Studio Equipment Patents (Class 348/722)
  • Patent number: 9082198
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards automatically creating a cinemagraph on at least an imaging device, where the cinemagraph can be created without additional user interaction beyond capturing an initial sequence of images, and indicating that a cinemagraph is to be created from the sequence. Automatic creation of the cinemagraph includes selecting an anchor frame within the sequence and aligning the other frames to the anchor frame. Detection and segmentation of moving objects within the sequence, with respect to the anchor frame are performed. A mask is generated and refined. Segmentation of masks are then unified, and combined with a background from the anchor frame to generate an animated sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ayelet Mashiah
  • Patent number: 9078027
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism based on log entries in a traffic log. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored traffic log, wherein the log includes multiple ordered log entries including a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live show, wherein the first log-entry further corresponds to a broadcast time-period; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry is positioned immediately after the first log-entry; (iv) making a third determination that the second log-entry corresponds to a manual start-time type; and (v) responsive to making the three determinations, enabling functionality of a trigger mechanism during the broadcast time-period, wherein the enabled trigger mechanism is configured to cause processing of a next log entry in the log in response to being triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Tribune Broadcasting Company, LLC
    Inventor: Hank J. Hundemer
  • Patent number: 9077865
    Abstract: An interactive system and method of the present invention provides a customized experience to individual spectators of a live performance. At least one virtual reality device is associated with a spectator of the live performance, and each virtual reality device is coupled to a processor to independently receive real time virtual reality sensory effects projected from the processor in response to parameters selected by the associated spectator. The virtual reality device may be for example eyewear which projects the real time virtual reality sensory effects as substituting in effect for visual effects associated with the actual live performance. Selectable parameters may include one or more of a visual perspective for the spectator, costumes associated with performers, and background scenery elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Timothy B. Molyneux
  • Patent number: 9053751
    Abstract: A sound segment sorting unit (103) sorts the sound segments of a video. An image segment sorting unit (104) sorts the image segments of the video. A multiple sorting result generation unit (105) generates a plurality of sound segment sorting results and/or a plurality of image segment sorting results. A sorting result pair generation unit (106) generates a plurality of sorting result pairs of the sorting results as the candidates of the optimum segment sorting result of the video. A sorting result output unit (108) compares the sorting result comparative scores of the sorting result pairs calculated by a sorting result comparative score calculation unit (107) and thus outputs a sound segment sorting result and an image segment sorting result having good correspondence. This allows to accurately sort, for each object, a plurality of sound segments and a plurality of image segments contained in the video without adjusting parameters in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Terao, Takafumi Koshinaka
  • Patent number: 9019386
    Abstract: Switching device (1) for the alternating connection of at least one television camera (2) to one of at least two television camera control units (3) or for the alternating connection of at least one television camera control unit (3) to one of at least two television cameras (2); with the switching device (1) having connectors (4, 5) for the television camera(s) (2) and the television camera control unit(s) (3); and each connector (4, 5) having electrical supply contacts (6, 7) for the power and voltage supply of the television camera (2) through the television camera control unit (3); and having at least one optical contact (8, 9) for the transmission of information over fiberoptic cables between the television camera (2) and the television camera control unit (3); and with the switching device (1) having at least one power supply line switch (10) and at least one optical switch (11) and at least one switching control unit (12) to actuate the power supply line switch (10) and to actuate the optical switch (1
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Neutrik AG
    Inventor: Christian Ganahl
  • Patent number: 9007523
    Abstract: Provided are a system and a method for controlling a motion using time synchronization between a picture and the motion, and more particularly, a motion code corresponding to a time code is prestored before showing the picture and the motion is controlled according to the prestored motion code when the picture showing starts while a current motion driving time is compared with a reference time of the picture and then synchronized to provide a high-resolution precision motion to a user while achieving accurate synchronization with the picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: CJ 4D Plex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Sung Choi, Jin Yong Park
  • Patent number: 8988611
    Abstract: A movie production system includes a computer system having machine readable memory and at least one processor executing a plurality of program modules. The computer system includes actor defined scene input data stored on the memory and that defines one or more scenes to be included in a movie produced the computer system. The program modules include a screenplay module, a virtual director module, and a movie compiler module. The screenplay module generates a screenplay that includes a sequence of scenes based on the actor defined scene input data. The virtual director module is in operable communication with movie-making equipment at a movie set where the movie is shot and provides visual and/or audible cues to the actor while acting the screenplay, indicating a change of scenes in the sequence of scenes. The movie compiler module receives video and audio data from the movie-making equipment and compiles the movie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin Terry
  • Patent number: 8982178
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for acquiring real-time video images of a terminal, sad method comprising: acquiring light intensity of an existing environment when the terminal acquires the real-time video images; comparing the light intensity of the existing environment with a light intensity threshold value set by the terminal system; acquiring images preset by the terminal and sending the preset images to an existing receiver which is communicating with the terminal if the light intensity of the existing environment is lower than the light intensity threshold value set by the terminal system. The present invention can ensure the quality of video conversation when the light intensity is weak, save power energy, improve the user experience, and is beneficial to promote the video communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhibing Yang
  • Patent number: 8970655
    Abstract: A videoconferencing unit for enhancing direct eye-contact between participants can include a curved fully reflective mirror to reflect the image of the near end to a camera. The curved mirror can be placed in front of the display screen near a location where images of faces/eyes of far end participants are to appear. In another example, the videoconferencing unit can include a disintegrated camera configuration that provides an air gap between a front lens element and a rear lens element. The front lens element can be located behind an aperture within the display screen. The air gap can provide an unobstructed path to light from projectors and therefore avoid any undesirable shadows from appearing on the display screen. In another example, the videoconferencing unit can include a combination of the disintegrated camera configuration and mirrors for providing direct eye contact videoconferencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Gopal Paripally, Craig Clapp, Tony Pham
  • Patent number: 8930190
    Abstract: An audio processing device including a feature calculation unit, a boundary calculation unit and a judgment unit, detects points of change of audio features from an audio signal in an AV content. The feature calculation unit calculates, for each unit section of the audio signal, section feature data expressing features of the audio signal in the unit section. The boundary calculation unit calculates, for each target unit section among the unit sections of the audio signal, a piece of boundary information relating to at least one boundary of a similarity section. The similarity section consists of consecutive unit sections, inclusive of the target unit section, which each have similar section feature data. The judgment unit calculates a priority of each boundary indicated by one or more of the pieces of boundary information and judges whether the boundary is a scene change point based on the priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation Of America
    Inventors: Tomohiro Konuma, Tsutomu Uenoyama
  • Patent number: 8922717
    Abstract: As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time. The system includes a de-multiplexer, a controller which controls the operation of the AV terminal, input buffers, AV objects decoders, buffers for decoded data, a composer, a display, and an object cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Alexandros Eleftheriadis, Hari Kalva
  • Patent number: 8925004
    Abstract: Techniques to provide an enhanced video replay are described. A processor component controls a video interface module, a replay clip editing module, a replay clip selection module, and a broadcast feed module. The video interface module may receive a first and a second video stream of an event in a first and a second video resolution. The replay clip editing module may determine a time period within the second video stream that contains a scene of interest and create multiple video clips in the first video resolution. The multiple video clips each represent of a portion of the field of view of the second video stream. The broadcast feed module may interrupt a broadcast feed of the first video stream and insert the selected one of the multiple video clips into the broadcast feed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: CBS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Goldfeder, Ken Aagaard
  • Patent number: 8917357
    Abstract: As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time. The system includes a de-multiplexer, a controller which controls the operation of the AV terminal, input buffers, AV objects decoders, buffers for decoded data, a composer, a display, and an object cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Alexandros Eleftheriadis, Hari Kalva
  • Patent number: 8899757
    Abstract: A portable video production system includes a stand, a prompter portion, a mirror, a piece of glass, and a measuring device. The stand includes a table and a plurality of legs, and is configured to adjust a height of the legs based on a height of a user. The prompter portion includes a plurality of legs and a plurality of supports, and the supports extend between the legs of the prompter portion. The mirror is connected between first and second supports of the plurality of supports, and is configured to reflect a display of a laptop. The piece of glass is connected between third and fourth supports of the plurality of supports, and reflects the reflection of the display from the mirror to provide a reflected image to the user and to enable a video to be filmed through the glass without the reflected image appearing in the video. The measuring component is connected to the table, and extends from the table and being of a first specific length to indicate a first distance for the user to stand from the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wizards of Ads, SunPop Studios Ltd.
    Inventor: Roy H. Williams, IV
  • Patent number: 8875175
    Abstract: A digital video viewing system including methods for user selection of video advertisement content and time of display of video advertisements during a live video content stream. The digital video viewing system includes modules for receiving, evaluating and transmitting data within the digital video viewing system and to Internet protocol content providers. Also shown are methods for recording and re-playing live internet protocol content in conjunction with the video advertisement display methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
    Inventors: Charles McCoy, True Xiong, Stewart Stremler
  • Patent number: 8860834
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a modular apparatus for a mobile control room, realized in a flexible manner and such that to be advantageously assembled, continuously modified and provided according to needs and requirements of for example, a client. An important improvement for rendering the directing apparatus modular consists in that several modules are provided and there are inserted inside thereof almost the whole of the apparatuses which are needed for the control of the videocameras (or other functions in the case of different kind of modules); Therefore, the most of the investment is flexible since is moved and incorporated to the same modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Gruppo Comunicazione Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Rosario Messina, Giulio Politi, Roberto Mazzantini
  • Patent number: 8854552
    Abstract: As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Alexandros Eleftheriadis, Hari Kalya
  • Patent number: 8817192
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including: a plurality of signal processing circuits that compose video signals; and a communication path that connects the plurality of signal processing circuits, wherein any one of the plurality of signal processing circuits composes a video signal obtained by composition by the signal processing circuit, and a video signal obtained by composition by another signal processing circuit supplied from the another signal processing circuit via the communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamane, Shozo Into, Masanori Abe
  • Patent number: 8813159
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for effectively transmitting a plurality of contents under the situation securing minimum QoS. According to the technique, among a plurality of contents to be transmitted to a data reception device, two or more contents are set as main contents, and the remaining contents are set as stand-by contents. One of the two or more main contents is set as a broadcasting content to be broadcasted actually, and the remaining main content is set as a switching content. The data transmission device transmits the two main contents to the data reception device via a high-quality line (main content line) and transmits the remaining stand-by contents via a line of a quality lower than the main content line (proxy data transmission line). Contents are switched by interchanging between a broadcasting content and a switching content and interchanging between a switching content and a stand-by content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hirano, Kouichi Masuda
  • Publication number: 20140218615
    Abstract: A portable video production system includes a stand, a prompter portion, a mirror, a piece of glass, and a measuring device. The stand includes a table and a plurality of legs, and is configured to adjust a height of the legs based on a height of a user. The prompter portion includes a plurality of legs and a plurality of supports, and the supports extend between the legs of the prompter portion. The mirror is connected between first and second supports of the plurality of supports, and is configured to reflect a display of a laptop. The piece of glass is connected between third and fourth supports of the plurality of supports, and reflects the reflection of the display from the mirror to provide a reflected image to the user and to enable a video to be filmed through the glass without the reflected image appearing in the video. The measuring component is connected to the table, and extends from the table and being of a first specific length to indicate a first distance for the user to stand from the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: WIZARD OF ADS, SUNPOP STUDIOS LTD
    Inventor: Roy H. Williams, IV
  • Patent number: 8782176
    Abstract: A method for media processing includes providing a source media clip, which includes at least source audio data, via a network to a client device. A media recording, including client video and client audio data recorded by a user of the client device while playing the source audio data, is received via the network from the client device. The received media recording is synchronized with the source media clip and is mixed with the source media clip to generate a mixed media clip. The mixed media clip is transmitted to client devices over the network for playback by users of the client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fusic Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Zohar, Matan Arazi, Itsik On, Liran Zvibel, Avner Braverman
  • Patent number: 8743292
    Abstract: Video/audio production processing control synchronization apparatus and methods are provided. Processing control commands that are provided to a first installation of production processing equipment for controlling production processing of edit units of first production signals are echoed to another installation, or possibly multiple other installations, of production processing equipment. Timing information associated with the edit units is also provided to the other installation(s), to enable production processing of delayed production signals by the other installation(s) to be synchronized with the production processing by the first installation of production processing equipment. Multiple production processing equipment installations can be controlled and synchronized from a single control interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ross Video Limited
    Inventors: Michael James Atherton, Troy David English, Christopher David Welsh, Kevin Rockel, Leslie Vincent O'Reilly, Trevor Charles May, Steven David Bland, David Allan Ross
  • Patent number: 8736765
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GVBB Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: David Alan Casper, Ralph Andrew Silberstein, Donald Johnson Childers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8730404
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes a latch circuit having a first input to receive a data signal and a second input to receive a clock signal. This latch circuit may have a first pair of transistors including a first transistor gated by the data signal and a second transistor gated by an inverted data signal and a second pair of transistors including third and fourth transistors gated by the clock signal. The first transistor may be coupled to the third transistor at a first inter-latch node and the second transistor coupled to the fourth transistor at a second inter-latch node. A reset circuit may be coupled to the latch circuit to maintain the first and second inter-latch nodes at a predetermined voltage level when the clock signal is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton Daigle, Abdulkerim L. Coban
  • Publication number: 20140132841
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods are for digitally organizing the physical production for media productions. An electronic script for a media production is received that includes a plurality of scenes with at least one or more characters and one or more sets. The electronic script is processed to automatically generate a script data object that comprises data indicative of the plurality of scenes, data indicative of the at least one or more characters for the scene, data indicative of the one or more sets for the scene, and data indicative of at least one or more items for a character from the one or more characters, a set from the one or more sets, or both. The script data object is electronically distributed to one or more departments involved in producing the media production to electronically organize the physical production of the media production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: WYMSEE
    Inventors: Brett BEAULIEU-JONES, Alex LOVERDE, Jeff IMPEY, Dan STEFANIS
  • Patent number: 8698959
    Abstract: A method renders video apparatus testing more efficient by consolidating important information from many video images into one or more composite video images. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of receiving location information for portions of first and second video images, and combining the portions of the first and second video images into a third video image for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Erik Widdifield, Fritz Kiffmeyer
  • Patent number: 8656425
    Abstract: Media content is received from at least one external device that is coupled to a video processing device. Subscriber channel content is generated based on the media content. The subscriber channel content is transferred to a video distribution network to produce a personalized subscriber channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Morega Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Chi Wang, Philip Poulidis
  • Publication number: 20140009686
    Abstract: A teleprompter system and method include use of a touch-screen interface positioned intermediate to the user and a camera such that the camera captures the user's image through a transparency of the touch-screen interface. The touch screen interface is coupled to a computer and is operably connected so as to enable user control and manipulation of interactive media content generated by the computer. A video mixing component integrates images captured by the camera with interactive media content generated by the computer, as may be manipulated by the user via the touch-screen interface, to generate a coordinated presentation. The coordinated presentation can be received by one or more remote devices. The remote devices can further interact with at least the interactive media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Edo Segal
  • Patent number: 8625027
    Abstract: In a system and method for verification of media content synchronization, the system may include a processor configured to perform a method including determining at least one similarity score of a copy of a master program based on a comparison of at least one signature of the copy with at least one signature of the master program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Home Box Office, Inc.
    Inventors: Elmer Gehman Musser, Jr., Hardys Christ Eggum, John Joseph Galligan
  • Patent number: 8619850
    Abstract: An integrated real-time display is provided that includes video images and a graphical representation of the transmission path, where each video image is associated with a point along the graphical representation of the transmission path. A number of monitoring points, which correspond to critical points along the transmission path are identified. The points may be selected for technical reasons or economic reasons. The graphical representation of the transmission path can be a logical representation showing the logic blocks along the transmission path or a physical representation showing the devices along the transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The Weather Channel, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Smereski, Robert D. Butler
  • Patent number: 8621547
    Abstract: A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher Harvey, James William Cuddihy
  • Patent number: 8605220
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: GVBB Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: David Alan Casper, Michael Joseph Krim, John David Willis
  • Publication number: 20130278786
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for remote video and/or audio production, which system comprises a first part related to the control room for the video production and a second part on the site of an event to be recorded, and where the first and second part communicate with each other by means of a data stream. It is proposed that the data stream is adapted to be sent between the first and second part by means of a wide area network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: TWENTYFOURSEVEN HOLDING AB
    Inventors: Kent Lundgren, Roger Allstedt, Leif Toftgaard Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8564726
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a standard color referencing panel system for cinematography that reproduces the original colors of captured images. The standard color referencing panel system for cinematography includes a memory that stores scene display content and standard color display content of an object to be captured; an input unit that allows a user to turn on a power switch and an image capture start switch; a controller that supplies power in response to a power switch on a signal received from the input unit, transmits control signals in response to an image capture start switch on the signal received from the input unit, and reads the scene display content and the standard color display content from the memory; and a display unit that is supplied with power from the controller to preheat a screen, and displays the scene display content and the standard color display content on the screen in response to the control signals transmitted from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Maeng Sub Cho, Jin Seo Kim
  • Patent number: 8547414
    Abstract: The present invention is a video production and control system that uses a touch screen display and user interface, managed by a controller, for video switching. The system is used to select Preview and Program video feeds from a set of video input feeds. The video source configuration for some of the feeds may have been selected using touch screen video source control technology. Over time, the user can use the touch screen controls to switch which feeds are then designated as the Preview and Program feeds. The evolving Program signal is sent to a Program output connection for consumers of the Program, possibly after some reformatting. The current Program feed may be promoted from the current Preview feed. User controls determine the type of transition, such as cut or crossfade, that will apply to a transition from Preview to Program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: New Vad, LLC
    Inventor: Robin Sheeley
  • Patent number: 8542744
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for scalable block pixel filtering are described. A block filtering instruction is issued to a processing element (PE) to initiate block pixel filtering hardware by causing at least one command and at least one parameter be sent to a command and control function associated with the PE. A block of pixels is fetched from a PE local memory to be stored in a register file of a hardware assist module. A sub-block of pixels is processed to generate sub-block parameters and the block of pixels is filtered in a horizontal/vertical edge filtering computation pipeline using the sub-block parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mihailo M. Stojancic, Gerald George Pechanek
  • Patent number: 8531608
    Abstract: As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time. The system includes a de-multiplexer, a controller which controls the operation of the AV terminal, input buffers, AV objects decoders, buffers for decoded data, a composer, a display, and an object cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Alexandros Eleftheriadis, Hari Kalya
  • Patent number: 8519990
    Abstract: A semiconductor display device comprising a pixel portion and a signal line driver circuit comprising a first circuit, a second circuit configured to control timing of the sampled serial video signals by the first circuit, and a third circuit configured to perform signal processing on the parallel video signals, wherein the second circuit comprises a first semiconductor element formed over a first substrate, the first semiconductor element including a first semiconductor layer, wherein the third circuit comprises a second semiconductor element formed over a second substrate, the second semiconductor element including a second semiconductor layer, wherein the pixel portion comprises a third semiconductor element formed over the second substrate, the third semiconductor element including a third semiconductor layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer comprises silicon or germanium, and wherein each the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer has a wider bandgap than the first semiconduct
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama
  • Publication number: 20130188063
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to interactive photo booths and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, for example, an interactive photo booth can include a housing having sidewalls that form an enclosure sized to receive one or more users. The interactive photo booth can also include a backdrop within the enclosure and a camera directed toward the backdrop that takes at least one photo of the users. The interactive photo booth can further include a first user interface in the enclosure and a second user interface on the sidewall of the housing. The first user interface can be configured to receive user selections related to the backdrop, and the second user interface can be configured to edit the photos taken by the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: COINSTAR, INC.
    Inventor: COINSTAR, INC.
  • Patent number: 8482674
    Abstract: A video production apparatus advantageously includes at least one embedded multi-previewer (14) that receives at least some of a plurality video signals generated by one or more elements in the switcher, such as a mix-effects engine (10). The multi-previewer generates an output signal which when displayed yields of mosaic of images, each representative of a respective input signal. In this way, an operator can observe, via a single video monitor, the status of multiple video signals, thus obviating the need for multiple device outputs, multiple monitors, and associated cabling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Bret Michael Jones, David Alan Casper
  • Patent number: 8475060
    Abstract: An accessory for use on a camera crane has a first plate attachable to an end of the camera crane arm. A second plate is pivotally attached to the first plate and moveable into a first position and into a second position perpendicular to the first position. First and second latches secure the second plate into the first and second positions, respectively. The accessory allows a camera head on a camera crane arm to be quickly and easily reoriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard T. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8457484
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to acquire device information from film set devices used to film a media content event. An exemplary film production information acquisition device has at least a sensor device configured to sense an operation characteristic of a film set device, a film production information management system (IMS) communication interface configured to communicatively couple the film production information acquisition device to a film production information management system, and a processor system communicatively coupled to the film production IMS communication interface and the sensor device, and configured to process the sensed operation characteristic of the film set device into information that is communicated to the film production information management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Elliott, Nicholas Newell, Mi Chen
  • Patent number: 8452093
    Abstract: A histogram has ranges, a value for each range, and a time value. A pattern is generated, having a zero value for each range having a zero value, and a one value for each range having a non-zero value. Any non-zero values of the ranges are compressed into a compressed value. The pattern and the time value match or do not match any given entry of a pattern table having a number of entries, each of which has an index value, a time range, and a pattern. Where the pattern and the time value do not match any given entry of the pattern table, a new entry is added to the pattern table, and is considered the given entry. An entry is then added to a histogram table. This entry has the time value, the index value of the given entry of the pattern table, and the compressed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Scott A. Piper
  • Patent number: 8432496
    Abstract: A method for auto channel assignment in a live television production system allows the user to assign physical play out channels to an auto pool of channels. The user need only create a single transition macro event (TME) template, which at the time of playout, causes the production system to assign an available channel from the auto pool of channels, without requiring any further user intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: John R. Benson
  • Patent number: 8432449
    Abstract: An integrated method for modeling the handoff between cameras for tracking a specific individual, including: creating a representation of overlaps, gaps, and allowable movement among the fields of view of the cameras, wherein the representation is modeled as states in a Hidden Markov Model (HMM); training the HMM using video of people walking through the fields of view of the cameras; selecting a person to be tracked; and identifying the best camera area using the HMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Francine R. Chen, Tao Yang, Donald G. Kimber
  • Patent number: 8421923
    Abstract: As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time. The system includes a de-multiplexer, a controller which controls the operation of the AV terminal, input buffers, AV objects decoders, buffers for decoded data, a composer, a display, and an object cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Alexandros Eleftheriadis, Hari Kalva
  • Patent number: 8407374
    Abstract: Intelligent resource state memory recall techniques, and associated apparatus and methods, are disclosed. States of one or more video switcher resources in a resource state memory may be recalled to the same or different resources, depending on resource availability at the time of memory recall. A memory recall need not affect an on air signal. The memory may be recalled to recreate a desired program output, as defined in the memory, on a preview output of the video switcher, which leaves a current program output of the video switcher undisturbed when the memory is recalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ross Video Limited
    Inventors: David Allan Ross, Leslie Vincent O'Reilly, Troy David English, Alun John Fryer, Steven Martin Robinson, Gerald Edwin Coldwell, Jean-Francois Gagnon
  • Patent number: 8395711
    Abstract: It is provided a method for converting video streams capturing a scene to video streams fitting a viewpoint configuration. The video streams are provided by video cameras, and the method includes receiving parameters associated with the viewpoint configuration, and converting video streams of the scene as captured by the video cameras to video streams fitting the viewpoint configuration. The viewpoint configuration may be a dynamic viewpoint configuration determined by a joystick module. The converting may be done using a three dimensional method, and includes separating objects of the scene from other portions of the scene. The method may includes integrating the scene into the video stream of a certain scene associated with the viewpoint configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sportvu Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Oz, Danielle Shor, Michael Tamir, Michael Birnboim
  • Patent number: 8365231
    Abstract: A program delivery system includes a video server that records a plurality of server contents and outputs the server contents, a video switcher which selectively switches between server contents and live contents, and delivers the switched contents as an on-air video image, a content selection module which presents live content buttons and server content buttons, and accepts an operation of selecting any one of the buttons, a live content module which, switches the video switcher, and delivers the live contents, at the time that the live content button has been selected, and a server content module which, outputs the server contents that correspond to the button, and at the same time, switches the video switcher and delivers the server contents, at the time that the server content button has been selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyauchi, Akio Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 8289367
    Abstract: A system comprises a stage area and an audience area with a line of sight view of the stage area. The system also includes a first display that reproduces a first video feed of a first perspective of a remote talent. The first video feed may appear, from the perspective of the audience area, to be within a first region of the stage area. The system further includes a first camera directed at the audience area and aligned so that its field of view corresponds to a line of sight from the first region to the audience area. The system additionally includes a second display viewable from a second region of the stage area and hidden from view of the audience area. The second display reproduces a second video feed of a second perspective, different that the first perspective, of the remote talent. The system also includes a second camera directed at the second region of the stage area and aligned so that its field of view corresponds to a line of sight from the second display to the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Graham, Michael H. Paget