Special Effects Patents (Class 348/578)
  • Patent number: 7834886
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamic correction of data for non-uniformity are disclosed. Feature data are extracted from input video data that include a subject shot against a backing area in a solid color. The feature data may describe characteristics of non-uniformity in input video data. A curve is generated based on the extracted feature data, and correction factors are formed based on the generated curve. At least one of the input video data and alpha data associated with the input video data is corrected based on the correction factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ross Video Limited
    Inventor: Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 7808555
    Abstract: An image display method of adding a special effect to a plurality of images, changing the plurality of images in time series, and sequentially displaying the plurality of images, the method including an input step of inputting an image, a detection step of detecting a feature area from the input image, a determination step of determining the content of the special effect of a target image on the basis of the detected feature area and the special effect of a previous image which is displayed prior to the detected target image, and a display control step of displaying the image with the determined special effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuntaro Aratani, Tomoyuki Ohno, Katsuhiro Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20100238324
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for displaying a live view image obtained by implementing special effect processing on an image data on a monitor comprises an image processing unit that implements a plurality of types of special effect processing on the image data to generate a plurality of sets of special effect image data corresponding respectively to the plurality of types of special effect processing, and a control unit that displays the plurality of sets of special effect image data on the monitor while switching the plurality of sets of special effect image data automatically in time series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Tetsuya TOYODA
  • Patent number: 7800695
    Abstract: A video mixer is employed to form a transition between two video compositions, for example a fade or a wipe. A video storage device is associated with the video mixer and plays out a video signal, the timing of which is controlled in dependence upon the progress of the transition made by the said video mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Snell Limited
    Inventor: Richard William Norman Merritt
  • Publication number: 20100214483
    Abstract: A method for automatically displaying an image with an available effect applied on a digital display device includes analyzing the image stored on a storage device and choosing the available effect to apply to the image, where analyzing the image includes executing an image analysis on the image to identify at least one characteristic of the image, where the available effect to apply to the image to be displayed is automatically chosen from a list of available effects which may be applied to the image in consideration of the at least one characteristic of the image, and rendering the image with the available effect applied on the digital display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Gann, Murray Dean Craig, Steven Douglas Sipecker
  • Publication number: 20100194988
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for highlight detection. The method includes retrieving audio and video data, detecting a high audio energy scene of the retrieved audio data, detecting a key-line scene relevant to the high audio scene of the retrieved video data, detecting an in-play scene according to the key-line, and optimizing start and end point of the highlight scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takaoka, Masato Shima
  • Publication number: 20100182501
    Abstract: The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a moving picture analysis unit for analyzing moving picture data including a plurality of images and audios associated with time information and for generating moving picture metadata relating to a plurality of feature quantities characterizing the moving picture, a comic display conversion unit for extracting a plurality of images from the moving picture data based on the moving picture metadata and for dividing a predetermined display region into frames and for converting an arrangement of the plurality of extracted images into a comic-like arrangement and for generating frame information including information about the images arranged in each of the frames, and a comic display data generation unit for generating comic display data including at least the frame information, data of the extracted images, and the audio data of the moving picture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Koji SATO, Yasutaka Fukumoto, Takashi Ogata
  • Publication number: 20100182508
    Abstract: A mix-effects bank architecture of a video switcher having a plurality of video processing units; and an internal switcher routing matrix. The internal switcher routing matrix routing, a video source currently providing a video feed to an auxiliary output and a desired new source for the auxiliary output to a video processing unit that is not contributing towards video processing and routing an output of said video processing unit to said auxiliary output. The video processing unit that is not contributing towards video processing performs a transitional effect for the auxiliary output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: David Alan Casper, Michael Joseph Krim, John David Willis
  • Publication number: 20100165112
    Abstract: The automatic generation (702) of one or more secondary video streams based on an input primary video stream (701) may use analytics performed on the video to provide information on targets, events, and/or areas of interest to permit the one or more secondary video streams (703) to concentrate on one or more targets, events, and/or areas of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: ObjectVideo, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Andrew Scanlon, Andrew J. Chosak, John I.W. Clark, Robert A. Cutting, Alan J. Lipton, Gary W. Myers
  • Patent number: 7738721
    Abstract: Film grain patterns can be modeled in the frequency domain by estimating the cut frequencies that define a 2D band-pass filter. The film grain parameters can be conveyed in accordance with the ITU-T H.264|MPEG-4 AVC standard in an SEI message allowing film grain reinsertion at a decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Cristina Gomila, Joan Llach
  • Publication number: 20100141843
    Abstract: For the purpose of promotional labelling, a television apparatus modifies the video signal supplied to the display device to superimpose promotional graphics that indicate technical information about the television apparatus onto the video image that is displayed. This avoids the need for adhesive labels, thereby reducing cost and avoiding damage caused removal of adhesive labels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: SONY ESPANA SA
    Inventor: Arnau Llovet VIDAL
  • Publication number: 20100134687
    Abstract: In a process and apparatus for managing signals to be broadcast at a bowling alley or the like a video signal comprising an image captured at the bowling alley is displayed at the bowling lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: QUBICAAMF EUROPE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Vaioli
  • Publication number: 20100123823
    Abstract: Disclosed are a display apparatus and a control method thereof preventing boring and a trouble misunderstanding due to a mute screen supplied in changing an image signal, the display apparatus, including: a display unit which displays an image; an image processing unit which processes an input image signal to be displayed in the display unit, and displays a mute image in the display unit during a mute time when changing the input image signal; and a control unit which controls the image processing unit to gradually convert the total screen of the display unit displaying the input image signal to the mute image before displaying the mute image if a change signal for changing the input image signal is input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-sung KIM
  • Publication number: 20100118199
    Abstract: A video/audio processor includes: a position calculation unit configured to calculate from a video signal a position of a speaking person in a screen; and an adjustment section configured to adjust a signal level of a specific frequency of an audio signal inputted to a plurality of speakers in correspondence with the position of the speaking person calculated in the position calculation unit, for each of the plurality of speakers independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100118200
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a digital signage system plays content. According to some embodiments, content may vary based on various circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Geoffrey Michael Gelman, Alexander Epshtegn
  • Patent number: 7715651
    Abstract: A system and method processes original digital numbers (DNs) provided by a satellite imaging system to produce a set of spectral balanced and contrast enhanced multispectral images. Spectral balancing is achieved based on physical characteristics of sensors of the imaging system as well as compensation for atmospheric effects. The DNs in the multispectral bands may be processed using a relatively small amount of processing resources otherwise required to produce such images. Such images may be processed completely automatically and provide relatively easy visual interpretation. Each image pixel may be, for example, in an 8-bit or 16-bit format, and the image may be displayed and/or printed without applying any additional color correction and/or contrast stretches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: DigitalGlobe, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Padwick, Jack F. Paris
  • Publication number: 20100097526
    Abstract: A method and system for stitching two or more images to generate a resultant image of good quality is disclosed. The disclosed method and system represents a way to stitch two or more images captured through fisheye lenses. The method and system converts two fisheye hemispherical images to two triangles, which are thereafter stitched together to form a rectangular image. Herein each single pixel in the hemispherical images at the beginning represents one single pixel in the resultant rectangular figure at the end of the process. Thus, the resultant stitched image comprises of the same concentration of pixels at the end as was in the initial images to be stitched and occupies lesser storage space than equirectangular images or videos.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Photint Venture Group Inc.
    Inventor: Stephane Jean-Louis Jacob
  • Publication number: 20100091193
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of AmbiLight TV, a lighting or illumination system that has been introduced to enhance viewing experience. The system comprises one or two U-shaped light guides, the legs of which spatially correspond to three or four sides of the display screen. In one embodiment, the light sources illuminate a background surface behind the TV such as a wall. In another embodiment, the light sources are arranged around the display screen in substantially the same planar area, and radiate light to the front. In yet another embodiment, the light sources are arranged to directly or/and indirectly illuminate the dark area between the pixel area of the display screen and the front of the lighting or illumination system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Willem Franciscus Johannes Hoogenstraaten, Johannes Petrus Antonius Maria Van Asseldonk
  • Patent number: 7688478
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which processes input image signals in real time. A plurality of image signals are input via input terminals. An external storage device stores a plurality of kinds of procedures for processing to be performed on image signals. A JOG dial specifies at least two kinds of procedures among the stored plurality of kinds of procedures, and enables the specified procedures and a procedure between the specified procedures to be arbitrarily changed and specified. When the procedure between the specified procedures is specified using the JOG dial, a CPU generates the specified procedure by interpolating the specified procedures, and carries out real-time processing on image signals for corresponding channels among the image signals for the plurality of channels according to the generated specified procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Hata
  • Publication number: 20100073568
    Abstract: The optical performance is enhanced of display systems that use field sequential color and pulse width modulation to generate color and color gray scale values. Such enhancement may be achieved by various data encoding methods disclosed herein that may include temporal redistribution of bit values to mitigate color motional artifacts associated with field sequential color-based display systems, selective combination of intensity modulation, pulse width modulation, and/or the noncontiguous sequencing of primary colors. There is further an intelligent real-time dynamic manipulation of gray scale values in portions of an image that are computationally determined to be images of objects moving against a global background, so as to temporally front load or concentrate the bits comprising such moving objects and thereby further mitigate said motional artifacts using both actual and virtual aggregate pulse truncation across all primary colors being modulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Uni-Pixel Displays, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel K. Van Ostrand, Carey King, Berry Todd Cox
  • Publication number: 20100070994
    Abstract: A digital cable broadcast system includes a broadcast receiver, a broadcast transmitter, and an alternative data receiver. The broadcast transmitter transmits a new emergency alert message associated with an emergency alert event if the broadcast receiver is not plugged into a power supply. More particularly, the transmitter transmits a status request to a cable mode or an out of band (OOB) included in the broadcast receiver, and it determines that the receiver is not plugged into the power supply if no response is received from the receiver. The alternative data receiver receives the new emergency alert message from the transmitter and displays the new emergency alert message in order to inform users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Chang Sik Yun
  • Publication number: 20100007773
    Abstract: A codec having a video input for receiving a continuous video stream, an encoder for encoding the continuous video stream to result in an encoded video stream, a video output for transmitting the encoded video stream, and switching means for switching the encoder during encoding between a first mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a first encoding format, to a second mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a second encoding format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Ian O'Connell, Alex Howes
  • Publication number: 20100007791
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that enhances television viewing by providing users the ability to selectively blank a portion of their screen. Broadcasters today often dedicate some percentage of display “real estate” to push additional content (e.g., scores from other games, regional weather forecasts, etc.) via a virtual “ticker tape”. More often than not, the average viewer will find the ticker tape a distraction if not an annoyance after a short period of time. The embodiments discussed herein allow the viewer a means by which to blank that portion of the screen. The user moves a cursor to designate a portion of the screen to be blanked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Mark MEISTER, James Randall Beckers
  • Patent number: 7636128
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving a trimap for an image that specifies a background region, a foreground region and an unknown region for the image wherein a boundary exists between the foreground region and the unknown region and wherein another boundary exists between the unknown region and the background region, solving a set of Poisson equations having boundary conditions for the two boundaries to provide a matte that distinguishes a foreground region from a background region in the unknown region, and refining the matte by solving a set of Poisson equations for a local unknown region. Various other exemplary technologies are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Sun, Jiaya Jia, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Publication number: 20090279053
    Abstract: A method for continuously projecting images by enabling an apparatus including a light source, an image creation unit, and a projection unit includes receiving video signals from a predetermined source; creating a plurality of images from the video signals while being impinged by light emitted by the light source; receiving the images from the image creation unit; and activating the projection unit to project the images on a projection screen in a predetermined rapid succession so as to create a motion picture effect. As such, lighting adjustment and natural beauty simulations in a vivid way can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Ching-cherng SUN, Hsin-Ying Ho, Chang-yu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090273715
    Abstract: A video production switcher comprises a number of mix effects (M/E) units and a controller. The latter comprises a control layer that controls the M/Es to provide video outputs through projection devices that give the appearance of displaying one unified pixel space canvas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: David Alan Casper, Ralph Andrew Silberstein, Donald Johnson Childers, JR.
  • Patent number: 7609275
    Abstract: A system and method for a mosaic rendering of a 3D model is provided. Textures are created using polygon information related to a vertex of each face of an inputted 3D model, a normal, and a face index, and the textures are one-to-one mapped on respective polygons of the 3D model, using a geometrical structure of the 3D mode, thereby rendering a mosaic image showing a volume and a crinkled effect of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Bo Youn Kim, Ji Hyung Lee, Sung Ye Kim, Hee Jeong Kim, Bon Ki Koo
  • Patent number: 7602446
    Abstract: A method, system, and device for video production, including adding a mixer to an Auxiliary Bus of a Video Production Switcher; adding one or more keyers to the Auxiliary Bus of the Video Production Switcher; and adding special effects to the Auxiliary Bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Ross Video Limited
    Inventors: David Allan Ross, Alun John Fryer, Troy David English
  • Patent number: 7583733
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for providing compressed video data from multiple bit streams. The systems and methods apply a two-stage strategy. In the first stage, a conditioning step is performed on a bit stream comprising compressed video data which outputs a conditioned bit stream that is able to receive digital insertions without subsequent decompression of the compressed video data or removal from network packets. The conditioning includes recoding an incoming bit stream such that compressed video data in the bit stream immediately before and after a splice point does not have temporal reliance across the splice point. In the second stage, e.g., at a downstream network device, splicing of compressed video data from a second bit stream into the conditioned bit stream is performed. The splicing takes advantage of the changes made to the conditioned bit stream and may occur at the network packet level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ji Zhang, Joseph Davis
  • Patent number: 7567297
    Abstract: A television visual artwork generation system and method is provided that converts a television signal into a pattern/artwork that is displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Worry, Richard Storek
  • Patent number: 7567731
    Abstract: A method for registering multi-dimensional topographical data points representing a multi-dimensional object, comprises: a) receiving a plurality of points representing a plurality of overlapping frames of a surface of the multi-dimensional object; b) finding for each point in a first frame a corresponding closest point in each of a plurality of subsequent frames; c) determining a rotation and translation transformation for each of the plurality of frames so that corresponding closest points are aligned; d) determining a cost for performing each rotation and translation transformation; and e) repeating steps b) through d) for additional frames to provide an optimum transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Tom McDowall, Jake Auxier, Mark Rahmes, Ray Fermo
  • Publication number: 20090180025
    Abstract: Information received on a side channel from a TV content source is placed in a graphics plane of a TV and overlaid onto a video plane of the TV, which contains content from a main channel. The graphics plane content in each side channel may be keyed to content ratings setting so that the TV selects the side channel appropriate for a user-input rating setting of the TV and overlays the content of the side channel onto the video plane, to thereby conform the composite image that is displayed on the TV to the viewer-input ratings setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Dawson
  • Patent number: 7558318
    Abstract: The moving images under reproduction are displayed in a main screen and a plurality of thumbnail images that serve as indexes by which to search for a desired scene are displayed. Moreover, the thus displayed thumbnail images are updated at a predetermined timing according as the moving images progress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Okada, Shigeyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 7551235
    Abstract: An image processing unit of an image switching apparatus includes main circuit blocks (5a), (5b) and (6) and sub circuit blocks (5d), (5e) and (7). An operation unit in the image switching apparatus includes a unit for designating one of or both of the main circuit blocks and the sub circuit blocks. When the main circuit block is designated, the operation unit transmits a signal to designate the operation of the main circuit block. When the sub circuit block is designated, the operation unit transmits a signal to designate the operation of the sub circuit block. When both of the main circuit block and the sub circuit block are designated, the operation unit transmits a signal to designate operations of the main circuit block and the sub circuit block. The image switching apparatus can be constructed by a few circuits and such circuits can be efficiently used without waste in response to the change of purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Humiki Higashi, Nobuyuki Minami, Glenn Steven Hill
  • Patent number: 7545385
    Abstract: A display method and system maps each source image pixel from a source device into several display pixels on a display screen, where the characteristics of the display pixels are selectively controlled to provide desired visual effects such as multiple luminance levels, increased color depth, increased dynamic luminance range and manipulation of temporal characteristics of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Miller
  • Patent number: 7525601
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image switching apparatus allowing a operator to easily operate a plurality of special effect apparatuses through different interfaces by using a common operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Sensaburo Nakamura, Nobuyuki Minami
  • Patent number: 7519274
    Abstract: A file for storing digital data with high compression rate stores digital data for video and audio signals in multiple streams interleaved with each other. Each track has a stream descriptor list and a stream data list. The stream descriptor list includes a stream header chunk, a stream format chunk, and a stream name chunk. For a video stream, the stream descriptor list also includes a stream header data chunk if the video stream is under digital rights management (DRM) protection. The file format is compatible with high level data compressing algorithms, such as MPEG-4, which provide data compression ratio about six to ten times higher than a standard DVD format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Divx, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam H. Li
  • Patent number: 7511767
    Abstract: A video mixer may be employed to form a transition between two video compositions, for example a fade or a wipe. A video storage device may be associated with the video mixer and plays out a video signal, the timing of which is controlled in dependence upon the progress of the transition made by the said video mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Snell & Wilcox Limited
    Inventor: Richard William Norman Merritt
  • Patent number: 7477321
    Abstract: There is provided a video display system in which when supplying a video signal from a base station (200) to a plurality of display units (transportable one 100 and large-screen one 300), an operation instruction generator generates a screen select instruction corresponding to the direction of the user's touch on a touch panel (121) provided on the display screen of the transportable display unit (100) that displays an image corresponding to a video signal supplied from the base station (200) and transmits the operation instruction from the transportable display unit (100) to the base station (200), and a controller included in the base station (200) controls the channel selecting operation of two turning means included in the base station (200) correspondingly to the supplied operation instruction. Stroking the surface of the touch panel (121) on the display screen of the transportable display unit (100), the user can transfer an image between the plurality of display units (100, 300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yokoyama, Yuka Ohashi, Jin Sato, Ayumi Mizobuchi, Yushi Sayama, Mami Uchida, Tatsushi Nashida, Goro Takaki, Kirihito Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7432984
    Abstract: An automatic zoom apparatus and method for playing dynamic images. The automatic zoom apparatus provides more dynamic images to a user by detecting a dynamic change of image signals to zoom and display a predetermined area where the dynamic change is detected. To this end, the automatic zoom apparatus for playing the dynamic images comprises a motion detector for, when a zoom function is requested to zoom predetermined image signals, detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from the predetermined image signals. Also included is a motion area designator for designating a predetermined area including objects of the motion detected by the motion detector, as a motion area, and a zoom controller for performing a zoom function for zooming an image of the image signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator. Thereby, the user can enjoy a more dynamic image such that television watching is not as monotonous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keum-yong Oh
  • Patent number: 7432983
    Abstract: A moving-picture processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire metadata including information about each temporal region in an input moving picture with a plurality of temporal regions, a decision unit configured to determine a cutout region corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of temporal regions on the basis of the metadata, and a cutting-out unit configured to cut out the cutout region from an image in each frame of the input moving picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Masukura, Osamu Hori, Toshimitsu Kaneko, Takeshi Mita, Koji Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Ohmori
  • Publication number: 20080231751
    Abstract: A method for use with content includes analyzing a sequence of frames of the content, determining whether an area exists in a scene depicted by the sequence of frames where additional content such as advertising can be inserted without obstructing activity in the scene, for any such area, determining an amount of time that the area is available when the sequence of frames is being played, and for any such area, determining a size of the area. A storage medium storing a computer program for causing a processor based system to execute these steps and an apparatus for use with content are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventor: Gary M. Zalewski
  • Patent number: 7420622
    Abstract: A main operation unit (2) is connected to a control unit (4) which controls image processing units (5) to (9), the main control unit (2) includes a setting means for setting the image processing units (5) to (9) to which a sub operation means (3) is connected to the standard mode or the half-divide mode, the control unit (4) controls the image processing units (5) to (9) in response to instruction from the main operation unit (2) upon the standard mode, the control unit (4) controls the image processing units (5) to (9) in response to instruction from the main operation unit (2) upon the half-divided mode and the control unit (4) controls sub circuit blocks (5d) to (5f) within the image processing units (5) to (9) in response to instruction from the sub operation unit (3). Thus, the image switching apparatus can be composed of lesser circuits and such circuits can be used separately without waste as their uses are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Humiki Higashi, Nobuyuki Minami, Glenn Steven Hill
  • Patent number: 7411628
    Abstract: Techniques for performing panoramic scaling are disclosed that reduce visible distortion in a panoramic image. Further, techniques for performing combined YC adjustment and color conversion are disclosed that reduce the size and power requirements of video manipulation hardware by reducing the number of logic gates and memory buffers required when YC adjustment and color conversion are implemented as separate operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Micronas USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu T. Tian, Qifan Huang, Li Sha
  • Patent number: 7400361
    Abstract: A method for generating a video effect using a video signal processing device. The method comprises generating horizontal and vertical gating base signals. The horizontal gating base signal is combined with a first modulation signal and the vertical gating base signal is combined with a second modulation signal. An amplitude distribution is generated from the modulated horizontal and vertical gating base signals. A control signal is generated from the amplitude distribution for controlling a mixing stage. A third modulation signal is derived from a sound signal for modulating the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Reiner Noske, Claus-Bernhard Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20080124041
    Abstract: A streaming video interface component receives video frames from a streaming driver before the frames are received by a consuming application. The streaming video interface component provides the video frames to a video effect rendering component which renders video effects selected by a user. The video frames with the rendered video effects are then provided back to the streaming interface component which thereafter provides them to the consuming application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Nielsen, Anand Ganesh, Stephen Cooper, Sathya Karivaradaswamy
  • Patent number: 7375769
    Abstract: In an apparatus for composing image data of a main picture and image data of a sub-picture by a chroma key process, an attribute of an image contained in the sub-picture is detected, a partial area of the sub-picture is set as a chroma key mask area in accordance with the attribute detection result, and composing the image data of the main picture and the image data of the sub-picture by executing the chroma key process for an area other than the chroma key mask area without executing the chroma key process for the chroma key mask area in the sub-picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Yui
  • Patent number: 7375768
    Abstract: There is provided herein a system and method for adapting high resolution input material to display specifications of a particular display device, thereby ensuring that the high quality of the input material is preserved as best as possible in the final video work. The instant invention is an improvement over traditional media editing programs, in that controls are provided to ensure the quality of the final product. Additionally specific movement effects selectable when working with still images are also separately monitored by the instant invention to ensure an efficient application of these effects, thereby preserving the visual quality of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Magix AG
    Inventors: Tilman Herberger, Titus Tost
  • Publication number: 20080088743
    Abstract: A method, electronic device, computer program product, system and circuit assembly are provided for allocating one or more redundant pictures by taking into consideration the information content of the primary pictures, with which the redundant pictures would be associated. In particular, primary pictures that are determined to be more sensitive to transmission loss or corruption may be allocated one or more redundant pictures, while those that are less sensitive may not be so allocated. By selectively allocating redundant pictures to only those primary pictures that are more sensitive, the method disclosed reduces the amount of overhead associated with redundant pictures and increases the coding efficiency, without sacrificing the integrity of the video data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Chunbo Zhu, Ye-Kui Wang, Houqiang Li
  • Patent number: 7355606
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for the generation of visual effects according to the elapsed time for real time display. One embodiment of the present invention provides an automated mechanism for displaying visual effects (e.g., fade to or from a target color) through adjusting color correction parameters (e.g., the look up table for gamma correction) without disturbing display color calibration settings for the current display device. Time-based adjustments are made in small steps in the beginning and end and large steps in the middle of the transition to provide perceptually smooth transition effect. In one embodiment, a operating system resource is provided to manage, synchronously or asynchronously, the visual effect on behalf of requesting applications, simplifying the coding of the application programs and providing consistency across application programs. In one embodiment, the operating system resource uses a reservation system to prevent conflict and interference between application programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael James Paquette