Patents by Inventor Thor Carpenter

Thor Carpenter 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: 10574892
    Abstract: A processing device collects depth data for frames in a sequence of images of a video stream being provided by a source device to a target device as part of a communication session. The depth data is created by a depth aware camera of the source device. The processing device maps, using the depth data, feature locations of the features of an object in a frame to feature locations of the features of the object in other frames, determines overlapping frame sections between the frames using the mapped feature locations, modifies, in the sequence of images, a set of images corresponding to the frames based on the overlapping frame sections to create a stabilized stream of images for the video stream, and provides the stabilized stream of images in the video stream as part of the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Gregory M. Burgess, Thor Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10139917
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for gesture-initiated actions in videoconferences. In one implementation, a processing device receives content streams during a communication session, identifies a request for feedback within one of the content streams, based on an identification of the request for feedback, processes the content streams to identify one or more gestures within at least one of the content streams, and based on a determination that a first gesture of the one or more gestures is relatively more prevalent across the content streams than one or more other gestures, initiates an action with respect to the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mehul Nariyawala, Rahul Garg, Navneet Dalal, Thor Carpenter, Gregory Burgess, Timothy Psiaki, Mark Chang, Antonio Bernardo Monteiro Costa, Christian Plagemann, Chee Chew
  • Publication number: 20180302565
    Abstract: A processing device collects depth data for frames in a sequence of images of a video stream being provided by a source device to a target device as part of a communication session. The depth data is created by a depth aware camera of the source device. The processing device maps, using the depth data, feature locations of the features of an object in a frame to feature locations of the features of the object in other frames, determines overlapping frame sections between the frames using the mapped feature locations, modifies, in the sequence of images, a set of images corresponding to the frames based on the overlapping frame sections to create a stabilized stream of images for the video stream, and provides the stabilized stream of images in the video stream as part of the communication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory M. Burgess, Thor Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10033926
    Abstract: A processing device collects depth data for frames in a sequence of images of a video stream being provided by a source device to a target device as part of a communication session. The depth data is created by a depth aware camera of the source device. The processing device maps, using the depth data, feature locations of the features of an object in a frame to feature locations of the features of the object in other frames, determines overlapping frame sections between the frames using the mapped feature locations, modifies, in the sequence of images, a set of images corresponding to the frames based on the overlapping frame sections to create a stabilized stream of images for the video stream, and provides the stabilized stream of images in the video stream as part of the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Gregory M Burgess, Thor Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20170134656
    Abstract: A processing device collects depth data for frames in a sequence of images of a video stream being provided by a source device to a target device as part of a communication session. The depth data is created by a depth aware camera of the source device. The processing device maps, using the depth data, feature locations of the features of an object in a frame to feature locations of the features of the object in other frames, determines overlapping frame sections between the frames using the mapped feature locations, modifies, in the sequence of images, a set of images corresponding to the frames based on the overlapping frame sections to create a stabilized stream of images for the video stream, and provides the stabilized stream of images in the video stream as part of the communication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory M Burgess, Thor Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9445048
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for gesture-initiated actions in videoconferences. In one implementation, a processing device receives one or more content streams as part of a communication session. The processing device identifies, within the one or more content streams, a request for feedback. The processing device processes, based on an identification of a request for feedback within the one of the plurality of content streams, the one or more content streams to identify a presence of one or more gestures within at least one of the one or more content streams. The processing device initiates, based on an identification of the presence of one or more gestures within at least one of the one or more content streams, an action with respect to the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Mehul Nariyawala, Rahul Garg, Navneet Dalal, Thor Carpenter, Greg Burgess, Tim Psiaki, Mark Chang, Antonio Bernardo Monteiro Costa, Christian Plagemann, Chee Chew
  • Patent number: 9390481
    Abstract: Implementations generally relate to enhancing content appearance. In some implementations, a method includes receiving an image, selecting a reference object in the image. The method also includes determining one or more image parameter adjustments based on the selected reference object, and applying the one or more image parameter adjustments to the entire image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Anil Kokaram
  • Patent number: 9264660
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to presenter control during a video conference. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, where the user interface displays a first user video stream in a current presenter position and displays a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position. The method also includes detecting at least one gesture from the second user, where the detecting of the at least one gesture indicates that the second user intends to be a current presenter. The method also includes causing the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position in response to the detecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Petterson, Janahan Vivekanandan, Thor Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9117112
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided allowing for background identification and gesture recognition in video images. A computer-implemented image processing method includes: receiving, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of image frames of a video; constructing, using at feast one processing circuit, a plurality of statistical models of the plurality of image frames at a plurality of pixel granularity levels; constructing, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of probabilistic models of an input image frame at a plurality of channel granularity levels based on the plurality of statistical models; merging at least some of the plurality of probabilistic models based on a weighted average to form a single probability image; determining background pixels, based on a probability threshold value, from the single probability image; and determining whether the plurality of image frames, when examined in a particular sequence, conveys a gesture by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Frank Petterson, Janahan Vivekanandan
  • Patent number: 9105088
    Abstract: Implementations relate to blurring an image while preserving details in the image. In some implementations, a method includes receiving an input image and creating a blurred image from the input image by averaging pixel intensities of a plurality of pixels in the input image. The method creates a transparency mask from the input image, where the transparency mask indicates transparency values for pixel positions of the input image based on edges detected in the input image. The pixel intensities of the input image and pixel intensities of the blurred image are composited based on the transparency values of the transparency mask to create an output image having greater blur than the input image in areas outside the detected edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Petrie, Thor Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9088426
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to processing media streams during a multi-user video conference. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining at least one frame from a media stream, and determining a plurality of coordinates within the at least one frame. The method also includes obtaining at least one media content item, obtaining one or more parameters from a remote user, and adding the at least one media content item to the at least one frame based on the plurality of coordinates and the one or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Janahan Vivekanandan, Frank Petterson, Thor Carpenter, John David Salazar
  • Patent number: 9088697
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to processing media streams during a multi-user video conference. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining at least one audio file and obtaining one or more parameters from a remote user. The method also includes adding user-specified audio content from the at least one audio file to a media stream based on the one or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Janahan Vivekanandan, Frank Petterson, Thor Carpenter, John David Salazar
  • Publication number: 20150189233
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to facilitating user interaction during a video conference. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting one or more faces of people in a video during a video conference. The method also includes recognizing the one or more faces. The method also includes labeling the one or more faces in the video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: GOGGLE INC.
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Janahan Vivekanandan, Frank Petterson
  • Patent number: 9060095
    Abstract: Implementations generally relate to modifying an appearance of a participant during a video conference. In some implementations, a method includes obtaining at least one frame from a media stream, where the at least one frame includes a first face, and where the first face is an image of a face associated with a user. The method also includes determining a plurality of coordinates within the at least one frame. The method also includes obtaining at least one media content item. The method also includes adding the at least one media content item to the at least one frame based on the plurality of coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Petterson, Janahan Vivekanandan, Thor Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20150142795
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media for configurable media processing with meta effects are disclosed. In some implementations, the systems, methods and computer readable media can process a media file based on one or more meta effects (e.g., an ordered list of effects and their corresponding parameters).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Kai Ding
  • Patent number: 9035999
    Abstract: A method and computing system for receiving an indication of a first user participating in a videoconference. A determination is made concerning whether bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference. If bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference: an unprocessed video stream associated with the first user is processed to generate a reduced bandwidth video stream, and the reduced bandwidth video stream is provided to a video encoder. Processing the unprocessed video stream includes performing an edge detection procedure on the unprocessed video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Chee Chew
  • Publication number: 20150003727
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided allowing for background identification and gesture recognition in video images. A computer-implemented image processing method includes: receiving, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of image frames of a video; constructing, using at feast one processing circuit, a plurality of statistical models of the plurality of image frames at a plurality of pixel granularity levels; constructing, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of probabilistic models of an input image frame at a plurality of channel granularity levels based on the plurality of statistical models; merging at least some of the plurality of probabilistic models based on a weighted average to form a single probability image; determining background pixels, based on a probability threshold value, from the single probability image; and determining whether the plurality of image frames, when examined in a particular sequence, conveys a gesture by the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Frank Petterson, Janahan Vivekanandan
  • Patent number: 8923611
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided allowing for background identification in video images. A computer-implemented image processing method includes: receiving, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of image frames of a video; constructing, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of statistical models of the plurality of image frames at a plurality of pixel granularity levels; constructing, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of probabilistic models of an input image frame at a plurality of channel granularity levels based on the plurality of statistical models; merging at least some of the plurality of probabilistic models based on a weighted average to form a single probability image; and determining background pixels, based on a probability threshold value, from the single probability image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Thor Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20140328548
    Abstract: Implementations generally relate to enhancing content appearance. In some implementations, a method includes receiving an image, selecting a reference object in the image. The method also includes determining one or more image parameter adjustments based on the selected reference object, and applying the one or more image parameter adjustments to the entire image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Anil Kokaram
  • Publication number: 20140078246
    Abstract: A method and computing system for receiving an indication of a first user participating in a videoconference. A determination is made concerning whether bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference. If bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference: an unprocessed video stream associated with the first user is processed to generate a reduced bandwidth video stream, and the reduced bandwidth video stream is provided to a video encoder. Processing the unprocessed video stream includes performing an edge detection procedure on the unprocessed video stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Chee Chew