Patents by Inventor Mark E. Cerny

Mark E. Cerny 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: 20260048324
    Abstract: A method including receiving actuation of a universal button on a controller during live game play of a video game, wherein image frames of the live game play are displayed in sequential order, wherein a current image frame is being displayed when the universal button is actuated. The method including receiving selection of a rewind mode from features presented in a user interface displayed simultaneous with the live game play in response to the actuation of the universal button. The method including accessing from storage a subset of captured image frames generated for the game play. The method including entering the rewind mode by automatically switching from displaying the live game play to displaying the subset of captured image frames in reverse beginning from the current image frame. The method including responding to rewind controller inputs for controlling the displaying of the subset of captured image frames in rewind mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Inventors: Mark E. CERNY, Dustin S. CLINGMAN
  • Patent number: 12491433
    Abstract: A method for cloud gaming. The method including generating a video frame when executing a video game at a server, wherein the video frame is stored in a frame buffer. The method including determining a maximum pixel clock for a chip-set including a scan-out block. The method including determining a frame rate setting based on the maximum pixel clock and an image size of a target display of a client. The method including determining a speed setting value for the chip-set. The method including scanning the video frame into the scan-out block from the frame buffer. The method including scanning-out the video frame from the scan-out block to the encoder at the speed setting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Roelof Roderick Colenbrander, Mark E. Cerny
  • Publication number: 20250367550
    Abstract: A method of cloud gaming is disclosed. The method including receiving an encoded video frame at a client, wherein a server executes an application to generate a rendered video frame which is then encoded at an encoder at the server as the encoded video frame, wherein the encoded video frame includes one or more encoded slices that are compressed. The method including decoding the one or more encoded slices at a decoder of the client to generate one or more decoded slices. The method including rendering the one or more decoded slices for display at the client. The method including begin displaying the one or more decoded slices that are rendered before fully receiving the one or more encoded slices at the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: Mark E. CERNY, Kelvin M. YONG
  • Patent number: 12478871
    Abstract: A method including receiving actuation of a universal button on a controller during live game play of a video game, wherein image frames of the live game play are displayed in sequential order, wherein a current image frame is being displayed when the universal button is actuated. The method including receiving selection of a rewind mode from features presented in a user interface displayed simultaneous with the live game play in response to the actuation of the universal button. The method including accessing from storage a subset of captured image frames generated for the game play. The method including entering the rewind mode by automatically switching from displaying the live game play to displaying the subset of captured image frames in reverse beginning from the current image frame. The method including responding to rewind controller inputs for controlling the displaying of the subset of captured image frames in rewind mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Dustin S. Clingman
  • Patent number: 12415129
    Abstract: A method of cloud gaming is disclosed. The method including receiving an encoded video frame at a client, wherein a server executes an application to generate a rendered video frame which is then encoded at an encoder at the server as the encoded video frame, wherein the encoded video frame includes one or more encoded slices that are compressed. The method including decoding the one or more encoded slices at a decoder of the client to generate one or more decoded slices. The method including rendering the one or more decoded slices for display at the client. The method including begin displaying the one or more decoded slices that are rendered before fully receiving the one or more encoded slices at the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Kelvin M. Yong
  • Patent number: 12400286
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including using the plurality of GPUs in collaboration to render an image frame including a plurality of pieces of geometry. The method including during the rendering of the image frame, subdividing one or more of the plurality of pieces of geometry into smaller pieces, and dividing the responsibility for rendering these smaller portions of geometry among the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of the smaller portions of geometry is processed by a corresponding GPU. The method including for those pieces of geometry that are not subdivided, dividing the responsibility for rendering the pieces of geometry among the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of these pieces of geometry is processed by a corresponding GPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Cerny
  • Patent number: 12390723
    Abstract: A method is disclosed including setting, at a server, a server VSYNC signal to a server VSYNC frequency. The server VSYNC signal corresponding to generation of video frames during frame periods for the server VSYNC frequency. The method including setting, at a client, a client VSYNC signal to a client VSYNC frequency. The method including sending compressed video frames from the server to the client over a network using the server VSYNC signal, wherein the compressed video frames are based on the generated video frames. The method including decoding and displaying, at the client, the compressed video frames. The method including analyzing the timing of one or more client operations to adjust the relative timing between the server VSYNC signal and the client VSYNC signal, as the client receives the compressed video frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Kelvin M. Yong
  • Patent number: 12370442
    Abstract: A method for cloud gaming. The method including generating a video frame when executing a video game at a server. The method including performing a scan-out process by scanning the video frame scanline-by-scanline and one or more user interface features scanline-by-scanline to one or more input frame buffers, and compositing and blending the video frame and the one or more user interface features into a modified video frame. The method including scanning in the scan-out process the modified video frame to an encoder at the server scanline-by-scanline. The method including beginning in the scan-out process scanning the video frame and the one or more user interface features to the one or more input frame buffers at a corresponding flip-time for the video frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Roelof Roderick Colenbrander, Mark E. Cerny
  • Patent number: 12289452
    Abstract: A method for encoding including executing game logic built on a game engine of a video game at a cloud gaming server to generate video frames. The method including executing scene change logic to predict a scene change in the video frames based on game state collected during execution of the game logic. The method including identifying a range of video frames that is predicted to include the scene change. The method including generating a scene change hint using the scene change logic, wherein the scene change hint identifies the range of video frames, wherein the range of video frames includes a first video frame. The method including delivering the first video frame to an encoder. The method including sending the scene change hint from the scene change logic to the encoder. The method including encoding the first video frame as an I-frame based on the scene change hint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Kelvin M. Yong
  • Publication number: 20250124644
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for processing pieces of geometry of an image frame during an analysis pre-pass phase of rendering between the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of the pieces of geometry is assigned to a corresponding GPU. The method including determining in the analysis pre-pass phase overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each screen regions. The method including generating information at the GPUs regarding the pieces of geometry and their relations to the screen regions based on the overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each of the screen regions. The method including assigning the screen regions to the GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the pieces of geometry during a subsequent phase of rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Tobias Berghoff, David Simpson
  • Publication number: 20250090951
    Abstract: A method for executing a game by a computing system that uses a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) for generating video frames. A draw call is generated for a video frame by the CPU. At bind time, i.e. writing of the GPU commands by the CPU using a GPU API, asset aware data (AAD) is written to the command buffer, and loading of one or more level of detail (LOD) data from an asset store to system memory is requested. The GPU executes the draw call for the frame using LOD data written to the system memory, the GPU using at least a minimum of LOD data based on the AAD. Additionally, the GPU uses information regarding the LOD load state when executing the draw call, in order to avoid access to LODs not yet loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventor: Mark E. Cerny
  • Publication number: 20250083038
    Abstract: A method for cloud gaming. The method including receiving one or more encoded slices of a video frame at a client, wherein the video frame was generated at a server while executing a video game, and encoded by an encoder at the server into the one or more encoded slices. The method including decoding a first encoded slice at a decoder of the client before fully receiving the one or more encoded slices of the video frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Kelvin M. Yong, Mark E. Cerny
  • Publication number: 20250083039
    Abstract: A method is disclosed including setting, at a plurality of devices, a plurality of VSYNC signals to a plurality of VSYNC frequencies, wherein a corresponding device VSYNC signal of a corresponding device is set to a corresponding device VSYNC frequency. The method including sending a plurality of signals between the plurality of devices, which are analyzed and used to adjust the relative timing between corresponding device VSYNC signals of at least two devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Kelvin M. Yong
  • Publication number: 20250041715
    Abstract: A method is disclosed including setting, at a server, a server VSYNC signal to a server VSYNC frequency defining a plurality of frame periods. The server VSYNC signal corresponding to generation of a plurality of video frames at the server during the plurality of frame periods. The method including setting, at a client, a client VSYNC signal to a client VSYNC frequency. The method including sending a plurality of compressed video frames based on the plurality of video frames from the server to the client over a network using the server VSYNC signal. The method including decoding and displaying, at the client, the plurality of compressed video frames. The method including analyzing the timing of one or more client operations to set the amount of frame buffering used by the client, as the client receives the plurality of compressed video frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Kelvin M. Yong
  • Publication number: 20250037230
    Abstract: A method for graphics processing. The method including rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including using the plurality of GPUs in collaboration to render an image frame including a plurality of pieces of geometry. The method including during a pre-pass phase of rendering, generating information at the GPUs regarding the plurality of pieces of geometry and their relation to a plurality of screen regions. The method including assigning the plurality of screen regions to the plurality of GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the plurality of pieces of geometry in a subsequent phase of rendering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Tobias Berghoff, David Simpson
  • Publication number: 20250029202
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). Responsibility for rendering of geometry is divided between GPUs based on screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known. A plurality of pieces of geometry of an image frame is assigned to the GPUs for geometry testing. A first GPU state configuring one or more shaders to perform the geometry testing is set. Geometry testing is performed at GPUs on the plurality of pieces of geometry to generate information regarding each piece of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions. A second GPU state configuring the one or more shaders to perform rendering is set. The information generated for each of the plurality of pieces of geometry is used when rendering the plurality of pieces of geometry at the GPUs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Florian Strauss, Tobias Berghoff
  • Patent number: 12186658
    Abstract: A method for executing a game by a computing system that uses a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) for generating video frames. A draw call is generated for a video frame by the CPU. At bind time, i.e. writing of the GPU commands by the CPU using a GPU API, asset aware data (AAD) is written to the command buffer, and loading of one or more level of detail (LOD) data from an asset store to system memory is requested. The GPU executes the draw call for the frame using LOD data written to the system memory, the GPU using at least a minimum of LOD data based on the AAD. Additionally, the GPU uses information regarding the LOD load state when executing the draw call, in order to avoid access to LODs not yet loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Cerny
  • Patent number: 12179096
    Abstract: A method for cloud gaming. The method including receiving one or more encoded slices of a video frame at a client, wherein the video frame was generated at a server while executing a video game, and encoded by an encoder at the server into the one or more encoded slices. The method including decoding a first encoded slice at a decoder of the client before fully receiving the one or more encoded slices of the video frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kelvin M. Yong, Mark E. Cerny
  • Patent number: 12175585
    Abstract: A method including rendering graphics for an application using graphics processing units (GPUs). The method including dividing responsibility for processing pieces of geometry of an image frame during an analysis pre-pass phase of rendering between the plurality of GPUs, wherein each of the pieces of geometry is assigned to a corresponding GPU. The method including determining in the analysis pre-pass phase overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each screen regions. The method including generating information at the GPUs regarding the pieces of geometry and their relations to the screen regions based on the overlap of each of the pieces of geometry with each of the screen regions. The method including assigning the screen regions to the GPUs based on the information for purposes of rendering the pieces of geometry during a subsequent phase of rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Tobias Berghoff, David Simpson
  • Patent number: 12157054
    Abstract: A method is disclosed including setting, at a plurality of devices, a plurality of VSYNC signals to a plurality of VSYNC frequencies, wherein a corresponding device VSYNC signal of a corresponding device is set to a corresponding device VSYNC frequency. The method including sending a plurality of signals between the plurality of devices, which are analyzed and used to adjust the relative timing between corresponding device VSYNC signals of at least two devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cerny, Kelvin M. Yong