| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080285940 | VIDEO PLAYER USER INTERFACE - A video playback user interface includes display of tags or other information outside of a video play area. Tags can be visually associated with items in the video by using connectors such as lines, arrows, etc. that bridge between a tag and an item. Tag and other information can be included with a video file or associated with a video file and stored as a separate file or other data structure. Users can add text or other annotations for viewing at a later time or by other users. A snapshot of a video frame during playback can be obtained and sent to an email address, web site, storage device, or other destination. The snapshot includes a video frame or portion of a frame along with added information such as tags, annotations, etc. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090019487 | VIDEO TAG LAYOUT - In one embodiment, a portion of a video sequence is displayed on an interface. A video tag is also displayed in the portion of the video sequence. In one embodiment, the video tag is a placeholder tag that shows where the tag would be displayed in the portion of the video sequence. An input area is then displayed that allows input of tag information for the video tag. For example, the user may specify what kind of tag they would like and also any information that can be displayed for the tag. For example, the user may specify that they would like the tag to be a text tag that includes the logo of the company. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090019491 | MOVING VIDEO TAGS OUTSIDE OF A VIDEO AREA TO CREATE A MENU SYSTEM - Tags in a video area are established by displaying the tags with a visual association to an item in the video. Thereafter, the tags move to a tag menu area that is outside of the video area. Tags are selectable, such as by clicking on the tag, to cause additional actions such as displaying a web page related to the tag. Tags move and disappear/appear in conjunction with the video as the video action progresses. In one embodiment, the tag menu area is obtained when a video with a first aspect ratio is displayed in a display area that has a different aspect ratio. The difference in aspect ratios leaves a portion in the display area that is not used for the video that can be used for the tag menu area. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090092374 | Digital Network-Based Video Tagging System - A system for handling video tags. The tags are displayed synchronized to a video. A controller manages and modifies tag data that can be created by one or more users. The controller identifies a tag dataset for use with a video and provides information for synchronization and display of the tags. In a particular embodiment, features of a social-network website implementation are disclosed whereby a user community can post, filter, rate and display tags. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090094520 | User Interface for Creating Tags Synchronized with a Video Playback - A system for handling video tags. The tags are displayed synchronized to a video. A controller manages and modifies tag data that can be created by one or more users. The controller identifies a tag dataset for use with a video and provides information for synchronization and display of the tags. Various user interface features are disclosed to allow one or more users to author, publish, view and manipulate tags. Features of a social-network website implementation are disclosed whereby a user community can post, filter, rate and display tags. User profiles are used to define tag characteristics associated with a particular user. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090184967 | SCRIPT CONTROL FOR LIP ANIMATION IN A SCENE GENERATED BY A COMPUTER RENDERING ENGINE - A system for controlling a rendering engine by using specialized commands. The commands are used to generate a production, such as a television show, at an end-user's computer that executes the rendering engine. In one embodiment, the commands are sent over a network, such as the Internet, to achieve broadcasts of video programs at very high compression and efficiency. Commands for setting and moving camera viewpoints, animating characters, and defining or controlling scenes and sounds are described. At a fine level of control math models and coordinate systems can be used make specifications. At a coarse level of control the command language approaches the text format traditionally used in television or movie scripts. Simple names for objects within a scene are used to identify items, directions and paths. Commands are further simplified by having the rendering engine use defaults when specifications are left out. For example, when a camera direction is not specified, the system assumes that the viewpoint is to be the current action area. The system provides a hierarchy of detail levels. Movement commands can be defaulted or specified. Synchronized speech can be specified as digital audio or as text which is used to synthesize the speech. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090189906 | SCRIPT CONTROL FOR GAIT ANIMATION IN A SCENE GENERATED BY A COMPUTER RENDERING ENGINE - A system for controlling a rendering engine by using specialized commands. The commands are used to generate a production, such as a television show, at an end-user's computer that executes the rendering engine. In one embodiment, the commands are sent over a network, such as the Internet, to achieve broadcasts of video programs at very high compression and efficiency. Commands for setting and moving camera viewpoints, animating characters, and defining or controlling scenes and sounds are described. At a fine level of control math models and coordinate systems can be used make specifications. At a coarse level of control the command language approaches the text format traditionally used in television or movie scripts. Simple names for objects within a scene are used to identify items, directions and paths. Commands are further simplified by having the rendering engine use defaults when specifications are left out. For example, when a camera direction is not specified, the system assumes that the viewpoint is to be the current action area. The system provides a hierarchy of detail levels. Movement commands can be defaulted or specified. Synchronized speech can be specified as digital audio or as text which is used to synthesize the speech. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090189989 | SCRIPT CONTROL FOR CAMERA POSITIONING IN A SCENE GENERATED BY A COMPUTER RENDERING ENGINE - A system for controlling a rendering engine by using specialized commands. The commands are used to generate a production, such as a television show, at an end-user's computer that executes the rendering engine. In one embodiment, the commands are sent over a network, such as the Internet, to achieve broadcasts of video programs at very high compression and efficiency. Commands for setting and moving camera viewpoints, animating characters, and defining or controlling scenes and sounds are described. At a fine level of control math models and coordinate systems can be used make specifications. At a coarse level of control the command language approaches the text format traditionally used in television or movie scripts. Simple names for objects within a scene are used to identify items, directions and paths. Commands are further simplified by having the rendering engine use defaults when specifications are left out. For example, when a camera direction is not specified, the system assumes that the viewpoint is to be the current action area. The system provides a hierarchy of detail levels. Movement commands can be defaulted or specified. Synchronized speech can be specified as digital audio or as text which is used to synthesize the speech. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090197576 | EXTERNAL CONTROL FOR ANSWERING AN INCOMING CALL - An earpiece unit is held adjacent to or within a cell phone. The earpiece includes a microphone and speaker and is wearable in a user's ear. The earpiece is docked within the housing of a cell phone and can be used in the docked position to operate the phone. A user can push on the back of the earpiece to eject the earpiece from the phone housing so that the earpiece can be easily inserted into the user's ear. The user can be provided with a “pause” control on the cell phone that indicates to the cell phone system that a call is going to be answered. Upon activation of the “pause” control, the cell phone system can pause its efforts to establish communications and/or temporarily reduce the intensity of transmissions. A message is sent to the caller notifying that the call is about to be answered. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090197650 | HOLDER FOR A DOCKABLE EARPIECE FOR A PORTABLE PHONE - An earpiece unit is held adjacent to or within a cell phone. The earpiece includes a microphone and speaker and is wearable in a user's ear. The earpiece is docked within the housing of a cell phone and can be used in the docked position to operate the phone. A user can push on the back of the earpiece to eject the earpiece from the phone housing so that the earpiece can be easily inserted into the user's ear. The user can be provided with a “pause” control on the cell phone that indicates to the cell phone system that a call is going to be answered. Upon activation of the “pause” control, the cell phone system can pause its efforts to establish communications and/or temporarily reduce the intensity of transmissions. A message is sent to the caller notifying that the call is about to be answered. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090210778 | VIDEO LINKING TO ELECTRONIC TEXT MESSAGING - Certain embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatuses for linking video information to electronic messages such as electronic mail (email), online chat, web logs (“blogs”), bulletin boards, web page text, Simple Mobile Services (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and other electronic message formats. One embodiment provides for embedding links from a video annotation session at a cursor position in an email application. A method for transferring from email to chat and vice versa is disclosed whereby association with video content is maintained. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20100306678 | USER INTERFACE CONTROLS INCLUDING CAPTURING USER MOOD - A method for operating at least one control in a graphical user interface that provides a user to output state of mind about current contents by selecting at least one of a multiple areas associated thereof. A change in texture is observed when a pointer is over at least one of the areas of the at least one control. The change in texture of the at least one control preferably includes a grid like cross-hatching, a diagonal hatching, a color change or any other visual indicators. A click on at least one of the areas of the control simultaneously operates the control and outputs the user's state of mind corresponding to the particular area. The method can be applicable to each of a navigational control, video transport control, web browser control, hyperlink, software application and computer operating system. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110090452 | EYEGLASS USING ADJUSTABLE PUPIL MASK TO IMPROVE VISION - An apparatus for adjusting the amount of light passing through a pupil of a human eyeball particularly for a person having defects or imperfections in the eyeball lens. An electrically controllable mask area having a smallest, a medium and a largest mask opening may be coupled to at least one lens of the eyeglass. The mask area is varied with a rotating aperture adjustment assembly on a controller so that an image of an object that would otherwise pass through the pupil is masked so that a smaller portion of the image passes through the pupil. The wearer may select the at least one mask opening by moving a thumb wheel on the rotating aperture adjustment assembly. The wearer selects at least one of on and off condition of the apparatus with a button. The mask area can be customized by means of an external processing system. | 04-21-2011 |