Patents by Inventor Peter Shintani

Peter Shintani 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).

  • GIMBAL-MOUNTED LINEAR ULTRASONIC SPEAKER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20170265014
    Abstract: Audio spatial effects are provided using a gimbal-mounted ultrasonic speaker array in which a vertical line of ultrasonic speakers are provided on a speaker mount and are angled to direct sound at respective different elevation angles. The speaker mount can be rotated by a gimbal. In this way, the azimuth angle of the linear array is established in response to a control signal from, e.g., a game console or video player, with elevational angle of the desired sound beam being established by selecting one or more of the speakers in the linear array with the appropriate elevation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Gregory Carlsson
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING
    Publication number: 20170255651
    Abstract: Various aspects of a system and method for information processing are disclosed herein. The method includes capturing a set of images associated with an item by a first electric device. The set of images comprises one or more images of the item and/or an associated location where the item is stored. A user input that corresponds to the captured set of images associated with the item is received. A first set of information is extracted from the captured set of images and the received user input. The extracted first set of information is communicated to the server. A second set of information associated with the item is retrieved by the server from the extracted first set of information in response to a query received from a second electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: PETER SHINTANI
  • METHODOLOGIES AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING DELAYS WHEN RECEIVING, PROCESSING, OR SWITCHING CONTENT
    Publication number: 20170244924
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for receiving content. The method includes receiving a first service, by a receiver of a reception apparatus, the first service providing first content and first metadata associated with the first content. The first content is encoded in one of a plurality of formats decodable by the reception apparatus. Further, the method includes generating, by circuitry of the reception apparatus, first codec mode information based on the first metadata received with the first content. The first codec mode information indicates the one of the plurality of formats or a codec for decoding the one of the plurality of formats. The generated first codec mode information in association with the first service is stored, by the circuitry, in a table. The table includes codec mode information for a plurality of different services, which includes the first service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter SHINTANI, Robert BLANCHARD
  • ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO SCHEDULED CONTENT
    Publication number: 20170230701
    Abstract: A method is provided for a reception apparatus to access content. The method includes outputting a distribution schedule for a plurality of content and receiving a selection of one of the plurality of content for which distribution started before or starts after a current time. At least one processor of the reception apparatus determines whether on-demand access is requested for the selected content. When on-demand access is determined to be requested for the selected content, a request for the selected content is sent over a first communication medium and the selected content is received via a second communication medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Saturn Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Luke FAY, Peter Shintani
  • Acoustic signalling to switch from infrastructure communication mode to ad hoc communication mode
    Patent number: 9706254
    Abstract: A system includes a first computerized device configured for communicating in an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode and a second computerized device configured for communicating at least in the ad hoc mode. A first computerized device operating in infrastructure mode prompts the user of the first computerized device to switch to ad hoc mode in order to communicate with the second computerized device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Koichi Oshima, Takamichi Mitsuhashi
  • On-demand access to scheduled content
    Patent number: 9699492
    Abstract: A method is provided for a reception apparatus to access content. The method includes outputting a distribution schedule for a plurality of content and receiving a selection of one of the plurality of content for which distribution started before or starts after a current time. At least one processor of the reception apparatus determines whether on-demand access is requested for the selected content. When on-demand access is determined to be requested for the selected content, a request for the selected content is sent over a first communication medium and the selected content is received via a second communication medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Fay, Peter Shintani
  • Sign language window using picture-in-picture
    Patent number: 9697630
    Abstract: Content substitution and/or picture-in-picture technology is used to provide a sign language window that provides a sign language interpretation of audio content in main program audio/video content. The sign language window can be selectively disabled by a user that does not wish to view the sign language video. Also, in some implementations, the user can move the sign language window to a desired location on the display. The desired location may be one of a plurality of pre-defined display locations. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore
  • Activating licensable component using aggregating device in home network
    Patent number: 9691071
    Abstract: An aggregation device in a home network accumulates information from audio video apparatuses in the network that the apparatuses require enablement of respective licensable components for which no license event has yet occurred. The aggregation device sends an indication of the license events to a server so that appropriate royalties may be paid post-sale of the various devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Ludovic Etienne Douillet
  • Ultrasonic speaker assembly for audio spatial effect
    Patent number: 9693168
    Abstract: Audio spatial effects are provided using a spherical array of ultrasonic speakers, with the azimuth angle and, if desired, elevation angle demanded by a control signal from, for example, a game console being matched to the sonic axis of one of the speakers in the array to activate the matching speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory Carlsson, Masaomi Nishidate, Morio Usami, Kiyoto Shibuya, Norihiro Nagai, Peter Shintani
  • Ultrasonic speaker assembly with ultrasonic room mapping
    Patent number: 9693169
    Abstract: Audio spatial effects are provided using ultrasonic speakers. To better reproduce the audio effects, ultrasound is used to map a room in which the speakers are disposed and the direction of emitted ultrasound from the speakers established using the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Carlsson, Morio Usami, Peter Shintani
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD TO COMMUNICATE AN EMERGENCY ALERT MESSAGE
    Publication number: 20170171640
    Abstract: Various aspects of a system related to communication of emergency alert messages are disclosed herein. The system comprises one or more circuits in an electronic device communicatively coupled to a broadcast server. The one or more circuits are configured to register one or more output preferences based on one or more input parameters provided by a user. An emergency alert message and associated metadata of an emergency event is received from the broadcast server. The associated metadata includes time-sensitive information of the emergency event. Based on the associated metadata and the registered one or more output preferences, the received emergency alert message is modified to a user-accessible format. According to the registered one or more output preferences, the modified emergency alert message is communicated to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: PETER SHINTANI, ROBERT BLANCHARD
  • GIMBAL-MOUNTED ULTRASONIC SPEAKER FOR AUDIO SPATIAL EFFECT
    Publication number: 20170164099
    Abstract: Audio spatial effects are provided using a gimbal-mounted ultrasonic speaker, with the azimuth angle and, if desired, elevation angle of a gimbal assembly on which one or more ultrasonic speakers are mounted being established in response to a control signal from, e.g., a game, console or video player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Gregory Peter Carlsson, Morio Usami, Kiyoto Shibuya, Norihiro Nagai, Masaomi Nishidate
  • SMOOTHING BRIGHTNESS TRANSITION DURING CHANNEL CHANGE
    Publication number: 20170076673
    Abstract: First and second brightness metadata pertaining to respective first and second contents are accessed, and responsive to receiving a command to change presentation from the first content to the second content, a composite brightness is established using the first and second metadata. At least one of the contents using the composite brightness at a start time of a transition period. During the transition period, video is presented using a changing brightness that starts at the composite brightness at the start time of the transition period and ends at the second brightness at an end time of the transition period. Subsequent to the end time of the transition period, the second content is presented using the second metadata and not using the first metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Shintani
  • LIGHT SOURCE CONTROL FOR DISPLAYING VIDEO
    Publication number: 20170076674
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling a display and transmitting video content. The method includes determining, by processing circuitry, a blinking frequency to be used during presentation of video content for a light source of a display. The processing circuitry sets the blinking frequency for the light source of the display based on the determined blinking frequency. Further, the processing circuitry controls the light source of the display to blink according to the set blinking frequency while the video content is presented on the display. The light source is configured to illuminate a separate display panel or to emit light that form images of the video content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Peter SHINTANI
  • Constraining availability of real time and non-real time content to locality of associated real time broadcast
    Patent number: 9591341
    Abstract: A source of television programming sends the TV programming into a geographic region. The source also sends enhanced programming for transmission. The enhanced signals result in transforming 2D video in the TV programming signals into 3D signals and/or replacing 2D video in the TV programming signals with 3D video. The enhanced programming is tied to the TV programming signals to limit useful display of the enhanced programming to the geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter Shintani
  • Apparatus and method for operating a user interface of a device
    Patent number: 9507425
    Abstract: Certain aspects of an apparatus and a method for operating a user interface of a device may comprise a plurality of sensors coupled to a surface. The plurality of sensors may detect a movement of an object within a pre-defined distance from the surface. The one or more sensors may generate one or more signals in response to the detected movement. One or more processors that are communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors may generate a control signal corresponding to the one or more generated signals to operate the user interface of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sho Murakoshi, Kazumoto Kondo, Peter Shintani
  • Reducing TV licensing costs
    Patent number: 9449324
    Abstract: A TV with various licensable components including, e.g., an ATSC demodulator requests a license for a component upon detection of a physical condition implicating use of the component, such as plugging a cable into a particular port, or upon receipt of a user-input command requiring use of the component, such as a request to autoscan channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Aran Sadja, Theodore R. Booth, Ludovic Douillet
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUDIO DATA TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20160173985
    Abstract: Various aspects of a method and system for audio data transmission are disclosed herein. The method includes selection of a frequency modulation (FM) band by a first electronic device. The FM band is selected to receive an audio portion of a multimedia content rendered at a display device. The method further includes receipt of a video description portion of the multimedia content, via the selected FM band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: PETER SHINTANI, MAHYAR NEJAT
  • SELECTIVE ENABLEMENT OF SIGN LANGUAGE DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20160098849
    Abstract: Content substitution and/or picture-in-picture technology is used to provide a sign language window that provides a sign language interpretation of audio content in main program audio/video content. The sign language window can be selectively disabled by a user that does not wish to view the sign language video. Also, in some implementations, the user can move the sign language window to a desired location on the display. The desired location may be one of a plurality of pre-defined display locations. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore
  • PRESENTATION OF ENLARGED CONTENT ON COMPANION DISPLAY DEVICE
    Publication number: 20160098180
    Abstract: Content from an audio video display device is communicated to a nearby companion device on whose screen a user-selected portion of the content is presented, magnified from its presentation on the AVDD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore