Patents by Inventor Walid Ali

Walid Ali 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: 8457194
    Abstract: Real-time video processing functionality may be provided using pre-processing and/or post-processing features to provide a video signal. Components of a real-time video processing system may operate to receive a real-time video signal. The real-time video signal may be downscaled based in part on the use of features of a pre-processing component applying a downscale polyphase filter that may be used to compensate for bandwidth constraints associated with a real-time video conferencing environment. The downscaled real-time video may be communicated across a network, such as the Internet. Upon receipt of the downscaled real-time video, the downscaled real-time video may be upscaled based in part on the use of features of a post-processing component applying an upscale polyphase filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Rony Ferzli
  • Patent number: 8363727
    Abstract: Techniques to perform fast motion estimation are described. An apparatus may comprise a motion estimator operative to receive as input a current frame and a reference frame from a digital video sequence. The motion estimator may generate and output a motion vector. The motion vector may represent a change in position between a current block of the current frame and a matching reference block of the reference frame. The motion estimator may utilize an enhanced block matching technique to perform block matching based on stationary and spatially proximate blocks. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ce Wang, Walid Ali
  • Patent number: 8243117
    Abstract: Embodiments are configured to provide video conferencing functionality including using pre-processing and/or post-processing features to provide a video signal, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a video conferencing system can operate to provide a video signal based in part on the use of features of a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component. In one embodiment, a video conference device can include a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component to that can be used to compensate for bandwidth constraints associated with a video conferencing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Rony Ferzli
  • Patent number: 8208697
    Abstract: A method for determining the presence or absence of malignant features in medical images, wherein a plurality of base comparison or training images of various types of lesions taken of actual patient is examined by one or more image reading experts to create a first database array. Low-level features of each of the lesions in the same plurality of base comparisons or training images are determined using one or more image processing algorithms to obtain a second database array set. The first and second database array set are combined to create a training database array set which is input to a learning system that discovers/learns a classifier that maps from a subset of the low-level features to the expert's evaluation in the first database array set. The classifier is used to determine the presence of a particular mid-level feature in an image of lesion in a patient based solely on the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: James David Schaffer, Walid Ali, Larry J. Eshelman, Claude Cohen-Bacrie, Jean-Michel Lagrange, Claire Levrier, Nicholas Villain, Robert R. Entrekin
  • Publication number: 20120086815
    Abstract: A device may generate a media stream to be shared with other users by building a media graph, comprising a series of interconnected processing units that perform various processing tasks. However, the time involved in generating the media graph may delay the initialization of the media stream, and adjusting properties of the media stream (such as resolution or codec) may result in an interruption of the media stream while a new media graph is built. Instead, a media graph cache may be provided to cache a set of media graphs, which may be interchangeably selected for rapid initialization and adjusting of media stream properties. The media component (e.g., a video camera) may also be configured to promote rapid adjustments to some media stream properties, while maintaining other properties (e.g., field of view and white balance) for a smooth transition between media stream property sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen C. Cooper, Robert A. Farrow, Kurt D. Wrisley, Tolga Kilicli, Walid Ali, Shiwei Wang, Kevin J. Smith, Kandarp Dinesh Jani
  • Patent number: 8050748
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a patient (110) includes determining (114) convex hulls for pairs of monitored signals from the patient, and determining whether a perturbation has occurred (115, 116) in one or more of the convex hulls. This exemplary embodiment (110) can also include alerting an operator that a clinically significant change may have occurred (117) in the patient if each of the convex hulls has been perturbed. If only a subset of the convex hulls is perturbed, an artifact has probably occurred (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Christopher S. Hall
  • Patent number: 7907210
    Abstract: A method includes determining a lowest-score interpolation direction among a plurality of interpolation directions. The method further includes calculating a candidate pixel value by interpolating along the lowest-score interpolation direction. The method further includes applying a median function to a set of pixel values. The set of pixel values includes (a) the candidate pixel value, (b) at least one pixel value from a line of pixels that is immediately above a pixel location that is currently being interpolated, and (c) at least one pixel value from a line of pixel values that is immediately below the pixel location that is currently being interpolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tiehan Lu, Jorge E. Caviedes, Walid Ali, Tsung-Hsin Lu, Raju Hormis
  • Patent number: 7877228
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a patient employs hypothesis testing against each of several monitored signals to determine whether an artifact is present in the monitored signals. In the hypothesis testing, a null hypothesis includes an assumption that pairs of samples of highly correlated monitored signals of the several monitored signals have a predetermined distribution. The method determines that an artifact may exist in one of the monitored signals when the likelihood that the null hypothesis is true falls below a predetermined confidence value. This method can be embodied in an intelligent module for processing multiple data from one or more patients to filter out clinically significant changes in the patient from those changes caused by artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Walid Ali
  • Patent number: 7847863
    Abstract: A method of selectively sharpening video data may include, for at least some pixels in the video data, generating a sharpened value for a pixel value in an image. The sharpened value may be disregarded if a combination of the pixel value and the sharpened value is in a coring region. The sharpened value also may be disregarded if a combination of the pixel value and the sharpened value is a clipping region. The combination of the pixel value and the sharpened value may be output if the combination is not in the coring region or in the clipping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Walid Ali
  • Patent number: 7817873
    Abstract: A method of enhancing the contrast of image or video data may include applying a contrast increasing transfer function to a reference image to generate an enhanced image. A transformation may be applied to the reference image to generate reference high frequency components and may also be applied to the enhanced image to generate enhanced high frequency components. For a pixel in the reference image, whether a corresponding enhanced high frequency component has a higher energy than a corresponding reference high frequency component may be determined. The method may also include replacing the pixel in the reference image with a corresponding pixel in the reference image if the corresponding enhanced high frequency component has a higher energy than the corresponding reference high frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Walid Ali
  • Publication number: 20100177776
    Abstract: Technologies for recovering from dropped frames in the real-time transmission of video over an IP network are provided. A video streaming module receives a notification from a receiving module that a data packet has been lost. The video streaming module determines, based on the type of video frame conveyed in the lost packet and the timing of the lost packet in relation to the sequence of video frames transmitted to the receiving module, whether or not a replacement video frame should be sent to the receiving module. If the video streaming module determines a replacement video frame is warranted, then the video streaming module instructs a video encoding module to generate a replacement video frame and then transmits the replacement video frame to the receiving module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Regis J. Crinon, Walid Ali, Nelson Philip Pinto
  • Publication number: 20100080302
    Abstract: A perceptual mechanism for residue selection in a video encoder may be provided. The mechanism may comprise a method, system, or device for receiving video frames comprising pluralities of pixels. For each video frame, a sensitivity threshold may be determined for each pixel of a previous video frame. The pixels of the video frame may compared in turn to the pixels of the previous video frame to determine a residue value. The residue value may be compared to the sensitivity threshold such that when the residue value is less than the sensitivity threshold, the pixel data in the video frame may be zeroed out prior to encoding the video frame for transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Rony Ferzli
  • Publication number: 20100080297
    Abstract: Techniques to perform fast motion estimation are described. An apparatus may comprise a motion estimator operative to receive as input a current frame and a reference frame from a digital video sequence. The motion estimator may generate and output a motion vector. The motion vector may represent a change in position between a current block of the current frame and a matching reference block of the reference frame. The motion estimator may utilize an enhanced block matching technique to perform block matching based on stationary and spatially proximate blocks. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ce Wang, Walid Ali
  • Publication number: 20100080283
    Abstract: Real-time video processing functionality may be provided using pre-processing and/or post-processing features to provide a video signal. Components of a real-time video processing system may operate to receive a real-time video signal. The real-time video signal may be downscaled based in part on the use of features of a pre-processing component applying a downscale polyphase filter that may be used to compensate for bandwidth constraints associated with a real-time video conferencing environment. The downscaled real-time video may be communicated across a network, such as the Internet. Upon receipt of the downscaled real-time video, the downscaled real-time video may be upscaled based in part on the use of features of a post-processing component applying an upscale polyphase filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Rony Ferzli
  • Publication number: 20100080287
    Abstract: Embodiments are configured to provide interactive communication functionality including adaptive video processing functionality that can be used to process aspects of a video signal, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a video conferencing system can operate to provide a video signal based in part on the use of adaptive processing features which include scaling and/or other pixel processing features. In one embodiment, components of an interactive video system can operate to adaptively manage and control video payload parameters to adapt to various communication conditions associated with a real-time or near-real time interactive video environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Walid Ali
  • Publication number: 20100079575
    Abstract: Embodiments are configured to provide video conferencing functionality including using pre-processing and/or post-processing features to provide a video signal, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a video conferencing system can operate to provide a video signal based in part on the use of features of a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component. In one embodiment, a video conference device can include a pre-processing component and/or post-processing component to that can be used to compensate for bandwidth constraints associated with a video conferencing environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Rony Ferzli
  • Publication number: 20100026781
    Abstract: Embodiments are configured to provide video conferencing functionality including using region of interest (ROI) features to provide a video signal, but the embodiments are not so limited. In an embodiment, components of a video conferencing system can operate to provide a video signal using pixel data associated with a ROI. In one embodiment, a video conference device can include a detector that can be used to detect human flesh tone regions in a video scene as part of providing a video stream to one or more conference participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Ronald Boskovic
  • Patent number: 7653257
    Abstract: A method of selectively sharpening video data may include, for at least some pixels in the video data, generating a sharpening value for a pixel value in an image. The sharpening value may be amplified in a non-linear manner to produce an amplified value. The pixel value and the amplified value may then be combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Ali, Jorge Caviedes
  • Publication number: 20090322942
    Abstract: A method includes determining a lowest-score interpolation direction among a plurality of interpolation directions. The method further includes calculating a candidate pixel value by interpolating along the lowest-score interpolation direction. The method further includes applying a median function to a set of pixel values. The set of pixel values includes (a) the candidate pixel value, (b) at least one pixel value from a line of pixels that is immediately above a pixel location that is currently being interpolated, and (c) at least one pixel value from a line of pixel values that is immediately below the pixel location that is currently being interpolated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Tiehan Lu, Jorge E. Caviedes, Walid Ali, Tsung-Hsin Lu, Raju Hormis
  • Publication number: 20090290641
    Abstract: Architecture for accelerating video compression by using the motion vectors produced locally by a camera. Video frames are captured by the camera (e.g., a webcam) which also computes a motion vector for the frame. Metadata can also be generated that represent an index of motion quality associated with the motion vector. The motion vector is passed to a video compression engine which selectively uses the motion vector directly or alternatively as a seed for a compression and encoding algorithm. This algorithm produces a compressed video frame representing a motion estimate having a selected motion quality index value. In this way, complexity is reduced in the video compression engine, resulting in faster and more efficient video compression. Alternatively, the webcam sends a compressed video bitstream to reduce throughput on the connection and the receiving computing system processes residual information to derive an estimate of the quality index for each macroblock/kernel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Regis J. Crinon, Walid Ali