Patents Issued in March 28, 2017
  • Patent number: 9607327
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of presenting visual content items, comprising: grouping the visual content items according to predefined similarity rules relating to visual characteristics of the visual content items such that each group has a range for the number of its members; selecting a representative visual content item for each group; presenting the representative visual content item of each group that has a minimal number of members above a predefined threshold; and optionally presenting the visual content items alongside the representative visual content items. The grouping may be carried out by using predefined color groups; by using predefined shape groups; or using Keypoints of the visual content items, and relate to groups of human faces, product images and landscape images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Dan Atsmon, Alon Atsmon
  • Patent number: 9607328
    Abstract: An electronic content distribution and exchange system provides authenticated, reliable content downloads and tracking capabilities. Content is distributed to users through the invention's architecture. A user registers for the purchase of content through an interface on a client system or via a Web site. The purchase is for a license to the content, not for the content itself. A list of available content is displayed to the user through the client system or the Web site. The invention's central servers log the purchase of the content into a license database. The user accesses content through the client system's user interface where the user plays the content and controls its playback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: James M. Barton
  • Patent number: 9607329
    Abstract: A communication system provides a service provider marketplace that includes a data store storing provider data for a plurality of different service providers. A search or selection component provides user interface displays that allow users to search for and select service providers. A payment component provides a mechanism by which payment for the services can be made by the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Paul H. Dietz, Steve Bathiche, Jeffrey R. C. Bell, Bora Beran, Gaetan Issombo, Kori Inkpen Quinn
  • Patent number: 9607330
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for peer-assisted shopping, the method includes initiating, on a first endpoint corresponding to a first user, a display of media content. The method also includes initiating, on the first endpoint, an interactive feature configured to allow the first user to interact with the first endpoint in response to the display of media content. The method further includes initiating, on the first endpoint, an option for the first user to invoke a communication request with at least a second user corresponding to at least a second endpoint. Moreover, the method includes, upon selection of the option, initiating a connection request with the at least a second endpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cinsay, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Spitz, Sergey Sundukovskiy, Delfino Galindo, Jr., Todd Downing, Christian Briggs
  • Patent number: 9607331
    Abstract: Reducing near-duplicate entries in online shopping system search results. For each pair of entries in a set of entries, each entry characterizing a product in a data store of an online shopping system and each entry characterized by a set of attributes, determining a distance between the entries in the pair based on the attributes. Determining entry clusters from a graph formed with each determined distance as an edge between nodes representing the entries used to determine the distance, each entry cluster identified by cluster identifier. Returning an ordered list of results responsive to the query from the data store of an online shopping system, filtered as a function of at least one of the distance and the cluster identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Liang Hu, Lijie Chen, Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9607332
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a client computing device, a list of web applications from a network device associated with a digital goods marketplace, receiving, at the client computing device, metadata associated with the list of web applications, generating, at the client computing device, a user interface including at least one icon representing a web application available for download from the digital market place, and displaying the user interface in a browser of the client computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Nazarov, Aleksey Surkov
  • Patent number: 9607333
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a network-based sales system with customizable user interfaces are described. The system generates first and second sales interfaces based on customization commands and communicates the sales interfaces, over a network, through respective member sites to first and second users. The system further receives first and second requests to view a listing of an item that is presented in an offer for sale via the first and second sales interfaces, retrieves a record from a central database system that is changed responsive to a sale of the item that is presented in the first and second sales listings, modifies an object model representation of a central database system based on the retrieval of the record that is changed and regenerates the first and second sales interfaces responsive to the modification of the object model representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew F. Ackley, Joseph Aparo
  • Patent number: 9607334
    Abstract: A system for updating merchant on file payment data at a payment processor is provided. The system includes a merchant processing selection system receiving selection data for one of two or more types of on file payment data update processing. A merchant account update system receives the selection data and processes account update data based on the selection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PAYMENTECH, LLC
    Inventors: Tonya Lin Carroll, Chantal Adair Gaspie, Gwen Ellen Murray, Lakshma Reddy Eapur
  • Patent number: 9607335
    Abstract: A method, system, and program product, the method comprising: (1) aggregated account information FDIC aggregated deposit accounts held in a plurality of banks; (2) client account information: (1) obtaining a client available deposit amount, Di; (2) determining, a bank number tier, Ti, for the client account, from among a plurality of tiers based, at least in part, on a level of funds associated with the respective client or relative to tier ranges, wherein each tier has a number of banks associated therewith or a function for computing the number of banks associated therewith; (3) allocating the client available deposit amount, Di, across a number of banks, NT, equal to the number associated electronically with the tier, Ti; and generating data to transfer funds to or from one or more of the banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ISLAND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Bent, Bruce Bent, II, Rebecca Gareis Bent, David Edgar Gareis
  • Patent number: 9607336
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating and delivering an alert to an individual regarding a credit inquiry. For example, an inquiry request may be received that includes a request for credit data associated with an individual. An alert may then be generated and provided to the individual based on retrieved contact information associated with the individual. In some embodiments, the alert is generated regardless of whether the inquiry causes a change to credit data associated with the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ConsumerInfo.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Dean, Mark Joseph Kapczynski
  • Patent number: 9607337
    Abstract: A distributed, transparent, in-line risk management and traffic capture system that solves securities trading compliance problems. A transparent cut-through sniffer device is coupled with a real-time packet processor to police traffic flows between trading clients and exchange servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyannisport Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Amicangioli
  • Patent number: 9607338
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for processing derivative product orders at an exchange. Traders provide derivative product order risk data to the exchange. The order risk data may include maximum delta, gamma and/or vega utilization values for derivative product contracts based on the same underlying product. Before executing a trade, a match system analyzes the trader's current utilization state and the utilization that would result after the trade. The match system may then execute all or a portion of the trade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
    Inventors: David Salvadori, John Falck, Charlie Troxel, Jr., James Farrell, Agnes Shanthi Thiruthuvadoss, Arjuna Ariathurai, Scott Johnston
  • Patent number: 9607339
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium to facilitate treatment of a damaged vehicle by gathering crash information, estimating an extent of vehicle damage, and requesting transport of the damaged vehicle from the crash site to a treatment facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Christina P. Mullen, William J. Leise, Douglas Albert Graff
  • Patent number: 9607340
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method, system, and computer program product for analyzing interests of consumers, where semantic analysis is performed on writings by authors on social media sites. The results of the semantic analysis provide a profile of the authors. These author profiles can be used to identify and correlate topical interests by consumers. An enterprise or business can more effectively market to the consumers based upon this knowledge of the consumers' interests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mehrshad Setayesh, Timothy P. McCandless
  • Patent number: 9607341
    Abstract: A content access management system receives an access determination requested identifying an access rule and a requesting user. The access rule may be created in advance by the content owner at the content access management system. The access rule may allow access to content objects based on the requesting user's biographic information, geographic information, affiliation information, payment information, or any other user characteristic. The user information may be entered by the requesting user at a social networking system interface for purposes unrelated to the content object or content owner. The content access management system retrieves the identified access rule and retrieves requesting user information based on the access rule. An access determination is made based on the retrieved access rule and requesting user information, and is transmitted to the content owner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Lincoln W. Hochberg, Vishu Gupta
  • Patent number: 9607342
    Abstract: A system and method is presented for gathering data concerning harvests. Data tickets are generated at a point of origination (i.e., the field), local storage, processing, or a customer location. Data tickets may also be generated for supplies delivered to the field. Implements attached to a vehicle in the field (e.g., a tractor) may provide sensor data over a vehicle communication bus about how a field processing task was performed. A computing device on the vehicle periodically reads the sensor data and records the data along with the current time and GPS position of the vehicle as a data point. A plurality of data points are transmitted to a remote server as a data trail. Data trails from a plurality of vehicles are compared to find points of intersection. Sensor data in the data trails for the points of intersection are examined to determine data related to the transfer of goods between vehicles during the time of intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Conservis Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick P. Christie, Paul Larson, Matthew Shilts, Chuck Faison, Michael Borman, Joe Tevis
  • Patent number: 9607343
    Abstract: A demand response for an energy-consuming facility is disclosed. A demand response is generated by estimating a likelihood of a coincident peak time period, modeling workloads to be scheduled in the energy-consuming facility, determining a workload schedule based on the likelihood of the coincident peak time period and a plurality of utility charging rates, and scheduling the workloads for execution in the energy-consuming facility according to the determined workload schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Yuan Chen, Zhenhua Liu, Cullen E Bash, Thomas W Christian
  • Patent number: 9607344
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a message comprising a user identification code via a social media messaging channel. In addition, the method includes receiving geo-location information of the device transmitting the message. The method also includes verifying the user identification code by confirming that the geo-location information complies with stored expected geo-location information. The method also includes accessing data associated with a transaction account linked to the user identification code based on the content of the message. The method further includes transmitting a reply to the received message on the social media messaging channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Anant Athale, Srinivas Dasari
  • Patent number: 9607345
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for conducting transactions with a customer using text messages. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first text message from a mobile communication device associated with a customer. The first text message includes a request from the customer to receive one or more text messages from a vendor. The method also includes adding the customer to a set of consenting customers in a customer database in response to receiving the first text message. The set of consenting customer including customers that consent to receiving text messages from the vendor. The method also includes sending a second text message to the mobile communication device. The second text message is associated with a service offered by the vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Chad David Hendren, Kenneth A. Darby, James Frazer, Steven Gass, Sandra Stetich
  • Patent number: 9607346
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for dynamic route estimation and prediction using discrete sampled location updates from various mobile devices for the purpose of providing a graphical representation of a mobile device's route along a known network path of map data. The embodiments also provide supplemental route metrics, such as traveled distance, elapsed time, etc., and the capability to assign destination points for the purpose of providing the ability to modify location update points in an application, such as a route planner, and/or to store the dynamically generated route based on various preferences for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Sheha, Angie Sheha, Stephen Petilli, Arun Yalagadda
  • Patent number: 9607347
    Abstract: Systems and methods for applying cosmetics are provided using an incoherent light projector shining light on the face, capturing the reflected light using a camera and the projector, communicating with the camera and the projector and a structured light depth processor to generate a depth image output. A control device communicates with the structure light depth sensor to receive the output, to receive the face profiles and generate motion trajectory commands, and a robot communicates with the control device to receive the commands to apply the cosmetics to the face in accordance with the face profiles. Methods for applying the cosmetics include receiving a face profile, receiving a depth sensor input representing a face, extracting face features, matching the face profile to the face features, and generating a guide or outputting robot trajectory to apply the cosmetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Qiang Li
  • Patent number: 9607348
    Abstract: A position information adding apparatus includes: a reference position setting unit which sets a plurality of reference positions for each of a plurality of pictures contained in digitalized video data; a region setting unit which sets a first position information adding region at a first position defined based on at least any of the plurality of reference positions and a second position information adding region at a second position different from the first position, for each of the plurality of pictures; and a position information embedding unit which embeds a first moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a first temporal period into the first position information adding region and a second moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a second temporal period into the second position information adding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Shohei Nakagata, Kensuke Kuraki, Jun Takahashi, Taizo Anan
  • Patent number: 9607349
    Abstract: A method for determining a set of modifiable elements in a group of pictures of a coded bit-stream representative of an audio video content is disclosed. The method comprises determining a set of a candidate modifiable elements wherein a candidate modifiable element comprises a modified value of the coded bit-stream and a spatial propagation map associated with the modified value, a spatial propagation map comprising pixels whose decoding is impacted when the modified value is placed in the coded bit stream; determining a heat map for each reference frame, the heat map comprising, for each pixel of the reference frame, an information representative of the usage of said pixel for temporal prediction during the decoding of said part of the coded bit-stream coding a group of pictures; obtaining a set of modifiable elements among candidate modifiable elements, a modifiable element having a spatial propagation map that does not overlap with corresponding heat map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CONTENTARMOR
    Inventors: Antoine Robert, Gwenael Doerr
  • Patent number: 9607350
    Abstract: This patent document relates generally to encoded information and digital watermarking. One claim recites an image capture device comprising: an optical system; an image sensor on a substrate for capturing imagery provided by the optical system, in which captured imagery includes encoded information, and in which the captured imagery comprises first color information, second color information and third color information; means for compressing the captured imagery captured by said image sensor; means for detecting the encoded information from the captured imagery, in which said detecting utilizes different color information weightings so that at least the first color information and the third color information are weighted differently than one another for detection of the encoded information; and means for providing the encoded information for output or display, once the encoded information is detected. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Ravi K. Sharma, Tony F. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9607351
    Abstract: A method is provided for sharing access to graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware between multiple client virtual machines, wherein each of the client virtual machines has a high-level application programming interface (API) associated therewith for communicating with the GPU hardware. The method includes virtualizing the GPU by intercepting GPU-specific commands from the plurality of client virtual machines, wherein the commands specific to the GPU are at a lower level than that of the high-level API, and providing the intercepted commands to the GPU hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Shivani Khosa, Philip Geoffrey Derrin, Carl Van Schaik, Daniel Paul Potts
  • Patent number: 9607352
    Abstract: Techniques related to graphics rendering are discussed. Such techniques may include predicting primitive intersection information for tiles of a frame, rendering the frame on a tile-by-tile basis based on the predicted primitive intersection information, and re-rendering any tiles with predicted primitive errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Yang, Xiaoming Chen, Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 9607353
    Abstract: In one embodiment described herein, a graphics engine with shader unit thread load balancing functionality executes shader instructions from multiple execution threads in a smaller number of execution threads by combining instructions from multiple threads at runtime. In one embodiment, multiple shader unit threads containing less than a minimum number of instructions are combined to minimize the discrepancy between the shortest and longest thread. In one embodiment, threads are merged when they contain a common output register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yunjiu Li, Michael Green
  • Patent number: 9607354
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for application broadcasting. For one embodiment, pixel data being broadcast from a moderator to one or more participants is divided into tiles. Display data is generated for each tile. Each display data segment (segment) contains the pixel data for the tile, and also contains a tile identifier. The segments are periodically evaluated. If the pixel data has changed, the segment is replaced with the most recent segment corresponding to that tile. A time indicator is also included within each segment for each tile indicating the time at which the segment was updated. A participant DPS requests data from the server and provides the time indicator for the last segment it received. The server then transmits the current segment for each tile that has been updated subsequently. This allows presentation at the participant's DPS of the most current version of the moderator's display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: West Unified Communications Services Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Doug Lauder
  • Patent number: 9607355
    Abstract: A parallel data processing method based on multiple graphic processing units (GPUs) is provided, including: creating, in a central processing unit (CPU), a plurality of worker threads for controlling a plurality of worker groups respectively, the worker groups including a plurality of GPUs; binding each worker thread to a corresponding GPU; loading one batch of training data from a nonvolatile memory to a GPU video memory corresponding to one worker group; transmitting, between a plurality of GPUs corresponding to one worker group, data required by data processing performed by the GPUs through peer to peer; and controlling the plurality of GPUs to perform data processing in parallel through the worker threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yongqiang Zou, Yi Li, Xing Jin, Bin Xiao, Zhimao Guo, Wei Xue, Bo Chen, Yong Li, Lei Xiao
  • Patent number: 9607356
    Abstract: A tile-based graphics processing pipeline comprising a rasteriser 3, a renderer 6, a tile buffer 10 configured to store rendered fragment data locally to the graphics processing pipeline prior to that data being written out to an external memory, a write out stage 13 configured to write data stored in the tile buffer to an external memory, and a programmable processing stage 14. The programmable processing stage 14 is operable under the control of graphics program instructions to read fragment data stored in the tile buffer 10 on a random access basis, perform a processing operation using the read fragment data, and write the result of the processing operation into the tile buffer 10 or to an external memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ARM LIMITED
    Inventors: Anders Lassen, Jorn Nystad
  • Patent number: 9607357
    Abstract: Methods and Apparatus provide for obtaining a data sequence representative of a three-dimensional parameter space; forming a plurality of coding units by dividing, in three dimensions, the data sequence subject; and generating, for each of the plurality of coding units: (i) a palette defined by two representative values, and (ii) a plurality of indices, each index representing a respective original data point as a value, determined by linear interpolation, to be one of, or an intermediate value between, the representative values, and setting the palette and the plurality of indices for each of the coding units as compressed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsugo Inada, Akio Ohba, Hiroyuki Segawa
  • Patent number: 9607358
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a tilt detection unit that detects a tilt in the vertical direction, conversion data used for transforming plane coordinates into spherical coordinates, a correction unit that corrects the conversion data according to the tilt, a plurality of image capturing units, a coordinate transformation unit that transforms plane coordinates of a plurality of pixels included in images captured by the image capturing units into spherical coordinates according to the conversion data corrected by the correction unit, and a combining unit that combines the images including the pixels transformed into spherical coordinates by the coordinate transformation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hirokazu Takenaka, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Hideaki Yamamoto, Kensuke Masuda, Yoichi Ito, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho, Hiroyuki Satoh, Makoto Shohara, Noriyuki Terao, Toru Harada
  • Patent number: 9607359
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to: receive first image data for displaying a first image that comprises a plurality of regions, modify a first region of the first image by adding at least a high-frequency component based on second image data, the first region of the first image including fewer noise components than a first threshold, and output third image data for displaying the first image that comprises the plurality of regions and the modified first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yukie Takahashi, Kei Imada, Go Ito, Toshimitsu Kaneko, Kanako Saito
  • Patent number: 9607360
    Abstract: Various embodiments for methods and systems for processing documents are disclosed. A size of at least a part of a content in an electronic document is determined. Size of the part of the content is modified based at least on a pre-determined threshold value for size and the determined size. Further, various embodiments for methods and systems for processing N-Up documents are disclosed. One or more page images from an N-Up document are extracted based on an analysis of a content distribution in the N-Up document. A size of a content in at least a part of extracted one or more page images is determined. The size of the content is modified in accordance to a pre-determined threshold value receive from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sainarayanan Gopalakrishnan, Dhevendra Alagan Palanivel, Rajasekar Kanagasabai, Ramesh Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 9607361
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs distortion aberration correction appropriate for each of the cases where the image processing apparatus clips image data by performing electronic image stabilization and does not clip the image data by performing the electronic image stabilization. The image processing apparatus includes a correction unit configured to perform the distortion aberration correction on image data in which distortion aberration has, and a stabilization unit configured to perform clipping from the image data based on a movement of an imaging unit when the image data has been generated. The correction unit reduces an amount of the distortion aberration correction in a case where the stabilization unit does not clip the image data, as compared to a case where the stabilization unit clips the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Nishigori
  • Patent number: 9607362
    Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems are provided for compressive imaging using approximate message passing with denoising. According to an aspect, a method includes applying an approximate message passing (AMP) conversion framework to a plurality of substantially linear measurements for conversion into a plurality of scalar measurements. A denoiser algorithm can be applied to the plurality of scalar measurements to generate a plurality of denoised scalar measurements. Further, a conversion term can be applied to the plurality of denoised scalar measurements for converting the plurality of denoised scalar measurements to a plurality of denoised substantially linear measurements. The plurality of substantially linear measurements can represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dror Baron, Jin Tan, Yanting Ma
  • Patent number: 9607363
    Abstract: A projector includes a projection unit to project an image on a screen; an angle detector to detect shaking of the projection unit; and a trapezoidal distortion correction unit to conduct automatic trapezoidal distortion correction of the image displayed on the screen based on an inclination angle of the projection unit detected by the angle detector, and to enable manual trapezoidal distortion correction of the image displayed on the screen. When the manual trapezoidal distortion correction is conducted after the automatic trapezoidal distortion correction, the trapezoidal distortion correction unit determines whether an angle deviation of the inclination angle exceeds for a given threshold angle for a given time period. When the trapezoidal distortion correction unit determines that the angle deviation exceeds the given threshold angle, the automatic trapezoidal distortion correction is conducted again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigekazu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9607364
    Abstract: Novel methods and systems for inverse tone mapping are disclosed. A scene can be analyzed to obtain highlight detection from bright light sources and specular reflections. An inverse tone mapping curve can be calculated based on the lower dynamic range and higher dynamic range displays. Multi-scale filtering can be applied to reduce noise or artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Xu, Tao Chen, James E. Crenshaw, Timo Kunkel, Bongsun Lee
  • Patent number: 9607365
    Abstract: The invention provides median image media quality enhancer. The image media is fed into a computing device which is essentially a burst of images or video to be enhanced. Each frame within the image media is identically exposed and hence neighboring images are used to enhance quality of the image media. For each of the neighboring frames, each pixel of these neighboring frame is moved in order to correspond to the image media. Once all the neighboring frames are processed, these are stacked in order to increase signal to noise ratio to create a composite image. This reduces unwanted spots and luminosity fluctuation from the digitized video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HDRlog SARL
    Inventors: Jacques Joffre, Mickael Pinto
  • Patent number: 9607366
    Abstract: A system uses machine learning techniques to train models for determining whether to activate high dynamic range (HDR) imaging in devices. The system may train machine learning components/models based on customized image metrics (such as customized histograms) that can be used across devices. The system may also train HDR systems on non-image data like GPS data, etc. to make improved HDR recommendations based on the context of a particular image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ilya Vladimirovich Brailovskiy, Igor Aleksandrovich Tryndin
  • Patent number: 9607367
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and method for adaptively generating a pattern for fabricating semiconductor devices, the method comprising obtaining image data of a surface, and dynamically modifying a pattern to be applied to the surface based on the obtained image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: John Christopher Rudin
  • Patent number: 9607368
    Abstract: A technical object is to enable optical checks to be performed while allowing visual checks using a sample pan to be performed in a pseudo manner using an aggregate image (pseudo image) depicting grains loaded on the sample pan, by optically checking the grains using image information on the grains imaged by an imaging apparatus and creating the aggregate image using the image information. Thus, a grain appearance measuring apparatus includes imaging means for imaging a plurality of grains, analysis means for analyzing image information on the grains imaged by the imaging means in units of grains, processing means for processing the image information to form an aggregate image of the grains, and means for saving and/or displaying the aggregate image processed by the processing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Satake Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Matsushima, Hiroki Ishizuki, Hiroaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9607369
    Abstract: A moving wafer imaging system processes wafer images to remove motion and focus blur by performing a blind deconvolution to determine an approximate point spread function. The approximate point spread function, estimated image noise and a Gaussian point spread function are used to compute a weighted point spread function. The weighted point spread function is used to filter out motion focus blur. Noise is then removed with a low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Ram Sivaraman
  • Patent number: 9607370
    Abstract: A system for use in inspecting an object is provided. The system includes at least one array of visual imaging devices configured to capture a plurality of two-dimensional images of the object. The array is configured to capture a first set of two-dimensional images over a first predetermined interval and a second set of two-dimensional images over a second predetermined interval that is after the first predetermined interval. The system also includes a computing device coupled to the at least one array of visual imaging devices. The computing device is configured to extract point clouds of the object from the first and second sets of two-dimensional images, generate a three-dimensional model of the object from the extracted point clouds, determine variations in the extracted point clouds from the first and second sets of two-dimensional images, and utilize the determined variations to detect potential anomalies in the three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Philip L. Freeman
  • Patent number: 9607371
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method and/or system may include detecting defects in photomasks. The method may include acquiring a first image of a first die. The method may include acquiring a second image of a second die. In some embodiments, the method may include dividing the first and the second image into a number of first and second portions respectively. The method may include reducing one or more differences in sizing of the first and the second portions. In some embodiments, the method may include determining a difference in a function derived from an image intensity between the corresponding first and second portions. The method may include summing the differences in the function between the corresponding first and second portions. The method may include detecting mesoscopic scale defects in the second die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Rui-fang Shi, Zhian Guo, Bing Li
  • Patent number: 9607372
    Abstract: The invention determines cell to fat ratio statistic, applicable in the field of pathology, in a greatly improved manner over manual or prior art scoring techniques. The cellular areas are identified and displayed in an easy to read format on the computer monitor, printer output or other display means, with average cellularity, nuclear quantity distribution at a glance. These output data are an objective transformation of the subjective visible image that the pathologist or scientist relies upon for diagnosis, prognosis, or monitoring therapeutic perturbations. The invention uses multi-stage thresholding and segmentation algorithms in RGB and HSB spaces, auto-thresholding on red and blue channels in RGB to get the raw working image of all cells, then refines the working image with thresholding on hue and intensity channels in HSB using an adaptive parameter epsilon in entropy mode, and further separates different groups of cells within the same class, by auto-thresholding within the working image region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Hernani D. Cualing, Eric Zhong
  • Patent number: 9607373
    Abstract: A method includes accessing image data representing tissue and identifying one or more features of the tissue indicated by the image data. A model is selected for the tissue based on the one or more identified features. The image data is segmented and, using the model, one or more anatomical landmarks of the tissue indicated by the segmented image data are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Buisseret, Mark Ellsworth Nadzadi, Megan Patrice Rumery, Aashiish Agnihotri, Brian W. McKinnon
  • Patent number: 9607374
    Abstract: The method according to the invention generates a color decomposition of histological tissue image data into density maps, where each density map corresponds to the portion of the original image data that contains one stain/tissue combination. After a microscope captures histological tissue image data from a tissue sample that has been stained with at least one stain, the said stain or stains being light absorbent, the method derives from the histological tissue image data a color mixing matrix with the columns of the matrix being color reference vectors. From this mixing matrix the method derives a density map, when the mixing matrix is well-conditioned, by applying a pseudo-inverse of the mixing matrix to the optical density data, and when the mixing matrix is medially-conditioned, by applying a piece-wise pseudo-inverse of the mixing matrix to the optical density data. The method according to the invention also generates stain/tissue combination efficacy measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CADESS MEDICAL AB
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Azar, Christer Busch, Ingrid B. Carlbom, Milan Gavrilovic
  • Patent number: 9607375
    Abstract: Dynamic linking of pathway maps and cell maps is disclosed in certain embodiments. In such embodiments, the pathway maps are linked to spatially-localized regional nucleic acid data (e.g., sequence data), as opposed to non-spatially selected nucleic acid data. The pathway map and cell map data may be linked so that interactions results in changes or updates to the linked map, such as the selection or highlighting of cells exhibiting pathway map characteristics specified by a user of updating of node values or states to correspond to that of a cell or cells selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Brion Daryl Sarachan, John Frederick Graf, Anup Sood, Vidya Pundalik Kamath
  • Patent number: 9607376
    Abstract: Methods and systems for image scoring and analysis are provided. Scored and analyzed images may include digital pathology images. Image scoring and analysis methods may include techniques to identify nuclei and determine membrane staining extent through the use of a priori models. Image scoring and analysis methods may include techniques for membrane intensity determination. Images may be scored based on an extent of membrane staining and membrane intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DAKO DENMARK A/S
    Inventors: Rohit Jain, Joachim Helmut Schmid, Mark Verardo, Jeffery Caron