Patents by Inventor William D. Sproule
William D. Sproule 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: 10664687Abstract: The importance of video sections of a video file may be determined from features of the video file. The video file may be decoded to obtain video frames and audio data associated with the video frames. Feature scores for each video frame may be obtained by analyzing features of the video frame or the audio data associated with the video frame based on a local rule, a global rule, or both. The feature scores are further combined to derive a frame importance score for the video frame. Based on the feature scores of the video frames in the video file, the video file may be segmented into video sections of different section importance values.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nitin Suri, Tzong-Jhy Wang, Omkar Mehendale, Andrew S. Ivory, William D. Sproule
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Patent number: 9934423Abstract: Techniques for identifying prominent subjects in video content based on feature point extraction are described herein. Video files may be processed to detect faces on video frames and extract feature points from the video frames. Some video frames may include detected faces and extracted feature points and other video frames may not include detected faces. Based on the extracted feature points, faces may be inferred on video frames where no face was detected. The inferring may be based on feature points. Additionally, video frames may be arranged into groups and two or more groups may be merged. The merging may be based on some groups including video frames having overlapping feature points. The resulting groups each may identify a subject. A frequency representing a number of video frames where the subject appears may be determined for calculating a prominence score for each of the identified subjects in the video file.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Tzong-Jhy Wang, Nitin Suri, Andrew S. Ivory, William D. Sproule
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Publication number: 20170242512Abstract: A device virtualization service (DVS) is provided that uses a generalized thick client resident on a mobile device to provide user interface generation support to a myriad of services providing mobile device content. The DVS abstracts device specifics from services to provide device independent user experiences to be described by the service and then rendered on the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: William D. Sproule, Antonio Winslow Fernando
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Patent number: 9646227Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for training models from video data and applying the learned models to identify desirable video data. Video data may be labeled to indicate a semantic category and/or a score indicative of desirability. The video data may be processed to extract low and high level features. A classifier and a scoring model may be trained based on the extracted features. The classifier may estimate a probability that the video data belongs to at least one of the categories in a set of semantic categories. The scoring model may determine a desirability score for the video data. New video data may be processed to extract low and high level features, and feature values may be determined based on the extracted features. The learned classifier and scoring model may be applied to the feature values to determine a desirability score associated with the new video data.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Nitin Suri, Xian-Sheng Hua, Tzong-Jhy Wang, William D. Sproule, Andrew S. Ivory, Jin Li
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Patent number: 9542062Abstract: A device virtualization service (DVS) is provided that uses a generalized thick client resident on a mobile device to provide user interface generation support to a myriad of services providing mobile device content. The DVS abstracts device specifics from services to provide device independent user experiences to be described by the service and then rendered on the device.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: William D. Sproule, Antonio Winslow Fernando
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Publication number: 20160034786Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for training models from video data and applying the learned models to identify desirable video data. Video data may be labeled to indicate a semantic category and/or a score indicative of desirability. The video data may be processed to extract low and high level features. A classifier and a scoring model may be trained based on the extracted features. The classifier may estimate a probability that the video data belongs to at least one of the categories in a set of semantic categories. The scoring model may determine a desirability score for the video data. New video data may be processed to extract low and high level features, and feature values may be determined based on the extracted features. The learned classifier and scoring model may be applied to the feature values to determine a desirability score associated with the new video data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Nitin Suri, Xian-Sheng Hua, Tzong-Jhy Wang, William D. Sproule, Andrew S. Ivory, Jin Li
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Publication number: 20160034748Abstract: Techniques for identifying prominent subjects in video content based on feature point extraction are described herein. Video files may be processed to detect faces on video frames and extract feature points from the video frames. Some video frames may include detected faces and extracted feature points and other video frames may not include detected faces. Based on the extracted feature points, faces may be inferred on video frames where no face was detected. The inferring may be based on feature points. Additionally, video frames may be arranged into groups and two or more groups may be merged. The merging may be based on some groups including video frames having overlapping feature points. The resulting groups each may identify a subject. A frequency representing a number of video frames where the subject appears may be determined for calculating a prominence score for each of the identified subjects in the video file.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Tzong-Jhy Wang, Nitin Suri, Andrew S. Ivory, William D. Sproule
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Publication number: 20150363635Abstract: The importance of video sections of a video file may be determined from features of the video file. The video file may be decoded to obtain video frames and audio data associated with the video frames. Feature scores for each video frame may be obtained by analyzing features of the video frame or the audio data associated with the video frame based on a local rule, a global rule, or both. The feature scores are further combined to derive a frame importance score for the video frame. Based on the feature scores of the video frames in the video file, the video file may be segmented into video sections of different section importance values.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Nitin Suri, Tzong-Jhy Wang, Omkar Mehendale, Andrew S. Ivory, William D. Sproule
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Patent number: 9208599Abstract: Visual animation platforms may allow users to develop visual media projects, such as movies. Many visual animation platforms may provide animation effects that may be applied to visual elements of a visual media project. Unfortunately, current techniques for providing a preview of an animation effect may be limited. Accordingly, one or more systems and/or techniques for presenting a visual preview are disclosed herein. In particular, a snapshot of an original state of a selected visual element may be stored. A referenced animation effect may be applied to the selected visual element to generate an updated visual element that may be used to generate a visual preview of how the referenced animation effect may look as applied to the selected visual element. The snapshot may be applied to the updated visual element to non-destructively revert the updated visual element to the original state.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2010Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sriram Subramanian, Nitin Suri, William D. Sproule
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Publication number: 20150016691Abstract: An image having a region tagged by a first user is obtained. The tag can include a first label of a person in the region, and the label can be used by the first user to identify the person in the region. Then, a second label of the person is determined. In implementations, the second label is used by a second user to identify the person in the region. The image is then displayed with the second label when displaying the image for the second user.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Karthik G. Anbalagan, Scott R. Ramsby, Chunkit J. Chan, Michael H. Kim, John M. Thornton, Timothy R. O'Connor, Alexander S. Brodie, Samuel J. Pinson, Bryan P. Ferguson, Aanand Narayanan Pisharathu, Ryan A. Kabir, Shanjeef Satchithanantham, Eric Richards, Eric W. Doerr, William D. Sproule, Shawn L. Morrissey, Mindy C. King
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Patent number: 8867779Abstract: A global tag for an image is received identifies one or more objects in the image, and a region-specific tag for the image identifies one or more objects in a region of the image. The global tag and the region-specific tag are stored with the image. Displayed, along with the image, is an identifier for each of the one or more objects identified in the global tag, and an identifier for each of the one or more objects identified in the region-specific tag. Different users are able to maintain different names for the same person, allowing the same tag of the image to be used as the basis for displaying the image with different names for the different users. Additionally, the tags can be used as a basis for generating a credits list of people that are included in a compilation of images.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Karthik G. Anbalagan, Scott R. Ramsby, Chunkit J. Chan, Michael H. Kim, John M. Thornton, Timothy R. O'Connor, Alexander S. Brodie, Samuel J. Pinson, Bryan P. Ferguson, Aanand Narayanan Pisharathu, Ryan A. Kabir, Shanjeef Satchithanantham, Eric Richards, Eric W. Doerr, William D. Sproule, Shawn L. Morrissey, Mindy C. King
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Patent number: 8750684Abstract: In an implementation, a plurality of media is collected, each having associated metadata that describes respective media. A movie is made from the plurality of media having a credit sequence and a title sequence that are generated automatically and without user intervention from the metadata.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2008Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William D. Sproule, Mindy C. King
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Publication number: 20140047363Abstract: A device virtualization service (DVS) is provided that uses a generalized thick client resident on a mobile device to provide user interface generation support to a myriad of services providing mobile device content. The DVS abstracts device specifics from services to provide device independent user experiences to be described by the service and then rendered on the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William D. Sproule, Antonio Winslow Fernando
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Patent number: 8560595Abstract: A device virtualization service (DVS) is provided that uses a generalized thick client resident on a mobile device to provide user interface generation support to a myriad of services providing mobile device content. The DVS abstracts device specifics from services to provide device independent user experiences to be described by the service and then rendered on the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2006Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William D. Sproule, Antonio Winslow Fernando
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Patent number: 8180645Abstract: A media browsing system prepares various media content and synchronizes the content for playback. A user can specify the content and preconfigure the manner in which the content will be subsequently accessible through a user interface. A variety of mobile phone and media player devices having configurable, user interfaces promote a consistent media browsing experience across the devices for users accessing a variety of preconfigured media content.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bruce Alan Johnson, W. Michael Anderson, William D. Sproule
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Publication number: 20110310109Abstract: Visual animation platforms may allow users to develop visual media projects, such as movies. Many visual animation platforms may provide animation effects that may be applied to visual elements of a visual media project. Unfortunately, current techniques for providing a preview of an animation effect may be limited. Accordingly, one or more systems and/or techniques for presenting a visual preview are disclosed herein. In particular, a snapshot of an original state of a selected visual element may be stored. A referenced animation effect may be applied to the selected visual element to generate an updated visual element that may be used to generate a visual preview of how the referenced animation effect may look as applied to the selected visual element. The snapshot may be applied to the updated visual element to non-destructively revert the updated visual element to the original state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Sriram Subramanian, Nitin Suri, William D. Sproule
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Patent number: 7865366Abstract: A system is described which includes a content retriever to retrieve and format data and a media file playlist generated by the content retriever from the data. The media file playlist includes a playlist entry title identifying a title for a media file, a file name identifying the media file, and a metadata tag containing data for performing an action associated with the file. Examples of the actions that may be performed are calling a phone number or sending an email. The system also includes a text file playlist generated by the content retriever from the text data in XML (extensible markup language). The text file play list includes text-to-speech markup tags indentifying the XML-formatted text file as a text-to-speech conversion file. The system further includes a text-to-speech converter configured to generate at least one audio file playlist from the text file playlist and a configuration module associated with the content retriever configured to accept user input instruction that identify the data.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bruce Alan Johnson, W. Michael Anderson, William D. Sproule
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Publication number: 20100086276Abstract: In an implementation, a plurality of media is collected, each having associated metadata that describes respective media. A movie is made from the plurality of media having a credit sequence and a title sequence that are generated automatically and without user intervention from the metadata.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William D. Sproule, Mindy C. King
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Publication number: 20100054601Abstract: A global tag for an image is received identifies one or more objects in the image, and a region-specific tag for the image identifies one or more objects in a region of the image. The global tag and the region-specific tag are stored with the image. Displayed, along with the image, is an identifier for each of the one or more objects identified in the global tag, and an identifier for each of the one or more objects identified in the region-specific tag. Different users are able to maintain different names for the same person, allowing the same tag of the image to be used as the basis for displaying the image with different names for the different users. Additionally, the tags can be used as a basis for generating a credits list of people that are included in a compilation of images.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Karthik G. Anbalagan, Scott R. Ramsby, Chunkit J. Chan, Michael H. Kim, John M. Thornton, Timothy R. O'Connor, Alexander S. Brodie, Samuel J. Pinson, Bryan P. Ferguson, Aanand Narayanan Pisharathu, Ryan A. Kabir, Shanjeef Satchithanantham, Eric Richards, Eric W. Doerr, William D. Sproule, Shawn L. Morrissey, Mindy C. King
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Patent number: 7647346Abstract: Automatic rules-based synchronization of digital files on a source device and a target device coupled to it. A source computer executes a synchronization engine for managing transfer of files from a source database to a target device coupled to the computer as a function of a defined storage capacity of the device. The synchronization engine is configured to receive user-defined rules for selecting which of the files are to be transferred to the device and assigning priorities to the files. The synchronization engine builds a designated list of the files to be transferred according to the priorities defined by the rules.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Andrew L. Silverman, Daniel Plastina, Kipley J. Olson, Michael J. Novak, William D. Sproule