Patents by Inventor Thierry Tapie

Thierry Tapie 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: 8223806
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the domain of video equipment. More specifically, it concerns a reception device that comprises the means for: receiving packets containing samples, that come from data sampled every Tech period, where Tech is from a time base synchronized on all the stations of said network, regenerating a counting ramp having a count increment and a range value PCR_Modulus, using a phase-locked loop PLL1 that receives the samples and that delivers local samples every Tech period and a reconstituted clock, initializing, at every zero-crossing of the counting ramp, an image counter that is determined by the reconstituted clock. According to the invention, it comprises, further, means for determining the values of count increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Gael Mace
  • Patent number: 8223805
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the domain of video equipment. In particular, the invention relates to a device able to receive packets in a network. The device comprises: means for receiving packets containing samples realized at a period, means for regenerating a ramp by means of a loop that delivers a clock, means for initializing, at every zero-crossing of the ramp, a counter whose rhythm is determined by the clock, means for generating image cues at every zero-crossing of the counter, and means for reconstituting a synchronization signal from said image cues, means for transmitting the synchronization signal to an item of remote equipment to be synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Luis Montalvo
  • Patent number: 8218577
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting and receiving packets in a packet switching network that includes at least two stations. The apparatus includes a phase-locked loop, as well as means for receiving packets containing samples of the network, the samples being derived from data sampled every Tech period, where Tech is derived from a time base synchronized on all the stations of the network and the samples being associated with incremental values predicting at least one sample, calculating, in case of interruption of packet reception, a prediction of a sample that should have been received, by adding an increment value to a received sample value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Serge Defrance, Thierry Tapie, Gael Mace
  • Patent number: 8170012
    Abstract: A device is operative to send packets in a packet communication network having at least two stations. According to an exemplary embodiment, the device operates by: extracting image pips on the basis of a synchronization signal; initializing a first counter on the basis of the the image pips; initializing a second counter according to zero-crossings of the first counter; sampling the second counter every period Tsmp, where Tsmp emanates from a time base synchronized on all the stations of the network; sending packets containing the samples of the second counter in the network; receiving at least one phase deviation value ?? to be applied; and sending the at least one phase deviation value ?? in the network. The present invention also pertains to a device operative to receive packets in a packet communication network having at least two stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Serge Defrance, Thierry Tapie, Philippe Rio
  • Patent number: 8170013
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sending device able to send packets in a network comprising at least two stations, the said device comprising means for extracting image pips on the basis of a synchronization signal, initializing an image counter on the basis of the image pips, initializing a counter every “m” zero-crossings of the image counter, the counter being regulated by a clock produced by the image counter, sampling the counter every period Tsmp, where Tsmp emanates from a time base synchronized on all the stations of the said network; and sending packets containing the samples of the counter in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Izabela Grasland
  • Patent number: 8160110
    Abstract: A device is dedicated to assisting the reconstruction of synchronization signals, for example within an item of communication equipment of an IP network. This device comprises i) a phase-locked loop charged with reconstructing, on the basis of a second sampled ramp signal received, a reference clock signal and a second ramp signal identical to, and in phase with, that having been sampled, and ii) processing means charged with determining in a first sampled ramp signal received, representative of a synchronization signal to be reconstructed and each sample of which is associated with a sample of the second ramp signal corresponding to a determinable sampling period, the value which corresponds to the first sample of this first sampled ramp signal received as well as the sampling period corresponding to this value, and then to initialize with this value a synchronization counter which is synchronized with respect to the second reconstructed ramp signal, on the basis of the reconstructed reference clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Willem Lubbers
  • Patent number: 8054859
    Abstract: A reception device is able to receive packets in a communication network comprising at least two stations. The device is capable of receiving packets containing samples of the network which originate from data sampled every period Tsmp, where Tsmp emanates from a time base synchronized on all the stations of the said network; regenerating a counting ramp with the aid of a loop receiving the samples and furthermore delivering local samples every period Tsmp and a clock. The phase-locked loop comprises: a samples comparator comparing the samples and the local samples and delivering an error signal; a corrector receiving the signal and delivering a corrected error signal, the corrector having a static gain equal to 1; a digital oscillator receiving the corrected error signal and delivering the clock, which has a frequency dependent on the signal and is proportional to a gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Serge Defrance, Thierry Tapie, Ingrid Autier
  • Patent number: 8018970
    Abstract: A synchronization aid device is part of receiving communication equipment of an IP network, having a primary clock signal consisting of primary clock pulses spaced apart by a first period. This device comprises i) a required to increment its value by one unit on each primary clock pulse and reset its value to zero each time it reaches a value M, ii) detection means required to generate a secondary clock pulse each time the value of the counter is zero, the secondary clock pulses forming a secondary clock signal having a second period equal to M times the first period, and iii) control means required, each time the receiving equipment receives a packet containing at least one first bit having a first value, to initialize the counter with a chosen value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Bertrand Huguies
  • Patent number: 7903694
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for transmitting packets in a packet communication network comprising at least two stations, including in particular means for generating a first timestamp from a sampled value of a master counter, means for generating a second timestamp from a sampled value of a second counter synchronized on the at least two stations and means for transmitting jointly the two timestamps in the packet communication network. A device is further disclosed for receiving packets in a packet communication network, which uses the double timestamp generated by the transmitter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Serge Defrance, Thierry Tapie, Gael Mace
  • Publication number: 20110038370
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the domain of video equipment. It concerns more specifically a transmission device able to transmit packets, said device comprising the means to extract image ticks from a synchronisation signal, the means to initialise an image counter from said image ticks, the means to initialise a CPT— PCR counter every “m” passage through zero of the image counter, CPT_PCR producing counting ramps CSE_PCR with a range M, the means to sample the counting ramps CSE_PCR every Tech period, where Tech is from a time base synchronised on all the stations of said network, and the means to transmit packets comprising a PCRe sample of the CSE_PCR counting ramp. According to the invention, it also comprises the means to insert in the packet:—an Num index identifying the CSE_PCR counting ramp from which the PCRe sample is realised, and—a time label Datejnit indicating a CSE_PCR counting ramp timestamp passage through a reference value PCR_REF comprised between 0 and M-1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Pierrick Jouet
  • Patent number: 7848334
    Abstract: A device is coupled to a first network and a second network and comprises a first storage element and a second storage element. The device stores data packets originating from the first network in the first storage element and stores data packets destined for the second network in the second storage element. In particular, the device slaves the writing of a data packet intended for the second network into the second storage element to the reading of the data packet from the first storage element so that the transfer time inside the device is constant for all the data packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Guillemot, Claude Chapel, Thierry Tapie
  • Publication number: 20100226394
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device able to receive packets circulating in a packet communication network, said device comprising: the means to receive packets from said network, said packets comprising samples coming from a sampling of a counting ramp having a range EX according to a sampling clock, said counting ramp being timed by a clock with a period of T_VID, said means extracting said samples from received packets, the means to regenerate counting ramps with a range EX, the means (PLL) receiving the samples and also delivering local samples of counting ramps realised according to sampling clock and a reconstituted clock with a period T_VID, the counting ramps being timed by the clock, the means to produce counting ramps timed by the clock and having a range EX_I where EX=m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Patrick Hardy, Bruno Derrien
  • Publication number: 20100214477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the domain of video equipment. It relates to a phase-locked loop able to recover the timing of a synchronization signal comprising a temporal discontinuity of a maximum amplitude equal to PCR_Modulus, the loop comprising: a sample comparator comparing the samples and the local samples of a synthesised signal, means for producing the synthesised signal from a corrected signal, a corrector receiving a comparison result delivered by the comparison means and delivering the corrected signal, According to the invention, the comparison means comprises the means to determine a difference in value between the local samples and the samples of the synchronisation signal and in that the comparison result has a value that depends on the value ? and on the difference between the value ? and the value PCR_Modulus/2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Catherine Serre
  • Publication number: 20100195673
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the domain of video equipment. In particular, the invention relates to a device able to receive packets in a network. The device comprises: means for receiving packets containing samples realised at a period, means for regenerating a ramp by means of a loop that delivers a clock, means for initialising, at every zero-crossing of the ramp, a counter whose rhythm is determined by the clock, means for generating image cues at every zero-crossing of the counter, and means for reconstituting a synchronisation signal from said image cues, means for transmitting the synchronisation signal to an item of remote equipment to be synchronised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Luis Montalvo
  • Publication number: 20100195674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the domain of video equipment. More specifically, it concerns a reception device that comprises the means for: receiving packets containing samples, that come from data sampled every Tech period, where Tech is from a time base synchronised on all the stations of said network, regenerating a counting ramp having a count increment and a range value PCR_Modulus, using a phase-locked loop PLL1 that receives the samples and that delivers local samples every Tech period and a reconstituted clock, initialising, at every zero-crossing of the counting ramp, an image counter that is determined by the reconstituted clock. According to the invention, it comprises, further, means for determining the values of count increments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Gael Mace
  • Publication number: 20100135288
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sending device able to send packets in a network comprising at least two stations, the said device comprising means for extracting image pips on the basis of a synchronization signal, initializing an image counter on the basis of the image pips, initializing a counter every “m” zero-crossings of the image counter, the counter being regulated by a clock produced by the image counter, sampling the counter every period Tsmp, where Tsmp emanates from a time base synchronized on all the stations of the said network; and sending packets containing the samples of the counter in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Izabela Grasland
  • Publication number: 20100135333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reception device able to receive packets in a communication network comprising at least two stations. The device comprises means for: receiving packets containing samples of the network which originate from data sampled every period Tsmp, where Tsmp emanates from a time base synchronized on all the stations of the said network; regenerating a counting ramp with the aid of a loop receiving the samples and furthermore delivering local samples every period Tsmp and a clock; the phase-locked loop comprises: a samples comparator comparing the samples and the local samples and delivering an error signal; a corrector receiving the signal and delivering a corrected error signal, the corrector having a static gain equal to 1; a digital oscillator receiving the corrected error signal and delivering the clock, which has a frequency dependent on the signal and is proportional to a gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Serge Defrance, Thierry Tapie, Ingrid Autier
  • Publication number: 20100118870
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device able to send packets in a packet communication network comprising at least two stations, the said device comprising means for: -extracting image pips on the basis of a synchronization signal; -initializing a first counter on the basis of the said image pips; -initializing a second counter every “m” zero-crossings of the first counter; -sampling the second counter every period Tsmp, where Tsmp emanates from a time base synchronized on all the stations of the said network; and -sending packets containing the samples in the network, characterized in that it comprises, furthermore, means for: receiving at least one phase deviation value ?? to be applied; -sending the phase deviation value ?? in the network. The present invention also pertains to a reception device able to receive packets in a packet communication network comprising at least two stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Serge Defrance, Thierry Tapie, Philippe Rio
  • Publication number: 20100042748
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the domain of synchronization of items of equipment connected by a packet switching network. It relates more specifically to a system for generation of a synchronization signal (PIPA, PIPB) and a clock signal (CLK_outA, CLK_outB) by a slave station (SA, SB) connected to a master station (SM) via a packet switching network. The master station (SM) is conformed to produce a master clock signal (CLKM) of frequency FM and a master synchronization signal (PIPM). The master synchronization signal (PIPM) is in phase with the master clock signal (SM). The slave station (SA, SB) comprises the primary synthesis means (SM1A, SM1B) producing a slave periodic signal TICKSA, TICKSB), the periodic signal (TICKSA, TICKSB) is in phase with the master clock signal (CLKM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Philippe Rio
  • Publication number: 20090175271
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for transmitting packets in a packet communication network comprising at least two stations, characterized in that it includes means for: extract image cues from a synchronizing signal, initializing a first counter based on said image cues, initializing a second counter every “m” zero crossing of the first counter, sampling the second counter at all the Tech periods, where Tech is derived from a time base synchronised on all the network stations, and transmitting packets containing the samples in the network. The invention also concerns a device for receiving packets in a packet communication network comprising at least two stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Thierry Tapie, Serge Defrance, Bertrand Huguies