Patents by Inventor Thomas Leung
Thomas Leung 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).
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Patent number: 8180667Abstract: A video hosting service automatically identifies, in a video database, a set of videos associated with an advertiser, and presents the identified videos to the advertiser for consideration. The videos may be selected based on analysis of their video content for images of logos associated with the advertisers. The video hosting service may then receive from the advertisers a listing of which of the presented videos should be given an award.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Shumeet Baluja, Yushi Jing, Thomas Leung, Jay Yagnik
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Patent number: 8069267Abstract: Advertisements are refreshed in an interface based on one or more parameters provided over a network. The parameters can be retrieved from a web service and implemented at a client device. Advertisement refreshing is performed independently of web page content loading. The parameters may include a time period and user action count and be configured differently for different markets, geographical areas, other customer groups, sections of an application or different advertisement types. One or more of the parameters may be adjusted at a back-end server and distributed to machines in the different customer groups, allowing an efficient and centralized mechanism for managing and updating advertisement refreshing.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Elizabeth I. Powers-Boyle, John A. Genna, Megan M. Schuller, Thomas A. Leung
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Patent number: 7920745Abstract: A method and an apparatus process digital images. The method according to one embodiment accesses element data representing a plurality of elements belonging to a plurality of digital images; performs a similarity analysis between the elements from the plurality of elements to obtain inter-relational data results relating to the elements; and performs clustering of the plurality of elements, the step of performing clustering including incorporating in the inter-relational data results at least one hard constraint relating to elements from the plurality of elements, to obtain constrained inter-relational data results, performing a spectral analysis to obtain eigenvector results from the constrained inter-relational data results, and performing discretization of the eigenvector results using constrained clustering with a criterion to enforce the at least one hard constraint to obtain clusters.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Yang Song, Thomas Leung
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Patent number: 7864989Abstract: A method and an apparatus process digital images.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Yang Song, Thomas Leung
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Patent number: 7836132Abstract: A delivery confirmation is provided to the sender of an e-mail message. When the e-mail message is composed, a link, such as a hyperlink, is inserted into the e-mail message, such as in the body or header. The link can include information such as a message identifier and identifiers of the sender and the recipient, which are provided as a query string of the link, while a host field of the link includes the address of an e-mail/web server. When the recipient receives the e-mail message and opens it, the link is displayed along with text that instructs the user to use the link to confirm delivery. The confirmation can include displaying indicia for the e-mail message in a folder view on an interface of the sender, or sending a confirmation e-mail message to the sender, for instance. Voting by e-mail can also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Imran I. Qureshi, Thomas A. Leung, Pablo M. Stern, William R. Hoffman, Eliot C. Gillum, Omar H. Shahine, Michael D. Schackwitz, Roberto F. Figueroa, Vikram S. Sardesai, Robin L. Boyea, Charles R. Little, II
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Patent number: 7747045Abstract: An exemplary illumination normalization method is provided which includes receiving an input image having at least one spurious edge directly resulting from illumination, performing anisotropic diffusion on the input image to form a diffusion image, and removing at the least one spurious edge using the diffusion image. Another embodiment consistent with the invention is an apparatus for performing illumination normalization in an image which includes a processor operably coupled to a memory storing input image data which contains an object of interest having at least one spurious edge directly resulting from illumination, a model of a representative object of interest, and functional processing units for controlling image processing, wherein the functional processing units further include a model based anisotropic diffusion module which predicts edge information regarding the object of interest based upon the model, and produces a reflectance estimation utilizing the predicted edge information.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Troy Chinen, Thomas Leung
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Patent number: 7730081Abstract: While interacting with a messaging interface, keywords or other search criteria are automatically identified and used to perform a search. Search results and sponsored links (or advertisements) are displayed to the user within the messaging interface. To alleviate privacy concerns, this process will not be performed unless the user has explicitly opted-in to the search feature. In another embodiment, the user can highlight keywords in an outbound or inbound message to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface. In another embodiment, the user can input a search keyword or phrase to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kristin D. Bromm, Denise D. Hui, Joshua T. Goodman, Omar H. Shahine, Ethan N. Ray, Matthew S. Carr, Thomas A. Leung, Wende E. Copfer, Aly Valli, Ewa Dominowska, Ying Li, Chun Yu Wong, Paul R. Weber
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Patent number: 7702131Abstract: A sequence of images depicts a foreground object in motion. A base image is selected, and the other images in the sequence are co-registered with the base image in order to align the images to a common coordinate system. A background image and a binary foreground mask are generated from the sequence of aligned images. By applying the foreground mask to a chosen one of the aligned images, a representation of the moving object is extracted. After blurring the background image, the extracted representation may be superimposed onto the blurred background image to produce a new image.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Troy Chinen, Sergey Ioffe, Thomas Leung, Yang Song
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Patent number: 7625038Abstract: A side door grommet is formed in an L-shaped configuration to be seated in a side door between the primary and secondary door seals to release air pressure experienced when the side door is closed against the body shell. The grommet includes an L-shaped tube that allows air to pass into the interior of the side door and bends downwardly to prevent the passage of water from the interior of the side door through the grommet tube into the sealed area of the side door. A grill is mounted in the grommet to prevent the passage of small fingers and/or toys through the grommet into the interior of the side door. The release of the air bind between the primary and secondary seals allows the side door to be closed with a minimum of effort.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Craig Moccio, Paul Repp, Thomas Leung
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Publication number: 20080169672Abstract: A side door grommet is formed in an L-shaped configuration to be seated in a side door between the primary and secondary door seals to release air pressure experienced when the side door is closed against the body shell. The grommet includes an L-shaped tube that allows air to pass into the interior of the side door and bends downwardly to prevent the passage of water from the interior of the side door through the grommet tube into the sealed area of the side door. A grill is mounted in the grommet to prevent the passage of small fingers and/or toys through the grommet into the interior of the side door. The release of the air bind between the primary and secondary seals allows the side door to be closed with a minimum of effort.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventors: Craig Moccio, Paul Repp, Thomas Leung
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Publication number: 20080007747Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for image processing are presented. An exemplary method is provided which provides a model which includes information not found in the digital image, accessing digital image data and the model, and performing anisotropic diffusion on the digital image data utilizing the model. An apparatus for processing a digital image is presented which includes a processor operably coupled to memory storing digital image data, a model which includes information not found in the digital image data, and functional processing units for controlling image processing, where the functional processing units include a model generation module, and a model-based anisotropic diffusion module which performs anisotropic diffusion on the digital image data utilizing the information provided by the model.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2006Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventors: Troy Chinen, Thomas Leung
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Publication number: 20080002908Abstract: An exemplary illumination normalization method is provided which includes receiving an input image having at least one spurious edge directly resulting from illumination, performing anisotropic diffusion on the input image to form a diffusion image, and removing at the least one spurious edge using the diffusion image. Another embodiment consistent with the invention is an apparatus for performing illumination normalization in an image which includes a processor operably coupled to a memory storing input image data which contains an object of interest having at least one spurious edge directly resulting from illumination, a model of a representative object of interest, and functional processing units for controlling image processing, wherein the functional processing units further include a model based anisotropic diffusion module which predicts edge information regarding the object of interest based upon the model, and produces a reflectance estimation utilizing the predicted edge information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Troy Chinen, Thomas Leung
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Patent number: 7295716Abstract: A method for image relighting is presented which receives an input image having at least one spurious edge directly resulting from a first illumination present when the input image was acquired, performs anisotropic diffusion on the input image to form a diffusion image, removes the first illumination using the diffusion image to generate a reflectance image and applies a second illumination to the reflectance image. An apparatus for relighting is presented which includes a processor operably coupled to memory storing input image having a first illumination present when the input image was acquired, and functional processing including an anisotropic diffusion module to perform anisotropic diffusion on the input image to form a diffusion image, a combination module which removes the first illumination using the diffusion image to generate a reflectance image, a second illumination module which generates a second illumination, and a lighting application model which applies the second illumination.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Troy Chinen, Thomas Leung
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Publication number: 20070237355Abstract: A method and an apparatus process digital images.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2006Publication date: October 11, 2007Inventors: Yang Song, Thomas Leung
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Publication number: 20070239764Abstract: A method and an apparatus process digital images. The method according to one embodiment accesses element data representing a plurality of elements belonging to a plurality of digital images; performs a similarity analysis between the elements from the plurality of elements to obtain inter-relational data results relating to the elements; and performs clustering of the plurality of elements, the step of performing clustering including incorporating in the inter-relational data results at least one hard constraint relating to elements from the plurality of elements, to obtain constrained inter-relational data results, performing a spectral analysis to obtain eigenvector results from the constrained inter-relational data results, and performing discretization of the eigenvector results using constrained clustering with a criterion to enforce the at least one hard constraint to obtain clusters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2006Publication date: October 11, 2007Inventors: Yang Song, Thomas Leung
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Publication number: 20070237364Abstract: A method and an apparatus process digital images. The method according to one embodiment accesses digital data representing a plurality of digital images including a plurality of persons; performs face recognition to generate face recognition scores relating to similarity between faces of the plurality of persons; performs clothes recognition to generate clothes recognition scores relating to similarity between clothes of the plurality of persons; obtains inter-relational person scores relating to similarity between persons of the plurality of persons using the face recognition scores and the clothes recognition scores; and clusters the plurality of persons from the plurality of digital images using the inter-relational person scores to obtain clusters relating to identities of the persons from the plurality of persons.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2006Publication date: October 11, 2007Inventors: Yang Song, Thomas Leung
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Publication number: 20070136430Abstract: A delivery confirmation is provided to the sender of an e-mail message. When the e-mail message is composed, a link, such as a hyperlink, is inserted into the e-mail message, such as in the body or header. The link can include information such as a message identifier and identifiers of the sender and the recipient, which are provided as a query string of the link, while a host field of the link includes the address of an e-mail/web server. When the recipient receives the e-mail message and opens it, the link is displayed along with text that instructs the user to use the link to confirm delivery. The confirmation can include displaying indicia for the e-mail message in a folder view on an interface of the sender, or sending a confirmation e-mail message to the sender, for instance. Voting by e-mail can also be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2005Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Imran Qureshi, Thomas Leung, Pablo Stern, William Hoffman, Eliot Gillum, Omar Shahine, Michael Schackwitz, Roberto Figueroa, Vikram Sardesai, Robin Boyea, Charles Little
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Publication number: 20070086675Abstract: A sequence of images depicts a foreground object in motion. A base image is selected, and the other images in the sequence are co-registered with the base image in order to align the images to a common coordinate system. A background image and a binary foreground mask are generated from the sequence of aligned images. By applying the foreground mask to a chosen one of the aligned images, a representation of the moving object is extracted. After blurring the background image, the extracted representation may be superimposed onto the blurred background image to produce a new image.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2005Publication date: April 19, 2007Inventors: Troy Chinen, Sergey Ioffe, Thomas Leung, Yang Song
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Publication number: 20070088687Abstract: While interacting with a messaging interface, keywords or other search criteria are automatically identified and used to perform a search. Search results and sponsored links (or advertisements) are displayed to the user within the messaging interface. To alleviate privacy concerns, this process will not be performed unless the user has explicitly opted-in to the search feature. In another embodiment, the user can highlight keywords in an outbound or inbound message to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface. In another embodiment, the user can input a search keyword or phrase to trigger a search without leaving the messaging interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2005Publication date: April 19, 2007Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kristin Bromm, Denise Hui, Joshua Goodman, Omar Shahine, Ethan Ray, Matthew Carr, Thomas Leung, Wende Copfer, Aly Valli, Ewa Dominowska, Ying Li, Chun Wong, Paul Weber
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Publication number: 20060294258Abstract: Advertisements are refreshed in an interface based on one or more parameters provided over a network. The parameters can be retrieved from a web service and implemented at a client device. Advertisement refreshing is performed independently of web page content loading. The parameters may include a time period and user action count and be configured differently for different markets, geographical areas, other customer groups, sections of an application or different advertisement types. One or more of the parameters may be adjusted at a back-end server and distributed to machines in the different customer groups, allowing an efficient and centralized mechanism for managing and updating advertisement refreshing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2005Publication date: December 28, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Elizabeth Powers-Boyle, John Genna, Megan Schuller, Thomas Leung