Patents by Inventor Steven Wilssens

Steven Wilssens 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: 12008085
    Abstract: A content server system is provided that includes at least one processor configured to store a user account for a user at a content server of the content server system that is configured to serve server-side rendered content to a client computing device of the user. Audio is played out via a sound output device associated with the client computing device. The at least one processor is further configured to determine a licensing identifier associated with a device of the user or the user account of the user, send the licensing identifier to a third-party licensing server device, receive an indication that an active license is associated with the licensing identifier, determine that the user is authorized to access a digital rights managed audio rendering software, and cause audio of the server-side rendered content to be rendered using audio rendering algorithms of the digital rights managed audio rendering software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Wilssens
  • Patent number: 11366879
    Abstract: A content server system is provided that includes at least one processor configured to store a user account for a user at a content server of the content server system that is configured to serve server-side rendered content to a client computing device of the user. Audio is played out via a sound output device associated with the client computing device. The at least one processor is further configured to determine a licensing identifier associated with a device of the user or the user account of the user, send the licensing identifier to a third-party licensing server device, receive an indication that an active license is associated with the licensing identifier, determine that the user is authorized to access a digital rights managed audio rendering software, and cause audio of the server-side rendered content to be rendered using audio rendering algorithms of the digital rights managed audio rendering software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Wilssens
  • Patent number: 11250863
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide apparatuses and related methods for the communication of spatial audio and related metadata. In some implementations, a source provides prerecorded spatial audio that has embedded metadata. A computing device processes the prerecorded spatial audio to generate an audio codec that is segmented to include a first section of audio data and a second section that includes metadata extracted from the prerecorded spatial audio. The generated audio codec may be received by a device that includes an encoder. The encoder may process the generated audio codec to generate audio data that includes the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. McDowell, Philip Andrew Edry, Ziyad Ibrahim, Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens
  • Patent number: 11196787
    Abstract: A server system is provided that includes at least one processor configured to receive a set of client audio parameters from a client computing device, determine a set of audio tuning parameters based on the set of client audio parameters, execute a server-side rendered application program for the client computing device, render a stream of visual data for the server-side rendered application program based on a stream of user input received from the client computing device, render a stream of audio for the server-side rendered application program based on the set of audio tuning parameters, and send the stream of visual data and the stream of audio to the client computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Wilssens
  • Patent number: 10714111
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide application programming interfaces (APIs) for enabling a system to select a spatialization technology. The APIs also enable a system to balance resources by allocating audio objects to a number of applications executing on a computer system. The system coordinates the audio objects between applications and each application can control the number of objects they individually generate. In some configurations, the system can also fold audio objects across different applications. Different spatialization technologies can be selected based on an analysis of contextual data and policy data. For instance, when a new headphone system is plugged in, the system may switch from Dolby Atmos to the Microsoft HoloLens HRTF spatialization technology. The system can dynamically control a number of generated audio objects and dynamically change a utilized spatialization technology based on changes to a computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip Andrew Edry, Paul J. Radek, Ibrahim Ziyad
  • Patent number: 10679637
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide application programming interfaces (APIs) for enabling a system to select a spatialization technology. The APIs also enable a system to balance resources by allocating audio objects to a number of applications executing on a computer system. The system coordinates the audio objects between applications and each application can control the number of objects they individually generate. In some configurations, the system can also fold audio objects across different applications. Different spatialization technologies can be selected based on an analysis of contextual data and policy data. For instance, when a new headphone system is plugged in, the system may switch from Dolby Atmos to the Microsoft HoloLens HRTF spatialization technology. The system can dynamically control a number of generated audio objects and dynamically change a utilized spatialization technology based on changes to a computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip Andrew Edry, Paul J. Radek, Ibrahim Ziyad
  • Patent number: 10667074
    Abstract: A game engine may generate video and audio content on a per-frame basis. Audio data corresponding to a current frame may be generated to comprise sound-field information independent of a speaker configuration or spatialization technology that may be used to play the associated audio. The sound-field may be generated based on monaural audio data corresponding to a sound produced by an in-game object at the object's position as of the current frame. The sound-field information may be transmitted to a remote computing device for reproduction using a selected, available speaker configuration and spatialization technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Y. Kim, Todd R. Manion, Robert N. Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip A. Edry
  • Patent number: 10535355
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide apparatuses and related methods for the communication of spatial audio and related metadata. In some implementations, a source provides prerecorded spatial audio that has embedded metadata. A computing device processes the prerecorded spatial audio to generate an audio codec that is segmented to include a first section of audio data and a second section that includes metadata extracted from the prerecorded spatial audio. The generated audio codec may be received by a device that includes an encoder. The encoder may process the generated audio codec to generate audio data that includes the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. McDowell, Philip Andrew Edry, Ziyad Ibrahim, Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens
  • Patent number: 10419866
    Abstract: A system for enabling a shared three-dimensional (ā€œ3Dā€) audio bed available to multiple software applications is provided. The system manages bed metadata defining a number of speaker objects of a 3D audio bed. The bed metadata also associates each speaker object with a location, which in some configurations, is defined by a three-dimensional coordinate system. The bed metadata is communicated to a plurality of applications. The applications can then generate custom 3D audio data that associates individual audio streams with individual speaker objects of the 3D audio bed. The applications can then communicate the custom 3D audio data to a 3D audio bed engine, which causes the processing and rendering of the custom 3D audio data to an output device utilizing a selected spatialization technology. Aspects of the 3D bed can be altered when the spatialization technology or the output device changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Norman Heitkamp, Philip Andrew Edry, Ziyad Ibrahim, Paul J. Radek, Steven Wilssens, Brian C. McDowell
  • Patent number: 10325610
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein can enable a system to coordinate the processing of object-based audio and channel-based audio generated by multiple applications. The system determines a spatialization technology to utilize based on contextual data. In some configurations, the contextual data can indicate the capabilities of one or more computing resources. In some configurations, the contextual data can also indicate preferences. The preferences, for example, can indicate user preferences for a type of spatialization technology, e.g., Dolby Atmos, over another type of spatialization technology, e.g., DTSX. Based on the contextual data, the system can select a spatialization technology and a corresponding encoder to process the input signals to generate a spatially encoded stream that appropriately renders the audio of multiple applications to an available output device. The techniques disclosed herein also allow a system to dynamically change the spatialization technologies during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Norman Heitkamp, Philip Andrew Edry, Ziyad Ibrahim, Paul J. Radek, Steven Wilssens
  • Patent number: 10229695
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide application programming interfaces (APIs) for enabling a system to select a spatialization technology. The APIs also enable a system to balance resources by allocating audio objects to a number of applications executing on a computer system. The system coordinates the audio objects between applications and each application can control the number of objects they individually generate. In some configurations, the system can also fold audio objects across different applications. Different spatialization technologies can be selected based on an analysis of contextual data and policy data. For instance, when a new headphone system is plugged in, the system may switch from Dolby Atmos to the Microsoft HoloLens HRTF spatialization technology. The system can dynamically control a number of generated audio objects and dynamically change a utilized spatialization technology based on changes to a computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip Andrew Edry, Paul J. Radek, Ibrahim Ziyad
  • Patent number: 10123150
    Abstract: A game engine may generate video and audio content on a per-frame basis. Audio data corresponding to a current frame may be generated to comprise sound-field information independent of a speaker configuration or spatialization technology that may be used to play the associated audio. The sound-field may be generated based on monaural audio data corresponding to a sound produced by an in-game object at the object's position as of the current frame. The sound-field information may be transmitted to a remote computing device for reproduction using a selected, available speaker configuration and spatialization technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Y. Kim, Todd R. Manion, Robert N. Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip A. Edry
  • Publication number: 20180220255
    Abstract: A game engine may generate video and audio content on a per-frame basis. Audio data corresponding to a current frame may be generated to comprise sound-field information independent of a speaker configuration or spatialization technology that may be used to play the associated audio. The sound-field may be generated based on monaural audio data corresponding to a sound produced by an in-game object at the object's position as of the current frame. The sound-field information may be transmitted to a remote computing device for reproduction using a selected, available speaker configuration and spatialization technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan Y. Kim, Todd R. Manion, Robert N. Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip A. Edry
  • Publication number: 20170289719
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide application programming interfaces (APIs) for enabling a system to select a spatialization technology. The APIs also enable a system to balance resources by allocating audio objects to a number of applications executing on a computer system. The system coordinates the audio objects between applications and each application can control the number of objects they individually generate. In some configurations, the system can also fold audio objects across different applications. Different spatialization technologies can be selected based on an analysis of contextual data and policy data. For instance, when a new headphone system is plugged in, the system may switch from Dolby Atmos to the Microsoft HoloLens HRTF spatialization technology. The system can dynamically control a number of generated audio objects and dynamically change a utilized spatialization technology based on changes to a computing environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Wilssens, Philip Andrew Edry, Paul J. Radek, Ibrahim Ziyad
  • Publication number: 20170289730
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein can enable a system to coordinate the processing of object-based audio and channel-based audio generated by multiple applications. The system determines a spatialization technology to utilize based on contextual data. In some configurations, the contextual data can indicate the capabilities of one or more computing resources. In some configurations, the contextual data can also indicate preferences. The preferences, for example, can indicate user preferences for a type of spatialization technology, e.g., Dolby Atmos, over another type of spatialization technology, e.g., DTSX. Based on the contextual data, the system can select a spatialization technology and a corresponding encoder to process the input signals to generate a spatially encoded stream that appropriately renders the audio of multiple applications to an available output device. The techniques disclosed herein also allow a system to dynamically change the spatialization technologies during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Norman Heitkamp, Philip Andrew Edry, Ziyad Ibrahim, Paul J. Radek, Steven Wilssens
  • Publication number: 20160127441
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may include receiving from an audio application running on the computing device, a selection of a multimedia endpoint device. The multimedia endpoint device may be connected with the audio application in response to a request from the audio application. An audio stream of the audio application may be separated from a system audio stream. The system audio stream may include a plurality of audio signals generated by system components of the computing device or applications running on the computing device. The plurality of audio signals may be played on a default audio endpoint of the computing device. The separated audio stream of the audio application may be communicated to the selected multimedia endpoint device for playback. Separating the audio stream of the audio application from the system audio stream may be based on an API request from the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleksandr Monastyrskyy, Luke Norman Angelini, Vincent Bellet, Steven Wilssens, Michael David McCormack, Chi Owunwanne, Todd R. Manion, Scott Allen Plette, Anders Edgar Klemets, Relja Ivanovic
  • Patent number: 9313255
    Abstract: A remote media server provides a resource identifier to a digital media controller. A digital media controller passes this resource identifier to a digital media renderer. The digital media renderer launches an application that processes the resource identifier to access the remote media server and play back the media. Playback is responsive to controls from the digital media controller. The digital media renderer can play back media identified by the digital media controller, but that is encoded and protected in a manner specific to the digital media renderer. The digital media controller can shut down or become dormant to save battery power without affecting playback by the digital media renderer. By providing the information about available applications from the digital media renderer to the digital media controller, the digital media controller can reliably send resource identifiers for which applications are available the digital media renderer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Anders Edgar Klemets, Steven Wilssens, Gabriel Frost, Shafiq Rahman, Matthew Andrews
  • Publication number: 20160072853
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern a first device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, laptop) that may discover and control remote media sessions (e.g., movie, game, book, podcast) running on remote devices (e.g., smart television, game console). The first device may run a local shell process that interacts with a shell process or other process on a remote device. The local shell process may acquire information about exposed remote media sessions. The local shell process may present a user interface on the first device. The user interface may provide user interface elements (e.g., buttons) for controlling a remote media session. The user interface and user interface elements are native to the first device. The user interface may allow navigating (e.g., flipping) between multiple remote media sessions that are discovered. The local shell process may also discover media sessions local to the first device and include those sessions in the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Vincent Bellet, Scott Plette, Cristian Matesan, Mike Loholt, Steven Wilssens, Luke Angelini
  • Publication number: 20140372565
    Abstract: A remote media server provides a resource identifier to a digital media controller. A digital media controller passes this resource identifier to a digital media renderer. The digital media renderer launches an application that processes the resource identifier to access the remote media server and play back the media. Playback is responsive to controls from the digital media controller. The digital media renderer can play back media identified by the digital media controller, but that is encoded and protected in a manner specific to the digital media renderer. The digital media controller can shut down or become dormant to save battery power without affecting playback by the digital media renderer. By providing the information about available applications from the digital media renderer to the digital media controller, the digital media controller can reliably send resource identifiers for which applications are available the digital media renderer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Anders Edgar Klemets, Steven Wilssens, Gabriel Frost, Shafiq Rahman, Matthew Andrews