Patents by Inventor Ian Mercer

Ian 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).

  • Publication number: 20060101397
    Abstract: A test case generator including a test model generator for generating test models. A test case instance generator uses a permutation engine to generate test matrices from the tests models and generates XML documents from the test matrices. The documents are applied to an XML-based application interface to test the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Mercer, Michael Tsang
  • Publication number: 20060092295
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Ian Mercer
  • Publication number: 20060095850
    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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kristen Miller, Brian Walker, Gareth Howell, Ian Mercer
  • Publication number: 20060026634
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicants: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin LaChapelle, Brian Walker, Ian Mercer, Hiroshi Kase, Keisuke Matsuo, Sako Asayama
  • Publication number: 20060026376
    Abstract: Storing image data for a menu in a compound image file. Image data for a menu of media files is retrieved and efficiently stored in the compound image file. A media player accesses the compound image file to obtain and display relevant images in a menu. The invention reduces the quantity of file operations needed to render the menu and thus reduces the time needed to display the menu as perceived by a user. As a result, the invention enhances the user experience with the media player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicants: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin LaChapelle, Brian Walker, Ian Mercer, Keisuke Matsuo, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Yasuyuki Torii, Nobuyasu Takeguchi
  • Publication number: 20060020609
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicants: Microsoft Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin LaChapelle, Brian Walker, Ian Mercer, Hiroshi Kase, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Tomotaka Yagi, Yasuyuki Torii, Nobuyasu Takeguchi
  • Publication number: 20060017023
    Abstract: A high energy photon source for generating EUV radiation comprises a nozzle emitting a supersonic stream of source material, a laser or electrical/magnetic pre-ionization mechanism and a laser or electrical/magnetic excitation mechanism and a skimmer plate between them providing a collimated high density beam of source material for excitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Taylor, Christopher Barnett, David Klug, Ian Mercer
  • Publication number: 20050238314
    Abstract: A recording apparatus reads a content management file from a file information obtaining means, and a data analysis and search means searches for a specified digital content information storing portions from the read content management file and searches for a play list file including specified digital contents in reproduction order based on reference play list information of the content information storing portions. The file information obtaining means reads a relevant play list file, and the data analysis and search means searches for an updated location and notifies a play list file creation means thereof so that the play list file creation means correctly updates the play list file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Sako Asayama, Hiroshi Kase, Keiko Tanaka, Yasuhiro Kubo, Kevin La Chapelle, Ian Mercer, Brian Walker
  • Publication number: 20050234858
    Abstract: [Object] When additional recording is performed by a recording apparatus and a program of a different method of management information construction to a recording medium having recorded thereon management information data such as a content parameter, a menu, a play list and a menu display image together with content data such as an audio, a static image and a video, consistency of the management information data is lost. [Solution] It is possible to record in a file header portion 31 of a management information file group 2 an editor identifier 33 for identifying an apparatus and a program having edited that file, trace update history of the file with a file management device 14 and update information with a management information file creation device 15 by reflecting an intention of management information already recorded so as to keep the consistency of the management information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Torii, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Hiroshi Kase, Kevin La Chapelle, Ian Mercer, Brian Walker
  • Publication number: 20050232091
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Keisuke Matsuo, Hiroshi Kase, Kevin La Chapelle, Ian Mercer, Brian Walker
  • Patent number: 6937636
    Abstract: By tapering the diameter of a flanged barrel laser rod over its length, the maximum trapped path length of a barrel mode can be dramatically reduced, thereby reducing the ability of the trapped spontaneous emission to negatively impact laser performance through amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). Laser rods with polished barrels and flanged end caps have found increasing application in diode array end-pumped laser systems. The polished barrel of the rod serves to confine diode array pump light within the rod. In systems utilizing an end-pumping geometry and such polished barrel laser rods, the pump light that is introduced into one or both ends of the laser rod, is ducted down the length of the rod via the total internal reflections (TIRs) that occur when the light strikes the rod's barrel. A disadvantage of using polished barrel laser rods is that such rods are very susceptible to barrel mode paths that can trap spontaneous emission over long path lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Raymond J. Beach, Eric C. Honea, Stephen A. Payne, Ian Mercer, Michael D. Perry
  • Publication number: 20050111824
    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: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Kurt Hunter, Ian Mercer, Bret Ahlstrom
  • Publication number: 20050111831
    Abstract: [Problems] There has been a problem that it takes time from insertion of a record medium until it becomes reproducible. [Means for Solution] A recording and reproducing system has a record medium 15 of holding a data file 13 of storing predetermined data, a file recording means 14 of recording data file holding position information on a position at which the data file 13 is held in a data file holding position information file 17 held on the record medium 15 of storing the data file holding position information, a data recording state obtaining means 18, a recording position information file creating means 34, and a file reproducing means 23 of reproducing the predetermined data stored in the data file 13 by using the recorded data file holding position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Chiyoko Matsumi, Keisuke Matsuo, Harutoshi Miyamoto, Nobuyasu Takeguchi, Yasuyuki Torii, Toshihiko Mizukami, Kevin La Chapelle, Ian Mercer
  • Publication number: 20050114689
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Clifford Strom, Ian Mercer, James Alkove, Jeffrey McKune, Kevin LaChapelle, Michael Parks
  • Publication number: 20050100071
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet radiation generator is disclosed in which Xenon gas is continuously ejected from a high pressure nozzle into a low pressure chamber to generate Xenon atom clusters which are irradiated with a high repetition rate pulsed laser to form a plasma and yield quasi-continuous EUV generation. The nozzle has a beveled outer rim to enable the focus point of the laser light to be brought close to the nozzle. The nozzle is cooled to a temperature at which background Xenon gas condenses onto the nozzle forming a protective layer. A gas compressor serves to recirculate the Xenon gas and batch purification triggered by a mass spectrometer monitoring gas purity may be periodically applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Alan Taylor, David Klug, Ian Mercer, Daniel Allwood
  • Publication number: 20050055375
    Abstract: [Problem] There has been a problem that, in the case where a plurality of play list files are recorded in a record medium such as a CD-R, it is difficult to manage the play list files. [Means for Solution] A recording and reproducing system has a CD-RW medium 15 for holding a plurality of play list files for storing a play list describing reproduction order of a plurality of data files, a file recording means 14 of storing in a play list file menu file a play list file menu which is information for selecting a predetermined play list file, a menu definition file creating means 33, a controlling means 21 of displaying play list file menu information on all or a part of the stored play list file menus and selecting the predetermined play list file according to an instruction, a reproduction instructing means 22, a file reproducing means 23, and a data file output means 24.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Torii, Toshihiko Mizukami, Kevin La Chapelle, Ian Mercer