| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080202914 | De-entrainment tray for high capacity operation - A de-entrainment device separates entrained liquid from vapor in a fluid stream that flows through a chimney tray in a distillation tower. The separated liquid is collected and shielded from the fluid stream to prevent re-entrainment of the liquid in the vapor flowing upward into the tower. The chimney tray includes risers with hats that have gutters to guide liquid toward the tray deck, channels to collect and drain liquid from the top of the hats to the tray deck, and baffles extending from the risers to shield the liquid collected on the tray deck from the vapor flow. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080314729 | Core de-entrainment device for vessels with tangential inlets - A distillation tower for use in a petrochemical or petroleum operation effects liquid and vapor separation by using centrifugal force applied to the feed introduced into a ring from a tangential inlet. The feed is separated into a liquid component that flows into the bottoms section of the tower and a vapor component that flows upwardly through the core of the ring to a wash zone in the tower. De-entrainment devices are provided in the core so that the vapor swirling upwardly impacts the devices and any remaining entrained liquid is separated from the vapor. As a result, overflash with decreased resid can be collected from the wash zone and used as feed suitable for a fluid catalytic cracking operation, for example. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090101546 | Distillation tower construction and operation - A combination of differently sized structured packings in the wash zone of distillation towers is provides advantages at high vapor rates. The use of a large crimp structured packing below a smaller crimp size structured packing is advantageous for vacuum crude unit service where fouling resistance is desirable and liquid entrainment into the wash zone is a problem at high vapor rates. The tower may be operated at high vapor flux rates or C 0.4 ft/sec or higher (0.12 m/sec). An unexpected characteristic of the combinations is that the entrainment increases only slowly with increasing vapor flux rate up to Cs values of at least 0.55 ft/sec (0.17 m.sec), as compared to other packings such as random packing, grid packing and combinations of grid packing with structured packing which allow entrainment to increase sharply at high vapor rates. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090321322 | OPTIMIZING FEED MIXER PERFORMANCE IN A PARAFFINIC FROTH TREATMENT PROCESS - The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. One process provides for operation of a bitumen froth treatment plant at optimum shear rates in the feed pipe carrying the bitumen froth to the froth settling unit. Another process provides for optimizing the design of a bitumen froth treatment plant by optimizing the diameter of the feed pipe to impart an optimum shear rate to the bitumen froth mixture and further optimizing the volume of the feed pipe to impart an optimum residence time for the bitumen froth stream in the feed pipe. An optimal plant design is also disclosed, the plant including optimal diameter and volume of the feed pipe. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090321323 | Optimizing Heavy Oil Recovery Processes Using Electrostatic Desalters - The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. The process may include providing a bitumen froth feed stream, separating the stream in a froth separation unit to produce a diluted bitumen stream, treating the diluted bitumen stream in an electrostatic desalter to produce a treated bitumen stream, and separating the treated bitumen stream into a solvent recycle stream and a bitumen product stream. The system may include a combined AC/DC desalter with a control unit for optimizing the treatment process to produce a product bitumen stream using less solvent and smaller separators than conventional bitumen froth treatment plants and processes. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090321324 | Fouling Reduction In A Paraffinic Froth Treatment Process By Solubility Control - The disclosure relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. In particular, the disclosure teaches processes and systems for recovering heavy crude oil while avoiding fouling of equipment by recycling at least a portion of a product bitumen from a solvent recovery unit for mixing with an overhead bitumen stream that may be a diluted bitumen stream containing solvent and bitumen. The overhead bitumen stream is a near-incompatible stream and the stream of mixed overhead bitumen stream and the treated bitumen stream is a compatible stream that will not foul equipment upon heating. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20120217187 | Optimizing Heavy Oil Recovery Processes Using Electrostatic Desalters - The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. The process may include providing a bitumen froth feed stream, separating the stream in a froth separation unit to produce a diluted bitumen stream, treating the diluted bitumen stream in an electrostatic desalter to produce a treated bitumen stream, and separating the treated bitumen stream into a solvent recycle stream and a bitumen product stream. The system may include a combined AC/DC desalter with a control unit for optimizing the treatment process to produce a product bitumen stream using less solvent and smaller separators than conventional bitumen froth treatment plants and processes. | 08-30-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20100181068 | Method and System for Treating Hydrocarbon Formations - The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation having brine and at least one temperature, wherein the brine has at least one first composition by obtaining first compatibility information for a first model brine and a first treatment composition at a model temperature, wherein the first model brine has a composition selected at least partially based on the first brine composition, wherein the model temperature is selected at least partially based on the formation temperature, and wherein the first treatment composition comprises at least one first surfactant and at least one first solvent; based at least partially on the first compatibility information, selecting a treatment method for the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and treating the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the selected treatment method. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100276149 | Method for Treating a Hydrocarbon Formation - The present invention includes compositions and method for treating a hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation having brine, the method comprising: contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation with a fluid, wherein the fluid at least one of at least partially solubilizes or at least partially displaces the brine in the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation; and subsequently contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation with a composition, the composition comprising: a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant, and solvent, wherein when the composition is contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation, the nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant has a cloud point that is above the temperature of the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation. | 11-04-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090062155 | USE OF FLUOROCARBON SURFACTANTS TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF GAS AND GAS CONDENSATE WELLS - The present invention includes composition having a nonionic, fluorinated polymeric surfactant, water and solvent. Embodiments of compositions according to the present invention are useful, for example, for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean elastic formations. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090314549 | MAINTAINING SHALE STABILITY BY PORE PLUGGING - The present invention includes compositions and methods for improving wellbores stability of a hydrocarbon bearing shale formation using nanoparticles to decrease swelling and plug pore throats. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100137169 | Method for Treating a Fractured Formation - The present invention includes compositions and methods of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the formation having at least one fracture, by contacting the fracture with a composition that includes a solvent and a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant, wherein the composition interacts with at least a portion of the proppants in the fracture. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100167964 | Compositions and Methods for Treating a Water Blocked Well - The present invention includes a method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation having non-connate water by contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation with a composition that includes a solvent and a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant wherein the solvent at least partially displaces or solubilizes the water in the formation. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100224361 | Compositions and Methods for Treating a Water Blocked Well - The present invention includes a method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation having non-connate water, the method includes contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing clastic formation with a composition that includes a solvent and a surfactant wherein the solvent at least partially displaces or solubilizes the water in the formation. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100292110 | USE OF FLUOROCARBON SURFACTANTS TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF GAS AND GAS CONDENSATE WELLS - The present invention includes composition having a nonionic, fluorinated polymeric surfactant, water and solvent. Embodiments of compositions according to the present invention are useful, for example, for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean clastic formations. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100319920 | METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF OIL PRODUCING WELLS - Methods for treating formations bearing brine and at least one of black oil or volatile oil using a composition containing a nonionic polymer and solvent. The solvent at least one of solubilizes or displaces at least one of brine or oil in the formation. Methods for making a composition for treating a formation bearing brine an at least one of black oil or volatile oil are also disclosed. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110136704 | Methods of Treating a Hydrocarbon-Bearing Formation, a Well Bore, and Particles - Methods of treating articles using a compound represented by formula: (I) wherein each of X and Y is independently a thiol, a halogen, a hydrogen, a hydroxyl, a hydroalkyl, a carboxylic acid, an aldehyde, a carboxylic ester, or a carboxamide; R′ is hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl; and x and y are each independently 0 to 10, wherein x+y is at least 1 and articles treated by such methods. In some embodiments, the article is a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. In some embodiments, the article is a particle, and the method further comprises treating the article with a fluorochemical comprising at least one fluoroaliphatic segment and at least one hydrophilic segment. In some embodiments, the method is used to treat a well bore. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110201531 | Method for Treating Hydrocarbon-Bearing Formations with Fluorinated Epoxides - A method of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation with a fluorinated epoxide and a treated hydrocarbon-bearing formation. A method of making proppants is also disclosed, which includes combining a plurality of particles with a fluorinated epoxide. The particles comprise at least one of sand, resin-coated sand, ceramic, thermoplastic, clay, bauxite, nut or seed shells, fruit pits, or wood. A particle treated with a ring-opened product of a fluorinated epoxide is also disclosed, wherein the particle comprises one of sand, resin-coated sand, ceramic, thermoplastic, clay, bauxite, nut or seed shells, fruit pits, or wood. | 08-18-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080256221 | Method and Apparatus for a Secure Network Install - A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a secure network install. One aspect of the present invention provides a proxy server within the same subnet of the client for performing a lookup of the boot image file and downloading the boot image file from a boot file server in a secure manner. The client in turn downloads the file from the proxy TFTP server. Another aspect of the present invention modifies the client remote boot code to include a secure boot file download discovery (SBDD) mode. The client starts the SBDD mode by sending a request for a boot image file to a subnet broadcast address and port, which is listened by a proxy TFTP server. The proxy TFTP server receives the client request and downloads the boot image file. The client in turn downloads the boot image file from the proxy TFTP server. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080259917 | System and Method for Improved Ethernet Load Balancing - A method for Ethernet packet load balancing includes receiving a transmit package for transmission on an Ethernet network. An offload adapter identifies a least busy port from a plurality of ports indicated in a port list, based on a byte count associated with each of the plurality of ports. The offload adapter determines whether the identified least busy port is in a working status. In the event the identified least busy port is in a working status, the offload adapter assigns the transmit packet to the identified least busy port and increments the byte count associated with the identified least busy port. In the event the identified least busy port is not in a working status, the offload adapter updates the port list and, based on a determination that there are additional working ports, assigns the transmit packet to one of the additional working ports. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080288598 | METHOD TO MANAGE DISK USAGE BASED ON USER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS - A method, system, and computer program product are provided for managing email disk usage based on user specified conditions. An incoming email for a user is scanned for email expressions. A determination is made as to whether one of the email expressions matches one of a number of listed expressions forming a matched expression. Responsive to a presence of a matched expression, a determination is made as to whether a first threshold associated with the matched expression is met or exceeded. Responsive to the first threshold being met or exceeded, a notification is sent to the user of the first threshold being met. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090094352 | Method and Apparatus for a Secure Network Install - A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a secure network install. One aspect of the present invention provides a proxy server within the same subnet of the client for performing a lookup of the boot image file and downloading the boot image file from a boot file server in a secure manner. The client in turn downloads the file from the proxy TFTP server. Another aspect of the present invention modifies the client remote boot code to include a secure boot file download discovery (SBDD) mode. The client starts the SBDD mode by sending a request for a boot image file to a subnet broadcast address and port, which is listened by a proxy TFTP server. The proxy TFTP server receives the client request and downloads the boot image file. The client in turn downloads the boot image file from the proxy TFTP server. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20110093870 | High Performance and Resource Efficient Communications Between Partitions in a Logically Partitioned System - A mechanism is provided for communicating between a plurality of applications. An application programming interface (API) associated with an originating application running on a first logical partition in a plurality of logical partitions of a logically partitioned data processing system receives a request to send data to a destination application. The API sends a request to identify a location of the destination application to a virtualization management mechanism. Responsive to receiving a response from the virtualization management mechanism, the API determines whether the location of the destination application is a second logical partition in the plurality of logical partitions of the logically partitioned data processing system. Responsive to the location being the second logical partition, the API uses a bypass protocol to send the request from the originating application to the destination application. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110265095 | Resource Affinity via Dynamic Reconfiguration for Multi-Queue Network Adapters - A mechanism is provided for providing resource affinity for multi-queue network adapters via dynamic reconfiguration. A device driver allocates an initial queue pair within a memory. The device driver determines whether workload of the data processing system has risen above a predetermined high threshold. Responsive to the workload rising above the predetermined high threshold, the device driver allocates and initializes an additional queue pair in the memory. The device driver programs a receive side scaling (RSS) mechanism in a network adapter to allow for dynamic insertion of an additional processing engine associated with the additional queue pair. The device driver enables transmit tuple hashing to the additional queue pair. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20120102217 | Multi-Adapter Link Aggregation for Adapters with Hardware Based Virtual Bridges - Mechanisms for providing a network adapter and functionality for performing link aggregation within a network adapter are provided. With these mechanisms, a network adapter is provided that includes a plurality of physical network ports for coupling to one or more switches of a data network and a link aggregation module, within the network adapter, and coupled to the plurality of physical network ports. The link aggregation module comprises logic for aggregating links associated with the plurality of physical network ports into a single virtual link. The link aggregation module interfaces with a virtual Ethernet bridge (VEB) of the network adapter to send data to the VEB and receive data from the VEB. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120102562 | SECURING NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS WITH LOGICAL PARTITIONS - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products that enable secure network communications with logical partitions. A gateway between a physical network adapter and at least one virtual network trunk adapter receives a packet. The gateway tags the packet with an indication of an origin of the packet. The gateway delivers the tagged packet to an intrusion prevention system for intrusion analysis. When the gateway receives the tagged packet from the intrusion prevention system, the gateway forwards the tagged packet according to the indication of origin of the tagged packet. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120185846 | NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS OVER SHARED LINKS IN A VIRTUALIZED ENVIRONMENT - A method of data processing includes a physical host executing a virtual machine monitor (VMM) that instantiates a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). The VMM supports processing of a virtual link manager (VLM) that deploys and configures a plurality of Layer 2 virtual links sharing bandwidth of a Layer 2 physical link between the physical host and an access switch. The VMM communicates parameters of the plurality of virtual links with the access switch. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120201253 | Multi-Adapter Link Aggregation for Adapters with Hardware Based Virtual Bridges - Mechanisms for providing a network adapter and functionality for performing link aggregation within a network adapter are provided. With these mechanisms, a network adapter is provided that includes a plurality of physical network ports for coupling to one or more switches of a data network and a link aggregation module, within the network adapter, and coupled to the plurality of physical network ports. The link aggregation module comprises logic for aggregating links associated with the plurality of physical network ports into a single virtual link. The link aggregation module interfaces with a virtual Ethernet bridge (VEB) of the network adapter to send data to the VEB and receive data from the VEB. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120210319 | NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS OVER SHARED LINKS IN A VIRTUALIZED ENVIRONMENT - A method of data processing includes a physical host executing a virtual machine monitor (VMM) that instantiates a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). The VMM supports processing of a virtual link manager (VLM) that deploys and configures a plurality of Layer 2 virtual links sharing bandwidth of a Layer 2 physical link between the physical host and an access switch. The VMM communicates parameters of the plurality of virtual links with the access switch. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120210337 | Resource Affinity Via Dynamic Reconfiguration for Multi-Queue Network Adapters - A mechanism is provided for providing resource affinity for multi-queue network adapters via dynamic reconfiguration. A device driver allocates an initial queue pair within a memory. The device driver determines whether workload of the data processing system has risen above a predetermined high threshold. Responsive to the workload rising above the predetermined high threshold, the device driver allocates and initializes an additional queue pair in the memory. The device driver programs a receive side scaling (RSS) mechanism in a network adapter to allow for dynamic insertion of an additional processing engine associated with the additional queue pair. The device driver enables transmit tuple hashing to the additional queue pair. | 08-16-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090049278 | EFFICIENT MEMORY UPDATE PROCESS FOR ON-THE-FLY INSTRUCTION TRANSLATION FOR WELL BEHAVED APPLICATIONS EXECUTING ON A WEAKLY-ORDERED PROCESSOR - A multiprocessor data processing system (MDPS) with a weakly-ordered architecture providing processing logic for substantially eliminating issuing sync instructions after every store instruction of a well-behaved application. Instructions of a well-behaved application are translated and executed by a weakly-ordered processor. The processing logic includes a lock address tracking utility (LATU), which provides an algorithm and a table of lock addresses, within which each lock address is stored when the lock is acquired by the weakly-ordered processor. When a store instruction is encountered in the instruction stream, the LATU compares the target address of the store instruction against the table of lock addresses. If the target address matches one of the lock addresses, indicating that the store instruction is the corresponding unlock instruction (or lock release instruction), a sync instruction is issued ahead of the store operation. The sync causes all values updated by the intermediate store operations to be flushed out to the point of coherency and be visible to all processors. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090077661 | Method and Apparatus for the Reliability of Host Data Stored on Fibre Channel Attached Storage Subsystems - A method for improving the reliability of host data stored on Fibre Channel attached storage subsystems by performing end-to-end data integrity checks. When a read or write operation is initiated, an initial checksum for data in the read/write operation is generated and associated with the data, wherein the association exists through a plurality of layers of software and attached storage subsystems. The initial checksum is passed with the data in the read/write path. When a layer of software in the read/write path receives the initial checksum and data, the layer performs an integrity check of the data, which includes generating another checksum and comparing it to the initial checksum. If the checksums do not match, the read/write operation fails and the error is logged. If the checksums match, the integrity check is repeated through each layer in the read/write path to enable detecting data corruption at the point of source. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20110107054 | EXPANDING MEMORY SIZE - A method, system, and computer usable program product for expanding memory size are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A desired size of an expanded memory and a first information about a workload in the data processing system are received. A size of a compressed memory pool to use with the memory to make the desired size of the expanded memory available is computed. A representation of the memory is configured, the representation of the memory appearing to be of a size larger than the size of the memory, the representation of the memory being the expanded memory, and the size of the representation being the size of the expanded memory. The expanded memory is made available such that the memory in the data processing system is usable by addressing the expanded memory. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110161979 | MIXED OPERATING PERFORMANCE MODE LPAR CONFIGURATION - Functionality is implemented to determine that a plurality of multi-core processing units of a system are configured in accordance with a plurality of operating performance modes. It is determined that a first of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a first performance criterion that corresponds to a first workload of a first logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the first logical partition is associated with a first set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the first operating performance mode. It is determined that a second of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a second performance criterion that corresponds to a second workload of a second logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the second logical partition is associated with a second set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the second operating performance mode. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20120210090 | EXPANDING MEMORY SIZE - A method for expanding memory size is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A desired size of an expanded memory and a first information about a workload in the data processing system are received. A size of a compressed memory pool to use with the memory to make the desired size of the expanded memory available is computed. A representation of the memory is configured, the representation of the memory appearing to be of a size larger than the size of the memory, the representation of the memory being the expanded memory, and the size of the representation being the size of the expanded memory. The expanded memory is made available such that the memory in the data processing system is usable by addressing the expanded memory. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120216214 | MIXED OPERATING PERFORMANCE MODE LPAR CONFIGURATION - Functionality is implemented to determine that a plurality of multi-core processing units of a system are configured in accordance with a plurality of operating performance modes. It is determined that a first of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a first performance criterion that corresponds to a first workload of a first logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the first logical partition is associated with a first set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the first operating performance mode. It is determined that a second of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a second performance criterion that corresponds to a second workload of a second logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the second logical partition is associated with a second set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the second operating performance mode. | 08-23-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20100251239 | Component Lock Tracing - Methods, systems, and products for lock tracing at a component level. The method includes associating one or more locks with a component of the operating system; initiating lock tracing for the component; and instrumenting the component-associated locks with lock tracing program instructions in response to initiating lock tracing. The locks are selected from a group of locks configured for use by an operating system and individually comprise locking code. The component lock tracing may be static or dynamic. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110107054 | EXPANDING MEMORY SIZE - A method, system, and computer usable program product for expanding memory size are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A desired size of an expanded memory and a first information about a workload in the data processing system are received. A size of a compressed memory pool to use with the memory to make the desired size of the expanded memory available is computed. A representation of the memory is configured, the representation of the memory appearing to be of a size larger than the size of the memory, the representation of the memory being the expanded memory, and the size of the representation being the size of the expanded memory. The expanded memory is made available such that the memory in the data processing system is usable by addressing the expanded memory. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20120210090 | EXPANDING MEMORY SIZE - A method for expanding memory size is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A desired size of an expanded memory and a first information about a workload in the data processing system are received. A size of a compressed memory pool to use with the memory to make the desired size of the expanded memory available is computed. A representation of the memory is configured, the representation of the memory appearing to be of a size larger than the size of the memory, the representation of the memory being the expanded memory, and the size of the representation being the size of the expanded memory. The expanded memory is made available such that the memory in the data processing system is usable by addressing the expanded memory. | 08-16-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20110113450 | ENHANCED TELEVISION EXTENSION - A method may include receiving an enhanced television (ETV) application in a video client over a first data path and executing the ETV application in the video client. In one embodiment, the ETV application may include an enhanced television binary interchange format (EBIF) resource. The method may also include extracting, from the EBIF resource, an identifier of an extension application and requesting the identified extension application. The method may include receiving the extension application, over a second data path different than the first data path and executing the extension application. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110293251 | Methods and Systems for Dynamically Balancing Storage of Recorded Media Content Data Between a Local Storage Device and a Network Storage Device - An exemplary method includes receiving a command input by a user to record media content, recording media content data representative of the media content in response to the command, automatically selecting at least one storage device from a local storage device and a network storage device for storage of the recorded media content data in accordance with at least one of a plurality of storage balancing factors, and storing the recorded media content data in the at least one selected storage device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110304778 | TWO-WAY REMOTE WITH ADAPTIVE CHARACTER ENTRY - A media client receives, from a remote control device, a signal to launch a selected interactive television application and sends, to the remote control device, a client program for reprogramming buttons on the remote control device. The media client sends, to the remote control device, a script, for button functions of the remote control device, which are based on the selected interactive television application. The remote control device executes the script on the client program to reprogram the buttons functions. The media client presents, on a display device, a button map that corresponds to the script, and receives, from the remote control device, a signal based on the scripting. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110307924 | Methods and Systems for Generating a Personalized Version of a Media Content Program for a User - An exemplary method includes receiving a plurality of data chunks each representative of a distinct portion of a media content program, generating a personalized version of the media content program based on at least a subset of the data chunks and in accordance with one or more of a plurality of personalization factors associated with a user, and providing the personalized version of the media content program for presentation to the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also described. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120084825 | PROVISIONING AN ENHANCED TELEVISION (ETV) APPLICATION - A method includes detecting, from an Enhanced Television (ETV) Integrated Signaling Stream (EISS), an indication that an ETV application is available to be downloaded; downloading, in response to the indication, the ETV application from a video stream identified by the indication, where the ETV application does not conform to an ETV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) standard; detecting, from the EISS, another indication that the ETV application is to be started; executing, in response to the other indication, the ETV application to generate an ETV page, where the ETV page includes information that is not permitted by the EBIF standard; and displaying the ETV page on a video display device to enables a user to interact with the ETV page. | 04-05-2012 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20100183195 | Method and Apparatus for Object Detection in an Image - A method and apparatus for detecting at least one of a location and a scale of an object in an image. The method comprising distinguishing the trailing and leading edges of a moving object in at least one portion of the image, applying a symmetry detection filter to at least a portion of the image to produce symmetry scores relating to the at least one portion of the image, and identifying at least one location corresponding to locally maximal symmetry scores of the symmetry scores relating to the at least one portion of the image, and utilizing the at least one location of the locally maximal symmetry scores to detect at least one of a location and a scale of the object in the image, wherein the scale relates to the size of the symmetry detection filter. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20110064315 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE CAPTURING TAMPERING DETECTION - A method and apparatus for detecting tampering with an image capturing device. The method includes determining a change has occurred in average intensity if an image, determining a percentage area of a foreground mask, detecting related at least one edge and determining at least one edge weight, utilizing the average intensity, the percentage area of the foreground mask, and the at least one edge weight to determining offset of edge blocks of an image, and utilizing the determining offset of edge blocks to detect tampering with an image capturing device. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110135150 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRACKING OBJECTS ACROSS IMAGES - A method and apparatus for tracking objects across images. The method includes retrieving object location in a current frame, determining the appearance and motion signatures of the object in the current frame, predicting the new location of the object based on object dynamics, searching for a location with similar appearance and motion signatures in a next frame, and utilizing the location with similar appearance and motion signatures to determine the final location of the object in the next frame. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110221895 | Detection of Movement of a Stationary Video Camera - A method of detecting movement of a video camera is provided that includes computing a reference spatial derivative image from a reference frame, computing a temporal derivative image based on two frames of a video sequence captured by the video camera, and determining whether the video camera has moved based on the number of pixels in the temporal derivative image that match pixels in the reference spatial derivative image. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110222727 | Object Localization Using Tracked Object Trajectories - A method of processing a video sequence is provided that includes tracking a first object and a second object for a specified number of frames, determining similarity between a trajectory of the first object and a trajectory of the second object over the specified number of frames, and merging the first object and the second object into a single object when the trajectory of the first object and the trajectory of the second object are sufficiently similar, whereby an accurate location and size for the single object is obtained. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20120086780 | Utilizing Depth Information to Create 3D Tripwires in Video - A method of processing a digital video sequence is provided that includes detecting a foreground object in an image captured by a depth camera, determining three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of the foreground object, and comparing the 3D coordinates to a 3D video tripwire to determine if the foreground object has crossed the 3D video tripwire. A method of defining a 3D video tripwire is also provided. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120087572 | Use of Three-Dimensional Top-Down Views for Business Analytics - A method of analyzing a depth image in a digital system is provided that includes detecting a foreground object in a depth image, wherein the depth image is a top-down perspective of a scene, and performing data extraction and classification on the foreground object using depth information in the depth image. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120087573 | Eliminating Clutter in Video Using Depth Information - A method of clutter elimination in digital images is provided that includes identifying a foreground blob in an image, determining a depth of the foreground blob, and indicating that the foreground blob is clutter when the depth indicates that the foreground blob is too close to be an object of interest. Methods for obstruction detection in depth images such as those captured by stereoscopic cameras and structured light cameras are also provided. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120092458 | Method and Apparatus for Depth-Fill Algorithm for Low-Complexity Stereo Vision - A method and apparatus for depth-fill algorithm for low-complexity stereo vision. The method includes utilizing right and left images of a stereo camera to estimate depth of the scene, wherein the estimated depth relates to each pixel of the image, and updating a depth model with the current depth utilizing the estimated depth of the scene. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120148093 | Blob Representation in Video Processing - A method of processing a video sequence is provided that includes receiving a frame of the video sequence, identifying a plurality of blobs in the frame, computing at least one interior point of each blob of the plurality of blobs, and using the interior points in further processing of the video sequence. The interior points may be used, for example, in object tracking. | 06-14-2012 |