined to be within range. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Dirk GANDOLPH, Wolfram PUTZKE-ROEMING, Andrej SCHEWZOW
  • Publication number: 20160323538
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Dirk GANDOLPH, Jobst Hoerentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Publication number: 20160291818
    Abstract: A method for generating an on-screen menu comprising menu buttons and other menu items, e.g. help text, is characterized in that one or more groups of menu buttons or menu items are defined, wherein a group comprises one or more menu buttons or menu items and has associated a defined area on the screen. A state is assigned to a button, the state being “enabled” or “disabled”, wherein only an enabled button or item may be displayed, and wherein within a group not more than one button or item may be enabled. The state of a button can be changed by commands associated with other buttons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Jobst HOERENTROP, Dirk GANDOLPH, Carsten HERPEL, Ralf OSTERMANN, Hartmut PETERS
  • Patent number: 9462221
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hoerentrop, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
  • Publication number: 20160266744
    Abstract: Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are; e.g., “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the menu may contain buttons that can be selected through the keys on the remote control, but that don't have any images or text associated. This allows creating “invisible buttons” that automatically execute commands upon selection. Further, a sound or sound sequence; e.g., melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. Such menu data may be stored; e.g., on a Blu-ray disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Jobst HOERENTRUP, Ralf OSTERMANN, Harald SCHILLER, Dirk GANDOLPH