Howard E Rd Neely

US Patent:

20040068758, Apr 8, 2004

Filed:

Oct 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/263925

Inventors:

Mike Daily - Thousand Oaks CA, US
Ronald Azuma - Santa Monica CA, US
Kevin Martin - Oak Park CA, US
Howard Neely - Manhattan Beach CA, US

International Classification:

H04N007/16

US Classification:

725/136000

Abstract:

The present invention allows a broadcaster to encode a plurality of data, a portion of which may be from databases , including spatial content and tracking data into a signal, the signal is sent to an overlay construction module . Augmentation layers , provided by users are conveyed to the overlay construction module , where the signals are separably merged with the broadcast signal to create an augmented signal, which is transmitted, optionally via satellite , to users . The users receive the augmented signal and display only the layers of interest to them. Thus each user may select a unique overlay combination, and experience individualized programming that more closely comports with that user's tastes.

US Patent:

20040071315, Apr 15, 2004

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/259948

Inventors:

Howard Neely - Manhattan Beach CA, US

International Classification:

G06K009/00

US Classification:

382/103000

Abstract:

The present invention provides active fiducials for use with augmented reality client systems. A computer system, a method, and a computer program product are presented, which provide location-registered patterns for providing information regarding objects in an area. The computer system comprises a memory for storing information regarding at least one object, the information including the location of an object. A processor is connected with the memory to retrieve a portion of the information, including the location of the object, from the memory for transmission to the client system via a wireless communication module which is connected with the processor and is configured to detect a compatible client system within communication range of the wireless communication module, and if a compatible client system is detected, to transmit a portion of the information regarding the object, including the location of the object, from the computer system to the client system.

US Patent:

20040080548, Apr 29, 2004

Filed:

Oct 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/282397

Inventors:

Michael Daily - Thousand Oaks CA, US
Ronald Azuma - Santa Monica CA, US
Howard Neely - Manhattan Beach CA, US
Gerald Isdale - Thousand Oaks CA, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345/850000

Abstract:

An apparatus and method is disclosed for enabling accurate registration of virtual information upon real objects in selected environments from the perspective of a moveable observation platform having a position and an orientation within an observation space positioned within the environment, the position and orientation defining the registration of the virtual information within the observation space within the environment, which may comprise: a plurality of at least three tracking fiducials selectively each respectively located in fixed predetermined locations in the observation space; the observation platform including a position sensor apparatus adapted to sense an estimated position of the observation platform in the observation space and a heading sensor apparatus adapted to sense an estimated heading of the observation platform within the observation space; the observation platform further including a wide view fiducial detection apparatus mounted on the observation platform and adapted to detect the relative direction from the observation platform to each of the plurality of tracking fiducials, relative to a heading direction of the observation platform, assuming an approximated heading direction of the observation platform, the wide view fiducial detection apparatus adapted further to detect fiducials in a panoramic field of view greater than at least one hundred and eight degrees; a heading error detection apparatus adapted to detect the difference between the estimated heading and the present heading based upon the observed relative directions to the respective tracking fiducials, and forming a corrected heading from the estimated heading and the detected heading error; a position error detection apparatus adapted to detect the difference between the estimated position in the observation space and the actual position based upon the observed positions of the respective fiducials and the corrected heading of the observation platform. The apparatus and method may further comprise the estimated heading is derived from at least the output of a rotation sensor and from a prior corrected position determination if a prior corrected position determination is available; the estimated heading is a prior corrected heading determination; the estimated position is derived from at least the output of a position detector and from a prior corrected position determination if a prior corrected position determination is available or the estimated position is a prior corrected position determination.

US Patent:

20040139157, Jul 15, 2004

Filed:

Jan 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/339265

Inventors:

Howard Neely - Manhattan Beach CA, US
Jason Fox - Thousand Oaks CA, US
Peter Tinker - West Hills CA, US
Jason Jerald - Chapel Hill NC, US

International Classification:

G06F015/16

US Classification:

709/205000, 709/224000

Abstract:

A distributed multimodal collaboration system includes at least one server coupled to a network, a plurality of data sources coupled to the network and a plurality of clients executing on a corresponding plurality of client workstations coupled to the network. The system further includes a tuple-space having a plurality of descriptors. The tuple-space is accessible by the plurality of data sources, and the plurality of clients, and a descriptor distribution and invalidation protocol is operative to distribute and invalidate descriptors accessible by the plurality of clients and the plurality of data sources, and the system includes a transaction processor for committing a plurality of transactions associated with the descriptor distribution and invalidation protocol.

US Patent:

20070276590, Nov 29, 2007

Filed:

May 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/420079

Inventors:

Jon N. Leonard - Tucson AZ, US
Howard E. Neely - Santa Monica CA, US
Ronald T. Azuma - Santa Monica CA, US
Michael J. Daily - Thousand Oaks CA, US

International Classification:

G01C 21/00

US Classification:

701207, 701200

Abstract:

A beacon-augmented pose estimation system includes positionable beacons that can determine their own 3-D geospatial coordinates and transmit those coordinates back to the pose object. An imaging sensor images the field-of-view of the pose object to provide 2-D image coordinates for any of the beacons in the FOV. A pose object controller processes the sets of 3-D geospatial coordinates and 2-D image coordinates to refine a pose estimate of the pose object. The positionable beacons may include both static beacons that are pre-positioned and mobile beacons that are command-guided to position themselves in the pose object's likely or actual FOV.