Patents by Inventor Robert A. Black

Robert A. Black 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).

  • Patent number: 8558953
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for synchronizing an audio stream with a video stream. This method involves searching in the audio stream for audio data having values that match a distinct set of audio data values and synchronizing the audio stream with the video stream based on the search. In some embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by a predetermined distinct tone. In other embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by audio data contained in the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Patent number: 8265450
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method for processing a high definition (“HD”) digital video that includes video data and closed captioning data. The method (i) imports an HD digital video in a computer system, (ii) extracts closed captioning data from the HD digital video and (iii) stores the extracted closed captioning data in a storage of the computer system (e.g., hard drive of the computer system). Some embodiments first import all of the video before extracting closed captioning data from it, while other embodiments extract closed captioning data from the video as they import the video into the computer system. In some embodiments, a video editing application of a computer system performs this HD-video processing method. Accordingly, in some such cases, the method also edits the video that is extracted from the HD digital video. In addition, when video data is edited, the extracted closed captioning data is also edited in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Robert Black, Marshall Johnson
  • Patent number: 8260545
    Abstract: A method is described for generating a navigation chart. The navigation chart includes a plurality of allocated areas corresponding to symbols for a plurality of chart features. The method includes identifying an unallocated area of the navigation chart proximate to a symbol for one chart feature of the plurality of chart features. A first label and a second label are determined for the one chart feature. The first label includes a plurality of feature attribute indicators, and the second label includes a subset of the plurality of feature attribute indicators. A label is selected from among the first label and the second label based on dimensions of the unallocated area. At least a portion of the unallocated area is allocated to the selected label, and the navigation chart is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sven D. Aspen, Kevin S. Schlatter, Robert Henry, Stephen A. Lewis, Danny M. Price, Robert Black
  • Patent number: 8245959
    Abstract: A method for disposing of self-powered cards includes eradicating any identifying information from the card without damaging the power source in a manner that would allow unwanted materials to become exposed, and disposing of the power source. In one embodiment, the method includes first identifying the location of the power source. Eradication can take many forms, for example, damaging the magnetic strip (demagnetizing or cutting); obscuring information on the body of the card; and/or disabling the smart chip. Once all identifying information is eradicated without damaging the power source, the power source can be properly disposed of at a waste disposal site. The information can be removed by the owner of the information or by a facility that has security safeguards to protect the information. Because the identifying information is eradicated, any waste disposal site that disposes of power sources can be used, regardless of the sensitivity of the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Black, Yong Qiao
  • Publication number: 20120188420
    Abstract: Electronic devices may include camera modules. A camera module may be formed from an array of lenses and corresponding image sensors. The array of image sensors may include three color image sensors for color imaging and a fourth image sensor positioned to improve image depth mapping. Providing a camera module with a fourth image sensor may increase the baseline distance between the two most distant image sensors, allowing parallax and depth information to be determined for objects a greater distance from the camera than in a conventional electronic device. The fourth image sensor may be a second green image sensor positioned at a maximal distance from the green color image sensor used for color imaging. The fourth image sensor may also be a clear image sensor, allowing capture of improved image depth information and enhanced image resolution and low-light performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Robert A. Black, Scott Smith, Peng Lin
  • Publication number: 20120188389
    Abstract: Electronic devices may include camera modules. A camera module may include an array camera having an array of lenses and an array of corresponding image sensors. Parallax correction and depth mapping methods may be provided for array cameras. A parallax correction method may include a global and a local parallax correction. A global parallax correction may be determined based on one-dimensional horizontal and vertical projections of edge images. Local parallax corrections may be determined using a block matching procedure. Further improvements to local parallax corrections may be generated using a relative block color saturation test, a smoothing of parallax correction vectors and, if desired, using a cross-check between parallax correction vectors determined for multiple image sensors. Three dimensional depth maps may be generated based on parallax correction vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Peng Lin, Scott Smith, Robert A. Black
  • Publication number: 20120148214
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of capturing digital video. According to this method, the digital video is received at a first rate. The received digital video includes metadata. The method uses the metadata to store the digital video at a second rate that is different from the first rate. In some embodiments, the first rate is an encoded rate, while the second rate is the digital video's native shooting rate. The digital video's native shooting rate can be any arbitrary rate up to, but not including, the encoded rate. Some embodiments provide a method of outputting digital video from a computer. From a storage structure of the computer, this method retrieves a video clip. In this video clip, the method embeds a metadata structure and records a set of metadata in this structure. The method then outputs the video clip with the embedded metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Publication number: 20120093216
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of processing digital video in a computer. The method receives a first video clip. It stores the first video clip at a first rate in a storage of the computer. From the first video clip, the method generates a second video clip that is at a second rate different than the first rate. The method then outputs the second video clip from the computer. In some embodiments, the first rate is the native rate that a camera originally shot at least a portion of the first video clip, and the second rate is an encoded rate. In some embodiments, the method generates the second video clip from the first video by using the 2:3:3:2 encoding format. Also, in some embodiments, the method outputs the second video clip as the method generates the second video clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Patent number: 8135261
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of capturing digital video. According to this method, the digital video is received at a first rate. The received digital video includes metadata. The method uses the metadata to store the digital video at a second rate that is different from the first rate. In some embodiments, the first rate is an encoded rate, while the second rate is the digital video's native shooting rate (i.e., the rate that a camera originally shot the digital video). The digital video's native shooting rate can be any arbitrary rate up to, but not including, the encoded rate. Examples of the second native rate include (1) 24 fps for an encoded 25 or 30 fps video stream, (2) 30 fps for an encoded 60 fps video stream, (3) 42 fps for an encoded 60 fps video stream, etc. Some embodiments provide a method of outputting digital video from a computer. From a storage structure of the computer, this method retrieves a video clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Publication number: 20120002948
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for processing metadata associated with digital video in a multi-state video computer readable medium. The method specifies a set of rules for propagating the metadata between different states in the video computer readable medium. It then propagates the metadata between the states based on the specified set of rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Publication number: 20110317978
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for processing metadata associated with digital video in a multi-state video computer readable medium. The method specifies a set of rules for propagating the metadata between different states in the video computer readable medium. It then propagates the metadata between the states based on the specified set of rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Publication number: 20110317985
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for processing metadata associated with digital video in a multi-state video computer readable medium. The method specifies a set of rules for propagating the metadata between different states in the video computer readable medium. It then propagates the metadata between the states based on the specified set of rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Patent number: 8064752
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of processing digital video in a computer. The method receives a first video clip. It stores the first video clip at a first rate in a storage of the computer. From the first video clip, the method generates a second video clip that is at a second rate different than the first rate. The method then outputs the second video clip from the computer. In some embodiments, the first rate is the native rate that a camera originally shot at least a portion of the first video clip, and the second rate is an encoded rate. In some embodiments, the method generates the second video clip from the first video by using the 2:3:3:2 encoding format. Also, in some embodiments, the method outputs the second video clip as the method generates the second video clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Patent number: 8041186
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for processing metadata associated with digital video in a multi-state video computer readable medium. The method specifies a set of rules for propagating the metadata between different states in the video computer readable medium. It then propagates the metadata between the states based on the specified set of rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Publication number: 20110013084
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for synchronizing an audio stream with a video stream. This method involves searching in the audio stream for audio data having values that match a distinct set of audio data values and synchronizing the audio stream with the video stream based on the search. In some embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by a predetermined distinct tone. In other embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by audio data contained in the video stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Patent number: 7821574
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for synchronizing an audio stream with a video stream. This method involves searching in the audio stream for audio data having values that match a distinct set of audio data values and synchronizing the audio stream with the video stream based on the search. In some embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by a predetermined distinct tone. In other embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by audio data contained in the video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Publication number: 20100183278
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method for processing a high definition (“HD”) digital video that includes video data and closed captioning data. The method (i) imports an HD digital video in a computer system, (ii) extracts closed captioning data from the HD digital video and (iii) stores the extracted closed captioning data in a storage of the computer system (e.g., hard drive of the computer system). Some embodiments first import all of the video before extracting closed captioning data from it, while other embodiments extract closed captioning data from the video as they import the video into the computer system. In some embodiments, a video editing application of a computer system performs this HD-video processing method. Accordingly, in some such cases, the method also edits the video that is extracted from the HD digital video. In addition, when video data is edited, the extracted closed captioning data is also edited in some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: David Robert Black, Marshall Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100049729
    Abstract: Method for transforming an input data structure to an output data structure according to requirements specified in a transformation template. The method includes translating an input data structure in an input container format to an output data structure in a different output container format and converting an input data structure to an output data structure where the structures have the same container format. During transformation, modifications to the structure and/or content of the input data structure may be made. The resulting output data structure is dynamically determined based on the structure and content of the input data structure. The input data structure is represented by a data structure tree, each node of the tree having an associated scope dictionary containing zero or more key-value pairs. The tree is traversed downwards as scope dictionaries are created and/or modified and traversed upwards as data of the output data structure tree is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: David Robert Black
  • Publication number: 20090322892
    Abstract: The invention includes methods and apparatus for correcting shading non-uniformity in camera systems. A method includes capturing at least two sets of flatfield images from at least two sets of camera modules under first and second illuminant, respectively. Pixels for each image in the sets of flatfield images are then averaged to form first and second averaged flatfield images, respectively. The first averaged flatfield image is transformed using the second averaged flatfield image to create a transform image. The transform image is then saved in memory for calibrating the shading non-uniformity of the camera module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Smith, Robert Black
  • Patent number: 7640497
    Abstract: Method for transforming an input data structure to an output data structure according to requirements specified in a transformation template. The method includes translating an input data structure in an input container format to an output data structure in a different output container format and converting an input data structure to an output data structure where the structures have the same container format. During transformation, modifications to the structure and/or content of the input data structure may be made. The resulting output data structure is dynamically determined based on the structure and content of the input data structure. The input data structure is represented by a data structure tree, each node of the tree having an associated scope dictionary containing zero or more key-value pairs. The tree is traversed downwards as scope dictionaries are created and/or modified and traversed upwards as data of the output data structure tree is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David Robert Black