Sony Corporation

Sony Group Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Tonni Sandager Larsen

Ted Yamazaki

James Richard Milne

Gregory Carlsson

Leigh Anderson

Tatsushi Nashida

Naomasa Takahashi

Koji Matsubayashi

Yuko Suzuki

Bibhudendu Mohapatra

William Arthur Schupp

Max Wu

Norifumi Takaya

Liviu Burciu

Thomas Patrick Dawson

Tomohiro Koyata

Jason Clement

Libiao Jiang

Prem Aanand Venkatesan

Hye Hoon Yi

Cristian Lars Almstrand

Bryan John Mihalov

Benjamin Wai-Ming Lo

Sivaraman Varatharajan

William Schupp

Jonathan Paul Gaiser

Leong Hu

A system and method for object classification and related applications based on frame and event camera processing is provided. The system acquires an output of image sensor circuitry and determines a first object classification result based on feature points associated with first objects in a first frame of the acquired output. The system executes an event-camera signal processing operation on at least two frames of the acquired output to generate an event frame. The generated event frame includes pixel-level movement information associated with second objects. The system determines a second object classification result based on the pixel-level movement information and determines one or more object classification tags based on the determined first and the determined second object classification result. The determined one or more object classification tags correspond to one or more objects, included in at least the first objects and the second objects.

Object classification and related applications based on frame and event camera processing

A system and method of vehicle control for user safety and experience is provided. The system receives sensed information associated with a first vehicle, detects a state of the first vehicle, and determines activities of a person or a second vehicle in proximity of the first vehicle. Such activities are determined based on the sensed information. The system triggers actions based on whether or not the determined activities are unsafe for the first vehicle or for users of the first vehicle in the detected state. The system controls devices associated with the first vehicle based on the triggered actions. The devices include a light-based projector device that is controlled to project a visual alert, included in the triggered actions, directly onto a physical surface. The physical surface is a window portion of the first vehicle or a physical structure which is external to and separate from the first vehicle.

Vehicle control for user safety and experience

A system includes a first multilayer surface that includes a plurality of layers. The system further includes a plurality of sensors and circuitry. The circuitry receives a plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors and projection data associated with a media content projectable by a projection device. The projection data includes contrast control information associated with the media content. The circuitry determines ambient condition of an enclosed space based on the received plurality of signals. The circuitry selects one or more portions of the plurality of layers of the first multilayer surface based on the determined ambient condition or the projection data. The circuitry controls an opacity level of the selected one or more portions of the first multilayer surface to provide dynamic shade control in the enclosed space or improve contrast of the projected media content based on the determined ambient condition or the projection data.

Control of multilayer surface for enclosed space

A method of preventing loss of headphones configured to communicate with a cell phone enables an alarm setting using an app on the cell phone; the app responding by continuously measuring a received magnitude of a wireless signal transmitted between the cell phone and the headphones. If the measured received magnitude is lower than a predetermined threshold value for a first predetermined time, an audible alarm is activated at the headphones. The continuous measurement and the activation of the alarm dependent on the measured received magnitude occur automatically, independent of any user interaction with the app after the alarm setting enablement. Another method addresses a corresponding issue in a similar way to prevent loss of one earbud of a pair.

Headphone loss prevention alarm

A system in a first vehicle includes a plurality of sensors, a plurality of audio output devices and circuitry. The circuitry receives a plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors. The circuitry determines a relative position between a first device and the first vehicle based on the received plurality of signals or a geo-location of the first vehicle. The circuitry receives first information from the first device based on the determined relative position between the first device and the first vehicle, and at least one selection criterion. The circuitry generates a first three-dimensional (3D) audio object corresponding to the received first information. The circuitry controls, based on the determined relative position, a first set of audio output devices of the plurality of audio output devices to output the generated first 3D audio object, in a 3D space of the first vehicle at a first time instant.

Three-dimensional (3D) audio interaction for vehicles

A system including circuitry communicably coupled to a plurality of sensors and a plurality of audio output devices are provided. The circuitry receives a plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors. The circuitry further detects a type of a first object and a position of the first object with respect to a first vehicle based on the received plurality of signals. The circuitry further generates metadata associated with the first object based on the detected type of the first object and the position of the first object. The metadata comprises a first three-dimensional (3D) audio object. The circuitry further controls a first set of audio output devices of the plurality of audio output devices to output the first 3D audio object in a 3D space of the first vehicle at a first time instant.

Three-dimensional (3D) audio notification for vehicle

A method of discouraging theft of a set of headphones from a rightful user includes, when first connecting the headphones to a first cell phone, requesting transmission of an ID number for the first cell phone from the first cell phone to the headphones, requesting the rightful user to provide a personal identification number (PIN) for the headphones; and storing the ID number and PIN in the headphones. At any subsequent attempt by a user to connect the headphones to a second cell phone, the second cell phone's ID number is requested and compared with the stored ID number for the first cell phone. If the ID numbers match, full functional connection between the headphones and the second cell phone is allowed, but if they do not, full functional connection is blocked until the user provides the PIN for the set of headphones.

Nonintrusive headphone pin lock

A head related transfer function (HRTF), which can be considered as biometric data is used to authenticate a user from whom the HRTF is derived. The HRTF may be used for authentication in combination with other biometric data such as retina scan or fingerprint to render two-factor biometric authentication. The HRTF used for authentication is encrypted for security.

Head related transfer function (HRTF) as biometric authentication

An audio network box is provided as a master for a networked speaker system. The audio box can be configured with different combinations of modules to provide functionality as may be desired by an end user. The modules may include a power over Ethernet module, a wireless communication module/access point (AP) module, and an analog speaker module.

Networked speaker system with audio network box

A personalized HRTF is generated from a generic HRTF by having a person don headphones, then select a generic HRTF model from a list. Test signals emulating sounds from a source at a specific virtual speaker location are played on the headphones, and the person indicates where he thinks the emulated sounds are coming from. Any difference between the virtual speaker location and the 'heard' location is used to adjust the parameters (amplitude, phase, and frequency response) of the generic HRTF to render a HRTF personalized to the listening person.

Generating personalized end user head-related transfer function (HRTF) from generic HRTF

A cloud-based HRTF repository system that can be accessed via a public application program interface (API) on the remote repository server to permit individual users of audio-capable client devices to upload and store personalized HRTFs and basic device data in an open format. The cloud server repository includes a computer readable non-volatile memory which further includes a program memory portion comprising an application program interface (API) module configured for receiving HRTF data from a client device, or from a brand manufacturer, and for sending HRTF data to a client device. A brand manufacturer can upload HRTF data to the cloud-based HRTF repository system either directly from their branded companion app in a client device, or optionally via their own cloud server. One technique includes using a Media Service Provider (MSP) app in the client device with a provided server access library (SAL) thereby enabling retrieval of HRTF data for bath a personalized HRTF for any brand client device, or for retrieval of generalized HRTF data by brand manufacturers having a SAL in their brand server via the remote server repository public API.

Global HRTF repository

A personalized room related transfer function (RRTF) for sound bars and speakers within a specific room is generated without the need for photographs of the listener's head or microphones in a headphone apparatus. A smart device aids the listener in creating his own RRTF by enabling the listener to select a general RRTF model based on the specific sound bar setup (e.g., sound bar; sound bar+subwoofer; sound bar+rear speakers+height; etc.) from a set of general RRTFs downloaded locally or from the cloud. A test signal is played from a specific driver of the sound bar, and the listener identifies a location at which he would like the perceived sound to originate. If the driver location signal and desired location are not the same, the app adjusts parameters and replays the test signal until the driver signal and the desired location are the same.

Generating personalized end user room-related transfer function (RRTF)

Certain aspects of an apparatus and method for scene change detection-based trigger for audio fingerprinting analysis may include a content-rendering device communicably coupled to a content-server. The content-rendering device may sample an audio component of the content at a sampling rate. The content-rendering device may generate and communicate to the content-server, an audio fingerprint based on the sampled audio component. The content-rendering device may further modify the sampling rate based on a detected scene change in the content. The scene change may be detected based on the communicated audio fingerprint. In another embodiment, the content-server may receive a plurality of audio fingerprints and detect a change in a type of content associated with the plurality of audio fingerprints. The content-server may further communicate a trigger signal to the content-rendering device that indicates the detected change in the type of content associated with the plurality of audio fingerprints.

Apparatus and method for scene change detection-based trigger for audio fingerprinting analysis

Thus, in one embodiment an apparatus includes at least one processor, at least one display controlled by the processor, and at least one wireless transceiver communicating with the processor. The processor is configured to transmit a message accessible to at least one recipient that includes data representing at least one non-alphanumeric who icon representing a person, at least one non-alphanumeric what icon representing an event and/or activity, and at least one non-alphanumeric when icon representing a time associated with the event and/or activity. Furthermore, at least one of the following represented by data included in the message is modifiable based on input from at least one recipient: the at least one who icon, the at least one what icon, and the at least one when icon.

System and method for sharing event information using icons

A method of scanning television channels at initial setup. The method includes at a first power mode, automatically scanning for channels using a first scanning setup procedure during which the television is unusable by a user. The first power mode is when the television is at a full power mode. The detected channels are automatically provided for use by the television upon completion of the first scanning setup procedure. The method further includes automatically scanning for channels using a second scanning setup procedure at a second power mode following the first power mode. The second power mode is at a lower power mode than the first power mode, and the second scanning setup procedure is more time consuming in comparison to the first scanning setup procedure. Additional channels not detected during the initial setup by the first scanning setup procedure are automatically detected at the second power mode.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Tonni Sandager Larsen