Patents by Inventor William Christopher Banta

William Christopher Banta 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: 11393208
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for improving a playback of video data and generation of a video summary. For example, annotation data may be generated for individual video frames included in the video data to indicate content present in the individual video frames, such as faces, objects, pets, speech or the like. A video summary may be determined by calculating a priority metric for individual video frames based on the annotation data. In response to input indicating a face and a period of time, a video summary can be generated including video segments focused on the face within the period of time. The video summary may be directed to multiple faces and/or objects based on the annotation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Pearson, Dynin Hong Khem, Peter Van Tuyl Bentley, William Christopher Banta, Kevin Michael Gordon, Manlio Armando Lo Conte
  • Patent number: 10499026
    Abstract: This application describes techniques for correcting distortion in projected images. In some instances, a projection device may project an image onto a projection surface within an environment. However, the projected image may initially distorted from the perspective of a user within the environment due to the angle of the projection onto the surface and due to the location of the user relative to the projection. To help correct this distortion from the vantage point of the user, the user utilizes a mobile device to capture an image of the projection. This image is then used to calculate one or more calibration parameters for execution by the projection device to remove the distortion of the image as projected from the perspective of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Christopher Banta
  • Publication number: 20190303683
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for improving a playback of video data and generation of a video summary. For example, annotation data may be generated for individual video frames included in the video data to indicate content present in the individual video frames, such as faces, objects, pets, speech or the like. A video summary may be determined by calculating a priority metric for individual video frames based on the annotation data. In response to input indicating a face and a period of time, a video summary can be generated including video segments focused on the face within the period of time. The video summary may be directed to multiple faces and/or objects based on the annotation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Pearson, Dynin Hong Khem, Peter Van Tuyl Bentley, William Christopher Banta, Kevin Michael Gordon, Manlio Armando Lo Conte
  • Patent number: 10332564
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for generating video tags associated with previously captured video data. During a recording mode, video data may be captured and uploaded to a server. In response to a command, video may be tagged and selected, for example for inclusion in a video summary. During a standby mode, video data may be captured and temporarily stored in a buffer. In response to the command, video data stored in the buffer prior to the command may be selected. The video data may be selected for further processing and/or uploaded to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Josef Andrizzi, Alex Carter, Peter Van Tuyl Bentley, William Christopher Banta
  • Patent number: 10255946
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for allowing multiple devices to generate tags associated with video data captured by a single device. For example, a recording device may capture and upload video data and the multiple devices may generate tags identifying memorable moments. The tags may be used to generate a video summary, such as a single video summary for the captured video data that includes video data associated with tags generated by multiple devices. In addition, the tags may be associated with unique devices and may be used to generate multiple video summaries. For example, the tags may be used to generate individual video summaries for each of the multiple devices. Therefore, multiple devices may tag the captured video data to generate the single video summary and/or multiple individual video summaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Josef Andrizzi, Alex Carter, Peter Van Tuyl Bentley, William Christopher Banta
  • Patent number: 10251244
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, voice-controlled light switches that act as voice-controlled endpoints at which users may provide voice commands. These light switches may physically couple to a power source, as well as to one or more appliances. The light switches may include physical switches to selectively provide power to the appliances, either in a binary fashion (on or off) or along of spectrum of positions. In either instance, the appliances coupled to the light switches may include lights, electrical outlets, home appliances (e.g., dishwashers, washing machines, etc.), factory machinery, or any other device that receives electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Christopher Banta
  • Patent number: 10169659
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for improving a playback of video data and generation of a video summary. For example, annotation data may be generated for individual video frames included in the video data to indicate content present in the individual video frames, such as faces, objects, pets, speech or the like. A video summary may be determined by calculating a priority metric for individual video frames based on the annotation data. In response to input indicating a face and a period of time, a video summary can be generated including video segments focused on the face within the period of time. The video summary may be directed to multiple faces and/or objects based on the annotation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Pearson, Dynin Hong Khem, Peter Van Tuyl Bentley, William Christopher Banta, Kevin Michael Gordon, Manlio Armando Lo Conte
  • Patent number: 10015527
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to the generating and playback of panoramic videos comprising a plurality of tiles. Each tile may be a video having a tile field-of-view that is a portion of a full field-of-view of the panoramic video. An active field-of-view may be displayed from the first tile, where the active field-of-view is selected from a first tile field-of-view. A translate command may indicate a translate direction for the active field of view. A second tile may be requested. The second tile may have a second tile field-of-view that is adjacent to the first file field-of-view in the translate direction. The active field of view may be translated in the translate direction. When the active field-of-view reaches an edge of the first tile field-of-view, the active field-of-view may be displayed, at least in part, from the second tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William Christopher Banta, Demir Selmanovic
  • Patent number: 9998661
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to a panoramic camera system comprising a first image sensor, a second image sensor and an enclosure. The first image sensor may have a first in-air field-of-view and the second image sensor may have a second in-air field-of-view. The first in-air field-of-view may overlap the second in-air field-of-view by greater than a threshold amount. The enclosure may comprise a curved outer surface. An alternate medium field-of-view of the first image sensor may overlap an alternate medium field-of-view of the second image sensor by greater than the threshold amount. The panoramic camera system may also comprise an image processor that is programmed to determine that the first image sensor and the second image sensor are within the enclosure. The panoramic camera system may stitch frames captured by the first and second image sensors considering an alternate medium stitching parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William Christopher Banta, Nathaniel Bubis
  • Patent number: 9826599
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, voice-controlled light switches that act as voice-controlled endpoints at which users may provide voice commands. These light switches may physically couple to a power source, as well as to one or more appliances. The light switches may include physical switches to selectively provide power to the appliances, either in a binary fashion (on or off) or along of spectrum of positions. In either instance, the appliances coupled to the light switches may include lights, electrical outlets, home appliances (e.g., dishwashers, washing machines, etc.), factory machinery, or any other device that receives electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Christopher Banta
  • Patent number: 9781356
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to displaying a panoramic video at an interface comprising a focus region and a thumbnail region. The focus region may display an active field-of-view of the panoramic video, where the active field-of-view is a portion selected from the full field-of-view of the panoramic video. The thumbnail region may display a thumbnail version of the panoramic video comprising a thumbnail field-of-view that is equivalent to the full field-of-view. A distribution of color saturation levels of the thumbnail version may indicates a distribution of fields-of-view selectable from the full field-of-view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William Christopher Banta, Demir Selmanovic
  • Publication number: 20170188437
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, voice-controlled light switches that act as voice-controlled endpoints at which users may provide voice commands. These light switches may physically couple to a power source, as well as to one or more appliances. The light switches may include physical switches to selectively provide power to the appliances, either in a binary fashion (on or off) or along of spectrum of positions. In either instance, the appliances coupled to the light switches may include lights, electrical outlets, home appliances (e.g., dishwashers, washing machines, etc.), factory machinery, or any other device that receives electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: William Christopher Banta