Patents by Inventor Robin Atkins

Robin Atkins 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: 11792532
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating dynamic picture metadata are presented. Given an input picture generated on a mastering display, characteristics of a target display which is different than the mastering display, and an initial set of dynamic metadata for the input picture, an iterative algorithm: maps the input image to a mapped image for the target display according to a display management process and the image metadata, compares the input image to the mapped image according to a visual appearance-matching metric, and updates the image metadata using an optimization technique until a visibility difference value between the input image and the mapped image according to the visual appearance-matching metric is below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Robin Atkins
  • Patent number: 11785263
    Abstract: In a method to improve backwards compatibility when decoding high-dynamic range images coded in a wide color gamut (WCG) space which may not be compatible with legacy color spaces, hue and/or saturation values of images in an image database are computed for both a legacy color space (say, YCbCr-gamma) and a preferred WCG color space (say, IPT-PQ). Based on a cost function, a reshaped color space is computed so that the distance between the hue values in the legacy color space and rotated hue values in the preferred color space is minimized HDR images are coded in the reshaped color space. Legacy devices can still decode standard dynamic range images assuming they are coded in the legacy color space, while updated devices can use color reshaping information to decode HDR images in the preferred color space at full dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz
  • Patent number: 11776099
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating an image quality metric are described. A reference and a test image are first converted to the ITP color space. After calculating difference images ?I, ?T, and ?P, using the color channels of the two images, the difference images are convolved with low pass filters, one for the I channel and one for the chroma channels (I or P). The image quality metric is computed as a function of the sum of squares of filtered ?I, ?T, and ?P values. The chroma low-pass filter is designed to maximize matching the image quality metric with subjective results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wanat, Robin Atkins, Anustup Kumar Atanu Choudhury, Scott Daly, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz
  • Publication number: 20230282183
    Abstract: One or more media contents are received. A viewer's light adaptive states are predicted as a function of time as if the viewer is watching display mapped images derived from the one or more media contents. The viewer's light adaptive states are used to detect an excessive change in luminance in a specific media content portion of the one or more media contents. The excessive change in luminance in the specific media content portion of the one or more media contents is caused to be reduced while the viewer is watching one or more corresponding display mapped images derived from the specific media content portion of the one or more media contents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre CHAPIRO, Robin ATKINS, Scott DALY
  • Patent number: 11743550
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing solutions to the problem of preserving original creative intent for video playback on a target display are presented herein. According to one aspect, a video bitstream includes metadata with a flag indicative of creative intent for a target display. This metadata may include numerous fields that denote characteristics such as content type, content sub-type, intended white point, whether or not to use the video in Reference Mode, intended sharpness, intended noise reduction, intended MPEG noise reduction, intended Frame Rate Conversion, intended Average Picture Level, and intended color. This metadata is designed to make it effortless for the content creators to tag their content. The metadata can be added to the video content at multiple points, the status of the flag is set to TRUE or FALSE to indicate whether the metadata was added by the content creator or a third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Per Jonas Andreas Klittmark
  • Patent number: 11736703
    Abstract: Several embodiments of scalable image processing systems and methods are disclosed herein whereby color management processing of source image data to be displayed on a target display is changed according to varying levels of metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil W. Messmer, Robin Atkins, Steve Margerm, Peter W. Longhurst
  • Publication number: 20230239579
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating dynamic picture metadata are presented. Given an input picture generated on a mastering display, characteristics of a target display which is different than the mastering display, and an initial set of dynamic metadata for the input picture, an iterative algorithm: maps the input image to a mapped image for the target display according to a display management process and the image metadata, compares the input image to the mapped image according to a visual appearance-matching metric, and updates the image metadata using an optimization technique until a visibility difference value between the input image and the mapped image according to the visual appearance-matching metric is below a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventor: Robin ATKINS
  • Patent number: 11711486
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing an image captured with an image sensor, such as a camera. In one embodiment, an estimated ambient light level of the captured image is determined and used to compute an optical-optical transfer function (OOTF) that is used to correct the image to preserve an apparent contrast of the image under the estimated ambient light level in a viewing environment. The estimated ambient light level is determined by scaling pixel values from the image sensor using a function that includes exposure parameters and a camera specific parameter derived from a camera calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth G. Pieri, Robin Atkins, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz
  • Publication number: 20230232028
    Abstract: A method for distributing High Dynamic Range (HDR) content to playback devices for displaying images where the HDR content is encoded to an HDR bitstream and the HDR bitstream is subsequently decoded by a playback device. The HDR bitstream contains auxiliary metadata packets that are based upon the processing capability of the playback device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin ATKINS, Guan-Ming SU, Gopi LAKSHMINARAYANAN
  • Publication number: 20230230618
    Abstract: A content-creation tool includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a first video clip and a second video clip, a respective first and second metadata-item thereof being set to a respective first and second metadata-value. The memory stores video-editing software that includes a timeline interface and instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the processor to: add the first video clip to the timeline interface as a first timeline-track that retains the first metadata-value; add the second video clip to the timeline interface as a second timeline-track that retains the second metadata-value; and generate a frame sequence that includes a plurality of video frames. Each video frame is a frame of, or a frame derived from, one of (i) the first timeline-track, (ii) the second timeline-track, and (iii) a composited time-line-track composited from at least one of the first and second timeline-tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin ATKINS, Gaven WANG
  • Publication number: 20230230617
    Abstract: A system and method of editing video content includes receiving input video data; converting the input video data to a predetermined format; generating a plurality of initial metadata values for a frame of the converted video data, the plurality of initial metadata values including a first metadata value corresponding to a first fixed value not calculated from a content including the frame, a second metadata value corresponding to an average luminance value of the frame, and a third metadata value corresponding to a second fixed value not calculated from the content, wherein the first meta-data value, the second metadata value, and the third metadata value include information used by a decoder to render a decoded image on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20230217067
    Abstract: The described embodiments include systems and methods for producing and adapting images, such as video images, for presentation on display devices that have various different aspects ratios, such as 4:3, 16:9, 9:16, etc. In one embodiment, a method for producing content, such as video images, can begin by selecting an original aspect ratio and determining, within at least a first scene in the content, a position of a subject in the first scene. In one embodiment, the original aspect ratio can be substantially square (e.g., 1:1). Metadata can then be created, based on the position of the subject in the first scene, to guide playback devices to asymmetrically crop the content, relative to the position, for display on display devices that have aspect ratios that are different than the original aspect ratio. Other methods and systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin ATKINS, Suzanne FARRELL, Per Jonas Andreas KLITTMARK
  • Publication number: 20230196963
    Abstract: Methods and systems for chromatic ambient-light support are provided. Given an input surround correlated color temperature (CCT), its normalized value is mapped to a preferred gray CCT value using a sigmoid-like function model generated based on viewer experimental data. The preferred gray CCT value is then mapped to an adjusted CCT value so that viewing conditions on a display with the input surround CCT value match a D65 surround CCT value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jake William Zuena, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz, Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20230171417
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frame rate scalability are described. Support is provided for input and output video sequences with variable frame rate and variable shutter angle across scenes, or for input video sequences with fixed input frame rate and input shutter angle, but allowing a decoder to generate a video output at a different output frame rate and shutter angle than the corresponding input values. Techniques allowing a decoder to decode more computationally-efficiently a specific backward compatible target frame rate and shutter angle among those allowed are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng YIN, Taoran LU, Fangjun PU, Sean Thomas MCCARTHY, Walter J. HUSAK, Tao CHEN, Guan-Ming SU
  • Publication number: 20230133582
    Abstract: Metadata and methods for variable-frame rate (VFR) video playback are presented. Proposed metadata include syntax parameters related to the presentation time duration, picture source type (e.g., original, duplicate, or interpolated), picture position in a scene (e.g., first, last, or in the middle), and motion-related information with respect to a previous picture. A decoder may use these metadata to apply appropriate frame-rate conversion techniques to reduce artifacts during VFR playback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Ian Godin, Peng Yin
  • Publication number: 20230120882
    Abstract: In a method to improve backwards compatibility when decoding high-dynamic range images coded in a wide color gamut (WCG) space which may not be compatible with legacy color spaces, hue and/or saturation values of images in an image database are computed for both a legacy color space (say, YCbCr-gamma) and a preferred WCG color space (say, IPT-PQ). Based on a cost function, a reshaped color space is computed so that the distance between the hue values in the legacy color space and rotated hue values in the preferred color space is minimized HDR images are coded in the reshaped color space. Legacy devices can still decode standard dynamic range images assuming they are coded in the legacy color space, while updated devices can use color reshaping information to decode HDR images in the preferred color space at full dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz
  • Publication number: 20230105944
    Abstract: A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping, the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jon Scott MILLER, Scott DALY, Mahdi NEZAMABADI, Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20230073388
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frame rate scalability are described. Support is provided for input and output video sequences with variable frame rate and variable shutter angle across scenes, or for input video sequences with fixed input frame rate and input shutter angle, but allowing a decoder to generate a video output at a different output frame rate and shutter angle than the corresponding input values. Techniques allowing a decoder to decode more computationally-efficiently a specific backward compatible target frame rate and shutter angle among those allowed are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Fangjun Pu, Sean Thomas McCarthy, Walter J. Husak, Tao Chen, Guan-Ming Su
  • Patent number: 11600244
    Abstract: A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping, the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon Scott Miller, Scott Daly, Mahdi Nezamabadi, Robin Atkins
  • Patent number: 11594159
    Abstract: A display apparatus, a display management module and a method for ambient light compensation are described. The display management module is configured to receive an input video signal comprising a sequence of video frames and to determine whether a current video frame of the sequence of video frames immediately follows a scene change. The display management module is further configured to adjust ambient light compensation applied to the input signal in dependence on the signal indicative of intensity of ambient light only in response to determining that the current video frame of the sequence of video frames immediately follows a scene change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Craig Todd, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz, Timo Kunkel