Alan B Macdonald

US Patent:

8319819, Nov 27, 2012

Filed:

Mar 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/055861

Inventors:

Alan J. MacDonald - Malvern PA, US
J. William Mauchly - Berwyn PA, US
David W. Sowa - Exton PA, US
Joseph T. Friel - Ardmore PA, US

Assignee:

Cisco Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/14

US Classification:

348 1409, 348 1401

Abstract:

A system and method for creating a virtual round table videoconference is described. An embodiment of the system comprises a plurality of displays arranged in an arc configuration with a table to create a virtual round table. Cameras are arranged around the plurality of displays such that when a participant looks at a display with an image of a remote participant, the camera associated with the display captures an image of the participant's gaze, making eye contact with the camera. The image is displayed at the remote participant's endpoint creating the effect of eye contact between the participants. In another embodiment, audio speakers are arranged to provide directional sound such that the video source for a display and the audio source for the associated speaker are from the same endpoint.

US Patent:

8340180, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Mar 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/407907

Inventors:

Alan J. MacDonald - Malvern PA, US
J. William Mauchly - Berwyn PA, US
David W. Sowa - Exton PA, US

Assignee:

Cisco Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 11/04

US Classification:

37524012

Abstract:

Techniques are provided for managing long-term reference frames (LTRFs) for two or more video sources. A first video source is selected from a plurality of video sources. The first video source is encoded to produce an encoded video stream, where a reference frame message identifies a recent video frame as long-term reference frame (LTRF) associated with the first video stream. The process is repeated for other video streams. The LTRF associated with the first video stream is used as a reference for temporal predictive coding upon receiving a signal that the first video source has been re-selected.

US Patent:

8553064, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Dec 8, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/963387

Inventors:

Alan J. MacDonald - Malvern PA, US
Chris A. Dunn - Livermore CA, US
Brian J. Baldino - Milpitas CA, US

Assignee:

Cisco Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/14

US Classification:

348 1407, 348 1408, 348 1412, 370265, 37920201, 709205, 715201, 715246

Abstract:

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishing a video session in which a plurality of displays are used for rendering video data, and evaluating a presentation element in order to identify a control element that includes control data. The control element is included in the presentation element. The method further includes communicating at least a portion of the control data such that it can be used to determine which video data is to be rendered on the plurality of displays.

US Patent:

8629893, Jan 14, 2014

Filed:

Apr 2, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/061178

Inventors:

Joseph T. Friel - Ardmore PA, US
Maurice J. Buttimer - Media PA, US
Alan J. MacDonald - Malvern PA, US
Michael A. Arnao - Collegeville PA, US
Andrew P. Weir - Malvern PA, US
David W. Sowa - Exton PA, US
J. William Mauchly - Berwyn PA, US

Assignee:

Cisco Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/14

US Classification:

348 1401

Abstract:

A system and method for reducing blurred video caused by intra-coded IDR-frames sent in response to when a destination endpoint in a multipoint videoconference switches to a new video source. An embodiment according to the invention comprises using inter-coded temporal predictive referencing a long term reference frame (LTRF) instead of IDR-frames in a multipoint videoconference system.

US Patent:

20030158614, Aug 21, 2003

Filed:

Feb 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/079011

Inventors:

Joseph Friel - Ardmore PA, US
Andrew Weir - West Chester PA, US
Joseph Cotellese - Chalfont PA, US
Alan MacDonald - Malvern PA, US
J. Mauchly - Berwyn PA, US
David Sowa - Exton PA, US
Michael Arnao - Audubon PA, US

International Classification:

G06F017/00
H04B001/00

US Classification:

700/094000, 381/086000, 455/345000

Abstract:

An audio system is mounted in a vehicle and provides playback of digital audio content stored in semiconductor DRAM. Power from the vehicle's battery is constantly applied to the DRAM to retain information even when the vehicle is not operating. The audio content may be acquired by the recording of broadcast radio programs, by streaming content from a wireless Internet connection, from a CD, and/or from a wireless link to a computer. An updated playlist may be provided to the DRAM on a periodic basis or manually under user control.

US Patent:

20090238278, Sep 24, 2009

Filed:

Mar 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/051185

Inventors:

William Mauchly - Berwyn PA, US
Joseph T. Friel - Ardmore PA, US
Alan MacDonald - Malvern PA, US
Dihong Tian - San Jose CA, US
Wen-Hsiung Chen - Sunnyvale CA, US
Michael A. Arnao - Collegeville PA, US

Assignee:

CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/34

US Classification:

37524016, 37524012, 375E07265

Abstract:

Particular embodiments generally relate to video compression. In one embodiment, a store of reference frames is provided in memory. The reference frames may be classified based on a plurality of classifiers. The classifiers may correspond to features that are found in the reference frame. A frame to encode is then received. The frame is analyzed to determine features found in the frame. As macroblocks in the frame are encoded, a macroblock is analyzed to determine which feature may be included in the macroblock. The feature is used to determine a classifier, which is used to determine a subset of the reference frames. The subset is then searched to determine a reference frame for the macroblock.

US Patent:

20140028781, Jan 30, 2014

Filed:

Jul 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/558813

Inventors:

Alan J. MacDonald - Malvern PA, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/15

US Classification:

348 1407, 348E07083

Abstract:

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a first presentation material for a videoconference, wherein the first presentation material is to be displayed in a display area associated with the videoconference; determining a first complexity of the first presentation material; and displaying the first presentation material on a first display based on the determined first complexity. In more particular embodiments, the method can include determining a location of a participant that will view the first presentation material; and displaying the presentation material on a second display based on the location of the participant. The location of the participant can be determined using audio data or video data.

US Patent:

20150163452, Jun 11, 2015

Filed:

Feb 20, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/627737

Inventors:

- San Jose CA, US
Alan J. MacDonald - Malvern PA, US

Assignee:

CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 7/14

Abstract:

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a first presentation material for a videoconference, wherein the first presentation material is to be displayed in a display area associated with the videoconference; determining a first complexity of the first presentation material; and displaying the first presentation material on a first display based on the determined first complexity. In more particular embodiments, the method can include determining a location of a participant that will view the first presentation material; and displaying the presentation material on a second display based on the location of the participant. The location of the participant can be determined using audio data or video data.