Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Orr

Stephen J. Orr 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: 10659724
    Abstract: A method and apparatus adaptively creates a dropped frame rate converted frame from a plurality of source frames using at least one alternate support frame in lieu of a neighboring source frame, in response to corrupted picture identification information. Stated another way, a frame rate converter, in response to corrupted picture indication information, replaces at least one corrupted source frame with a temporally modified frame created from at least one alternate source frame. The corrupted picture identification information indicates that a source frame, or segment thereof, includes at least one corrupted or dropped source frame (or segment thereof).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Philip L. Swan, Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 9143751
    Abstract: A content player includes a pausable mass storage device player that can be used to record and play content. The pausable mass storage device can become paused in response to an assertion of a pause signal. Once paused, the content player remains paused until the pause signal is deasserted. The content player also includes an event detector that is coupled to the pausable mass storage device player. The content player detects a non-viewer initiated event, (e.g., an automatic event such as the receipt of an email with embedded enhanced content), and to assert the pause signal in response thereto. The content player receives content, detects an event, and in response to detecting the event, pauses the content to a presentation device and spools the content onto the mass storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Godfrey W. Cheng
  • Patent number: 8954872
    Abstract: A method is disclosed that provides, by mapping logic, output to a selected display of a plurality of displays forming an arrangement, where the selected display provides a visual indication in response to the output. The visual indication indicates that the selected display is ready to be mapped to an image data portion corresponding to the selected display's physical position within the arrangement. The method maps the image data portion to the selected display. The image data portion is stored in a frame buffer, and is mapped in response to input indicating the selected display's physical position. The frame buffer stores a single large surface image as a plurality of image data portions, where each image data portion is mapped to a corresponding display of the plurality of displays. An apparatus is also disclosed, that operates in accordance with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Christina M. Elder, Wenzhan Xie, Jianping Ji
  • Publication number: 20130160111
    Abstract: A device and method for unobtrusively conducting security access checks via biometric data. The device and method obtains biometric data in response to a request for content and initiates a security clearance process that is substantially unobservable to an individual with clearance to access the requested content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES, ULC
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 8401371
    Abstract: A content player includes a pausable mass storage device player that can be used to record and play content. The pausable mass storage device can become paused in response to an assertion of a pause signal. Once paused, the content player remains paused until the pause signal is deasserted. The content player also includes an event detector that is coupled to the pausable mass storage device player. The content player detects a non-viewer initiated event, (e.g., an automatic event such as the receipt of an email with embedded enhanced content), and to assert the pause signal in response thereto. The content player receives content, detects an event, and in response to detecting the event, pauses the content to a presentation device; and spools the content onto the mass storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Godfrey W. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20130050572
    Abstract: A method and apparatus adaptively creates a dropped frame rate converted frame from a plurality of source frames using at least one alternate support frame in lieu of neighboring source frame, in response to corrupted picture identification information. Stated another way, a frame rate converter, in response to corrupted picture indication information, replaces at least one corrupted source frame with a temporally modified frame created from at least one alternate source frame. The corrupted picture identification information indicates that a source frame, or segment thereof, includes at least one corrupted or dropped source frame (or segment thereof). Accordingly, although a source frame has been dropped or is corrupted, the frame rate converter does not base its output on a repeated frame or a corrupted frame output by a decoder and instead utilizes other non-neighboring source images as though they were neighboring frames, instead of using a repeated frame or corrupted frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Philip L. Swan, Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 8022956
    Abstract: In a device comprising at least two graphics processors, a determination is made that the device has switched from a first or current graphics processor to a second or target graphics processor. At least a portion of settings corresponding to the first graphics processor are identified for application to the second graphics processor, and settings of the second graphics processor are updated based on these transferable settings. The transferable settings may be identified based on a change indicator(s) that signals which settings corresponding to the first graphics processor have been changed. Where necessary, certain ones of the transferable settings may have a translation or transformation applied thereto. Subsequent transitions in the active graphics processor may cause a similar transfer of settings to occur. In one embodiment, transitions between graphics processors may be caused by a change in power condition of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Publication number: 20110047489
    Abstract: A method is disclosed that provides, by mapping logic, output to a selected display of a plurality of displays forming an arrangement, where the selected display provides a visual indication in response to the output. The visual indication indicates that the selected display is ready to be mapped to an image data portion corresponding to the selected display's physical position within the arrangement. The method maps the image data portion to the selected display. The image data portion is stored in a frame buffer, and is mapped in response to input indicating the selected display's physical position. The frame buffer stores a single large surface image as a plurality of image data portions, where each image data portion is mapped to a corresponding display of the plurality of displays. An apparatus is also disclosed, that operates in accordance with the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Christina M. Elder, Wenzhan Xie, Jianping Ji
  • Patent number: 7657762
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for controlling power consumption of a plug-in card or circuit module. The disclosed method, in particular, controls power to a circuit module and includes implementing a user interface and power manager to automatically control the power state of the circuit module by, among other things, powering the module up or down using a simulated hot unplug of the device. The apparatus further includes use of an I/O interconnect to allow the system BIOS to simulate the hot unplugging of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: ATI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Publication number: 20090153528
    Abstract: In a device comprising at least two graphics processors, a determination is made that the device has switched from a first or current graphics processor to a second or target graphics processor. At least a portion of settings corresponding to the first graphics processor are identified for application to the second graphics processor, and settings of the second graphics processor are updated based on these transferable settings. The transferable settings may be identified based on a change indicator(s) that signals which settings corresponding to the first graphics processor have been changed. Where necessary, certain ones of the transferable settings may have a translation or transformation applied thereto. Subsequent transitions in the active graphics processor may cause a similar transfer of settings to occur. In one embodiment, transitions between graphics processors may be caused by a change in power condition of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Publication number: 20080072077
    Abstract: A device, suitable for playback of content, identifies components, installed on the device, to be used during playback of the content. Additionally, the device obtains a list of revoked components, which it compares with the identified device components. If one or more of the device components matches one or more entries in the list of revoked components, the identified revoked components are disabled such that they are prevented from playing back any pre-existing or future content. In a presently preferred embodiment, the device can automatically obtain an updated component corresponding to the revoked component and thereafter install the updated component so as to reinstate a secure environment. In this manner, user experiences regarding play back capabilities of devices may be improved and the overall security of the system is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 7015976
    Abstract: The digital television system that has a zoom module. When the digital television system is in a zoom mode, the zoom module receives a full frame, and displays the zoom frame that includes only a portion of the full frame. The zoom module determines a relationship between the zoom frame and the full frame. The zoom module also identifies an object within a zoom frame, and a motion vector of the object with respect to a background of the zoom frame. As the object moves within the zoom frame, the zoom module adjusts relationship between the zoom frame and the full frame so that the object remains within the zoom frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: ATI International SRL
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Godfrey W. Cheng
  • Patent number: 6952236
    Abstract: A system and method for converting text data having a Teletext format to text data having an Electronics Industries Associations-608 (EIA-608) format are illustrated herein. A video stream with embedded text data having a Teletext format is received by a dual mode text processing system. The dual mode text processing system, in one embodiment, extracts the text data and filters the text data to identify a desired portion using an identifier, such as a page identifier or number. The desired portion (or a copy thereof), once identified, is sent to a line break parser. The line break parser, in one embodiment, eliminates some or all of any unnecessary or unintended line breaks, as well as some or all of any extra space characters, to generate a character stream. The character stream, in one embodiment, is then converted into a EIA-608 format by a line convertor, wherein the character stream is parsed into one or more subtitle lines with a maximum character length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: ATI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 6831652
    Abstract: In accordance with a specific implementation of the present invention, the control portion of a graphics processor receives a command having both a data portion and a data duration portion. When the data duration portion indicates the data is transient data for short-term use, the control portion stores the data associated with the data portion at the first memory partition. When the data duration portion indicates the data is persistent data for long-term use, the control portion stores the data associated with the data portion at a second memory partition. In a multiple processor system, transient data may be stored only in a memory partition associated with a first processor, while persistent data may be stored in multiple memory partitions, one for each graphics processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: ATI International, SRL
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Publication number: 20040205254
    Abstract: A media capture device and processing system includes a media input port capable of receiving an incoming media signal. The media capture device further includes a bus interface connector coupleable to a bi-directional graphics bus. The media capture device also includes a media decoder, which is coupled to the media input wherein the media decoder is capable of receiving a media signal from the media input port. The media decoder is further capable of providing an output media signal to an integrated processor across the bi-directional graphics bus without using any data transfer protocols of the graphics bus, wherein the output media signal may be acquired by the integrated processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 6567127
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for video compression that provides support for the inclusion of VBI data and copy protection data in an enhanced encoded video data stream is presented. A received video signal is separated such that a video data stream and a VBI data stream are produced. The video data stream is encoded to produce a compressed video data stream. The various types of VBI data that may be included in the VBI data stream are isolated, and one or more are selected for inclusion in the enhanced video data stream. The compressed video data stream is then combined with the one or more VBI data type streams to produce the enhanced video data stream. In other embodiments, copy protection information in the video signal is also detected and encoded such that it also can be included in the enhanced video data stream. The enhanced video data stream can be stored in memory or some other type of storage media for retrieval at a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: ATI International SRL
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Stefan Eckart, Miachel L. Lightstone
  • Publication number: 20030035063
    Abstract: A system and method for converting text data having a Teletext format to text data having an Electronics Industries Associations-608 (EIA-608) format are illustrated herein. A video stream with embedded text data having a Teletext format is received by a dual mode text processing system. The dual mode text processing system, in one embodiment, extracts the text data and filters the text data to identify a desired portion using an identifier, such as a page identifier or number. The desired portion (or a copy thereof), once identified, is sent to a line break parser. The line break parser, in one embodiment, eliminates some or all of any unnecessary or unintended line breaks, as well as some or all of any extra space characters, to generate a character stream. The character stream, in one embodiment, is then converted into a EIA-608 format by a line convertor, wherein the character stream is parsed into one or more subtitle lines with a maximum character length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 6430357
    Abstract: A text data extraction system analyzes one or more interleaved video data streams and parses the stream(s) to extract text data from text data packets. In addition, presentation time data is extracted to facilitate independent use of the text data from corresponding video data. Extracted time coded text data is stored so that the presentation time data can be used to link the extracted text data back to the corresponding video data to facilitate for example: annotation of a movie, text searching of closed caption text, printing transcripts of closed caption text, controlling video playback, such as the order in which scenes are played back, and any other suitable navigation or manipulation of video images or text data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: ATI International SRL
    Inventor: Stephen J. Orr
  • Patent number: 5537151
    Abstract: Method of providing closed captioned data to a television viewer comprised of detecting closed captioned data signals transmitted in conjunction with a television signal, decoding the data signals to caption display signals, and displaying the caption display signals on an auxiliary screen separate from a screen displaying the television signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Antonio Rinaldi
  • Patent number: RE39003
    Abstract: Method of providing closed captioned data to a television viewer comprised of detecting closed captioned data signals transmitted in conjunction with a television signal, decoding the data signals to caption display signals, and displaying the caption display signals on an auxiliary screen separate from a screen displaying the television signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Orr, Antonio Rinaldi