Patents by Inventor Masato Shimakawa

Masato Shimakawa 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: 20190258369
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that provide a mechanism with which the display location of the operation object is able to be operated with a sensation of displacing an actual object. The information processing apparatus includes: a display control unit that controls display of an operation object for a device to be operated; and a reference control unit that controls a reference of a location at which the operation object is displayed such that the operation object is able to be visually recognized, on the basis of a predetermined operation performed to the operation object by an operation subject of the device to be operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji SUZUKI, Kentaro IDA, Yousuke KAWANA, Osamu SHIGETA, Maki IMOTO, Takuya IKEDA, Naoyuki SATO, Hirotake ICHIKAWA, Masato SHIMAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20190109836
    Abstract: [Object] To propose an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program which enable a user to appropriately restrict control over a device. [Solution] The information processing apparatus includes a control authority managing unit configured to change a control authority for a device by a first user on a basis of whether or not a status is a monitored status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: NAOYUKI SATO, HIROTAKE ICHIKAWA, SEIJI SUZUKI, MASATO SHIMAKAWA
  • Patent number: 9942278
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a controller. The communication unit communicates with a service on a network in which a plurality of users are capable of participating and devices of the plurality of the users. The storage unit stores user information on the plurality of users and device information on the devices of the plurality of users in relation to each other. A controller controls the communication unit so that the communication obtains, from the service, social graph information, generates group information on a group consisting of a plurality of users, generates a partial network including devices of users in the group based on the generated group information, the stored user information, and the stored device information, and controls communication between the devices in the generated partial network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 9813256
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including a communication unit and a controller. The communication unit is capable of connecting to, via a fourth network, a first server and a first device existing in a first network, a second server and a second device existing in a second network, and a relay server that exists in a third network and stores connection information with respect to the first server and the second server. The controller is capable of controlling the communication unit to receive the connection information from the relay server and controlling data transmission processing between the first device and the second device via the first server and the second server using the connection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuko Yamada, Masato Shimakawa, Yoshihiro Manabe, Seiji Miyama, Satoshi Hiroi
  • Patent number: 9760708
    Abstract: [Object] To reduce the trouble of the authentication process necessary for cooperation between a plurality of devices or network services. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a controller. The communication unit communicates with a first device, a second device, and a service on a network, the service having a resource on a user of the first device. The controller controls the communication unit so that the communication unit transmits, based on a request for obtaining an access right to the resource from the first device and permission information representing permission by the user with respect to the obtaining of the access right, a request for issuing an access token to the service, the access token representing the access right, and receives, from the service, the access token issued by the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 9420615
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit; and a controller configured to control the communication unit to perform one of transmission and reception of second identification information for communication through a predetermined communication path with a different apparatus, and to establish connection with the different apparatus by using the second identification information, during an audio call with the different apparatus, the audio call using first identification information for an audio call, the second identification information being associated with the first identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuyama, Masato Shimakawa
  • Publication number: 20150373134
    Abstract: [Object] To reduce a communication load resulting from communication process to maintain connection with an information processing apparatus. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit and a controller. The communication unit is capable of communicating with another information processing apparatus via a relay server in a network. The controller is capable of obtaining communication environment information indicating a communication environment of the communication unit, the communication environment information including attribute information on a communication relay apparatus relaying communication between the communication unit and the relay server. Further, the controller is capable of calculating a sending interval to send maintenance signals to maintain connection with the relay server based on the obtained communication environment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 9134993
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage, and a controller. The communication unit is capable of communicating with a server. The storage is capable of storing data used for predetermined processing. The controller is capable of controlling the communication unit to receive notification information from the server, the notification information containing current version information and updated version information, the current version information indicating a current version of the data, the updated version information indicating an updated version of the current version of the data, and acquire the updated version from a predetermined storage location after waiting for a standby time optionally determined within a predetermined maximum standby time. Further, the controller is capable of controlling the storage to update the stored data to the acquired updated version after an elapse of the maximum standby time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Miyama, Masato Shimakawa, Tsugutomo Enami, Takashi Koyanagawa
  • Publication number: 20150245391
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit; and a controller configured to control the communication unit to perform one of transmission and reception of second identification information for communication through a predetermined communication path with a different apparatus, and to establish connection with the different apparatus by using the second identification information, during an audio call with the different apparatus, the audio call using first identification information for an audio call, the second identification information being associated with the first identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji MATSUYAMA, Masato SHIMAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150113110
    Abstract: [Object] To realize the optimum communication without excluding P2P depending on a communication environment. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit and a controller. The communication unit is capable of communicating with another information processing apparatus in a network by using a method via a relay server in the network or a peer-to-peer method via no relay server. The controller detects a communication environment of the information processing apparatus, the controller being capable of determining a method of communicating with the other information processing apparatus depending on the communication environment by means of the peer-to-peer communication if at all possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Publication number: 20150101032
    Abstract: [Object] To reduce the trouble of the authentication process necessary for cooperation between a plurality of devices or network services. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a controller. The communication unit communicates with a first device, a second device, and a service on a network, the service having a resource on a user of the first device. The controller controls the communication unit so that the communication unit transmits, based on a request for obtaining an access right to the resource from the first device and permission information representing permission by the user with respect to the obtaining of the access right, a request for issuing an access token to the service, the access token representing the access right, and receives, from the service, the access token issued by the service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Publication number: 20150058491
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The storage unit is configured to store device information related to a device capable of being communicated with by the communication unit and an identifier that identifies the device information for each finding of the device with the device information and the identifier associated with each other. The device information being generated each time the device is found. The control unit is configured to invalidate the device information in a case where a state is detected in which communication with the device is incapable of being performed via a predetermined communication channel and in a case where the identifier is detected to be not changed from when being stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Seiji MIYAMA, Masato SHIMAKAWA, Yasuo NAKANO, Tsugutomo ENAMI
  • Publication number: 20150040114
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage, and a controller. The communication unit is capable of communicating with a server. The storage is capable of storing data used for predetermined processing. The controller is capable of controlling the communication unit to receive notification information from the server, the notification information containing current version information and updated version information, the current version information indicating a current version of the data, the updated version information indicating an updated version of the current version of the data, and acquire the updated version from a predetermined storage location after waiting for a standby time optionally determined within a predetermined maximum standby time. Further, the controller is capable of controlling the storage to update the stored data to the acquired updated version after an elapse of the maximum standby time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Seiji MIYAMA, Masato SHIMAKAWA, Tsugutomo ENAMI, Takashi KOYANAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20150026302
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including a communication unit and a controller. The communication unit is capable of connecting to, via a fourth network, a first server and a first device existing in a first network, a second server and a second device existing in a second network, and a relay server that exists in a third network and stores connection information with respect to the first server and the second server. The controller is capable of controlling the communication unit to receive the connection information from the relay server and controlling data transmission processing between the first device and the second device via the first server and the second server using the connection information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuko YAMADA, Masato SHIMAKAWA, Yoshihiro MANABE, Seiji MIYAMA, Satoshi HIROI
  • Publication number: 20150026261
    Abstract: [Object] To allow a plurality of users having a predetermined relationship to use their devices mutually or allow the devices to cooperate with each other without complicated setting. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a controller. The communication unit communicates with a service on a network in which a plurality of users are capable of participating and devices of the plurality of the users. The storage unit stores user information on the plurality of users and device information on the devices of the plurality of users in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Publication number: 20150019978
    Abstract: [Object] To allow a user to correctly confirm a device to be subjected to setting in an initial setup for wireless communication. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, an output unit, an operation receiving unit and a controller. The communication unit is capable of communicating with a device to be subjected to setting, which is a candidate for an initial setup for operating on a wireless communication network. The controller is capable of controlling the communication unit to search for the device to be subjected to setting; controlling the output unit to output a user interface showing a list of information relating to the retrieved devices to be subjected to setting; and controlling the operation receiving unit to accept the user's operation to select, from the output list, the device to be subjected to the initial setup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Publication number: 20140365606
    Abstract: [Object] To reduce the system load on the cloud system and handle a huge number of devices. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit is capable of, in case of necessity, connecting to any of a first device, a second device, and a constantly connected server, which is constantly connected to the second device via a network, via the network for communication. The control unit is capable of controlling the communication unit to receive, from the first device, data addressed to the second device, to transmit, to the constantly connected server, notification request information for requesting to transmit a notification message for notifying presence of the data to the second device, and to transmit the data to the second device in response to a request from the second device that receives the notification message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Publication number: 20120317229
    Abstract: A control section is configured to control a communication section to establish a safe communication path with a server apparatus connected to a first network, and to transmit user identification information and first device identification information to the server apparatus for registration in the server apparatus, the user identification information identifying a user of the information processing apparatus, the first device identification information identifying the information processing apparatus, to make a search for at least one device connected to a second network, and to receive second device identification information identifying the device, to transmit, to the server apparatus, together with the received second device identification information, setting request information asking the at least one device for association settings between the information processing apparatus and the at least one device, and to receive, from the server apparatus, response information transmitted by the device in respon
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 7912696
    Abstract: A natural language processing apparatus includes an input section for inputting natural language, a representation converting section for converting representation of the natural language, a display section for displaying, for confirmation, sentence converted at the representation converting section, a machine translation section for carrying out machine translation of the confirmed sentence, and a control section for controlling these respective sections, thus to provide natural language processing in which confirmation operation of user is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuharu Asano, Atsuo Hiroe, Masato Shimakawa, Tetsuya Kagami, Erika Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7379871
    Abstract: Various sensors detect conditions outside a robot and an operation applied to the robot, and output the results of detection to a robot-motion-system control section. The robot-motion-system control section determines a behavior state according to a behavior model. A robot-thinking-system control section determines an emotion state according to an emotion model. A speech-synthesizing-control-information selection section determines a field on a speech-synthesizing-control-information table according to the behavior state and the emotion state. A language processing section analyzes in grammar a text for speech synthesizing sent from the robot-thinking-system control section, converts a predetermined portion according to a speech-synthesizing control information, and outputs to a rule-based speech synthesizing section. The rule-based speech synthesizing section synthesizes a speech signal corresponding to the text for speech synthesizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Shimakawa, Nobuhide Yamazaki, Erika Kobayashi, Makoto Akabane, Kenichiro Kobayashi, Keiichi Yamada, Tomoaki Nitta