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).

  • Patent number: 7640552
    Abstract: Providing resiliency to a multimedia application. A list of filters associated with the multimedia application is identified. It is determined if one or more filters of the identified list of filters are suitable for the multimedia application. The one or more filters are disabled if the one or more filters are determined to be unsuitable for the multimedia application. The one or more filters of the list of filters may also be presented to a user of the multimedia application as a function of suitability of each of the list of filters for the multimedia application. The user is allowed to manage the presented one or more filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kristen Miller, Brian James Walker, Gareth Alan Howell, Ian Cameron Mercer
  • Patent number: 7617242
    Abstract: A recording and reproducing system includes a DVD-RAM medium having a plurality of data files of storing predetermined data, file recording means of recording, in a play list file held by the DVD-RAM medium, a play list of describing reproduction order of reproducing the predetermined data stored in each of all or a part of the data files out of the plurality of data files by using a file name of the data file and a unique directory ID provided to a directory to which the data file belongs, and file reproducing means of reproducing the predetermined data stored by each of all or a part of the data files out of the plurality of data files based on the recorded play list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Matsuo, Hiroshi Kase, Kevin Leigh La Chapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer, Brian James Walker
  • Publication number: 20090276535
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard William Saunders, Ian Cameron Mercer, James Morris Alkove, Mei L. Wilson, Brian Crites
  • Patent number: 7590659
    Abstract: Creating and displaying an adaptive menu structure for media files. The invention includes authoring software to create the menu structure to enable a user to navigate the media files using a media player. The invention also includes filtering software to adapt the created menu structure to display menu information on a display associated with the media player as a function of a media type associated with the media player. 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: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Chiyoko Matsumi, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Yasuyuki Torii
  • Patent number: 7577714
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard William Saunders, Ian Cameron Mercer, James Morris Alkove, Mei L. Wilson, Brian Crites
  • Patent number: 7415529
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard William Saunders, Ian Cameron Mercer, James Morris Alkove, Mei L. Wilson, Brian Crites
  • Patent number: 7366733
    Abstract: There has been a problem that play list reproduction cannot be performed at a data processing level of a CD player and so on which cannot interpret a play list file in an HTML format. A recording and reproducing system has a CD-RW medium 15 of holding a plurality of data files of storing predetermined data, a file recording means 14 of recording in a play list file 17 held on the CD-RW medium 15 a play list describing reproduction order of reproducing predetermined data stored by all or a part of a plurality of data files respectively by using a unique contents ID given to each data file, and a file reproducing means 23 of reproducing the predetermined data stored by all or a part of the plurality of data files respectively based on the recorded play list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chiyoko Matsumi, Keisuke Matsuo, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Yasuyuki Torii, Toshihiko Mizukami, Kevin Leigh La Chapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer
  • Patent number: 7290057
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard William Saunders, Ian Cameron Mercer, James Morris Alkove, Mei L. Wilson, Brian Crites
  • Patent number: 7242809
    Abstract: A method and system for segmenting video into an optimal set of video clusters that correspond loosely to one or more events, date ranges, time ranges, chapters or other logical segmentations of the digital video that is meaningful to the user. Video shots are selected from one or more video files on a computer-readable medium. The video shots are arranged in chronological order and a distance (e.g., time gap) between each successive pair of the arranged video shots is determined. Video clustering are generated as function of the determined ‘distances’ and/or user input, and an optimal video clustering is identified. After the optimal video clustering is identified, a time span for each of the video clusters is determined and a label is generated for each cluster. The clusters are then displayed for the user to browse using the generated labels and thumbnails derived from the video clips, transferred to a separate medium for display on another computer or other electronic device (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt M. Hunter, Ian Cameron Mercer, Bret Ahlstrom
  • Patent number: 7136874
    Abstract: Creating and displaying an adaptive menu structure for media files. The invention includes authoring software to create the menu structure to enable a user to navigate the media files using a media player. The invention also includes filtering software to adapt the created menu structure to display menu information on a display associated with the media player as a function of a media type associated with the media player. 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: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Chiyoko Matsumi, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Yasuyuki Torii
  • Patent number: 7054888
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignees: 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
  • Patent number: 7043477
    Abstract: Grouping and navigating media files within a playlist on a computer-readable medium. Invention software selects media files according to a grouping criterion to define a group from the media files. The invention software generates a group header associated with the group. The group header includes a value identifying the defined group and a reference to another group to enable navigation. The invention software stores the selected media files, the playlist, the defined groups, and the associated group headers on a computer-readable medium. The invention software also includes playback software for navigating and selecting media files via groups within a playlist. 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 formal designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yoshifumi Yanagawa, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Chiyoko Matsumi
  • Publication number: 20040215873
    Abstract: [Problem] There has been a problem that there is long waiting time until reproduction of a video file and an audio file on a reproducing apparatus can be started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Chiyoko Matsumi, Keisuke Matsuo, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Yasuyuki Torii, Toshihiko Mizukami, Kevin Leigh La Chapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer
  • Publication number: 20040151082
    Abstract: [Problem] There has been a problem that play list reproduction cannot be performed at a data processing level of a CD player and so on which cannot interpret a play list file in an HTML format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Chiyoko Matsumi, Keisuke Matsuo, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Yasuyuki Torii, Toshihiko Mizukami, Kevin Leigh La Chapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer
  • Publication number: 20040078383
    Abstract: Grouping and navigating media files within a playlist on a computer-readable medium. Software according to the invention selects one or more media files according to a grouping criterion to define a group from the media files. The defined group references the selected media files. The invention software generates a group header associated with the group. The group header includes a value identifying the defined group and a reference to another group to enable navigation. The invention software stores the selected media files, the playlist, the defined groups, and the associated group headers on a computer-readable medium. The invention software also includes playback software for navigating and selecting media files via groups within a playlist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle
  • Publication number: 20040078357
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Leigh LaChapelle, Ian Cameron Mercer
  • Publication number: 20040078382
    Abstract: Creating and displaying an adaptive menu structure for media files. The invention includes authoring software to create the menu structure to enable a user to navigate the media files using a media player. The invention also includes filtering software to adapt the created menu structure to display menu information on a display associated with the media player as a function of a media type associated with the media player. 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: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Cameron Mercer, Kevin Leigh LaChapelle
  • Publication number: 20040039834
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Richard William Saunders, Ian Cameron Mercer, James Morris Alkove, Mei L. Wilson, Brian Crites