Patents by Inventor Lawrence W. Neal

Lawrence W. Neal 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: 20180115788
    Abstract: A method at a server system includes: receiving a video stream from a remote video camera, wherein the video stream comprises a plurality of video frames; selecting a plurality of non-contiguous frames from the video stream, the plurality of non-contiguous frames being associated with a predetermined time interval; encoding the plurality of non-contiguous frames as a compressed video segment associated with the time interval; receiving a request from an application running on a client device to review video from the remote video camera for the time interval; and in response to the request, transmitting the video segment to the client device for viewing in the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Burns, George Alban Heitz, III, James Edward Stewart, Cameron Hill, Seungho Yang, Joe Delone Venters, William Alex Finlayson, Carsten Hinz, Timothy Samuel Psiaki, Nathan Scott Klee, Gregory Rourk Nelson, Kevin James Avery, Lawrence W. Neal, Martin Davidsson
  • Publication number: 20180113577
    Abstract: A method at an electronic device with a display includes: displaying a user interface having a first region and a second region; receiving, and displaying in the first region of the user interface, a live video stream of a physical environment captured by a remote video camera, where at least some of the live video stream is recorded at a remote server; displaying, in the second region, a timeline corresponding to a timespan for a first portion of a duration during which the live video stream may have been recorded; in response to receiving a user interaction to move the timespan to a second portion of the duration, transitioning the displayed timeline to a new timeline that corresponds to the timespan for the second portion, and while transitioning, displaying, in the first region, a subset of video frames representing the first and/or second portion of the duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Burns, George Alban Heitz, III, James Edward Stewart, Cameron Hill, Seungho Yang, Joe Delone Venters, William Alex Finlayson, Carsten Hinz, Timothy Samuel Psiaki, Nathan Scott Klee, Gregory Rourk Nelson, Kevin James Avery, Lawrence W. Neal, Martin Davidsson
  • Publication number: 20170270365
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for categorizing motion events. In one aspect, a method is performed at a camera device. The method includes: (1) capturing a plurality of video frames via the image sensor, the plurality of video frames corresponding to a scene in a field of view of the camera; (2) sending the video frames to the remote server system in real-time; (3) while sending the video frames to the remote server system in real-time: (a) determining that motion has occurred within the scene; (b) in response to determining that motion has occurred within the scene, characterizing the motion as a motion event; and (c) generating motion event metadata for the motion event; and (4) sending the generated motion event metadata to the remote server system concurrently with the video frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Jason N. Laska, Wei Hua, Prateek Reddy, Akshay R. Bapat, Lawrence W. Neal
  • Publication number: 20170195313
    Abstract: This application discloses a method of provisioning an electronic device. The electronic device proactively broadcasts an advertising packet that includes a device identifier associated with the electronic device. A server receives the device identifier via a client device, and issues a link approval response when it verifies that the electronic device associated with the device identifier is available for provisioning in association with a user account. In response to the link approval response, the electronic device and the client device establish communication via a short range wireless link. The client device encrypts at least a portion of network credentials of a secure wireless network using a password key generated at the server, and provides the encrypted network credentials to the electronic device. The electronic device decrypts the encrypted network credentials using a key generated at the electronic device, and accesses the secure wireless network using the decrypted network credentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: RONALD L. KIRKBY, HIRO MITSUJI, EDEN SHERRY, LAWRENCE W. NEAL
  • Patent number: 9672427
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for categorizing motion events. In one aspect, a method includes: (1) obtaining a plurality of video frames, the plurality of video frames corresponding to a scene and a motion event candidate; (2) identifying one or more visual characteristics of the scene; (3) obtaining one or more background factors for the scene; (4) utilizing the obtained background factors to identify one or more motion entities; (5) for each identified motion entity: (a) classifying the motion entity by performing object recognition; and (b) obtaining one or more representative motion vectors based on a motion track of the motion entity; and (6) assigning a motion event category to the motion event candidate based on the identified visual characteristics, the obtained background factors, the classified motion entities, and the obtained representative motion vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason N. Laska, Wei Hua, Prateek Reddy, Akshay R. Bapat, Lawrence W. Neal
  • Patent number: 9600726
    Abstract: This application discloses a method of provisioning an electronic device. The electronic device proactively broadcasts an advertising packet that includes a device identifier associated with the electronic device. A server receives the device identifier via a client device, and issues a link approval response when it verifies that the electronic device associated with the device identifier is available for provisioning in association with a user account. In response to the link approval response, the electronic device and the client device establish communication via a short range wireless link. The client device encrypts at least a portion of network credentials of a secure wireless network using a password key generated at the server, and provides the encrypted network credentials to the electronic device. The electronic device decrypts the encrypted network credentials using a key generated at the electronic device, and accesses the secure wireless network using the decrypted network credentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Kirkby, Hiro Mitsuji, Eden Sherry, Lawrence W. Neal
  • Publication number: 20170046574
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for categorizing motion events. In one aspect, a method includes: (1) obtaining a plurality of video frames, the plurality of video frames corresponding to a scene and a motion event candidate; (2) identifying one or more visual characteristics of the scene; (3) obtaining one or more background factors for the scene; (4) utilizing the obtained background factors to identify one or more motion entities; (5) for each identified motion entity: (a) classifying the motion entity by performing object recognition; and (b) obtaining one or more representative motion vectors based on a motion track of the motion entity; and (6) assigning a motion event category to the motion event candidate based on the identified visual characteristics, the obtained background factors, the classified motion entities, and the obtained representative motion vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jason N. Laska, Wei Hua, Prateek Reddy, Akshay R. Bapat, Lawrence W. Neal
  • Patent number: 9501915
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for analyzing video streams. In one aspect, a method includes, while receiving a video stream: obtaining motion start information indicating that a portion of the video stream includes a motion event candidate; and segmenting the portion of the video stream into a plurality of segments including an initial segment. The method also includes obtaining a first categorization for the motion event candidate based on the initial segment; and, in accordance with the obtained first categorization, generating a log entry for the motion event candidate including the first categorization. The method further includes: in response to obtaining motion end information, obtaining a second categorization for the motion event based on the plurality of segments; and updating the log entry for the motion event candidate based on the obtained second categorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason N. Laska, Wei Hua, Prateek Reddy, Akshay R. Bapat, Lawrence W. Neal
  • Patent number: 9354794
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, processor(s), and memory detects a first user input to zoom in on a respective portion of a first video feed displayed on the display, and, in response, performs a software zoom function on the respective portion of the first video feed to display the respective portion at a first resolution. The electronic device determines a current zoom magnification and coordinates of the respective portion of the first video feed, and sends a command to the camera to perform a hardware zoom function on the coordinates of the respective portion according to the current zoom magnification. The electronic device receives a second video feed from the camera with a field of view corresponding to the respective portion, and displays, on the display, the second video feed in the video monitoring user interface with a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Kirkby, Hiro Mitsuji, Eden Sherry, Lawrence W. Neal, Yohannes Kifle
  • Publication number: 20160105617
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include a method for zooming a remote video feed performed at a client device. The method includes: receiving a first video feed having a first field of view from a camera located remotely from the client device; displaying the first field of view; and detecting a user input to zoom in on a particular portion. The method further includes: in response to detecting the user input, performing a software zoom function at the client device to display a second field of view corresponding to the particular portion at a first resolution; sending a crop command to the camera; in response to sending the crop command, receiving a second video feed from the camera, the second video feed corresponding to a cropped version of the first video feed and having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution; and displaying the second video feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald L. Kirkby, Hiro Mitsuji, Eden Sherry, Lawrence W. Neal, Yohannes Kifle
  • Publication number: 20160094994
    Abstract: This application discloses a method of provisioning an electronic device. The electronic device proactively broadcasts an advertising packet that includes a device identifier associated with the electronic device. A server receives the device identifier via a client device, and issues a link approval response when it verifies that the electronic device associated with the device identifier is available for provisioning in association with a user account. In response to the link approval response, the electronic device and the client device establish communication via a short range wireless link. The client device encrypts at least a portion of network credentials of a secure wireless network using a password key generated at the server, and provides the encrypted network credentials to the electronic device. The electronic device decrypts the encrypted network credentials using a key generated at the electronic device, and accesses the secure wireless network using the decrypted network credentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: RONALD L. KIRKBY, HIRO MITSUJI, EDEN SHERRY, LAWRENCE W. NEAL
  • Publication number: 20160041724
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, processor(s), and memory detects a first user input to zoom in on a respective portion of a first video feed displayed on the display, and, in response, performs a software zoom function on the respective portion of the first video feed to display the respective portion at a first resolution. The electronic device determines a current zoom magnification and coordinates of the respective portion of the first video feed, and sends a command to the camera to perform a hardware zoom function on the coordinates of the respective portion according to the current zoom magnification. The electronic device receives a second video feed from the camera with a field of view corresponding to the respective portion, and displays, on the display, the second video feed in the video monitoring user interface with a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald L. Kirkby, Hiro Mitsuji, Eden Sherry, Lawrence W. Neal, Yohannes Kifle
  • Publication number: 20160004390
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, processor(s), and memory displays a video monitoring user interface including a video feed from a camera located remotely from the client device in a first region and an event timeline in a second region, the event timeline including event indicators for motion events previously detected by the camera. The electronic device detects a user input selecting a portion of the event timeline, where the selected portion of the event timeline includes a subset of the event indicators. In response to the user input, the electronic device causes generation of a time-lapse video clip of the selected portion of the event timeline. The electronic device displays the time-lapse video clip, where motion events corresponding to the subset of the event indicators are played at a slower speed than the remainder of the selected portion of the event timeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Jason N. Laska, Greg R. Nelson, Greg Duffy, Hiro Mitsuji, Lawrence W. Neal, Cameron Hill
  • Patent number: 9170707
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, processor(s), and memory displays a video monitoring user interface including a video feed from a camera located remotely from the client device in a first region and an event timeline in a second region, the event timeline including event indicators for motion events previously detected by the camera. The electronic device detects a user input selecting a portion of the event timeline, where the selected portion of the event timeline includes a subset of the event indicators. In response to the user input, the electronic device causes generation of a time-lapse video clip of the selected portion of the event timeline. The electronic device displays the time-lapse video clip, where motion events corresponding to the subset of the event indicators are played at a slower speed than the remainder of the selected portion of the event timeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason N. Laska, Greg R. Nelson, Greg Duffy, Hiro Mitsuji, Lawrence W. Neal, Cameron Hill
  • Patent number: 9009805
    Abstract: This application discloses a method of provisioning an electronic device. The electronic device proactively broadcasts an advertising packet that includes a device identifier associated with the electronic device. A server receives the device identifier via a client device, and issues a link approval response when it verifies that the electronic device associated with the device identifier is available for provisioning in association with a user account. In response to the link approval response, the electronic device and the client device establish communication via a short range wireless link. The client device encrypts at least a portion of network credentials of a secure wireless network using a password key generated at the server, and provides the encrypted network credentials to the electronic device. The electronic device decrypts the encrypted network credentials using a key generated at the electronic device, and accesses the secure wireless network using the decrypted network credentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Kirkby, Hiro Mitsuji, Eden Sherry, Lawrence W. Neal