Patents by Inventor Yu Lou

Yu Lou 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: 9870633
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a computing device to perform tasks such as highlighting words in an augmented reality view that are important to a user. For example, word lists can be generated and the user, by pointing a camera of a computing device at a volume of text, can cause words from the word list within the volume of text to be highlighted in a live field of view of the camera displayed thereon. Accordingly, users can quickly identify textual information that is meaningful to them in an Augmented Reality view to aid the user in sifting through real-world text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Wiggen Kraft, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Douglas Ryan Gray, Xiaofan Lin, Yu Lou, Sunil Ramesh, Colin Jon Taylor, David Creighton Mott
  • Publication number: 20170330009
    Abstract: Various algorithms are presented that enable an image of a data matrix to be analyzed and decoded for use in obtaining information about an object or item associated with the data matrix. The algorithms can account for variations in position and/or alignment of the data matrix. In one approach, the image is analyzed to determine a connected region of pixels. The connected region of pixels can be analyzed to determine a pair of pixels, included in the connected region of pixels, that is separated a greatest distance wherein a first pixel and second pixel of the pair of pixels is associated with image coordinates. Using the image coordinates of the pair of pixels, a potential area of the image that includes the visual code can be determined and the potential area can be analyzed to verify the presence of a potential data matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Wang, Yu Lou
  • Publication number: 20170323488
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying 3D containers in a computer generated environment are described. A computing device may provide a user with a catalog of objects which may be purchased. In order to view what an object may look like prior to purchasing the object, a computing device may show a 3D container that has the same dimensions as the object. As discussed herein, the 3D container may be located and oriented based on a two-dimensional marker. Moreover, some 3D containers may contain a representation of an object, which may be a 2D image of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: David Creighton Mott, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Colin Jon Taylor, Yu Lou, Chun-Kai Wang, Sudeshna Pantham, Himanshu Arora, Xi Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170272648
    Abstract: Various approaches provide for detecting and recognizing text to enable a user to perform various functions or tasks. For example, a user could point a camera at an object with text, in order to capture an image of that object. The camera can be integrated with a portable computing device that is capable of taking the image and processing the image (or providing the image for processing) to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to send the image of the object as well as recognized text to an application, function, or system, such as an electronic marketplace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: ADAM WIGGEN KRAFT, KATHY WING LAM MA, XIAOFAN LIN, ARNAB SANAT KUMAR DHUA, YU LOU
  • Patent number: 9747486
    Abstract: Various algorithms are presented that enable an image of a data matrix to be analyzed and decoded for use in obtaining information about an object or item associated with the data matrix. The algorithms can account for variations in position and/or alignment of the data matrix. In one approach, the image is analyzed to determine a connected region of pixels. The connected region of pixels can be analyzed to determine a pair of pixels, included in the connected region of pixels, that is separated a greatest distance wherein a first pixel and second pixel of the pair of pixels is associated with image coordinates. Using the image coordinates of the pair of pixels, a potential area of the image that includes the visual code can be determined and the potential area can be analyzed to verify the presence of a potential data matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Wang, Yu Lou
  • Patent number: 9734634
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying 3D containers in a computer generated environment are described. A computing device may provide a user with a catalog of objects which may be purchased. In order to view what an object may look like prior to purchasing the object, a computing device may show a 3D container that has the same dimensions as the object. As discussed herein, the 3D container may be located and oriented based on a two-dimensional marker. Moreover, some 3D containers may contain a representation of an object, which may be a 2D image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventors: David Creighton Mott, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Colin Jon Taylor, Yu Lou, Chun-Kai Wang, Sudeshna Pantham, Himanshu Arora, Xi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9736361
    Abstract: Various approaches provide for detecting and recognizing text to enable a user to perform various functions or tasks. For example, a user could point a camera at an object with text, in order to capture an image of that object. The camera can be integrated with a portable computing device that is capable of taking the image and processing the image (or providing the image for processing) to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to send the image of the object as well as recognized text to an application, function, or system, such as an electronic marketplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Wiggen Kraft, Kathy Wing Lam Ma, Xiaofan Lin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Yu Lou
  • Publication number: 20170208256
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a computing device to perform tasks such as processing an image to recognize text or an object in an image to identify a particular product or related products associated with the text or object. In response to recognizing the text or the object as being associated with a product available for purchase from an electronic marketplace, one or more advertisements or product listings associated with the product can be displayed to the user. Accordingly, additional information for the associated product can be displayed, enabling the user to learn more about and purchase the product from the electronic marketplace through the portable computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: XIAOFAN LIN, ARNAB SANAT KUMAR DHUA, DOUGLAS RYAN GRAY, ATUL KUMAR, YU LOU
  • Patent number: 9646335
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a computing device to perform tasks such as processing an image to recognize text or an object in an image to identify a particular product or related products associated with the text or object. In response to recognizing the text or the object as being associated with a product available for purchase from an electronic marketplace, one or more advertisements or product listings associated with the product can be displayed to the user. Accordingly, additional information for the associated product can be displayed, enabling the user to learn more about and purchase the product from the electronic marketplace through the portable computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofan Lin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Douglas Ryan Gray, Atul Kumar, Yu Lou
  • Publication number: 20170103560
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a computing device to perform tasks such as highlighting words in an augmented reality view that are important to a user. For example, word lists can be generated and the user, by pointing a camera of a computing device at a volume of text, can cause words from the word list within the volume of text to be highlighted in a live field of view of the camera displayed thereon. Accordingly, users can quickly identify textual information that is meaningful to them in an Augmented Reality view to aid the user in sifting through real-world text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: ADAM WIGGEN KRAFT, ARNAB SANAT KUMAR DHUA, DOUGLAS RYAN GRAY, XIAOFAN LIN, YU LOU, SUNIL RAMESH, COLIN JON TAYLOR, DAVID CREIGHTON MOTT
  • Patent number: 9582913
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a computing device to perform tasks such as highlighting words in an augmented reality view that are important to a user. For example, word lists can be generated and the user, by pointing a camera of a computing device at a volume of text, can cause words from the word list within the volume of text to be highlighted in a live field of view of the camera displayed thereon. Accordingly, users can quickly identify textual information that is meaningful to them in an Augmented Reality view to aid the user in sifting through real-world text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Wiggen Kraft, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Douglas Ryan Gray, Xiaofan Lin, Yu Lou, Sunil Ramesh, Colin Jon Taylor, David Creighton Mott
  • Patent number: 9569679
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a device to perform an adaptive sampling method for locating text regions in images of natural scenes. Since only a fraction of pixels in an input image correspond to text regions, it is desirable to eliminate non-text regions early in the text detection process. Therefore, in at least one embodiment, an image is sampled horizontally to identify connected pixel regions indicative of text. In this example, each sampled row of the image is tested for containing Maximally Stable Extremal Regions (MSERs) in order to identify regions containing text. If a respective row contains a connected pixel region indicative of text, the neighboring rows are recursively sampled at finer levels in order to fully contain the text and sampling is terminated for regions which are unlikely to contain text. This sampling process can also be performed for the vertical dimension for regions which are determined to contain text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Ryan Gray, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Yu Lou, Ismet Zeki Yalniz
  • Publication number: 20170024595
    Abstract: Various algorithms are presented that enable an image of a data matrix to be analyzed and decoded for use in obtaining information about an object or item associated with the data matrix. The algorithms can account for variations in position and/or alignment of the data matrix. In one approach, the image is analyzed to determine a connected region of pixels. The connected region of pixels can be analyzed to determine a pair of pixels, included in the connected region of pixels, that is separated a greatest distance wherein a first pixel and second pixel of the pair of pixels is associated with image coordinates. Using the image coordinates of the pair of pixels, a potential area of the image that includes the visual code can be determined and the potential area can be analyzed to verify the presence of a potential data matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Wang, Yu Lou
  • Patent number: 9501681
    Abstract: Various algorithms are presented that enable an image of a data matrix to be analyzed and decoded for use in obtaining information about an object or item associated with the data matrix. The algorithms can account for variations in position and/or alignment of the data matrix. In one approach, the image is analyzed to determine a connected region of pixels. The connected region of pixels can be analyzed to determine a pair of pixels, included in the connected region of pixels, that is separated a greatest distance wherein a first pixel and second pixel of the pair of pixels is associated with image coordinates. Using the image coordinates of the pair of pixels, a potential area of the image that includes the visual code can be determined and the potential area can be analyzed to verify the presence of a potential data matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Wang, Yu Lou
  • Patent number: 9436883
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and systems for identifying text in an image by applying suitable text detection parameters in text detection. The suitable text detection parameters can be determined based on parameter metric feedback from one or more text identification subtasks, such as text detection, text recognition, preprocessing, character set mapping, pattern matching and validation. In some embodiments, the image can be defined into one or more image regions by performing glyph detection on the image. Text detection parameters applying to each of the one or more image regions can be adjusted based on measured one or more parameter metrics in the respective image region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventors: Xiaofan Lin, Adam Wiggen Kraft, Yu Lou, Douglas Ryan Gray, Colin Jon Taylor
  • Publication number: 20160234431
    Abstract: Various approaches provide for detecting and recognizing text to enable a user to perform various functions or tasks. For example, a user could point a camera at an object with text, in order to capture an image of that object. The camera can be integrated with a portable computing device that is capable of taking the image and processing the image (or providing the image for processing) to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to send the image of the object as well as recognized text to an application, function, or system, such as an electronic marketplace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: ADAM WIGGEN KRAFT, KATHY WING LAM MA, XIAOFAN LIN, ARNAB SANAT KUMAR DHUA, YU LOU
  • Patent number: 9390340
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a device to perform tasks such as processing an image to recognize and locate text in the image, and providing the recognized text an application executing on the device for performing a function (e.g., calling a number, opening an internet browser, etc.) associated with the recognized text. In at least one embodiment, processing the image includes substantially simultaneously or concurrently processing the image with at least two recognition engines, such as at least two optical character recognition (OCR) engines, running in a multithreaded mode. In at least one embodiment, the recognition engines can be tuned so that their respective processing speeds are roughly the same. Utilizing multiple recognition engines enables processing latency to be close to that of using only one recognition engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: A9.com
    Inventors: Xiaofan Lin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Douglas Ryan Gray, Yu Lou
  • Patent number: 9350913
    Abstract: Various approaches provide for detecting and recognizing text to enable a user to perform various functions or tasks. For example, a user could point a camera at an object with text, in order to capture an image of that object. The camera can be integrated with a portable computing device that is capable of taking the image and processing the image (or providing the image for processing) to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to send the image of the object as well as recognized text to an application, function, or system, such as an electronic marketplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Wiggen Kraft, Kathy Wing Lam Ma, Xiaofan Lin, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua, Yu Lou
  • Publication number: 20160098611
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable the identification of semi-structured text entities in an imager. The identification of the text entities is a relatively simple problem when the text is stored in a computer and free of errors, but much more challenging if the source is the output of an optical character recognition (OCR) engine from a natural scene image. Accordingly, output from an OCR engine is analyzed to isolate a character string indicative of a text entity. Each character of the string is then assigned to a character class to produce a character class string and the text entity of the string is identified based in part on a pattern of the character class string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: DOUGLAS RYAN GRAY, XIAOFAN LIN, ARNAB SANAT KUMAR DHUA, YU LOU
  • Patent number: 9292739
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable text aggregation from multiple image frames of text. Accordingly, in order to stitch newly scanned areas of a document together, text in a respective image is recognized and analyzed using an algorithm to identify pairs of corresponding words in other images. Upon identifying a minimum number of matching pairs between two respective images, a mapping between the same can be determined based at least in part on a geometric correspondence between respective identified pairs. Based on this mapping, the recognized text of the two images can be merged by adding words of one image to the other using the matching word pairs as alignment data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Ryan Gray, Colin Jay Taylor, Xiaofan Lin, Adam Wiggen Kraft, Yu Lou, Arnab Sanat Kumar Dhua