Patents by Inventor Junichi Rekimoto

Junichi Rekimoto 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: 20130027535
    Abstract: In one aspect, an information processing system for determining complimentary phrases to present to a recipient is provided. The information processing system may receive an input image depicting a subject. A difference in appearance between the subject depicted in the input image and a model subject may be determined. One or more phrases (e.g., complimentary phrases) may be selected from a plurality of categorized phrase candidates based on the identified difference in appearance between the subject and the model subject. The difference in appearance may be determined by comparing selected features (e.g., skin, hair, eyes) of the subject with one or more predetermined features of the model subject. The model subject may be the same or different than the subject depicted in the input image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Tatsushi Nashida
  • Publication number: 20130017790
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus may have a memory configured to store an identification information of an IC tag in association with a communication profile in a table. The information processing apparatus may also have a first communication unit configured to communicate with the IC tag using a first communication function. The information processing apparatus may also have a second communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus using a second communication function different from the first communication function. In addition, the information processing apparatus may have a controller, which may be configured to receive identification information from the IC tag through the first communication unit and to establish a connection with the external apparatus through the second communication unit based on the received identification information and the table stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 8352882
    Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eduardo Agusto Sciammarella, Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba, Makoto Imamura, Hideyuki Agata, Masakazu Hayashi, Masato Kuninori
  • Patent number: 8345881
    Abstract: The present invention aims at granting easy and prompt start of wireless communications in which security is ensured without incurring addition of hardware. If a connection button provided on a surface of a PDA 1 is operated, a connection request is broadcast from the PDA 1. If the PDA 1 and a portable phone 2 are in proximity to each other, and a reception intensity of the connection request from the PDA 1 is equal to or higher than a threshold value, a request of the PDA 1 is granted by the portable phone 2. Then, an encryption key is newly generated by the portable phone 2, and is transmitted to the PDA 1 together with a communication parameter. An encryption key and the communication parameter transmitted from the portable phone 2 are acquired. Encrypted communications using the encryption key generated by the portable phone 2 are established with the portable phones 2 based on the communication parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Patent number: 8339242
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide logic for managing positional information within a mobile communication network. In one implementation, an information management apparatus includes a history information registration unit, a registration determination unit, and a base station information registration unit. The history information registration unit may be configured to register first and second history information within a storage unit. The registration determination unit may determine whether a difference value between time information associated with the first and second history information is less than a threshold value. The base station information registration unit may subsequently register at least position information associated with a communications apparatus and a base station, when the difference value is less than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Patent number: 8331986
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system and a communication method for simply and quickly starting communication. A cellular phone is loaded with a non-contact IC card that communicates with a reader/writer of a personal computer using an electromagnetic wave. When the non-contact IC card receives the electromagnetic wave emitted from the reader/writer with the cellular phone placed close to the personal computer, the cellular phone notifies the personal computer of a card ID set in the non-contact IC card. When the personal computer acquires Bluetooth device names of the cellular phone and PDA with intra-piconet synchronization established between the cellular phone and the PDA, the personal computer identifies the cellular phone as a communication partner based on the Bluetooth device names already notified of as the card ID. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a cellular phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: SONY Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Inagaki, Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 8326225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems and methods which allow the partner of communication to be easily specified. A portable telephone 52 is provided with a non-contact IC card which communicates with a reader/writer of a personal computer 51 by electromagnetic waves. When the non-contact IC card receives electromagnetic waves emitted by the reader/writer, the portable telephone 52 reports the card ID assigned to the non-contact IC card to the personal computer 51. The card ID includes the Bluetooth address of the portable telephone 52. When the personal computer 51 obtains the Bluetooth addresses of the portable telephone 52 and a PDA 53 at an inquiry, the personal computer 51 specifies the portable telephone 52 as a Bluetooth device with which synchronization is established, according to the Bluetooth address reported in advance. The present invention can be applied to information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and portable telephones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka, Toru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8280306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method that allow wireless communications to be readily and quickly started. When a cellular phone 1 is placed in proximity to a personal computer 11, a strap ID is transmitted from a contactless IC tag 3 of a cellular phone strap 2 to a reader/writer 12 of the personal computer 11. The personal computer 11 has a table of association between the strap ID and a Bluetooth device name of the cellular phone 1. The personal computer 11, upon obtaining the strap ID, refers to the association table and thereby identifies the cellular phone 1 as a party for carrying out Bluetooth communications therewith. The personal computer 11, by referring to the Bluetooth device name, identifies the cellular phone 1 from among a plurality of Bluetooth devices including the cellular phone 1, and carries out Bluetooth communications with the cellular phone 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Publication number: 20120244855
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system and a communication method for simply and quickly starting communication. A cellular phone is loaded with a non-contact IC card that communicates with a reader/writer of a personal computer using an electromagnetic wave. When the non-contact IC card receives the electromagnetic wave emitted from the reader/writer with the cellular phone placed close to the personal computer, the cellular phone notifies the personal computer of a card ID set in the non-contact IC card. When the personal computer acquires Bluetooth device names of the cellular phone and PDA with intra-piconet synchronization established between the cellular phone and the PDA, the personal computer identifies the cellular phone as a communication partner based on the Bluetooth device names already notified of as the card ID. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a cellular phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Takeo INAGAKI, Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Publication number: 20120238246
    Abstract: The present invention is an information processing apparatus which obtains identification information of an electronic device and makes communication with the electronic device via a network based on the identification information. When a portable telephone (11) is placed on an input display section (2) of a personal computer (1), a reader/writer built in the personal computer (1) reads a telephone number of the portable telephone (11) stored in an RF tag built in the portable telephone (11). Based on the telephone number, a telephone line is connected between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1). Data is interchanged between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1) via the telephone line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Junichi REKIMOTO, Yuji AYATSUKA, Nobuyuki MATSUSHITA, Eduardo A. SCIAMMARELLA, Haruo OBA
  • Publication number: 20120214475
    Abstract: A portable information terminal is placed in proximity with an ID recognition unit of a notebook PC. By reading ID from the portable information terminal, the notebook PC is able to identify a network address of the portable information terminal so as to establish a network connection with the portable information terminal. The notebook PC then sends suitable operation information to the portable information terminal via a network. For example, if presentation is running on the notebook PC, screen information for operating the presentation is transferred to the portable information terminal. Accordingly, by using one device connected to the other device by a wired or wireless network, the operation of the other device can be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: JUNICHI REKIMOTO, Yuji Ayatsuka, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20120214476
    Abstract: A portable information terminal is placed in proximity with an ID recognition unit of a notebook PC. By reading ID from the portable information terminal, the notebook PC is able to identify a network address of the portable information terminal so as to establish a network connection with the portable information terminal. The notebook PC then sends suitable operation information to the portable information terminal via a network. For example, if presentation is running on the notebook PC, screen information for operating the presentation is transferred to the portable information terminal. Accordingly, by using one device connected to the other device by a wired or wireless network, the operation of the other device can be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: 8229465
    Abstract: An information processing device is provided that includes: a storage portion associating and storing section information indicating one section of a building structure, first measurement information acquired by signal intensity measurement of a wireless signal transmitted from a surrounding base station in a wireless terminal existing in the one section, and base station identification information; a receiving portion that receives at least one piece of second measurement information acquired by signal intensity measurement, and at least one piece of base station identification information that indicates a base station of a transmission source of the wireless signal; and a selection portion that selects, based on at least one piece of first measurement information associated with the at least one piece of base station identification information and the at least one piece of second measurement information, section information associated with one of the at least one piece of first measurement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Publication number: 20120185708
    Abstract: A power sever, client and method cooperate to selectably supply power from a power server to a client in a format that is acceptable to the client. The client device is able to distinguish the power server from other power servers based on an identification of the power server transmitted to the client device. The client device is then able to specify, or select, from the specific power server the format of the energy to be conveyed to the client device for ultimate consumption by the client device. The conveyance of energy is provided over conductors or wirelessly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Shigeru Tajima
  • Patent number: 8213986
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system and a communication method for simply and quickly starting communication. A cellular phone is loaded with a non-contact IC card that communicates with a reader/writer of a personal computer using an electromagnetic wave. When the non-contact IC card receives the electromagnetic wave emitted from the reader/writer with the cellular phone placed close to the personal computer, the cellular phone notifies the personal computer of a card ID set in the non-contact IC card. When the personal computer acquires Bluetooth device names of the cellular phone and PDA with intra-piconet synchronization established between the cellular phone and the PDA, the personal computer identifies the cellular phone as a communication partner based on the Bluetooth device names already notified of as the card ID. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a cellular phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Inagaki, Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Publication number: 20120157126
    Abstract: Wireless terminals are provided that comprise, for example, a wireless signal receiving portion that receives a wireless signal transmitted from a base station; a measurement portion that performs signal intensity measurement of the wireless signal; and an information transmitting portion that transmits pieces of measurement information acquired by the signal intensity measurement, and at least one piece of base station identification information that indicates a base station of a transmission source of the wireless signal and that is associated with each of the pieces of measurement information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Publication number: 20120156996
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program in which information can be reliably exchanged when performing wireless communication by allowing a user to know a communication distance at which devices can be connected. For example, a communication unit 28 performs Bluetooth communication with a communication unit, which serves as a Bluetooth module, provided for a cellular telephone; a CPU 21 displays an image corresponding to the cellular telephone based on the input level of Bluetooth radio waves transmitted from the cellular telephone; the CPU 21 calculates the display position of the image to be displayed based on the data indicating the input level of the radio waves. The present invention can be applied to an information processing apparatus, for example, a personal computer, PDA, or a cellular telephone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 8190695
    Abstract: A portable information terminal is placed in proximity with an ID recognition unit of a notebook PC. By reading ID from the portable information terminal, the notebook PC is able to identify a network address of the portable information terminal so as to establish a network connection with the portable information terminal. The notebook PC then sends suitable operation information to the portable information terminal via a network. For example, if presentation is running on the notebook PC, screen information for operating the presentation is transferred to the portable information terminal. Accordingly, by using one device connected to the other device by a wired or wireless network, the operation of the other device can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: 8184053
    Abstract: A radio communication apparatus has a storage section for correlating and storing positional information and identification information of the base station, a receiving section for receiving radio signals transmitted from the base station and containing the identification information and a position estimating section for estimating position of the radio communication apparatus based on the positional information stored in the storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Rekimoto
  • Patent number: RE43849
    Abstract: The invention provides an information retrieval apparatus and an information retrieval method by which information can be retrieved in an improved operability. A CPU controls a video camera to fetch an image and controls a GPS to detect a current position. The CPU reads out, from within image data stored in a corresponding relationship with URLs of WWW servers, those image data which correspond to position data regarding positions around the detected current position from a WWW data base via a modem and a host machine. Then, the CPU selects, from among the read out image data, that image data which matches with the fetched data, reads out a URL corresponding to the image data and accesses a WWW server designated by the URL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kitano, Junichi Rekimoto