52nd week of 2017 patent applcation highlights part 72 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20170374362 | SKIP MACROBLOCK CODING - Various techniques and tools for encoding and decoding (e.g., in a video encoder/decoder) binary information (e.g., skipped macroblock information) are described. In some embodiments, the binary information is arranged in a bit plane, and the bit plane is coded at the picture/frame layer. The encoder and decoder process the binary information and, in some embodiments, switch coding modes. For example, the encoder and decoder use normal, row-skip, column-skip, or differential modes, or other and/or additional modes. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder define a skipped macroblock as a predicted macroblock whose motion is equal to its causally predicted motion and which has zero residual error. In some embodiments, the encoder and decoder use a raw coding mode to allow for low-latency applications. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374363 | REAL-TIME VIDEO DENOISING METHOD AND TERMINAL DURING CODING, AND NON-VOLATILE COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A video denoising method includes: while continuing to receive a video stream, performing multi-stage denoising processing on a respective frame, including: detecting a change in a current network status of a network connection; and, in response to detecting the change in the current network status: adjusting a current value for a predefine flatness threshold for detecting a flat area within the respective frame of the image stream in accordance with the change in the current network status of the network connection; identifying one or more flat areas within the respective image frame in accordance with the predefined flatness threshold; and performing, using a predefined filter, denoising processing on the one or more flat areas that have been identified in accordance with the predefined flatness threshold. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374364 | Method and Apparatus of Face Independent Coding Structure for VR Video - A method and apparatus of video encoding or decoding for a video encoding or decoding system applied to multi-face sequences corresponding to a 360-degree virtual reality sequence are disclosed. According to embodiments of the present invention, at least one face sequence of the multi-face sequences is encoded or decoded using face-independent coding, where the face-independent coding encodes or decodes a target face sequence using prediction reference data derived from previous coded data of the target face sequence only. Furthermore, one or more syntax elements can be signaled in a video bitstream at an encoder side or parsed from the video bitstream at a decoder side, where the syntax elements indicate first information associated with a total number of faces in the multi-face sequences, second information associated with a face index for each face-independent coded face sequence, or both the first information and the second information. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374365 | IMAGE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME - A system includes an image transmitting unit and an image receiving unit. The image transmitting unit has a compression unit for compressing, in accordance with a provided compression parameter, a pixel block in image data, and a first transmitting unit for transmitting the compressed data to an image receiving unit in the system. The image receiving unit has a receiving unit for receiving the compressed data, a decompression unit for decompressing the received compressed data, a determination unit for determining a compression parameter based on the result of the decompression, and a second transmitting unit for transmitting the determined compression parameter to the image transmitting unit. The compression unit compresses an untransmitted second pixel block in the image data to be compressed in accordance with the compression parameter transmitted from the second transmitting unit. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374366 | PALETTE CODING MODES AND PALETTE FLIPPING - An palette index map of a video coding unit may be flipped during palette coding if a large run of similar pixels are present at the beginning of the coding unit and a small run of similar pixels are present at the end of the coding unit. The flipping may enable efficient signaling and coding of the large run of pixels. An indication may be sent signaling the flipping. During decoding, an inverse flip may be performed to restore the pixels of the flipped coding unit to their original positions. Selection of a prediction mode for palette coding may take into account various combinations of an index mode run followed by a copy-above mode run. A prediction mode with die smallest per-pixel average bit cost may be selected. Palette sharing may be enabled. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374367 | IMAGE DECODING METHOD, IMAGE CODING METHOD, IMAGE DECODING APPARATUS, IMAGE CODING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE CODING AND DECODING APPARATUS - The image coding method includes: determining a context in a current block in the image, from among a plurality of contexts; and performing arithmetic coding on the control parameter for the current block to generate a bitstream corresponding to the current block, wherein in the determining: the context is determined under a condition that control parameters of neighboring blocks of the current block are used, when the signal type is a first type, the neighboring blocks being a left block and an upper block of the current block; and the context is determined under a condition that the control parameter of the upper block is not used, when the signal type is a second type, and the second type is (i) “merge_flag”, (ii) “ref_idx_l0” or “ref_idx_l1”, (iii) “inter_pred_flag”, (iv) “mvd_l0” or “mvd_l1”, (v) “no_residual_data_flag”, (vi) “intra_chroma_pred_mode”, (vii) “cbf_luma”, and (viii) “cbf_cb” or “cbf_cr”. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374368 | Video Processor, Method, Computer Program - To provide a practical technique with which video data can be transmitted with a wireless LAN from a video output device having a function of processing video data to a terminal device having a display unit such as a mobile terminal. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374369 | Methods and Apparatuses of Decoder Side Intra Mode Derivation - Video processing methods and apparatuses receive input data associated with a current block, determine an actual intra prediction mode for the current block by performing decoder side intra mode derivation, perform intra prediction based on the actual intra prediction mode, replace the actual intra prediction mode with a pseudo mode when processing the current block by an intra mode dependent tool in syntax signaling or parsing, and encode or decode the current block. The pseudo mode referenced by the intra mode dependent tool is a predefined mode or a derived mode, which is referenced as the intra prediction mode for blocks coded using decoder side intra mode derivation, or is referenced by the intra mode dependent tool as the intra prediction mode for all intra prediction coded blocks. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374370 | DETERMINING INTRA PREDICTION MODE OF IMAGE CODING UNIT AND IMAGE DECODING UNIT - A method for decoding an image including performing intra prediction on a chrominance block according to whether the intra prediction mode of the chrominance block is equal to an intra prediction mode of a luminance block. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374371 | CODING METHOD AND CODING APPARATUS - The image decoding method includes: determining a context for use in a current block to be processed, from among a plurality of contexts; and performing arithmetic decoding on a bit sequence corresponding to the current block, using the determined context, wherein in the determining: the context is determined under a condition that control parameters of neighboring blocks of the current block are used, when the signal type is a first type, the neighboring blocks being a left block and an upper block of the current block; and the context is determined under a condition that the control parameter of the upper block is not used, when the signal type is a second type, and the second type is one of “ref_idx_l0” and “ref_idx_l1”. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374372 | Methods of Palette Based Prediction for Non-444 Color Format in Video and Image Coding - A method of video coding using palette coding mode for color video in a non-444 color format is disclosed. The non-444 video data can be converted to the 444 format so that the palette designed for the 444 format can be used for the non-444 video data. For the 4:2:0 color format, each chroma sample collocated with corresponding quad luma samples is padded with three chroma samples to form converted quad chroma samples. For the 4:2:0 color format, if a current pixel does not belong to the color palette, one or more escape values are signaled for the current pixel and the escape value associated with the chroma sample of the current pixel for each color component is not signaled for three of the quad chroma sample locations collocated with corresponding quad luma samples. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374373 | IMAGE COMPRESSION - A method for compressing images includes identifying a set of image blocks from a plurality of digital images. For each image block from the set, image features of the image block are extracted. The set of image blocks is sorted into an ordered sequence of image blocks based on an average image feature difference between sequentially sorted image blocks. The set of image blocks is compressed into compressed image data based on inter block correlations between image blocks in the ordered sequence. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374374 | Offline Training of Hierarchical Algorithms - A method for increasing the quality of a section of visual data communicated over a network from a first node to a second node, the method at the second node including receiving a lower-quality visual data via a network, receiving a corresponding reference to an algorithm operable to increase a quality of the lower-quality visual data, the algorithm selected based on a higher-quality visual data from which the lower-quality visual data was generated, and using the algorithm to increase the quality of the lower-quality visual data to recreate the higher-quality visual data. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374375 | MEASURING SPHERICAL IMAGE QUALITY METRICS BASED ON USER FIELD OF VIEW - An example device for calculating a quality metric for video data includes a memory configured to store a spherical image of the video data, and one or more processors implemented using discrete logic circuitry and configured to determine a user field of view for the spherical image, determine weighting values for pixels of the spherical image based on the user field of view; and calculate a quality metric for the user field of view of the spherical image using the weighting values, wherein calculating the quality metric comprises applying the weighting values to values for the pixels. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374376 | IMAGE CODING METHOD INCLUDING SELECTING A CONTEXT FOR PERFORMING ARITHMETIC CODING ON A PARAMETER INDICATING A CODING-TARGET COEFFICIENT INCLUDED IN A SUB-BLOCK - An image coding method for coding an image on a block-by-block basis, includes: selecting, for each of a plurality of sub-blocks included in a coding-target block and each including a plurality of coefficients, a context for performing arithmetic coding on a parameter indicating a coding-target coefficient included in the sub-block from a context set corresponding to the sub-block, based on at least one reference coefficient located around the coding-target coefficient, the coding-target block being a transform unit; and performing arithmetic coding on the parameter indicating the coding-target coefficient using probability information about the selected context, wherein, in the selecting, the context is selected from the context set, the context set corresponding to a sum of (i) a value indicating a position in a horizontal direction of the sub-block in the coding-target block and (ii) a value indicating a position in a vertical direction of the sub-block in the coding-target block. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374377 | SINGLE-PASS REAL-TIME VIDEO STABILIZATION - A method, processor, and non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed for real-time video stabilization and encoding in a single motion estimation pass for each frame. The method includes performing motion estimation on a stabilized current frame and determining a global motion vector using motion estimation information obtained in the performing of motion estimation on the stabilized current frame. A subsequent frame in a video stream is stabilized using this global motion vector. Motion estimation is performed on the stabilized subsequent frame. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374378 | METHOD FOR ENCODING AND DECODING CODING UNIT - Initial value is selected when motion estimation is performed using predicted motion vector in video codec in which multiple references are allowed, and coding amount of motion vectors is reduced using predicted motion vector. Motion vector encoding apparatus includes predicted motion vector generator that generates adjacent motion vectors of current block with respect to each of reference pictures and generates each predicted motion vector of the current block from the generated adjacent motion vectors, motion estimator that determines final motion vector of the current block and final reference picture corresponding to the final motion vector with regard to search regions of the reference pictures, differential unit that obtains difference between the final motion vector of the current block and final predicted motion vector corresponding to the determined final reference picture among the predicted motion vectors, and unit for encoding information about the final reference picture and the difference. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374379 | PICTURE PREDICTION METHOD AND RELATED APPARATUS - A picture prediction method and a related device are disclosed. The picture prediction method includes: determining two pixel samples in a current picture block, and determining a candidate motion information unit set corresponding to each of the two pixel samples; determining a merged motion information unit set i including two motion information units; and predicting a pixel value of the current picture block by using an affine motion model and the merged motion information unit set i. Technical solutions provided by embodiments of the present disclosure help reduce computational complexity of picture prediction performed based on the affine motion model. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374380 | IMAGE ENCODING METHOD AND IMAGE DECODING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image encoding method includes selecting a motion reference block from an encoded pixel block to which an inter prediction is applied. The method includes selecting one or more available blocks from the motion reference block. The method includes selecting a selection block from the available blocks. The method includes generating a predicted image of the encoding target block using motion information of the selection block. The method includes encoding a prediction error between the predicted image and an original image. The method includes encoding selection information specifying the selection block by referring to a code table decided according to a number of the available blocks. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374381 | Lossy Channel Video Blur Avoidance - Blurriness in a video image transmitted over a lossy network can be reduced by filtering the decoder output to determine whether updating of the reference frame based on the current video data is indicated. An update may be appropriate if the decoder output is sharper than the contents of the display buffer after the last update. Additionally, an update may be appropriate if there was a significant change to the underlying image, and thus to the encoder's input. Whether such a change has occurred can be determined by analyzing the prediction mode, motion vectors, and pixel data of the output image. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374382 | Interpolation of Video Compression Frames - Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374383 | Interpolation of Video Compression Frames - Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374384 | PALETTE CODING FOR NON-4:4:4 SCREEN CONTENT VIDEO - A video coding device may receive a video bit-stream that carries a video captured in a non-4:4:4 chroma format. A palette mode may be used to decode the video bit-stream. The video bit-stream may include data defining a palette table and a palette index map in a 4:4:4 chroma format for the current block. A luma sample value for a luma sample position in the non-4:4:4 chroma format may be determined based on the luma sample position, the palette index map and the palette table. A chroma sample position associated with the 4:4:4 chroma format on the palette index map may be derived based on the luma component to chroma component resolution ratio in the non-4:4:4 chroma format. A chroma sample value for a chroma sample position in non-444 chroma format may be determined based on the derived chroma sample position, the palette index map and the palette table. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374385 | Method and Apparatus of Inter Coding for VR Video Using Virtual Reference Frames - A method and apparatus of video encoding or decoding for a video encoding or decoding system applied to multi-face sequences corresponding to a 360-degree virtual reality sequence are disclosed. According the present invention, one or more multi-face sequences representing the 360-degree virtual reality sequence are derived. If Inter prediction is selected for a current block in a current face, one virtual reference frame is derived for each face of said one or more multi-face sequences by assigning one target reference face to a center of said one virtual reference frame and connecting neighboring faces of said one target reference face to said one target reference face at boundaries of said one target reference face. Then, the current block in the current face is encoded or decoded using a current virtual reference frame derived for the current face to derive an Inter predictor for the current block. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374386 | SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE COMPRESSION - In some examples, a method for compressing a spectral reflectance dataset may be performed through compression circuitry. The method may include computing a principal component analysis basis for the spectral reflectance dataset; projecting the spectral reflectance dataset onto the principal component analysis basis to obtain a weight matrix; quantizing the weight matrix; performing a Huffman encoding process on the quantized weight matrix to generate a Huffman table and Huffman codes for the quantized weight matrix; and providing compressed spectral reflectance data as the principal component analysis basis, the Huffman table, and the Huffman codes. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374387 | REGION-OF-INTEREST ENCODING ENHANCEMENTS FOR VARIABLE-BITRATE MEZZANINE COMPRESSION - A specification defining allowable luma and chroma code-values is applied in a region-of-interest encoding method of a mezzanine compression process. The method may include analyzing an input image to determine regions or areas within each image frame that contain code-values that are near allowable limits as specified by the specification. In addition, the region-of-interest method may comprise then compressing those regions with higher precision than the other regions of the image that do not have code-values that are close to the legal limits. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374388 | METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR ENCODING A SIGNAL REPRESENTATIVE OF A LIGHT-FIELD CONTENT - The present disclosure relates to the transmission of sets of data and metadata and more particularly to the transmission of light-field contents. Light-field data take up large amounts of storage space which makes storage cumbersome and processing less efficient. In addition, light-field acquisition devices are extremely heterogeneous and each camera has its own proprietary file format. Since acquired light-field data from different cameras have a diversity of formats a complex processing is induced on the receiver side. To this end, it is proposed a method for encoding a signal representative of a light-field content in which the parameters representing the rays of light sensed by the different pixels of the sensor are mapped on the sensor. A second set of encoded parameters are used to reconstruct the light-field content from the parameters representing the rays of light sensed by the different pixels of the sensor. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374389 | METHOD OF DECODING MOVING PICTURES IN INTRA PREDICTION - A method of decoding an image including deriving, via an intra-predictor, an intra prediction mode; generating, via the intra-predictor, reference pixels on an unavailable position if there exist unavailable reference pixels of a current block; determining, via the intra-predictor, whether reference pixels of the current block are filtered or not based on the derived intra prediction mode and a block size of the current block; filtering the reference pixels of the current block using a filter if it is determined that the reference pixels of the current block are filtered, wherein two or more filters are used based on the block size of the current block such that a filter with a broad bandwidth is applied to a large block; and generating, via the intra-predictor, a prediction block of the current block according to the derived intra prediction mode of the current block and the reference pixels. In addition, the filter is selected based on the block size of the current block and a difference between reference pixels, and the reference pixels of the current block are not filtered when the reconstructed intra-prediction mode of the current block is a horizontal or vertical mode. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374390 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR) VIDEOS - To preserve backward compatibility with a non-HDR device or service, an HDR picture may be represented using a modulation value and an SDR picture representative of the HDR picture. The modulation value and the SDR picture can then be encoded into the bitstream. At the receiving side, the modulation value and the SDR picture can be decoded. Based on the modulation value, the SDR picture can be mapped to a decoded HDR picture. For a non-HDR device or service, the modulation value information may be discarded and only the SDR picture is decoded. In particular, the modulation value may be implicitly signaled, using quad-tree representation information, intra coding information, inter partition mode information or motion vector residual information. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374391 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR DISTRIBUTING VIDEO - The video distribution system pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a video distribution server and a user terminal that is connected to said video distribution server via a network so as to allow communication. The video distribution server provides a video distribution service, with which video provided by a distribution user is distributed to viewing users, via the user terminal. The video distribution system is such that an object specified by a viewing user is placed on the video in response to the receipt of a request from the viewing user to place an image object, during the real-time distribution of video provided by the distribution user. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374392 | CENTRAL ASSET REGISTRY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A central asset registry ties Digital Asset Management (DAM) repositories into a unified system. The central asset registry removes the tracking of asset relationships from the DAMs by gathering asset metadata tags and capturing relationships between assets to provide improved speed, scalability, and flexibility in analyzing and traversing networks of relationships of digital assets. The central asset registry allows the use of a pluggable architecture and tracks and stores multi-dimensional relationships as an asset hierarchy. The asset hierarchy provides a depiction of relationship data between the assets and provides a flexible array of asset types and properties that allows the addition of new assets and new asset types without re-factoring the other data, nodes, and edges. The system also uses asset metadata to create edge relationships between the assets. The central asset registry facilitates queries and retrieval of the media assets. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374393 | ROUTING METHOD FOR COMBINED TELEVISION AND COMBINED TELEVISION - A combined television includes a host and at least one smart module. The host is connected to an external network by a first physical network card, and is connected to the smart module by a second physical network card. A routing method includes: the host receives, via the second physical network card, a first data packet sent by a first intelligent module; parses the first data packet and obtains a source address and a destination address in the first data packet, the source address being an IP address of the first intelligent module; and when the destination address is an IP address of the external network, converts the first data packet into a second data packet, and sends the second data packet to the external network by the first physical network card, a source address in the second data packet being an IP address of the first physical network card. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374394 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVISION OF ENHANCED MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - Ways to generate, store, and distribute optimized content are described. Content modification operations including color correction are stored as metadata that is embedded in each content item. The metadata is extracted in order to eliminate or update the modification operations. Modification operations are updated based at least partly on profiles associated with one or more content provision elements. The profiles include device profiles and codec profiles. Each profile may be specific to a particular element or be a generic profile associated with multiple elements. The profiles are generated based on evaluation of the devices and codes and are stored as entries in a look up table. When content is provided, the profiles are used to optimize the content for display. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374395 | VIDEO MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (VMS) - Apparatus and methods are developed that facilitate the control and streaming of multiple video streams. The apparatus and methods may include a video management system (VMS) that includes a VMS server device, a VMS client device, and a VMS graphical user interface (GUI) device. The VMS server device may be configured to receive multiple video streams and store them in memory. The VMS GUI device may be configured to provide commands to the VMS client device relating to the video streams accessible by the VMS server device. The VMS GUI device may also query a VMS server device for available video streams or for metadata related to a particular video stream. The VMS client device may be configured to receive the commands from the VMS GUI device and transmit commands to the VMS server device based on the commands received from the VMS GUI device. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374396 | Optimized Content Delivery - Data (e.g., images, video, data fields, character strings, logos, etc.) may be analyzed to identify common elements and differentiating elements, and the elements may be respectively transmitted using different streams. For example, if two devices are receiving two video images that are nearly the same, a first data stream comprising the one or more identified common elements may be sent to them both, a second data stream comprising a portion of the one or more identified differentiating elements may be transmitted to the first device, and a third data stream comprising a different portion of the one or more identified differentiating elements may be transmitted to the second device. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374397 | CONTEXT-SENSITIVE NOTIFICATION DISPLAY - Controlling the display of notifications to a television viewer based on a contextual parameter that is associated with programming instantly being viewed. An example of such a parameter may include the degree of tension or conflict in a particular movie that is being watched by the television viewer. In this example, a television reciever may monitor during output of the particular movie underlying metadata that quantifies the degree of tension or conflict in the particular movie at particular instants in time. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374398 | COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MOVIE MAKING AND PRODUCT PLACEMENTS - A computing infrastructure for movie making. It provides movie creation and post-production services. Product placement services are provided for digital media of all kinds such as movies, video clips, audio clips, etc. The processing starts when a new digital media is created/uploaded by a user. Then detection of placeholder objects (one or more) is facilitated. The output is a catalog of placeholder objects. The user can review this output and modify it, and store it for subsequent processing. Then the user can replace placeholder objects with product placement material to create a modified digital media that is distributed. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374399 | COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MOVIE MAKING, PRODUCT PLACEMENTS AND DISTRIBUTION - A computing infrastructure for movie making, product placements in the movie, etc. It provides movie creation and post-production services and supports clearance. Product placement services are provided for digital media of all kinds such as movies, video clips, audio clips, etc. The processing starts when a new digital media is created/uploaded by a user. Then detection of placeholder objects (one or more) is facilitated. The output is a catalog of placeholder objects. The user can review this output and modify it, and store it for subsequent processing. Then the user can replace placeholder objects with product placement material to create a modified digital media that is distributed. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374400 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND MEDIA FOR INDICATING VIEWERSHIP OF A VIDEO BASED ON CONTEXT - Methods, systems, and media for indicating viewership of a video are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: identifying a video; identifying a group of users connected to a first user of a user device; determining, for each user in the group of users, an affinity score, wherein the affinity score indicates an interaction of the user with the identified video; receiving a request to present, on the user device, a page that includes an indication of the video; in response to receiving the request, determining contextual information related to the request; identifying a subset of users in the group of users connected to the first user based on the affinity score associated with each user and the contextual information; and causing a group of indicators corresponding to the subset of users to be presented on the user device in connection with the indication of the video. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374401 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING MEDIA VIEWING EXPERIENCES ON MULTIPLE DEVICES - Methods and systems are described for a media guidance application that enhances the viewing experiences of users consuming media having important content. If a user is prevented from viewing media having important content that will be displayed eminently, the media having the important content may be displayed on a second device. For example, in this manner, a user will not inadvertently miss content from a movie or sports game right before an important scene in the movie or an important play in the sports game is displayed. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374402 | MULTIPLE STREAM TUNING - System and techniques for multiple stream tuning are described herein. A plurality of content streams may be received. The plurality of content streams may be ranked. A user attention level may be scored as the user observes at least one content stream of the plurality of content streams. The user attention level and a rank for the at least one content stream may be compared to remaining ranks of the plurality of content streams to produce a difference. A stream action may be performed on a set of content streams from the plurality of content streams based on the difference. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374403 | Replacing Content of a Surface in Video - Replacing content of a surface in video is described. In one or more embodiments, a surface captured in a scene of video content is replaced with replacement content. As part of doing so, an indication of the surface to be replaced is received. The indication may be received as user input to select the surface for replacement from a frame of video content or as a pattern that can be used to search for the surface in frames of the video content. Once the surface is identified, it is tracked throughout the video content using motion tracking techniques. The motion tracking identifies frames of the video content that include the identified surface as well as locations of surface in the identified frames. Based on the identified frames and locations, the replacement content is incorporated into the video content to replace the surface. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374404 | COOPERATIVE PROVISION OF PERSONALIZED USER FUNCTIONS USING SHARED AND PERSONAL DEVICES - Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with cooperative provision of personalized user functions using shared device and personal device are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, a personal device (PD) method may include receiving, by a personal device of a user, a request to perform a user function to be cooperatively provided by the personal device and a shared device (SD) configured for use by multiple users; and cooperating with the shared device, by the personal device, to provide the requested user function personalized to the user of the personal device. In various embodiments, a SD method may include similar receiving and cooperating operations, performed by the SD. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374405 | WRITE CONFIRMATION OF A DIGITAL VIDEO RECORD CHANNEL - Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving a first unit of video data on a first input/output (I/O) channel, of a plurality of I/O channels of a digital video recorder, computing a first value by applying an error-detecting function to the first unit of video data, attempting to write the first unit of video data to a storage location of a storage device communicably coupled to the digital video recorder, computing, after attempting to write the first unit of video data, a second value by applying the error-detecting function to a data stored at the storage location of the storage device, and upon determining that the first and second values are not equal, storing an indication that the first unit of video data was not successfully written to the storage location of the storage device. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374406 | Method and Apparatus for Controlling Time-Scale Modification During Multi-Media Broadcasts - One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting non-time-scale modified information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is broadcast prior to or after a time of broadcast of the broadcast information. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374407 | MULTIMEDIA SERVERS THAT BROADCAST A CHANNEL LISTING AND PACKET-SWITCHED AUDIO - An apparatus, system, or method wirelessly sends an audio component of a multimedia channel to one or more wireless computing devices while a visual component of the multimedia channel is playing on a video monitor. The audio component may be packetized into data packets and broadcast via a network such that the data packets can be received and played by the wireless computing devices in synchronization with the visual component playing on the video monitor. A channel listing may inform the wireless computing devices what channels are available. A user of the wireless computing device may request that the visual component playing on a video monitor be set to a user-selected component. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374408 | SERVICE GUIDE ENCAPSULATION - A system for generating, providing and/or receiving an encapsulated service guide data. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374409 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SATELLITE SYSTEM FAST CHANNEL CHANGE - Fast channel change systems and methods are operable to change channels to a newly selected media content event in response to a user request. An exemplary embodiment communicates a previously stored low resolution version segment of the newly selected media content event to a presentation system while the media device is performing a tuning operation to change channels to receive a currently broadcasting high resolution version of the newly selected media content event. Once the tuning process has been completed at the media device, a handshake process is performed wherein the media device transitions presentation from the low resolution version to the high resolution version of the newly selected media content event. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374410 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus which cooperates with a terminal apparatus to configure a home network system, including: a frame visual attribute setting section configured to set a frame visual attribute to a window provided on a screen to display a reproduced piece of content; a publication section configured to publish a command adapted to request notification of the frame visual attribute set to the window from the terminal apparatus to the terminal apparatus; and a notification section configured to notify the terminal apparatus of the frame visual attribute of the window in response to calling of the command from the terminal apparatus. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374411 | ADAPTIVE STREAMING OF AN IMMERSIVE VIDEO SCENE - Client configured for retrieving a video data representation of an immersive video scene streamed by a server using a streaming protocol, wherein the server is configured for providing a plurality of streams to the client, wherein each of the streams comprises a portion of the immersive video scene, the client comprising: a sending interface; a reception interface; a viewing direction receiving unit; and a stream selecting unit; wherein the sending interface is configured for transmitting a streaming request for streaming the one or more selected streams as the video data representation of the immersive video scene, wherein the sending interface receives from the stream selecting unit a selected stream information identifying the one or more selected streams, wherein the selected stream information is created by the stream selecting unit based on the viewing direction of the user of the client and based on the manifest. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374412 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OUTPUTTING SUPPLEMENTARY CONTENT FROM WFD - A method and apparatus for outputting a supplementary content from a WFD is disclosed. The method for outputting a supplementary content from a WFD may comprise the steps of: after a WFD source is connected to a WFD, transmitting, by the WFD source, an RTSP parameter request message on the basis of an RTSP to a WFD sink in order to perform a capability negotiation procedure with the WFD sink; transmitting, by the WFD source, an RTSP parameter response message to the WFD sink in response to the RTSP parameter request message; and after performing the capability negotiation procedure, transmitting, by the WFD source, a transmission stream, obtained by overlapping and multiplexing a video stream including video data having a first resolution and a supplementary stream including supplementary data having a second resolution, to the WFD sink, wherein a WFD discovery response frame includes second resolution-related information for determining the second resolution, and an RTSP parameter response frame includes the second resolution-related information. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374413 | INVERTIBLE METERING APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS - Example invertible metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a housing orientation determiner and a stencil orientation determiner. The example apparatus also includes an orientation validator to determine whether a detected orientation of the stencil relative to a detected orientation of the housing is valid. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374414 | System And Method For Media Experience Data - A system for passive collection of media experience data to increase efficiencies in identifying and delivering desired media content. Behavioral data measured with a wearable device and camera sensors, including physical activity and physiological data, may be captured during a media content presentation and analyzed with media contextual and experiential data to measure media experience data and render media connectedness values between a subject and the presented media content. A system may operate on a network with access to a web service program and utilize mechanized learning and artificial intelligence to compare the previously analyzed media experience data with contextual data associated with media content available on searchable databases. The system may share media experience data and analyzed results with a social network group which can use the media connectedness value data intelligence to refine search methods for media content. The system's learning capabilities, for managing the described ongoing data collection ecosystem, will increasingly improve interpretive and analytic insights of a subject, their preferred choices media content, and the optimal conditions and environment for presenting specific media content with little or no input from the subject. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374415 | INVERTIBLE METERING APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS - Example invertible meter apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example invertible meter apparatus includes a housing having a display area. The housing positionable in a first orientation or a second orientation different than the first orientation. The meter apparatus includes a stencil removably coupled to the display area of the housing. The stencil having indicia to be positioned in the display area of the housing in an upright orientation when the housing is in the first orientation. The stencil being repositionable to orient the indicia to the upright orientation when the housing is moved to the second orientation. The meter apparatus includes a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the stencil in the display area. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374416 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING AN ACTION BASED ON VIEWING POSITIONS OF OTHER USERS - Systems and methods for performing an action based on viewing positions of other users are provided. Viewing progress in a media asset of each of a plurality of users is retrieved. The viewing progress of each of the plurality of users is compared to identify a maximum viewing progress that is common to each of the plurality of users. A request from a user to access the media asset is received. A current viewing progress in the media asset of the user is monitored to determine when the current viewing progress of the user matches the identified maximum viewing progress that is common to each of the plurality of users. In response to determining that the current viewing progress of the user matches the identified maximum viewing progress, a message with an option to perform an action relative to the media asset is generated for display to the user. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374417 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR MULTIMEDIA CONTENT DELIVERY TO CABLE TV AND SATELLITE OPERATORS - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for delivering multimedia content from the cloud to cable operators are disclosed. A device located at the cable headend or implemented in the cloud can receive a request for at least one media stream for playback on a broadcast media channel. Content corresponding to a plurality of multimedia files in the media stream can be obtained from the internet or a cloud based service. The content can be used to generate the multimedia files in a format that is compatible with the cable operator. The multimedia files can be used to assemble the at least one media stream which can be provided to the cable operator for broadcast on the broadcast media channel. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374418 | Media Stream Generation Based on a Category of User Expression - A method includes receiving, from a media server, a media stream that includes a group of segments of media content associated with a user-selected category. The group of segments includes a first segment corresponding to a portion of a first program and a second segment corresponding to a portion of a second program. The method includes, responsive to receipt of the media stream, sending a plurality of selectable icons to a display device responsive to receipt of the media stream. The method includes receiving user input corresponding to a particular selectable icon of the plurality of selectable icons and sending data, based on the user input, to the media server. The method also includes receiving from the media server, a modified stream based on the user input, where a particular segment corresponding to the particular selectable icon has been replaced by an entirety of a corresponding program in the modified stream. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374419 | AUTOMATIC TRANSITION OF CONTENT BASED ON FACIAL RECOGNITION - Methods and systems for automatically transitioning content based on facial recognition, wherein the method may include receiving a signal from a camera, identifying a face of a viewer within an area, retrieving a user identifier associated with the face of the viewer, selecting a program, and displaying the program. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374420 | Automatic Digital Video Recorder Scheduling - Methods, systems, and computer readable media may be operable to facilitate recording scheduling based on calendar information. A multimedia device may track viewing history by one or more devices and/or one or more users, and the multimedia device may maintain a view count for one or more programs being viewed at certain times. The multimedia device may receive calendar information associated with one or more users, wherein the calendar information includes one or more calendar entries. The multimedia device may determine whether any time slots associated with the calendar entries overlap or encompass any time slots associated with one or more programs that are typically viewed according to the viewing history, and if a time slot associated with a calendar entry does overlap or encompass a time slot of one or more programs, the multimedia device may automatically schedule the one or more programs for recording. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374421 | APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING DYNAMIC MULTI-MODE SERVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING THE SAME - Disclosed are a dynamic multi-mode service (MMS) transmission apparatus, a dynamic MMS reception apparatus, and a method for providing a dynamic MMS. The method includes generating, by the dynamic MMS transmission apparatus, signaling information including information about linkage between service channels based on broadcast schedule information about a broadcast service; transmitting, by the dynamic MMS transmission apparatus, the signaling information and the broadcast service to the dynamic MMS reception apparatus through at least one of a broadcast network and a broadband network; receiving, by the dynamic MMS reception apparatus, the signaling information and the broadcast service; interpreting, by the dynamic MMS reception apparatus, the information about the linkage between service channels, included in the signaling information, by decoding the signaling information; and providing, by the dynamic MMS reception apparatus, the broadcast service by performing dynamic channel switching based on the information about the linkage between service channels. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374422 | VIDEO DISTRIBUTION CONTROL - A biststream of encoded video data captured by a camera of a user device is received and decoded into a stream of decoded video frames. A light pattern representing a VLC signal captured by the camera is identified in at least one decoded video frame and decoded into a DRM identifier. Distribution of the bitstream is controlled based on a comparison of the DRM identifier and a defined DRM identifier. Hence, VCL is used to add watermarks to recorded video data and where such watermarks can be used to control distribution of copyright or digital rights protected video content. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374423 | CROWD-SOURCED MEDIA PLAYBACK ADJUSTMENT - Various systems and methods for providing crowd-sourced media playback adjustment are provided herein. A media playback system for adjusting media playback includes a user profile manager to access a user profile database to obtain a user profile associated with a user of the media playback system, the media playback system to present a media presentation; a media processor to analyze the media presentation to obtain metadata embedded in the media presentation; a transceiver to receive a media enhancement command at the media playback system; a multimedia compiler communicatively coupled to the transceiver, to alter the media presentation in response to the media enhancement command, to produce an altered presentation of the media presentation, the alteration based on the media enhancement command, the metadata, and the user profile; and a display communicatively coupled to the multimedia compiler, to present the altered presentation to the user on the display. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374424 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MEASURE EXPOSURE TO STREAMING MEDIA - Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes, a duration setter to, upon completion of playback of a first media segment of a multi-segment media, update a multi-file counter. A file detector is to detect that a second media segment is a segment of the multi-segment media. An event listener is to determine a playback time within the second media segment. A metadata retriever is to add the playback time to the multi-file counter to determine a corresponding playback time of the multi-segment media, the metadata retriever to attempt to perform a lookup of a metadata tag in a table of metadata tags and corresponding playback positions based on the playback time of the multi-segment media. A transmitter is to transmit the metadata tag corresponding to the playback time of the multi-segment media to an audience measurement entity. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374425 | Online Collaboration Systems and Methods - An online collaboration system comprises at least one server in communication with multiple client computing devices over a communication network, the at least one server executing program code to host an online collaborative environment in which users of the client computing devices can collaborate. The at least one server executes program code to facilitate an online meeting between the users of the client computing devices in the online collaboration environment, display a plurality of conference panels on a user interface of at least some of the multiple client computing devices, each conference panel configured to depict a real-time video stream associated with one of the client computing devices participating in the online meeting and display at least one display panel on a user interface of at least some of the multiple client computing devices, wherein the at least one display panel of each user interface is configured to display common shared information relating to the online meeting. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374426 | BINARY TV - A binary TV system and a method for a binary TV system are provided. The binary TV system comprises a TV program managing module configured to acquire a user preference for TV programs, and generate messages of recommended actions to be performed by a TV; a content recommender module configured to analyze the user preference and generate a recommendation of TV programs matching the user preference; a channel monitoring module configured to monitor and recognize a current TV program a user is watching; an advertisements (Ads) detecting module configured to detect advertisements in a specific TV channel; and a TV controlling module configured to send the messages generated by the TV controlling module to the TV. The user and the TV is communicated with each other through a binary interaction. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374427 | MULTIVIEW TV TEMPLATE CREATION AND DISPLAY LAYOUT MODIFICATION - A multi-window user interface (UI) is presented in various configurations and operational uses to leverage the relatively large display canvas afforded by large screen display devices such as 4K or 8K displays. Along with the various “Multiview” aspects, content delivery techniques, content selection techniques, and level of service techniques also are presented. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374428 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING TELEVISION NOTIFICATION DISPLAY DURATIONS AND TELEVISION - Embodiments of the present application provide a method and a device for adjusting television notification display durations and a television, the method includes: receiving notification information sent by a server, and determining a first display duration according to a notification type of the notification information; receiving an operation instruction sent by a user regarding the notification information; adjusting the first display duration to a second display duration according to a type of the operation instruction. The method and device for adjusting television notification display durations, and the television provided by the embodiments of the present application can adjust the display durations of notifications according to level of user interest towards the certain type of notifications, thus improving user experience. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374429 | BROADCAST SIGNAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE, BROADCAST SIGNAL RECEPTION DEVICE, BROADCAST SIGNAL TRANSMISSION METHOD, AND BROADCAST SIGNAL RECEPTION METHOD - The present invention proposes a signalling method which can support effectively next-generation broadcast service in an environment which supports next-generation hybrid broadcast using terrestrial broadcast networks and the Internet. The signalling method comprises a broadcast reception method which can use a mobile reception device or can be used even in an indoor environment. The broadcast reception method may comprise the steps of: receiving a broadcast signal including service; establishing a web socket connection from an application of a companion screen device; generating a notification message for the service; and transferring the notification message to the companion screen device through the web socket connection. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374430 | CAPTION REPLACEMENT SERVICE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE SERVICE IN VIDEO ON DEMAND - Provided is a caption replacement service system and method for servicing an interactive advertisement on a video on demand (VOD). A system for making an annotation may include an annotation creator configured to create annotation information on a moving object included in a video and an annotation player configured to play a preview on the annotation information based on a frame unit or a shot unit of the video. The video and the annotation information may be used to provide an interactive advertisement by replacing a caption system of the video with a meaningful annotation. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374431 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR OPTIMIZING OVERLAY LOCATION OVER PROGRAMMING CONTENT - A system is disclosed for providing a platform for optimizing overlay location over programming content that is distributed over a channel by a content provider and displayed on a display at an establishment, the system comprising one or more servers that communicates with a client over a network, each server including one or more processors, memory and one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions for: generating an overlay with information in response to a request from a user via the client that communicates with the one or more servers over the network; and positioning the overlay over programming content from the content provider that is distributed over the channel and displayed on the display at the establishment, wherein the overlay is positioned over programming content so that the overlay does not interfere with one or more tickers transmitted by the content provider over the programming content. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374432 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE VIDEO STREAMING WITH QUALITY EQUIVALENT SEGMENTATION AND DELIVERY - A system for adaptive streaming may include a video receiver configured to transmit a request for a video segment. A video analyzer may be configured to determine, for the video segment, a quality equivalence map between two or more bitrate levels. A video sender coupled to the video analyzer configured to select a bitrate level for the video segment based on an available bandwidth and the determined quality equivalence map. The video segment at the selected bitrate level may be transmitted to the video receiver. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374433 | CONSUMER-CONFIGURABLE ALTERNATIVE ADVERTISING RECEPTION WITH INCENTIVES - An original advertisement is transformed at a first content viewing device into a transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement that itself includes as added encoded data elements a configured incentive, a configured incentive time period within which to obtain the configured incentive, and a reporting instruction that causes an alternative content viewing device to report advertisement viewing back to the first content viewing device. The transferrable incentivized deferred advertisement, that includes the added encoded data elements, is transferred to the alternative content viewing device. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374434 | ENHANCED METADATA AND CONTENT DELIVERY USING WATERMARKS - Methods, systems and devices enable enhanced delivery of metadata, as well as auxiliary programs and services associated with a primary content. In one method, a primary content with pre-existing watermarks is received at a content distributor device. The pre-existing watermark include specific fields that allow retrieval of a first metadata. The values and boundary locations of the symbols of the pre-existing watermark messages are determined, and symbols of a new watermark message are embedded in the primary content to render the pre-existing watermarks undetectable. The new watermark message includes symbol values that different from those in the pre-existing watermark messages and enable retrieval of a second metadata. Upon transmission of the primary content to a client device, detection of the new watermark message, and initiation of a request by the client device, access to the first or the metadata, as well as associated programs or services, are enabled. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374435 | CONNECTOR BRICK FOR CABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A connector brick for a cable communication system includes a header frame including end spacers and side spacers defining a header opening. The header frame is configured for mating with a circuit card. A plurality of cable connectors are received in the header opening and connected to the header frame. Each cable connector has cables extending therefrom. Each cable connector has a header holding signal contacts at a mating end of the header and configured for mating with a corresponding card connector of the circuit card. Float mechanisms extend from the header frame. The float mechanisms allow limited movement in at least two directions of the header frame. The float mechanisms allow alignment of the header frame with the circuit card. The cable connectors float with the header frame as a unit for mating with the corresponding card connectors. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374436 | PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) WITH ANALYTICAL STREAM PROCESSING FOR SAFETY EVENT DETECTION - In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor configured to generate a stream of usage data; and an analytical stream processing component comprising: a communication component that receives the stream of usage data; a memory configured to store at least a portion of the stream of usage data and at least one model for detecting a safety event signature, wherein the at least one model is trained based as least in part on a set of usage data generated by one or more other articles of PPE of a same type as the article of PPE; and one or more computer processors configured to: detect the safety event signature in the stream of usage data based on processing the stream of usage data with the model, and generate an output in response to detecting the safety event signature. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374437 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND RESPONSE MEASURES IN CONNECTION WITH REMOTE SITES - A monitoring and response system is provided for monitoring and responding to environmental conditions at one or more sites. The monitoring system includes a plurality of base units, each base unit including at least a processor and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor environmental conditions at the site(s). A central controller is in communication with the base processors at the plurality of base units and is configured to receive and process sensor information from the base units. Base units are configured to be modular and contain customizable, swappable combinations of sensors, sensor arrays, and/or other connected peripherals, and are further configured to be mountable and/or attachable to a wide variety of surfaces and objects disposed around a site such as a construction site. The system further comprises a backend, analytic system for making predictions, taking action, and generating reports responsive to the information received from the base units. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374438 | Method For Simultaneously Detecting A Plurality Of RFID Tags Using Multiuser Detection - A method and apparatus are disclosed that apply multiuser detection (MUD) analysis to an aggregated RF response from a plurality of simultaneously queried RFID tags, so as to distinguish the individual tag responses. The claimed method thereby significantly reduces RFID detection latency when multiple tags are simultaneously queried. Some embodiments transmit carrier waves at more than one frequency, such as a plurality of equally-spaced frequencies, so as to enhance the MUD analysis by incorporating a multi-frequency dimension. Other embodiments incorporate additional spatial dimensions by deploying multiple RF detection antennae at separated locations. The number of colliding tag responses must be estimated before MUD analysis can be applied. In some embodiments other signal parameters must be estimated, such as signal bias and an impulse function for each responding tag that characterizes alterations of the RF signal while in transit due to propagation distance, passage through intervening objects, and reflections. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374439 | SPEAKER DEVICE - Provided is a speaker device in which reproduction sound pressure is increased, and heat resistance and water resistance are improved. The speaker device includes: a diaphragm formed of a film containing polyimide; and a frame for supporting the diaphragm. A cross-section passing the center of the diaphragm and parallel to a sound emission direction includes sequentially from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of the diaphragm along the sound emission direction: a first bent plate portion having a concave arc; a second bent plate portion having a convex arc; a third bent plate portion having a concave arc; and a fourth bent plate portion having a convex arc. An area of the first bent plate portion is larger than any of areas of the second, the third, the fourth bent plate portions. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374440 | SPEAKER PANEL - The present application provides a method of manufacturing a resonant panel ( | 2017-12-28 |
20170374441 | MEMS TRANSDUCER PACKAGE - A MEMS transducer package ( | 2017-12-28 |
20170374442 | MEMS TRANSDUCER PACKAGE - A MEMS transducer package ( | 2017-12-28 |
20170374443 | DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE INTEGRATED INTO DEVICE CASE - A case for a portable electronic device includes an enclosed, elongated space extending within the case from an opening in an interior surface of the case. The opening corresponds to the location of a microphone in the device. The enclosed space is tapered to an increasingly smaller cross-section as it extends away from the opening. A first edge of the enclosed space aligns along most of its length with an exterior surface of the case. A screen covers a second opening in the exterior surface of the case along the first edge of the elongated space and provides an acoustic resistance between the elongated space and air outside the case through the second opening. A gasket located at the first opening couples the elongated space to the microphone of the electronic device. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374444 | Sound Exposure Limiter - Methods and apparatuses for user sound exposure limiting are disclosed. In one example, an accumulated sound dose exposure from a headset speaker is determined for a plurality of sequentially monitored time intervals during a current listening session, wherein the current listening session comprises a total session time. It is determined whether a predicted sound dose exposure for the total session time exceeds or falls below a permitted sound dose exposure limit, the predicted sound dose exposure determined from the accumulated sound dose exposure. A threshold intervention level at which a time-weighted-average limiter at a headset applies attenuation to an audio signal output at a headset speaker is adjusted. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374445 | WIRELESS SOUND EQUIPMENT - A portable sound equipment including a main body including an upper case and a lower case; a speaker hole formed in a top surface of the upper case; a speaker module secured to an inner surface of the upper case and adjacent to the speaker hole; a wireless communication unit transceiving data wirelessly; and a main board mounted in an internal space of the lower case and separated from the speaker module and controlling the output of the speaker module based on a signal received by the wireless communication unit. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374446 | PROTECTIVE, SOUND ABSORBING, AND/OR DECORATIVE DEVICE FOR COVERING AND/OR COUPLING TO EARPHONES - Some embodiments disclose a customizable covering device for earphones. In some embodiments, the device can removably engage on to the earphones with arms of the coupling portion. A cap portion can extend from the coupling portion and allows a user to add protective, decorative, sound isolating and other additional features that are not present in conventional earphones. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374447 | EARBUDS FOR USE BOTH WIRELESSLY AND WITH A WIRED CONNECTION - An earbud for producing a sound output based on an audio signal that is received via a wired connection or wirelessly. The earbud includes a speaker configured to produce a sound based on an audio signal and a battery, wherein the battery is configured to provide power to the speaker. The earbud also includes an antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to connect wirelessly to an external device. The earbud further includes a connector, the connector configured to receive power to charge the battery and connect to the external device. The audio signal is received either over the connector or the antenna. The earbud additionally includes a processor configured to control the electrical elements of the earbud. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374448 | On/Off Head Detection Using Magnetic Field Sensing - An on/off head detection system uses magnetic field intensity to determine a configuration, position and/or orientation of a headphone, including whether a headphone is on or off a wearer's head. The system includes a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a magnetic field emitted by a magnetic field source associated with an earpiece of the headphone. A control module determines an intensity of the magnetic field and whether the intensity of the magnetic field has reached a threshold. An operational mode associated with the headphone or an associated device is performed in response to the intensity of the magnetic field reaching the threshold. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374449 | Headset Porting - A headset cup having a front cavity and a rear cavity separated by a driver, with a mass port tube connected to the rear port to present a reactive acoustic impedance to the rear cavity, in parallel with a resistive port, the total acoustic response of the rear cavity remaining linear at high power levels. In some embodiments, the mass port tube is made of metal, while the headset cup is otherwise made of plastic. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374450 | SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICE - A sound-reproducing device has a DSP and a μCom performing a predetermined calculation to an input signal, and an AMP amplifying the calculated signal and outputting the signal to a speaker unit. The DSP and the μCom cuts a part of a reverse characteristic of a frequency characteristic of the speaker unit in a low frequency, and superimposes the reverse characteristic on the input signal. The sound-reproducing device can overcome a shortage of low sound during reproduction of low to medium volume in the speaker unit having a relatively small diameter, and can keep reproduction sound quality without loss of the reproduction sound quality during reproduction of large volume. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374451 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device includes a body and a sound cavity assembly. The sound cavity assembly is coupled to the body and forms a sound cavity cooperatively with the body. The sound cavity includes a speaker and a cover. The cover is coupled to the body and at least partially protruding from the body to adjust a volume of the sound cavity. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374452 | AMPLIFIER AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME - An amplifier and an electronic device using the same are provided. The amplifier includes a first speaker, a second speaker, an acoustic box and at least one partition. The first speaker and the second speaker are disposed on a continuous surface inside the acoustic box. The partition is disposed on the continuous surface and interposed between the first speaker and the second speaker. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374453 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - There is provided a signal processing apparatus advantageous in terms of sound source separation performance. The signal processing apparatus includes a dividing unit configured to divide audio signal acquired by a plurality of audio acquisition units into components of a plurality of different frequency bands, and a processing unit configured to form, based on the audio signal, a plurality of directional beams having different directivities in accordance with a target direction and a target width. Each of the plurality of directional beams has directivities in different directions for the respective components of the frequency bands divided by the dividing unit. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374454 | BEAMFORMING METHOD BASED ON ARRAYS OF MICROPHONES AND CORRESPONDING APPARATUS - A beamforming method employs a plurality of microphones arranged in an array with respect to a reference point. The method includes acquiring microphone signals from the microphones and combining the microphone signals (x | 2017-12-28 |
20170374455 | MOUNTABLE SOUND CAPTURE AND REPRODUCTION DEVICE FOR DETERMINING ACOUSTIC SIGNAL ORIGIN - Sound capture and reproduction devices that can be mounted on hearing protective headsets, and are capable of using multiple microphones to determine the origins of one or more acoustic signals relative to the devices orientation, as well as methods of acquiring the origins of a combination of one or more acoustic signals from at least two microphones are described. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374456 | MINIMIZING STARTUP TRANSIENTS IN AN AUDIO PLAYBACK PATH - A method may be provided for powering up or down a playback path comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for generating a non-ground-centered analog intermediate voltage centered at a common-mode voltage and coupled to a driver for generating a ground-centered playback path output voltage at an output of the driver wherein the output of the driver is clamped via a finite impedance to a ground voltage. The method may include transitioning continuously or in a plurality of discrete steps the analog intermediate voltage from an initial voltage to the common-mode voltage such that the transitioning is substantially inaudible at the output of the driver. A method for operating an output clamp of an output driver stage of a playback path may include transitioning continuously or in a plurality of discrete steps an impedance of the output clamp in order to match an output offset of the output driver stage in order to minimize audio artifacts appearing at an output of the output driver stage. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374457 | SPEAKER PROTECTION BASED ON OUTPUT SIGNAL ANALYSIS - In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a controller configured to be coupled to an audio speaker, wherein the controller receives an output signal indicative of a physical quantity associated with the audio speaker, compares the output signal to an audio input signal to determine if differences between the output signal and the audio input signal are present indicating at least one of distortion of the output signal, non-linearities of the audio speaker, and overexcursion of the audio speaker, and controls an audio signal communicated from the controller to the audio speaker and based on the audio input signal responsive to determining that differences between the output signal and the audio input signal are present indicating at least one of distortion of the output signal, non-linearities of the audio speaker, and overexcursion of the audio speaker. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374458 | SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - A signal processing device includes an acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) circuit, a blocking matrix circuit, a controller, a subtractor, and a filter. The AEC circuit performs an AEC operation based on a far-end signal and a first input signal to generate a processed signal. The blocking matrix circuit suppresses a target signal component of the first input signal and a second input signal, to generate a reference signal. The controller generates a control coefficient based on the processed signal and the second input signal. The subtractor generates an output signal based on the filtered signal and the processed signal. The filter generates the filtered signal in response to the control coefficient, the reference signal, and the output signal. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374459 | OPTIMIZATION OF PERFORMANCE AND POWER IN AUDIO SYSTEM - In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for operating a playback path comprising a first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and a second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, wherein an audio signal generated by the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem is communicated to the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, is provided. The method may include determining a first operating parameter of one of the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem that affects behavior of the other of the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, communicating a control signal between the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem indicative of the first operating parameter, and setting a second operating parameter of the other of the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem in response to receipt of the control signal. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374460 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROCESSING SOUND FROM ENGINE, VEHICLE, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE - The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods of processing a sound from an engine or a vehicle. The apparatus for processing a sound from the engine includes: an engine to generate an engine sound; a sensing device to sense vibration of the engine; a controller to generate a reinforcing signal to reinforce a region of the engine sound based on the vibration and an output unit to output a reinforcing sound corresponding to the reinforcing signal. | 2017-12-28 |
20170374461 | DEVICE FOR PROCESSING AN AUDIO SIGNAL - Disclosed is a device ( | 2017-12-28 |