Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Usui
Hirofumi Usui 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: 8104064Abstract: A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 8042133Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20110138422Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20110051018Abstract: A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 7840990Abstract: A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20100043027Abstract: A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 7607156Abstract: A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 7493642Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20080148314Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2008Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20060117375Abstract: A removable memory device is inserted into a channel information source computer, such as computer connected to the Internet, and channel map information is downloaded to it. The removable device is then removed from the source computer and engaged with a television to download the channel map into the television, thereby avoiding prolonged autoprogramming by the television's receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2005Publication date: June 1, 2006Inventors: Peter Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 7010804Abstract: A removable memory device is inserted into a channel information source computer, such as computer connected to the Internet, and channel map information is downloaded to it. The removable device is then removed from the source computer and engaged with a television to download the channel map into the television, thereby avoiding prolonged autoprogramming by the television's receiver.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20050097604Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2004Publication date: May 5, 2005Inventors: Peter Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 6839903Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2000Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20040187168Abstract: A removable memory device is inserted into a channel information source computer, such as computer connected to the Internet, and channel map information is downloaded to it. The removable device is then removed from the source computer and engaged with a television to download the channel map into the television, thereby avoiding prolonged autoprogramming by the television's receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Peter R. Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20030093813Abstract: A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Publication number: 20030067558Abstract: An external source outputs an analog signal containing on-screen information (OSD) for the external source, which has been decoded in the external source, and an encoded high definition digital signal. A high definition television (HDTV) has separate inputs for the analog signal and the high definition digital signal, which is decoded in the HDTV to a format suitable for display on the HDTV monitor. Accordingly, both the OSD information for the external source and the high definition signal are available for use and display on the HDTV monitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 6532592Abstract: A bi-directional communications link between a television set and a remote control unit assists a viewer in controlling the entertainment system. The television set can signal the remote control unit to confirm instruction signal received from the remote control unit. The television can also transmit electronic program guide information to the remote control unit which is displayed on a display device on the remote control unit. The television can send the remote control unit a listing of available sub-channels within a single digital channel. The listing is displayed on the remote's display device, and the viewer can then choose from among the sub-channels.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1998Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 6490001Abstract: A receiving apparatus and a receiving method arranged to reduce the delay time of tuning to and reception of a digital TV broadcast actually and apparently. A coefficient memory for storing coefficient data to be supplied to a channel equalizer of a front end section is provided. A control section generates equalizer coefficients supplied to the channel equalizer by using the equalizer coefficients in the coefficient memory, and updates the equalizer coefficients stored in the coefficient memory by substituting the generated equalizer coefficients for them. The control section supplies a predetermined video signal to a display section instead of a video output from a decoding section before the video output from the decoding section is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1999Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Peter Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
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Patent number: 6305018Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic program guide system and an electronic program guide displaying method that allow a desired program to be selected in a short time and at a high degree of reliability. EPG data of programs received by an IRD 4 through a satellite and EPG data of programs transmitted as a ground wave and received by a TV receiver 5 are converted into EPG data with an integrated format by an EPG receiver 6. The integrated EPG data is then output and displayed to the TV receiver 5.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Inventors: Hirofumi Usui, Naomasa Takahashi, Peter Shintani
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Publication number: 20010011953Abstract: A hand-held control device is disclosed for communicating with and controlling the operation of a remotely located electronic apparatus such as a television, VCR or other device. The control device has a display screen for displaying control functions and information for the operation of the remote electronic apparatus and a transmitter and a receiver for communicating between the remote electronic apparatus and the hand-held control device. A user interface, such as a touchpad or soft keys allows a user to make control selections for operating the remote electronic apparatus. A removable, programmable memory is provided for storing therein control and other format information for a particular electronic apparatus to be operated. The removable memory attaches to the control unit via a port for receiving the removable memory module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 1998Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: PETER RAE SHINTANI, HIROFUMI USUI