Patents by Inventor Hidekazu Kamon
Hidekazu Kamon 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).
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Patent number: 8799979Abstract: [Object] To increase the usability for users without decreasing the security level. [Solving Means] A personal computer (PC) 10 is connected to a television receiver (TV) 30 using an HDMI cable 1. When a video signal is transmitted from the PC 10 to the TV 30, a TMDS channel in the HDMI cable 1 is used. A high-speed data line that performs bi-directional communication using predetermined lines of the HDMI cable 1 (e.g., a reserve line and an HPD line) is provided. In PC 10, a firewall is set. When, for example, being connected to the PC 10, the TV 30 transmits a firewall turn-off command to the PC 10. Alternatively, when, for example, performing data transmission using the high-speed data line provided between the TV 30 and the PC 10, the TV 30 transmits a firewall turn-off command to the PC 10. The security level and connectivity can be maintained without troublesome setting performed by the user and, therefore, the usability for users can be increased.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Yasuhisa Nakajima
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Publication number: 20140205104Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a detection unit configured to detect a usage state of a sound output unit, and a signal processing unit configured to tune sound signals to be outputted to the sound output unit, based on the usage state of the sound output unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: YUKI ISHIKAWA, YIPING SHI, HIDEKAZU KAMON
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Patent number: 8705941Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program which are capable of rapidly and appropriately setting a format of an audio signal to be output to a display apparatus. When a monitor apparatus 12 is connected to an image processing apparatus 11 via an HDMI cable 13, the image processing apparatus 11 displays an audio format setup screen on the basis of EDID acquired from the monitor apparatus 12. Only the setup items of the audio signal, which the monitor apparatus 12 can receive, are enabled in the audio format setup screen. A user selects a format of the audio signal to be supplied from the image processing apparatus 11 to the monitor apparatus 12 on the audio format setup screen. The present invention is applicable to, for example, an information processing apparatus outputting an audio signal to a monitor.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Qing Pan, Shuichi Chihara, Hidekazu Kamon
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Patent number: 8437602Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided that includes a control unit to execute an operating system and selectively output a first video signal or both the first video signal and a first audio signal, an external input unit to which an external content signal containing a second video signal and a second audio signal transmitted from an external apparatus is input, and a reproduction state switch control unit to selectively switch a first reproduction state for reproducing the first video signal or both the first video signal and the first audio signal, and a second reproduction state for reproducing the second video signal and the second audio signal, wherein, if input of the external content signal to the external input unit is detected during a reproduction standby state, the reproduction state switch control unit switches the reproduction standby state with the second reproduction state.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Junichiro Misawa, Kenji Ishimatsu, Kikuo Kotake, Sumio Otsuka, Hidekazu Kamon, Kenichi Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20100275234Abstract: To effectively use a broadcast reception section (tuner) of a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A personal computer (PC) 10 and a television receiver (TV) 30 are interconnected with one HDMI cable (1). For the transmission of a video signal from the PC 10 to the TV (30), a TMDS channel of the HDMI cable (1) is used. A high-speed data line for executing bidirectional communication using a predetermined line (for example, a reserve line, an HPD line) of the HDMI cable is arranged. Stream data obtained in a broadcast reception section (tuner) of the TV 30 is transmitted to the PC 10 by use of the high-speed data line. The PC 10 records the received stream data or executes image synthesis processing and the line by use of the stream data. The PC 10 transmits the video signal after synthesis processing to the TV 30 over a TDMS channel. On the TV 30, a desktop screen, a reproduced image, a web page, and the like are simultaneously displayed along with a television screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Katsunori Kitaru, Yasuhisa Nakajima
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Publication number: 20100251326Abstract: [Object] To increase the usability for users without decreasing the security level. [Solving Means] A personal computer (PC) 10 is connected to a television receiver (TV) 30 using an HDMI cable 1. When a video signal is transmitted from the PC 10 to the TV 30, a TMDS channel in the HDMI cable 1 is used. A high-speed data line that performs bi-directional communication using predetermined lines of the HDMI cable 1 (e.g., a reserve line and an HPD line) is provided. In PC 10, a firewall is set. When, for example, being connected to the PC 10, the TV 30 transmits a firewall turn-off command to the PC 10. Alternatively, when, for example, performing data transmission using the high-speed data line provided between the TV 30 and the PC 10, the TV 30 transmits a firewall turn-off command to the PC 10. The security level and connectivity can be maintained without troublesome setting performed by the user and, therefore, the usability for users can be increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Yasuhisa Nakajima
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Patent number: 7739745Abstract: An information-processing apparatus comprises an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a communication-method type from a display device connected to the information-processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the display device is adapted to receive data on digital contents by using a predetermined copyright-protection technology based on the communication-method-type information, a conversion unit configured to convert an image quality of the digital contents based on the determination result, and an output unit configured to transmit the converted digital contents to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Kenji Ishimatsu, Hideo Tanaka, Hiroki Nitta, Hidekazu Kamon, Keiichi Nomura
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Publication number: 20100054709Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided that includes a control unit to execute an operating system and selectively output a first video signal or both the first video signal and a first audio signal, an external input unit to which an external content signal containing a second video signal and a second audio signal transmitted from an external apparatus is input, and a reproduction state switch control unit to selectively switch a first reproduction state for reproducing the first video signal or both the first video signal and the first audio signal, and a second reproduction state for reproducing the second video signal and the second audio signal, wherein, if input of the external content signal to the external input unit is detected during a reproduction standby state, the reproduction state switch control unit switches the reproduction standby state with the second reproduction state.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Junichiro MISAWA, Kenji Ishimatsu, Kikuo Kotake, Sumio Otsuka, Hidekazu Kamon, Kenichi Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20090060455Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program which are capable of rapidly and appropriately setting a format of an audio signal to be output to a display apparatus. When a monitor apparatus 12 is connected to an image processing apparatus 11 via an HDMI cable 13, the image processing apparatus 11 displays an audio format setup screen on the basis of EDID acquired from the monitor apparatus 12. Only the setup items of the audio signal, which the monitor apparatus 12 can receive, are enabled in the audio format setup screen. A user selects a format of the audio signal to be supplied from the image processing apparatus 11 to the monitor apparatus 12 on the audio format setup screen. The present invention is applicable to, for example, an information processing apparatus outputting an audio signal to a monitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2006Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Qing Pan, Shuichi Chihara, Hidekazu Kamon
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Patent number: 7260043Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Patent number: 7149168Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed which records and reproduces data to and from an optical disc using a laser beam. In accordance with an error rate detected from the data that have been recorded and reproduced to and from the optical disc, the apparatus controls the intensity of the laser beam in order to ensure error-free recording of the data.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Hidekazu Kamon
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Publication number: 20060071920Abstract: An information-processing apparatus comprises an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a communication-method type from a display device connected to the information-processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the display device is adapted to receive data on digital contents by using a predetermined copyright-protection technology based on the communication-method-type information, a conversion unit configured to convert an image quality of the digital contents based on the determination result, and an output unit configured to transmit the converted digital contents to the display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2005Publication date: April 6, 2006Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Kenji Ishimatsu, Hideo Tanaka, Hiroki Nitta, Hidekazu Kamon, Keiichi Nomura
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Patent number: 6993687Abstract: According to the present invention, maintenance data about a plurality of distribution terminal devices which are different from each other in frequency with which they are in use and circumstances under which they are in use are transmitted to a host computer, whereby a lifetime of a semiconductor laser can be predicted and an occurrence of a trouble can be detected without receiving information from a user or shops in which the distribution terminal devices are installed.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Publication number: 20050030868Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Patent number: 6836455Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2001Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Publication number: 20040141446Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed which records and reproduces data to and from an optical disc using a laser beam. In accordance with an error rate detected from the data that have been recorded and reproduced to and from the optical disc, the apparatus controls the intensity of the laser beam in order to ensure error-free recording of the data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Applicant: Sony CorporationInventor: Hidekazu Kamon
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Publication number: 20040078668Abstract: According to the present invention, maintenance data about a plurality of distribution terminal devices which are different from each other in frequency with which they are in use and circumstances under which they are in use are transmitted to a host computer, whereby a lifetime of a semiconductor laser can be predicted and an occurrence of a trouble can be detected without receiving information from a user or shops in which the distribution terminal devices are installed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2002Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro
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Publication number: 20020057722Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus wherein various data to be used for maintenance are measured, and parameters required for analysis of the maintenance data are prerecorded to realize prediction of the service life of a semiconductor laser and detection of occurrence of any trouble that may be derived therefrom. In this apparatus where data are recorded in and/or reproduced from a recording medium, the internal state of the apparatus is measured, then any abnormal state in the apparatus is detected on the basis of abnormal state decision data, and the detected state is transmitted to an external information processor. The apparatus comprises a means for measuring first data relative to the apparatus; a first memory means for storing second data to make a decision as to an abnormal state of the measured first data; a means for generating third data relative to maintenance of the apparatus on the basis of the first and second data; and an output means for delivering the third data as an output.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hidekazu Kamon, Eiji Tadokoro