Patents by Inventor Jobst Horentrup
Jobst Horentrup 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: 9578301Abstract: A video processing apparatus and a method for detecting a temporal synchronization mismatch between at least a first and a second video stream of a stereoscopic video content are described. An eye blink of a creature that is imaged in the video content is detected. The temporal synchronization mismatch is determined by determination of a temporal offset between the reproduction of an eye blink in the first video stream and the reproduction of said eye blink in the second video stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING SAInventors: Jobst Horentrup, Markus Schlosser
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Patent number: 9557888Abstract: Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the representation of a menu button may vary, depending on its state. An image or an image sequence, e.g. cartoon, may be associated to a buttons state, providing user animation. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. A data structure is disclosed which allows storage of such menu data e.g. on a Blu-ray disc.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Jobst Horentrup, Dirk Adolph, Ralf Ostermann, Harald Schiller, Hui Li
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Patent number: 9251600Abstract: A method for determining an alpha value for a candidate pixel of an image in an alpha matting process and an apparatus configured to perform the method are described. A selecting unit selects two or more pairs of foreground pixels and background pixels. A calculating unit calculates for each pair of foreground pixel and background pixel an associated alpha value based on a color of the foreground pixel and a color of the background pixel, as well as a probability function based on the associated alpha value. The probability function is modeled by assuming two or more characteristics of the pixels as statistically independent. A determining unit determines the pair of foreground pixel and background pixel with the highest value of the probability function. A setting unit then sets the alpha value for the candidate pixel to the associated alpha value of the determined pair of foreground pixel and background pixel.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Markus Schlosser, Jobst Horentrup, Jorge Lacasa
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Publication number: 20150117779Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing alpha matting on an image are described. A contour retrieving unit retrieves object contour information for the image. An edge decision unit then determines hard edges based on the retrieved object contour information using an edge model. Finally, an alpha assignment unit assigns alpha values to pixels of the image in a vicinity of a determined hard edge based on the edge model.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Markus SCHLOSSER, Jobst HORENTRUP, Lars KRUMWIEDE
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Patent number: 8990694Abstract: Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the representation of a menu button may vary, depending on its state. An image or an image sequence, e.g. cartoon, may be associated to a buttons state, providing user animation. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. A data structure is disclosed which allows storage of such menu data e.g. on a Blu-ray disc.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2009Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Jobst Hörentrup, Dirk Adolph, Ralf Ostermann, Harald Schiller, Hui Li
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Publication number: 20140368611Abstract: A video processing apparatus and a method for detecting a temporal synchronization mismatch between at least a first and a second video stream of a stereoscopic video content are described. An eye blink of a creature that is imaged in the video content is detected. The temporal synchronization mismatch is determined by determination of a temporal offset between the reproduction of an eye blink in the first video stream and the reproduction of said eye blink in the second video stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2012Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Jobst Horentrup, Markus Schlosser
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Patent number: 8867890Abstract: Several data streams contain video, audio and/or other data. Some of the data streams are pre-recorded in a multiplex on a storage medium while other data streams are located out of the data stream multiplex on the storage medium. The data streams are synchronized using a navigation file (List_of_PlayItems), which comprises descriptors (PlayItems, SubPlayItems) pointing to parts of said data streams, wherein said descriptors define the arrangement in time for said data streams by means of data sub stream paths.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Dirk Adolph, Harald Schiller, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters
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Publication number: 20140301639Abstract: A method for determining an alpha value for a candidate pixel of an image in an alpha matting process and an apparatus configured to perform the method are described. A selecting unit selects two or more pairs of foreground pixels and background pixels. A calculating unit calculates for each pair of foreground pixel and background pixel an associated alpha value based on a color of the foreground pixel and a color of the background pixel, as well as a probability function based on the associated alpha value. The probability function is modeled by assuming two or more characteristics of the pixels as statistically independent. A determining unit determines the pair of foreground pixel and background pixel with the highest value of the probability function. A setting unit then sets the alpha value for the candidate pixel to the associated alpha value of the determined pair of foreground pixel and background pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Markus SCHLOSSER, Jobst Horentrup, Jorge Lacasa
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Patent number: 8788939Abstract: Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Carsten Herpel, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Dirk Gandolph
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Patent number: 8751932Abstract: Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Carsten Herpel, Jobst Horentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Dirk Gandolph
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Patent number: 8737810Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for the retrieval of subtitle layer data from a storage medium, the subtitle layer data containing graphic subtitle elements, the extraction of cropping information from the retrieved subtitle layer data, the cropping information including a parameter for horizontal position, a parameter for vertical position, a parameter for width and a parameter for height and the automatic cropping of rectangular parts of the subtitle elements to be displayed, where the cropped parts to be displayed are defined by the cropping information.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
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Publication number: 20130346861Abstract: Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Carsten Herpel, Jobst Horentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Dirk Gandolph
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Publication number: 20130339854Abstract: Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Carsten Herpel, Jobst Horentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Dirk Gandolph
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Patent number: 8555168Abstract: Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Carsten Herpel, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Dirk Gandolph
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Patent number: 8543920Abstract: Multimedia content of exchangeable storage media, such as optical discs, may be extended by bonus content that is downloaded via Internet connection and stored on a local storage device. An improved method for integration of different menu items relating to on-disc content and downloaded content provides flexibility and a simple, low cost solution. The method for integration of downloaded bonus content into a menu comprises defining one or more placeholders within a menu, determining a storage location or naming convention for bonus content, declaring for each placeholder an attribute providing a unique association to a specific type of bonus content, providing a button image, detecting presence of bonus content data, replacing the associated placeholder by the associated button image and enabling an associated action to be taken when said button is selected.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Carsten Herpel, Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters
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Patent number: 8537282Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
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Patent number: 8531609Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller
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Publication number: 20130232448Abstract: Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title,, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the representation of a menu button may vary, depending on its state. An image or an image sequence, e.g. cartoon, may be associated to a buttons state, providing user animation. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. A data structure is disclosed which allows storage of such menu data e.g. on a Blu-ray disc.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Jobst Horentrup, Dirk Adolph, Ralf Ostermann, Harald Schiller, Hui Li
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Patent number: 8479119Abstract: Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are e.g. “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the menu may contain buttons that can be selected through the keys on the remote control, but that don't have any images or text associated. This allows creating “invisible buttons” that automatically execute commands upon selection. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. Such menu data may be stored e.g. on a Blu-ray disc.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Harald Schiller, Dirk Gandolph
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Patent number: 8432493Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Dirk Gandolph, Jobst Hörentrup, Ralf Ostermann, Hartmut Peters, Harald Schiller