Patents by Inventor James A. Lundblad

James A. Lundblad 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: 7633553
    Abstract: Designed for use with widescreen TVs or high-end TVs with a mode for accommodating anamorphic programs, an EPG client is equipped with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a letterbox-to-anamorphic converter. The EPG client evaluates EPG data to determine whether programs are in the letterbox format. When a letterboxed program is selected for viewing, the EPG client vertically stretches the program by a ratio of M/N, where M>N (e.g., 4/3), to convert the program from the letterbox format to an anamorphic format prior to delivery to the television. The converted anamorphic program is output to the television, where it is horizontally expanded to fit the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Andrew Wayne Walters, J. Wiltse Carpenter
  • Patent number: 7589791
    Abstract: A digital receiver contains a local video clock that controls the video presentation speed and a local audio clock that controls the audio presentation speed separately and independently of the video presentation speed. To control the video presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in a video packet with a local time. A video clock controller then speeds up or slows down the video clock as needed to be back on schedule. To control the audio presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in an audio packet with the local time. An audio clock controller then speeds up or slows down the audio clock as needed to be back on schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Baldwin, James A. Lundblad, Louis F. Coffin
  • Patent number: 7554606
    Abstract: Designed for use with widescreen TVs or high-end TVs with a mode for accommodating anamorphic programs, an EPG client is equipped with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a letterbox-to-anamorphic converter. The EPG client evaluates EPG data to determine whether programs are in the letterbox format. When a letterboxed program is selected for viewing, the EPG client vertically stretches the program by a ratio of M/N, where M>N (e.g., 4/3), to convert the program from the letterbox format to an anamorphic format prior to delivery to the television. The converted anamorphic program is output to the television, where it is horizontally expanded to fit the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Andrew Wayne Walters, J. Wiltse Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20090122192
    Abstract: A digital receiver contains a local video clock that controls the video presentation speed and a local audio clock that controls the audio presentation speed separately and independently of the video presentation speed. To control the video presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in a video packet with a local time. A video clock controller then speeds up or slows down the video clock as needed to be back on schedule. To control the audio presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in an audio packet with the local time. An audio clock controller then speeds up or slows down the audio clock as needed to be back on schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Baldwin, James A. Lundblad, Louis F. Coffin
  • Patent number: 7495705
    Abstract: A digital receiver contains a local video clock that controls the video presentation speed and a local audio clock that controls the audio presentation speed separately and independently of the video presentation speed. To control the video presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in a video packet with a local time. A video clock controller then speeds up or slows down the video clock as needed to be back on schedule. To control the audio presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in an audio packet with the local time. An audio clock controller then speeds up or slows down the audio clock as needed to be back on schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James A Baldwin, James A. Lundblad, Louis F. Coffin
  • Patent number: 7460173
    Abstract: A system receives a transport stream containing video data and audio data. A determination is made regarding the time required to process the video data contained in the transport stream and the time required to process the audio data contained in the transport stream. The system then determines a difference in time to process the video contained in the transport stream as compared to the audio data contained in the transport stream. Presentation of the audio data is delayed by this difference in time to synchronize presentation of the audio data with presentation of the video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Ramaneek Khanna
  • Patent number: 7409102
    Abstract: Video graphics methods and systems can reduce objectionable ringing associated with composited user interface elements and video content, while at the same time preserve, to a desirable degree, the fidelity of the video content. In at least some embodiments, after the user interface elements are created, they are pre-filtered, before compositing, in a particular way that is designed to reduce undesirable ringing. Further, in at least some embodiments, during the compositing process, the left and right edges of the user interface elements are treated in a manner that is designed to reduce the ringing that would otherwise be induced by the left and right edges respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James A Lundblad
  • Patent number: 7281186
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing error/status information generated in the demultiplexing, processing, and handling of data packets from a video transport stream. Error/status information is organized into control fields of error/status packets. The error/status packets are sent to dedicated error/status buffers of bulk system memory where they can be accessed by a system processor during the reconfiguration and decoding of video programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Louis F. Coffin, III, Deepak Prakash, James A. Lundblad
  • Patent number: 7268826
    Abstract: A system receives a transport stream containing video data and audio data. A determination is made regarding the time required to process the video data contained in the transport stream and the time required to process the audio data contained in the transport stream. The system then determines a difference in time to process the video contained in the transport stream as compared to the audio data contained in the transport stream. Presentation of the audio data is delayed by this difference in time to synchronize presentation of the audio data with presentation of the video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Ramaneek Khanna
  • Patent number: 7149230
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing multiple video programs from one or more transport streams. The processing apparatus has a transport processing circuit that includes multiple transport processor units. The transport processor units utilize a common transport processor memory unit having demux context entries containing processing and hardware state information for packet types. Each transport processor unit includes a transport interface for identifying data packets to be acquired from the transport stream, a demultiplexing processor for processing the acquired data packets, and a demultiplexing DMA unit for memory handling operations of the processed data packets. Index chaining allows the transport processor units to access information from the transport processor memory unit. The method uses indices to access demux context entries from the transport processor memory unit. Related DMA indices are used to access memory handling information from the transport processor memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Louis F. Coffin, III, Deepak Prakash, James A. Lundblad, Victor A. Tirva, Geroncio G. Galicia, Paul B. Brown, James A. Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20060214941
    Abstract: Video graphics methods and systems can reduce objectionable ringing associated with composited user interface elements and video content, while at the same time preserve, to a desirable degree, the fidelity of the video content. In at least some embodiments, after the user interface elements are created, they are pre-filtered, before compositing, in a particular way that is designed to reduce undesirable ringing. Further, in at least some embodiments, during the compositing process, the left and right edges of the user interface elements are treated in a manner that is designed to reduce the ringing that would otherwise be induced by the left and right edges respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James Lundblad
  • Publication number: 20060031898
    Abstract: A digital receiver contains a local video clock that controls the video presentation speed and a local audio clock that controls the audio presentation speed separately and independently of the video presentation speed. To control the video presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in a video packet with a local time. A video clock controller then speeds up or slows down the video clock as needed to be back on schedule. To control the audio presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in an audio packet with the local time. An audio clock controller then speeds up or slows down the audio clock as needed to be back on schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Baldwin, James Lundblad, Louis Coffin
  • Patent number: 6983408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing error/status information generated in the demultiplexing, processing, and handling of data packets from a video transport stream. Error/status information is organized into control fields of error/status packets. The error/status packets are sent to dedicated error/status buffers of bulk system memory where they can be accessed by a system processor during the reconfiguration and decoding of video programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Louis F. Coffin, III, Deepak Prakash, James A. Lundblad
  • Patent number: 6975363
    Abstract: A digital receiver contains a local video clock that controls the video presentation speed and a local audio clock that controls the audio presentation speed separately and independently of the video presentation speed. To control the video presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in a video packet with a local time. A video clock controller then speeds up or slows down the video clock as needed to be back on schedule. To control the audio presentation speed, a comparator compares a program clock reference in an audio packet with the local time. An audio clock controller then speeds up or slows down the audio clock as needed to be back on schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Baldwin, James A. Lundblad, Louis F. Coffin
  • Patent number: 6965415
    Abstract: Designed for use with widescreen TVs or high-end TVs with a mode for accommodating anamorphic programs, an EPG client is equipped with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a letterbox-to-anamorphic converter. The EPG client evaluates EPG data to determine whether programs are in the letterbox format. When a letterboxed program is selected for viewing, the EPG client vertically stretches the program by a ratio of M/N, where M>N (e.g., 4/3), to convert the program from the letterbox format to an anamorphic format prior to delivery to the television. The converted anamorphic program is output to the television, where it is horizontally expanded to fit the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Andrew Walters, J. Wiltse Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20050238059
    Abstract: A system receives a transport stream containing video data and audio data. A determination is made regarding the time required to process the video data contained in the transport stream and the time required to process the audio data contained in the transport stream. The system then determines a difference in time to process the video contained in the transport stream as compared to the audio data contained in the transport stream. Presentation of the audio data is delayed by this difference in time to synchronize presentation of the audio data with presentation of the video data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Ramaneek Khanna
  • Publication number: 20050190799
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing error/status information generated in the demultiplexing, processing, and handling of data packets from a video transport stream. Error/status information is organized into control fields of error/status packets. The error/status packets are sent to dedicated error/status buffers of bulk system memory where they can be accessed by a system processor during the reconfiguration and decoding of video programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Louis Coffin, Deepak Prakash, James Lundblad
  • Patent number: 6906755
    Abstract: A system receives a transport stream containing video data and audio data. A determination is made regarding the time required to process the video data contained in the transport stream and the time required to process the audio data contained in the transport stream. The system then determines a difference in time to process the video contained in the transport stream as compared to the audio data contained in the transport stream. Presentation of the audio data is delayed by this difference in time to synchronize presentation of the audio data with presentation of the video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Ramaneek Khanna
  • Publication number: 20050066359
    Abstract: Designed for use with widescreen TVs or high-end TVs with a mode for accommodating anamorphic programs, an EPG client is equipped with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a letterbox-to-anamorphic converter. The EPG client evaluates EPG data to determine whether programs are in the letterbox format. When a letterboxed program is selected for viewing, the EPG client vertically stretches the program by a ratio of M/N, where M>N (e.g., 4/3), to convert the program from the letterbox format to an anamorphic format prior to delivery to the television. The converted anamorphic program is output to the television, where it is horizontally expanded to fit the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Andrew Walters, J. Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20050060753
    Abstract: A system receives a transport stream containing video data and audio data. A determination is made regarding the time required to process the video data contained in the transport stream and the time required to process the audio data contained in the transport stream. The system then determines a difference in time to process the video contained in the transport stream as compared to the audio data contained in the transport stream. Presentation of the audio data is delayed by this difference in time to synchronize presentation of the audio data with presentation of the video data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Ramaneek Khanna