Patents by Inventor James R. Milne

James R. Milne 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: 20240066408
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method for implementation of super-fungible tokens for gaming is disclosed. The electronic device tracks a set of gaming assets associated with a player in a gaming application. Metadata associated with the set of gaming assets is received and a super-fungible token is created, based on a storage of the metadata to a distributed ledger associated with the gaming application. The creation of the super-fungible token corresponds to an ownership of a single gaming asset from the set of gaming assets by the player in the gaming application at a time instant. A first user input indicative of a selection of a first gaming asset is received. The selected first gaming asset is enabled and a set of second gaming assets are disabled in the gaming application. The disabled set of second gaming assets correspond to gaming assets other than the enabled first gaming asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: JAMES R MILNE, TRUE XIONG, CHARLES MCCOY
  • Publication number: 20240066402
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for implementation of gaming assets as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) across save states of games is disclosed. The electronic device may track a gaming asset associated with a player in a first gaming application. First information associated with a first game save state of the first gaming application and meta-data associated with the tracked gaming asset may be received. The electronic device may create a non-fungible token (NFT) associated with the tracked gaming asset based on the received meta-data. Second information associated with a second game save state of a second gaming application of a set of gaming applications may be received. The electronic device may retrieve the created NFT associated with the gaming asset from a distributed ledger. A restoration of the gaming asset may be initiated for the player in the second gaming application, based on the second information and the retrieved NFT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: JAMES R. MILNE, TRUE XIONG, CHARLES MCCOY
  • Publication number: 20240070660
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for implementation of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for management of virtual assets is disclosed. The electronic device tracks a virtual asset associated with a user on a virtual reality platform and receives metadata associated with the virtual asset. A first NFT associated with the virtual asset is created, based on a storage of the metadata to a distributed ledger associated with the virtual reality platform. The first NFT is split into a set of NFTs. Each NFT is associated with a user-right corresponding to the virtual asset for the first user. The set of NFTs is stored on the distributed ledger. From the set of NFTs, a second NFT associated with the first virtual asset is retrieved, based on a user input. An ownership or usage of the virtual asset is controlled on the virtual reality platform, based on the second NFT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: JAMES R MILNE, TRUE XIONG, CHARLES MCCOY
  • Patent number: 11889288
    Abstract: A remote commander (RC) for a TV or other entertainment system component has a microphone. A device can query the RC for its serial number, access the Internet with the serial number to look up characteristics of the microphone, and then knowing the characteristics, use the RC microphone to detect sound such as speaker test chirps to calibrate an audio system in a convenient and user-friendly manner while achieving the accuracy of calibration that can only be obtained by using a calibrated microphone system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Carlsson, James R. Milne, Marvin DeMerchant
  • Patent number: 11792244
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method, to control permission associated with annotations in an online conference, is provided. The electronic device receives profile information associated with each of a plurality of participants associated with the online conference to be hosted by a host of the electronic device. The electronic device grants, to a first set of participants of the plurality of participants, a permission to annotate media content to be shared during the online conference based on the profile information. The electronic device receives, from a set of electronic devices associated with the first set of participants, annotations related to the media content, based on the permission. The electronic device controls display of the received annotations and the media content on each of a first display device associated with the first electronic device and on a second display device associated with each of the set of electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: SONY GROUP CORPORATION, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Charles McCoy, True Xiong
  • Publication number: 20230315271
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for collaboration among whiteboard user interfaces (Uls) for meetings is provided. The electronic device controls a display device coupled to the electronic device, to display a first whiteboard UI which is electronically linked with one or more second whiteboard Uls of participant devices for a duration of a meeting session. The electronic device receives inputs corresponding to strokes of a digital pen device on a whiteboard UI of the one or more second whiteboard Uls and prepares content based on the inputs and one or more content filters. Thereafter, the electronic device controls the first whiteboard UI to render the prepared content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: JAMES R. MILNE, CHARLES MCCOY, TRUE XIONG
  • Publication number: 20230300182
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method, to control permission associated with annotations in an online conference, is provided. The electronic device receives profile information associated with each of a plurality of participants associated with the online conference to be hosted by a host of the electronic device. The electronic device grants, to a first set of participants of the plurality of participants, a permission to annotate media content to be shared during the online conference based on the profile information. The electronic device receives, from a set of electronic devices associated with the first set of participants, annotations related to the media content, based on the permission. The electronic device controls display of the received annotations and the media content on each of a first display device associated with the first electronic device and on a second display device associated with each of the set of electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: James R. MILNE, Charles MCCOY, True XIONG
  • Publication number: 20230254291
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for client-side encryption for virtual meetings is provided. The electronic device acquires one or more encryption keys for a virtual meeting session with one or more participant devices, where the electronic device includes a meeting client to join or host the virtual meeting session and to communicate with meeting clients of the one or more participant devices. The electronic device determines, in a duration of the virtual meeting session, first content to be transferred to the one or more participant devices, via the meeting client of the electronic device. The electronic device encrypts the determined first content by use of the one or more encryption keys and transfers the encrypted first content to a meeting server. The meeting server transfers the encrypted first content to the one or more participant devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: JAMES R. MILNE, CHARLES MCCOY, TRUE XIONG
  • Patent number: 11599329
    Abstract: A networked speaker system automatically adjusts certain audio speaker system settings based on whether the system is inside a building or has been moved outside as may be sensed by one or capacitors on a speaker. Also, techniques are described for adjusting speaker driver direction based on walls or other barriers in a room or based on the location of a listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Allison Joi Burgueno, Gregory Peter Carlsson, Keith Resch
  • Patent number: 11503206
    Abstract: Photographic context assistance is provided by overlaying a composition grid selected by the user or by a machine learning algorithm onto the image of a viewfinder of a camera, and then providing audible and/or visual cues as to moving the aim point to better conform the image to the grid. Fine tuning may be effected using, for instance, stabilization hardware to gently adjust the view to better conform the image to the grid before snapping a shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, James R. Milne
  • Patent number: 11451907
    Abstract: Concentric rings of speakers in a room are activated in sequence to emit test sounds that are picked up by microphones placed in the ears of a listener in the middle of the room. The output of the microphones is used to generate plural HRTF spheres that are concentric, and that can be convolved with each other to render a multi-distance HRTF filter that can be configured to “move” the perceived distance and bearing of audio objects “inside” the outer sphere as desired, without being restricted to placing the audio objects at the outer edges of a single sphere. Any desired placement of an audio object between spheres is done by interpolating between respective coefficients of the closest spheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Gregory Peter Carlsson
  • Patent number: 11347832
    Abstract: A head related transfer function (HRTF), which can be considered as biometric data is used to authenticate a user from whom the HRTF is derived. The HRTF may be used for authentication in combination with other biometric data such as retina scan or fingerprint to render two-factor biometric authentication. The HRTF used for authentication is encrypted for security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Gregory Carlsson, Tonni Sandager Larsen
  • Patent number: 11336544
    Abstract: A method of assessing at least one of audio and video HDMI performance capabilities of an AV system including one or more sources and one or more sinks, interconnected in a first configuration comprises using an app running on a smart device, wirelessly connected to the AV system, to present audio and/or video performance capability information for each source and sink to a user of the system, based on EDID information received by the smart device from each source and sink. In one embodiment, the app also presents a determination of maximum theoretical data handling capacity of the AV system in the first configuration; runs a test to assess actual data handling capacity of the AC system in the first configuration; and presents one or more results of the test to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Tomohiro Koyata
  • Patent number: 11330371
    Abstract: An audio reproduction device and method for audio control based on room-correction (RC) and head related transfer function (HRTF) are provided. The audio reproduction device includes a speaker that reproduces a first audio signal. The audio reproduction device receives a plurality of second audio signals indicative of frequency responses captured based on the first audio signal and captured by a plurality of audio capturing devices positioned on a head wearable device of a user present within an enclosed physical space. The audio reproduction device determines RC preset for one or more RC filters associated with the speaker, based on the captured frequency responses. The audio reproduction device further determines HRTF associated with the user based on the captured frequency responses, and user-specific information of the user. The audio reproduction device further controls audio reproduction of the speaker based on the determined RC preset and the determined HRTF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory Carlsson, James R. Milne
  • Publication number: 20220116293
    Abstract: A method of assessing at least one of audio and video HDMI performance capabilities of an AV system including one or more sources and one or more sinks, interconnected in a first configuration comprises using an app running on a smart device, wirelessly connected to the AV system, to present audio and/or video performance capability information for each source and sink to a user of the system, based on EDID information received by the smart device from each source and sink. In one embodiment, the app also presents a determination of maximum theoretical data handling capacity of the AV system in the first configuration; runs a test to assess actual data handling capacity of the AC system in the first configuration; and presents one or more results of the test to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Tomohiro Koyata
  • Patent number: 11277706
    Abstract: Audio speaker angular determination is made using sensor fusion technology involving an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer (compass). All speakers in an audio system use their magnetometers to determine their orientation relative to magnetic north. A group owner (typically the center channel or sound bar) gathers the orientation information from all speakers in the system. The group owner determines the angle of orientation of all speakers relative to its own orientation. Changes in angular orientation are sensed by the gyroscopes. For example, during calibration, the user can be told to rotate a certain speaker in the system, and the gyroscope measures the change and reports to the group owner. An indication is presented as to whether the new angle is good, or more is required. The gyroscope in combination with the accelerometer senses changes of angular orientation to aim height speakers downward towards the listening position or bottom speakers upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Gregory Carlsson, William Clay
  • Publication number: 20220038836
    Abstract: A remote commander (RC) for a TV or other entertainment system component has a microphone. A device can query the RC for its serial number, access the Internet with the serial number to look up characteristics of the microphone, and then knowing the characteristics, use the RC microphone to detect sound such as speaker test chirps to calibrate an audio system in a convenient and user-friendly manner while achieving the accuracy of calibration that can only be obtained by using a calibrated microphone system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Carlsson, James R. Milne, Marvin DeMerchant
  • Patent number: 11240574
    Abstract: An audio network box is provided as a master for a networked speaker system. The audio box can be configured with different combinations of modules to provide functionality as may be desired by an end user. The modules may include a power over Ethernet module, a wireless communication module/access point (AP) module, and an analog speaker module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Gregory Carlsson, Tomohiro Koyata, Tonni Sandager Larsen
  • Publication number: 20220021805
    Abstract: Photographic context assistance is provided by overlaying a composition grid selected by the user or by a machine learning algorithm onto the image of a viewfinder of a camera, and then providing audible and/or visual cues as to moving the aim point to better conform the image to the grid. Fine tuning may be effected using, for instance, stabilization hardware to gently adjust the view to better conform the image to the grid before snapping a shot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, James R. Milne
  • Publication number: 20210385604
    Abstract: Audio speaker angular determination is made using sensor fusion technology involving an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer (compass). All speakers in an audio system use their magnetometers to determine their orientation relative to magnetic north. A group owner (typically the center channel or sound bar) gathers the orientation information from all speakers in the system. The group owner determines the angle of orientation of all speakers relative to its own orientation. Changes in angular orientation are sensed by the gyroscopes. For example, during calibration, the user can be told to rotate a certain speaker in the system, and the gyroscope measures the change and reports to the group owner. An indication is presented as to whether the new angle is good, or more is required. The gyroscope in combination with the accelerometer senses changes of angular orientation to aim height speakers downward towards the listening position or bottom speakers upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: James R. Milne, Gregory Carlsson, William Clay