Patents by Inventor Martin William Sotheran
Martin William Sotheran 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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Publication number: 20150172215Abstract: An apparatus for providing a bridge between a plurality of devices and a network, the apparatus comprising: one or more device interfaces, arranged to provide a physical interface between the apparatus and said plurality of devices; one or more device adaptors, each device adaptor connected to one of said one or more device interfaces, and arranged to send and/or receive data to and/or from at least one of said plurality of devices; one or more apps, each app arranged to connect to at least one of said one or more device adaptors via one or more sockets, and arranged to send and/or receive said data to and/or from said at least one of said one or more device adaptors via the one or more sockets; and an apparatus controller arranged to receive permissions from a remote server over an external interface and establish said sockets based on said permissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Anthony Peter John Claydon, Martin William Sotheran
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Patent number: 6799246Abstract: A memory interface for connecting a bus to memory comprises an input, a buffer, an address input, a generator, and a writer. The input receives a plurality of data words from the bus. The buffer buffers the data words received from the bus. The address input receives from the bus addresses associated with the plurality of data words. The generator generates a series of addresses in the memory into which the buffered data words may be written. The series of addresses are derived from the received addresses. The writer writes the buffered data words into the memory at the generated addresses.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian P. Wise, Kevin Douglas Dewar, Anthony Mark Jones, Martin William Sotheran, Colin Smith, Helen Rosemary Finch, Anthony Peter J. Claydon, Donald W. Walker Patterson, Mark Barnes, Andrew Peter Kuligowski, William Philip Robbins, Nicholas Birch, David Andrew Barnes
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Patent number: 6435737Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran, William Philip Robbins
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Patent number: 6217234Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Kevin D. Dewar, Anthony Mark Jones, Martin William Sotheran, David Andrew Barnes
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Patent number: 6122726Abstract: A pipeline structure processes data in a series of stages, each of which has a data input latch (LDIN) and passes it on to the next stage in the pipeline via a data output latch (LDOUT). The stages are preferably connected to two non-overlapping clock phases (PH0, PH1) Adjacent stages are also connected via a validation line (IN.sub.-- VALID, OUT.sub.-- VALID) and an acceptance line (IN.sub.-- ACCEPT, OUT.sub.-- ACCEPT), and in some embodiments also via an extension bit line (IN.sub.-- EXTN, OUT.sub.-- EXTN). Input data is transferred from any stage to the following device on every complete period of both clock signals only if both the validation and acceptance signals in the respective latch are in an affirmative state, whereby data is transferred between stages regardless of the state of the validation and acceptance signals in other stages. A two-wire interface is thus formed between the stages.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1997Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, William Philip Robbins, Martin William Sotheran
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Patent number: 6079009Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1997Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran
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Patent number: 6047112Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1995Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran, William P. Robbins
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Patent number: 6038380Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1997Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran, William Philip Robbins
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Patent number: 6035126Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran, William Philip Robbins
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Patent number: 6034674Abstract: This invention provides a method to control the buffering of encoded video data organized as frames or fields. This method involves determining the picture number of each incoming decoded frame, determining the expected presentation number at any time and marking any buffer as ready when its picture number is on or after the presentation number.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1997Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Martin William Sotheran, Helen R. Finch
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Patent number: 6018776Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1997Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran, William P. Robbins
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Patent number: 5956519Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran
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Patent number: 5907692Abstract: A pipeline structure processes data in a series of stages, each of which has a data input latch (LDIN) and passes it on to the next stage in the pipeline via a data output latch (LDOUT). The stages are preferably connected to two non-overlapping clock phases (PH0, PH1). Adjacent stages are also connected via a validation line (IN.sub.-- VALID, OUT.sub.-- VALID) and an acceptance line (IN.sub.-- ACCEPT, OUT.sub.-- ACCEPT), and in some embodiments also via an extension bit line (IN.sub.-- EXTN, OUT.sub.-- EXTN). Input data is transferred from any stage to the following device on every complete period of both clock signals only if both the validation and acceptance signals in the respective latch are in an affirmative state, whereby data is transferred between stages regardless of the state of the validation and acceptance signals in other stages. A two-wire interface is thus formed between the stages.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, William Philip Robbins, Martin William Sotheran
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Patent number: 5878273Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian P. Wise, Martin William Sotheran, William P. Robbins
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Patent number: 5861894Abstract: This invention provides a method to control the buffering of encoded video data organized as frames or fields. This method involves determining the picture number of each incoming decoded frame, determining the expected presentation number at any time and marking any buffer as ready when its picture number is on or after the presentation number.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Martin William Sotheran, Helen R. Finch
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Patent number: 5835792Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian P. Wise, Kevin D. Dewar, Anthony Mark Jones, Martin William Sotheran, Colin Smith, Helen Rosemary Finch, Anthony Peter John Claydon, Donald William Patterson, Mark Barnes, Andrew Peter Kuligowski, William P. Robbins, Nicholas Birch, David Andrew Barnes
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Patent number: 5835740Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian Philip Wise, Martin William Sotheran, William Philip Robbins
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Patent number: 5829007Abstract: A RAM implementation of asynchronous swing buffering is provided in which two buffers are operated asynchronously; one is written while the other is read. Accordingly, this allows for a data stream having a fast rate of through-put to be resynchronized to another rate, while still maintaining a desired rate. In the invention, the write control and read control both have state indicators for communicating which buffer they are using and whether the controls are waiting for access or are, in fact, accessing that buffer.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian P. Wise, Kevin D. Dewar, Anthony Mark Jones, Martin William Sotheran, Colin Smith, Helen Rosemary Finch, Anthony Peter John Claydon, Donald William Patterson, Mark Barnes, Andrew Peter Kuligowski, William P. Robbins, Nicholas Birch, David Andrew Barnes
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Patent number: 5828907Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arrangedas a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass ovef the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian P. Wise, Martin William Sotheran
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Patent number: 5821885Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Discovision AssociatesInventors: Adrian P. Wise, Kevin D. Dewar, Anthony Mark Jones, Martin William Sotheran, Colin Smith, Helen Rosemary Finch, Anthony Peter John Claydon, Donald William Patterson, Mark Barnes, Andrew Peter Kuligowski, William P. Robbins, Nicholas Birch, David Andrew Barnes