Patents by Inventor Ian Cameron Mercer
Ian Cameron Mercer 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: 9445016Abstract: A software program for creating features for use with a plurality of media objects in a sequence. The program comprises a feature component specifying a feature having parameters affecting at least one variable aspect of the feature. An indicator component identifies a position of the specified feature relative to the media objects in the sequence. The program comprises a sequence generator for modifying the specified feature by varying its parameters of the specified feature as a function of the position of the specified feature relative to the media objects and/or relative to other features in the sequence. The sequence generator also modifies the specified feature by varying its parameters of the feature as a function of the content of the media objects around it or to which it has been applied. A rendering component renders the specified feature according to the varied parameters at the identified position.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2010Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Ian Cameron Mercer
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Patent number: 8935242Abstract: Optimizing operation of a media player during rendering of media files. The invention includes authoring software to create a data structure and to populate the created data structure with obtained metadata. The invention also includes rendering software to retrieve the metadata from the data structure and to identify media files to render. In one embodiment, the invention is operable as part of a compressed media format having a set of small files containing metadata, menus, and playlists in a compiled binary format designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Toshihiko Mizukami, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Chiyoko Matsumi, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yasuyuki Torii, Keisuke Matsuo
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Patent number: 8886685Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A container group is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the container group along with references to each of the playlists.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
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Patent number: 8738615Abstract: Optimizing operation of a media player during rendering of media files. The invention includes authoring software to create a data structure and to populate the created data structure with obtained metadata. The invention also includes rendering software to retrieve the metadata from the data structure and to identify media files to render. In one embodiment, the invention is operable as part of a compressed media format having a set of small files containing metadata, menus, and playlists in a compiled binary format designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Toshihiko Mizukami, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Chiyoko Matsumi, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yasuyuki Torii, Keisuke Matsuo
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Publication number: 20120323917Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A container group is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the container group along with references to each of the playlists.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
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Patent number: 8280920Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A container group is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the container group along with references to each of the playlists.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
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Patent number: 8200772Abstract: Methods for streaming web content data via a computer-readable medium. The web content data comprises one or more media samples. The media samples are encoded in a streaming media format as a web component stream. The web component stream is combined with other component streams comprising additional data other than web content data into a presentation stream. The presentation stream is transmitted via a media server to a client. Rendering commands, which are included in one or more rendering samples encoded in the web component stream along with the media samples, coordinate synchronization between the media samples and the additional data when the client renders the presentation stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Inventors: Richard William Saunders, Ian Cameron Mercer, James Morris Alkove, Mei L. Wilson, Brian D. Crites
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Publication number: 20110218998Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A container group is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the container group along with references to each of the playlists.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicants: MICROSOFT CORPORATION, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
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Patent number: 7991803Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A folder is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the folder along with references to each of the playlists.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
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Publication number: 20110173163Abstract: Optimizing operation of a media player during rendering of media files. The invention includes authoring software to create a data structure and to populate the created data structure with obtained metadata. The invention also includes rendering software to retrieve the metadata from the data structure and to identify media files to render. In one embodiment, the invention is operable as part of a compressed media format having a set of small files containing metadata, menus, and playlists in a compiled binary format designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicants: MICROSOFT CORPORATION, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Toshihiko Mizukami, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Chiyoko Matsumi, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yasuyuki Torii, Keisuke Matsuo
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Patent number: 7853483Abstract: Enabling the automatic identification of participants to a common event to enable data sharing between the participants. An event identifier embedded in the content data associates the content data with an event. A content data service maintains a list of event identifiers and a list of participants associated with each event. Each of the participants communicates with the content data service to identify the other participants. The participants communicate with each other to share content data from the common event.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CoporationInventors: Michael J. Patten, Ian Cameron Mercer
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Publication number: 20100223302Abstract: A software program for creating features for use with a plurality of media objects in a sequence. The program comprises a feature component specifying a feature having parameters affecting at least one variable aspect of the feature. An indicator component identifies a position of the specified feature relative to the media objects in the sequence. The program comprises a sequence generator for modifying the specified feature by varying its parameters of the specified feature as a function of the position of the specified feature relative to the media objects and/or relative to other features in the sequence. The sequence generator also modifies the specified feature by varying its parameters of the feature as a function of the content of the media objects around it or to which it has been applied. A rendering component renders the specified feature according to the varied parameters at the identified position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Ian Cameron Mercer
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Patent number: 7752548Abstract: A software program for creating features for use with a plurality of media objects in a sequence. The program comprises a feature component specifying a feature having parameters affecting at least one variable aspect of the feature. An indicator component identifies a position of the specified feature relative to the media objects in the sequence. The program comprises a sequence generator for modifying the specified feature by varying its parameters of the specified feature as a function of the position of the specified feature relative to the media objects and/or relative to other features in the sequence. The sequence generator also modifies the specified feature by varying its parameters of the feature as a function of the content of the media objects around it or to which it has been applied. A rendering component renders the specified feature according to the varied parameters at the identified position.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Ian Cameron Mercer
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Publication number: 20100114846Abstract: Optimizing operation of a media player during rendering of media files. The invention includes authoring software to create a data structure and to populate the created data structure with obtained metadata. The invention also includes rendering software to retrieve the metadata from the data structure and to identify media files to render. In one embodiment, the invention is operable as part of a compressed media format having a set of small files containing metadata, menus, and playlists in a compiled binary format designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicants: MICROSOFT CORPORATION, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Toshihiko Mizukami, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Chiyoko Matsumi, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yasuyuki Torii, Keisuke Matsuo
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Publication number: 20100114986Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A folder is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the folder along with references to each of the playlists.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicants: MICROSOFT CORPORATION, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
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Patent number: 7707231Abstract: Updating automatically generated playlists in response to media content being edited. Aspects of the invention associate a playlist type or other code with each playlist to define the structure of the playlist. When media content is added to or deleted from a collection of media files, one or more playlist types corresponding to the media content are identified. The playlists with the identified playlist types are updated to reflect the addition or deletion of the media content.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Brian James Walker, Ian Cameron Mercer, Hiroshi Kase, Keisuke Matsuo, Sako Asayama
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Patent number: 7680814Abstract: Grouping media files via playlists on a computer-readable medium. One or more media files are selected according to a grouping criterion to define one or more playlists from the media files. A folder is associated with the playlists and stores values identifying each of the playlists associated with the folder along with references to each of the playlists.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
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Patent number: 7668842Abstract: Enabling efficient navigation of a playlist of media files stored on a computer-readable medium. Aspects of the invention define a playlist structure to have one or more playlist units. Each playlist unit identifies one or more media files in the playlist and includes metadata for the media files. A consumer electronic device retrieves the playlist units and displays the metadata contained therein to a user to enable navigation of the playlist. Aspects of the invention reduce the memory requirements of the consumer electronic devices and reduce the quantity of disk seek operations needed for playlist navigation.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Brian James Walker, Ian Cameron Mercer, Hiroshi Kase, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Tomotaka Yagi, Yasuyuki Torii, Nobuyasu Takeguchi
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Patent number: 7647297Abstract: Optimizing operation of a media player during rendering of media files. The invention includes authoring software to create a data structure and to populate the created data structure with obtained metadata. The invention also includes rendering software to retrieve the metadata from the data structure and to identify media files to render. In one embodiment, the invention is operable as part of a compressed media format having a set of small files containing metadata, menus, and playlists in a compiled binary format designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Toshihiko Mizukami, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Chiyoko Matsumi, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yasuyuki Torii, Keisuke Matsuo
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Patent number: 7644446Abstract: A source generates a medium key (KM) and a media secret table including a plurality of entries, each entry including (KM) encrypted by a public key (PU-PD) of a plurality of devices, obtains the medium ID of a medium therefrom, generates a content key (KD) for a piece of content, encrypts the content with (KD) to result in (KD(content)), encrypts (KD) with (KM) to result in (KM(KD)), generates a package for the content including (KD(content)), (KM(KD)), the medium ID, and a signature based on at least the medium ID and verifiable with (KM), and copies the generated package and the media secret table to the medium. Thus, a device with the medium and a private key (PR-PD) corresponding to an entry of the media secret table can access and render the content.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2004Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Panasonic CorporationInventors: Clifford P. Strom, Ian Cameron Mercer, James Morris Alkove, Jeffrey R. McKune, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Michael Jay Parks, Shunji Harada, Toshihisa Nakano, Kaoru Murase