Patents by Inventor Robert Blanchard

Robert Blanchard 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: 20200387538
    Abstract: An electronic device includes circuitry, firmware, and software that determines identification information associated with a first performer-of-interest at a live event and retrieves a first set of audio tracks from a plurality of audio tracks based on the determined identification information. The circuitry receives a first audio segment associated with the first performer-of-interest from an audio capturing device. The circuitry compares a first audio characteristic of the first audio segment with a second audio characteristic of a first audio portion of each of the first set of audio tracks. The circuitry determines a first audio track based on the comparison between the first audio characteristic and the second audio characteristic. The circuitry identifies a start position of the first audio track based on the first audio segment associated with the first audio track. The circuitry controls a display of the first lyrics information of the first audio track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: PETER SHINTANI, MAHYAR NEJAT, BRANT CANDELORE, ROBERT BLANCHARD
  • Publication number: 20200387708
    Abstract: A head-mounted device includes a first image capturing device, a transparent display, and circuitry. The first image capturing device captures an image of a scene in a line-of-sight (LOS) of a wearer of the head-mounted device. The circuitry receives an audio segment that corresponds to audio content. The circuitry determines a level of each image characteristic of a background portion and a foreground portion of the captured image. The circuitry estimates a first region on a display portion of the transparent display for display of text information associated with the received audio segment. The circuitry determines a level of each display characteristic from a set of display characteristics for the text information based on the estimated first region and the determined level of each image characteristic. The circuitry controls the display of the text information in the estimated first region of the display portion of the transparent display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: BRANT CANDELORE, MAHYAR NEJAT, PETER SHINTANI, ROBERT BLANCHARD
  • Publication number: 20200388284
    Abstract: An information processing device includes circuitry that receives a user-input for selection of one of a visual accessibility feature and an aural accessibility feature and further receives a first audio segment from an audio capturing device at a live event. The first audio segment includes a first audio portion of the audio content and a first audio closed caption (CC) information. The circuitry controls display of first text information for the first audio portion and second text information for the first audio CC information, based on received user-input for the selection of the visual accessibility feature. The circuitry generates a second audio segment from the first audio segment based on a first audio characteristic of the first audio segment. The circuitry controls a playback of the generated second audio segment, based on the received user-input for the selection of the aural accessibility feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Peter Shintani, Robert Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20200388261
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display screen and circuitry. The circuitry receives a first frequency modulated (FM) signal from a first FM radio transmitter, via a first FM radio channel. The first FM signal comprises a broadcast data signal that includes an audio segment of aural information of a performer-of-interest at of a live event, text information associated with the audio segment, and synchronization information. The synchronization information is associated with the text information and the audio segment. The circuitry extracts the synchronization information from a plurality of data packets of the broadcast data signal. The circuitry extracts a portion of the text information from the extracted plurality of data packets of the broadcast data signal based on the extracted synchronization information. The circuitry controls display of the extracted portion of the text information on the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: BRANT CANDELORE, MAHYAR NEJAT, PETER SHINTANI, ROBERT BLANCHARD
  • Publication number: 20200335120
    Abstract: A display system includes a display device and a server. The server receives a plurality of audio segments from a plurality of audio-capture devices. The server receives a user-input that corresponds to a selection of a first user interface (UI) element that represents a first performer-of-interest or a first audio-capture device attached to the first performer-of-interest. The server detects a second performer-of-interest associated with a second audio-capture device within a threshold range of the first audio-capture device. The server extracts a first audio segment of a first vocal deliverance of the first performer-of-interest and a second audio segment of a second vocal deliverance of the second performer-of-interest. The server deduces new caption information from a first verbatim text that is common between the first audio segment and the second audio segment and controls display of the new caption information on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: BRANT CANDELORE, Mahyar NEJAT, PETER SHINTANI, ROBERT BLANCHARD
  • Publication number: 20200333933
    Abstract: Implementations generally relate to improving accessibility for digital devices. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a first selection of at least one button of a plurality of buttons of a user interface. The method further includes determining a type of the first selection based on one or more button selection characteristics. The method further includes determining a first command based at least in part on the type of the first selection. The method further includes providing an audible indication corresponding to the first command, wherein the audible indication indicates button information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Robert Blanchard, Peter Shintani
  • Patent number: 10681522
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus for emergency alert setting control based on a location change, is provided. The electronic apparatus stores emergency alert setting and location information associated with a known location of the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus detects a change in the known location of the electronic apparatus from the known location to a different location. The electronic apparatus outputs notification information to update the stored emergency alert setting based on the detected change in the known location of the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus receives a first user input corresponding to at least one emergency setting parameter of the stored emergency alert setting based on the output notification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 10455183
    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 in formation 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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9955235
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9889854
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a self-propelled machine includes a transmission housing fitted with an input shaft and an output shaft, a so-called drive shaft linked to the input shaft by an endless belt transmission and, arranged between the drive shaft and the output shaft, transmission elements including a control mechanism for reversing the rotational drive direction of the output shaft, and a clutch control mechanism, the direction reversing and clutch controls carried by the housing being mounted respectively movable, one between at least three positions: a neutral position, a forward position and a reverse position, the other between at least an engaged position and a disengaged position. The direction reversing control forms, in the neutral position, an element for blocking the clutch control in the disengaged position, and the clutch control forms, in the engaged position, an element for locking the direction reversing control in the forward or reverse position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FRANCE REDUCTEURS
    Inventors: Sebastien Bray, Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9885416
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a self-propelled machine includes a transmission housing fitted with an input shaft, an output shaft, a mechanism for reversing the rotational drive direction of the output shaft, and a brake mechanism, each mechanism including a control, the direction reversing and brake controls carried by the housing being mounted respectively movable, one between at least three positions: a neutral, a forward and a reverse position, the other between at least a first braking position and a non-braking position, the brake control being couplable to a brake control member that can be actuated by the operator, in order to shift the brake control from the non-braking to the first braking position. The brake control has a separate second braking position, and the transmission assembly includes return elements capable, in the neutral position of the direction reversing control, of returning the brake control to the second braking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: FRANCE REDUCTEURS
    Inventor: Robert Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20180007309
    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 in formation 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: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9800819
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9773407
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for broadcasting and receiving a terrestrial broadcast signal containing emergency alert information in machine-readable format. The method includes the steps of scanning a Transport Stream associated with the terrestrial broadcast signal. The Transport Stream contains one or more Transport Stream packets and a plurality of tables, which are parsed to identify a channel having a type specified as containing emergency alert information. An MPEG-2 program having said emergency alert information may then be acquired for delivery through a terrestrial broadcast receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Eyer, Robert Blanchard
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9716923
    Abstract: A method consistent with certain implementations involves delivering a triggered declarative object (TDO) to a television receiver device that carries out a programmed routine when user activated and includes an announcement definition that announces presence of the TDO to the at the announcement time; and the TDO including data that defines a time of display of an announcement and a location on a video display for display of the announcement of the TDO. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SATURN LICENSING LLC
    Inventors: Robert Blanchard, Mark Kenneth Eyer
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9456546
    Abstract: Transmission device for self-propelled equipment, includes a housing having a driving input shaft transmitting movement to an output shaft, the input shaft bearing a receiving pulley around which pulley a belt transmission is wrapped. The input shaft also bears a component that rotates as one with the shaft and a member for controlling the movement of the pulley along the input shaft in terms of the pulley movement towards or away from the component so that the pulley, which is mounted with freedom to rotate on the input shaft, can be moved from a disengaged position when it is away from the component, into an engaged position when it is close to the component, the pulley having a groove of constant predetermined width for accepting the belt so that when the belt is taut inside the groove, the belt tension is maintained as the pulley moves along the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: France Reducteurs
    Inventor: Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9214093
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to notify a visually impaired visual media consumer of the availability of audio description for items of visual media via one or more audible indications. Further, a catalog of items of visual media can be sorted or arranged such that items of visual media having audio description may be selected or inquired about in a quicker and more convenient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20150298703
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a self-propelled machine includes a transmission housing fitted with an input shaft and an output shaft, a so-called drive shaft linked to the input shaft by an endless belt transmission and, arranged between the drive shaft and the output shaft, transmission elements including a control mechanism for reversing the rotational drive direction of the output shaft, and a clutch control mechanism, the direction reversing and clutch controls carried by the housing being mounted respectively movable, one between at least three positions: a neutral position, a forward position and a reverse position, the other between at least an engaged position and a disengaged position. The direction reversing control forms, in the neutral position, an element for blocking the clutch control in the disengaged position, and the clutch control forms, in the engaged position, an element for locking the direction reversing control in the forward or reverse position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: FRANCE REDUCTEURS
    Inventors: Sebastien BRAY, Robert BLANCHARD