Patents by Inventor Rick Flott
Rick Flott 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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Patent number: 8447023Abstract: During a conference, a multipoint control unit (MCU) designates priority and non-priority endpoints. The MCU forms priority audio from the priority endpoint and sends that audio to the other endpoints at a normal level. However, the MCU forms non-priority audio from the non-priority endpoint and handles that audio based on whether the input audio from the priority endpoint is from speaking or not. If the priority endpoint's audio indicates a participant at that endpoint is speaking, then the MCU sends the non-priority audio to the other endpoints at a reduced level. Designation of which endpoint has priority can be based on which endpoint has a current duration of audio indicative of speech that is longer than other endpoints. Alternatively, the designation can be based on which endpoint is currently presenting content during the conference or based on a mix of speech audio and content presentation.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Polycom, Inc.Inventors: Alain Nimri, Rick Flott
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Publication number: 20110187814Abstract: During a conference, a multipoint control unit (MCU) designates priority and non-priority endpoints. The MCU forms priority audio from the priority endpoint and sends that audio to the other endpoints at a normal level. However, the MCU forms non-priority audio from the non-priority endpoint and handles that audio based on whether the input audio from the priority endpoint is from speaking or not. If the priority endpoint's audio indicates a participant at that endpoint is speaking, then the MCU sends the non-priority audio to the other endpoints at a reduced level. Designation of which endpoint has priority can be based on which endpoint has a current duration of audio indicative of speech that is longer than other endpoints. Alternatively, the designation can be based on which endpoint is currently presenting content during the conference or based on a mix of speech audio and content presentation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: POLYCOM, INC.Inventors: Alain Nimri, Rick Flott
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Patent number: 7969461Abstract: A videoconferencing system includes a first videoconferencing unit coupled to a network and associated with a first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit obtains a second instant messaging identity and automatically sends a request instant message requesting videoconferencing connection information to the second instant messaging identity. A second videoconferencing unit is coupled to the network and is associated with the second instant messaging identity. The second videoconferencing unit receives the request instant message and automatically returns a response instant message including videoconferencing connection information to the first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit receives the response instant message and automatically obtains the videoconferencing connection information from the response instant message.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Polycom, Inc.Inventors: Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Rick Flott
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Publication number: 20070263075Abstract: A videoconferencing system includes a first videoconferencing unit coupled to a network and associated with a first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit obtains a second instant messaging identity and automatically sends a request instant message requesting videoconferencing connection information to the second instant messaging identity. A second videoconferencing unit is coupled to the network and is associated with the second instant messaging identity. The second videoconferencing unit receives the request instant message and automatically returns a response instant message including videoconferencing connection information to the first instant messaging identity. The first videoconferencing unit receives the response instant message and automatically obtains the videoconferencing connection information from the response instant message.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2006Publication date: November 15, 2007Applicant: Polycom. Inc.Inventors: Alain Nimri, Stephen Schaefer, Rick Flott
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Publication number: 20070230583Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system encodes, reorders, and packetizes video information into video data packets for transmission over a communication network such that the system conceals errors caused by lost video data packets when the system receives, depacketizes, orders, and decodes the data packets. In one embodiment, the system and method encodes and packetizes video information, such that adjacent macroblocks are not placed in the same video data packets. Additionally, the system and method may provide information accompanying the video data packets to facilitate the decoding process. An advantage to such a scheme is that errors due to video data packet loss are spatially distributed over a video frame. Thus, if regions of data surrounding a lost macroblock are successfully decoded, the decoder may predict motion vectors and spatial content with a higher degree of accuracy, which leads to higher video quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: POLYCOM, INC.Inventors: MICHAEL HOROWITZ, Rick Flott
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Patent number: 7239662Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system encodes, reorders, and packetizes video information into video data packets for transmission over a communication network such that the system conceals errors caused by lost video data packets when the system receives, depacketizes, orders, and decodes the data packets. In one embodiment, the system and method encodes and packetizes video information, such that adjacent macroblocks are not placed in the same video data packets. Additionally, the system and method may provide information accompanying the video data packets to facilitate the decoding process. An advantage to such a scheme is that errors due to video data packet loss are spatially distributed over a video frame. Thus, if regions of data surrounding a lost macroblock are successfully decoded, the decoder may predict motion vectors and spatial content with a higher degree of accuracy, which leads to higher video quality.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Polycom, Inc.Inventors: Michael Horowitz, Rick Flott
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Publication number: 20060262790Abstract: A method for encoding digital video with low delay for transport on a multi-channel QoS packet-switched network using multiple reference pictures with specially designated “key frames” to minimize the undesired effects of packet loss on video quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2006Publication date: November 23, 2006Applicant: POLYCOM, INC.Inventors: MICHAEL HOROWITZ, RICK FLOTT, ATHAR SHAH, KEVIN RAPER
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Patent number: 7136394Abstract: A method for encoding digital video with low delay for transport on a multi-channel QoS packet-switched network using multiple reference pictures with specially designated “key frames” to minimize the undesired effects of packet loss on video quality.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2002Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Polycom, Inc.Inventors: Michael Horowitz, Rick Flott, Athar Shah, Kevin Raper
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Patent number: 7020203Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system includes a coding engine for processing each frame of a video signal to generate macroblocks, selecting a refresh interval based upon network communication parameters, and encoding one or more of the macroblocks as refresh intra-coded macroblocks based upon the selected refresh interval. The refresh intra-coded macroblocks are placed into discrete data packets for transmission across a network to one or more remote devices. Upon receiving other refresh intra-coded macroblocks from a remote device via the network, the coding engine decodes the received intra-coded macroblocks, and places the decoded macroblocks in a newly decoded video frame to be used as reference frame macroblocks for reducing video errors associated with prediction drift.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2002Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Polycom, Inc.Inventors: Michael Horowitz, Rick Flott
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Publication number: 20060056519Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system includes a coding engine for processing each frame of a video signal to generate macroblocks, selecting a refresh interval based upon network communication parameters, and encoding one or more of the macroblocks as refresh intra-coded macroblocks based upon the selected refresh interval. The refresh intra-coded macroblocks are placed into discrete data packets for transmission across a network to one or more remote devices. Upon receiving other refresh intra-coded macroblocks from a remote device via the network, the coding engine decodes the received intra-coded macroblocks, and places the decoded macroblocks in a newly decoded video frame to be used as reference frame macroblocks for reducing video errors associated with prediction drift.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2002Publication date: March 16, 2006Inventors: Michael Horowitz, Rick Flott
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Publication number: 20040003045Abstract: A personal videoconferencing system includes a videoconferencing appliance connected to a personal computer through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or similar connection. The appliance is provided with a video camera and microphone for generating local video and audio streams. The local video and audio streams are compressed by a video and audio encoder residing at the appliance, and the compressed video and audio streams are conveyed to the personal computer over the USB connection. The appliance may be further provided with an audio decoder for decompressing a remote audio stream received by the personal computer through a network interface and conveyed to the appliance via the USB connection. A video decoder, located on the personal computer, is configured to decompress the local video stream (received through the USB connection) as well as a remote video stream received through the network interface. The decompressed video streams are then sent to a monitor for display to a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventors: Mike Tucker, Don Binford, Rick Flott, Patrick Vanderwilt, Michael Kenoyer, Jason C. Weaver, Earl Manning
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Patent number: 6590604Abstract: A personal videoconferencing system includes a videoconferencing appliance connected to a personal computer through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or similar connection. The appliance is provided with a video camera and microphone for generating local video and audio streams. The local video and audio streams are compressed by a video and audio encoder residing at the appliance, and the compressed video and audio streams are conveyed to the personal computer over the USB connection. The appliance may be further provided with an audio decoder for decompressing a remote audio stream received by the personal computer through a network interface and conveyed to the appliance via the USB connection. A video decoder, located on the personal computer, is configured to decompress the local video stream (received through the USB connection) as well as a remote video stream received through the network interface. The decompressed video streams are then sent to a monitor for display to a user.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2000Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Polycom, Inc.Inventors: Mike Tucker, Don Binford, Rick Flott, Patrick Vanderwilt, Michael Kenoyer, Jason C. Weaver, Earl Manning
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Publication number: 20030039312Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a system and method for concealing video errors. The system encodes, reorders, and packetizes video information into video data packets for transmission over a communication network such that the system conceals errors caused by lost video data packets when the system receives, depacketizes, orders, and decodes the data packets. In one embodiment, the system and method encodes and packetizes video information, such that adjacent macroblocks are not placed in the same video data packets. Additionally, the system and method may provide information accompanying the video data packets to facilitate the decoding process. An advantage to such a scheme is that errors due to video data packet loss are spatially distributed over a video frame. Thus, if regions of data surrounding a lost macroblock are successfully decoded, the decoder may predict motion vectors and spatial content with a higher degree of accuracy, which leads to higher video quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Inventors: Michael Horowitz, Rick Flott
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Publication number: 20020126668Abstract: A method for encoding digital video with low delay for transport on a multi-channel QoS packet-switched network using multiple reference pictures with specially designated “key frames” to minimize the undesired effects of packet loss on video quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2002Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Michael Horowitz, Rick Flott, Athar Shah, Kevin Raper