Patents by Inventor Xinli Zou

Xinli Zou 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: 9355684
    Abstract: Thumbnail images representative of recorded TV programs are generated and presented to aid a user in browsing the recorded TV programs. In one implementation, a temporary thumbnail image is generated when a TV program first starts recording. The temporary thumbnail is used to populate any user interface (UI) screens that reference the recoded TV program. Once the TV program has reached a threshold amount of recording (e.g., a prescribed duration of recording, or completion of the recording), a permanent thumbnail image is generated and associated with the TV program. The permanent thumbnail is then presented in any subsequent UI screens, replacing the temporary thumbnail. In another implementation, display of the thumbnail images in the UI screens may be further controlled by setting preferences, such as parental controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron DeYonker, Jeffrey C. Fong, Todd San Jule, Zhike Kong, Bin Lin, Nishad Mulye, Joseph Alton Schrader, Thomas H. Taylor, Xinli Zou
  • Publication number: 20150269969
    Abstract: Thumbnail images representative of recorded TV programs are generated and presented to aid a user in browsing the recorded TV programs. In one implementation, a temporary thumbnail image is generated when a TV program first starts recording. The temporary thumbnail is used to populate any user interface (UI) screens that reference the recoded TV program. Once the TV program has reached a threshold amount of recording (e.g., a prescribed duration of recording, or completion of the recording), a permanent thumbnail image is generated and associated with the TV program. The permanent thumbnail is then presented in any subsequent UI screens, replacing the temporary thumbnail. In another implementation, display of the thumbnail images in the UI screens may be further controlled by setting preferences, such as parental controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Aaron DeYonker, Jeffrey C. Fong, Todd San Jule, Zhike Kong, Bin Lin, Nishad Mulye, Joseph Alton Schrader, Thomas H. Taylor, Xinli Zou
  • Patent number: 9053754
    Abstract: Thumbnail images representative of recorded TV programs are generated and presented to aid a user in browsing the recorded TV programs. In one implementation, a temporary thumbnail image is generated when a TV program first starts recording. The temporary thumbnail is used to populate any user interface (UI) screens that reference the recoded TV program. Once the TV program has reached a threshold amount of recording (e.g., a prescribed duration of recording, or completion of the recording), a permanent thumbnail image is generated and associated with the TV program. The permanent thumbnail is then presented in any subsequent UI screens, replacing the temporary thumbnail. In another implementation, display of the thumbnail images in the UI screens may be further controlled by setting preferences, such as parental controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron DeYonker, Jeffrey C Fong, Todd San Jule, Zhike Kong, Bin Lin, Nishad Mulye, Joseph Alton Schrader, Thomas H. Taylor, Xinli Zou
  • Patent number: 7986372
    Abstract: Systems and methods for smart media content thumbnail extraction are described. In one aspect program metadata is generated from recorded video content. The program metadata includes one or more key-frames from one or more corresponding shots. An objectively representative key-frame is identified from among the key-frames as a function of shot duration and frequency of appearance of key-frame content across multiple shots. The objectively representative key-frame is an image frame representative of the recorded video content. A thumbnail is created from the objectively representative key-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Fei Ma, Bin Lin, Zhike Kong, Xinli Zou, Wei-Ying Ma, Hong-Jiang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20060107289
    Abstract: Thumbnail images representative of recorded TV programs are generated and presented to aid a user in browsing the recorded TV programs. In one implementation, a temporary thumbnail image is generated when a TV program first starts recording. The temporary thumbnail is used to populate any user interface (UI) screens that reference the recoded TV program. Once the TV program has reached a threshold amount of recording (e.g., a prescribed duration of recording, or completion of the recording), a permanent thumbnail image is generated and associated with the TV program. The permanent thumbnail is then presented in any subsequent UI screens, replacing the temporary thumbnail. In another implementation, display of the thumbnail images in the UI screens may be further controlled by setting preferences, such as parental controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron DeYonker, Jeffrey Fong, Todd Jule, Zhike Kong, Bin Lin, Nishad Mulye, Joseph Schrader, Thomas Taylor, Xinli Zou
  • Publication number: 20060026524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for smart media content thumbnail extraction are described. In one aspect program metadata is generated from recorded video content. The program metadata includes one or more key-frames from one or more corresponding shots. An objectively representative key-frame is identified from among the key-frames as a function of shot duration and frequency of appearance of key-frame content across multiple shots. The objectively representative key-frame is an image frame representative of the recorded video content. A thumbnail is created from the objectively representative key-frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Fei Ma, Bin Lin, Zhike Kong, Xinli Zou, Wei-Ying Ma, Hong-Jiang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20060023077
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for facilitating editing of a captured photograph using a set of user interface photo interaction tools. The method includes receiving a user selection of an editing function, which may be a cropping function, through the user interface photo interaction tools. The method additionally includes determining an optimal edited photograph based on the input editing function and presenting the edited photograph on the user interface in order to allow user interaction with the edited photograph through the user interface photo interaction tools. The user interface may receive commands through a remote control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Alton, Mark MacKenzie, Xinli Zou