Thomas Z Wood

US Patent:

8639040, Jan 28, 2014

Filed:

Aug 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/206856

Inventors:

John R. Zhang - Calgary, CA
Yansong Ren - Plano TX, US
Fangzhe Chang - Edison NJ, US
Thomas L. Wood - Colts Neck NJ, US

Assignee:

Alcatel Lucent - Paris

International Classification:

G06K 9/68
G06K 9/46

US Classification:

382218, 382201

Abstract:

A method for comparing videos includes detecting local features in frames of a video and determining the positions of detected local features in a first frame compared to their respective positions in a succeeding second frame. For at least some of the detected local features, a movement indicator is generated representing the position of a local feature in the first frame relative to the position of that local feature in the second frame, the movement indicator including an orientation, to obtain a plurality of movement indicators. Movement indicators are grouped by orientation ranges. The number of grouped movement indicators in an orientation range are summed to obtain a value for that orientation range. A time series of values for at least one given orientation range is obtained by determining the positions of detected local features in a first frame compared to their respective positions in a succeeding second frame for a plurality of pairs of frames. For at least one orientation range, a first time series of values for a first video is compared with a second time series of values for a second video to determine the similarity of the first and second videos.

US Patent:

20070014069, Jan 18, 2007

Filed:

Jun 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/474241

Inventors:

Peter Krueger - Ooltewah TN, US
Louie Elliott - Chattanooga TN, US
Clifton Murphy - Chattanooga TN, US
Thomas Wood - Carrollton TX, US
Robert Pap - Chattanooga TN, US

Assignee:

Accurate Automation Corporation - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

H02H 9/06

US Classification:

361120000

Abstract:

The invention described here is a circuit protection device based on the principle of a plasma limiter. A plasma limiter uses an electrode such as a very sharp tungsten needle in an easily ionized gas to perform field enhancement using the interference voltage to initiate avalanche breakdown of the plasma. The gas becomes conductive, causing the interference voltage to short-circuit to ground thereby protecting the transceiver Integrated Circuit (IC). This device protects IC's that can be damaged by voltages greater than about 15 volts when damaging voltages have occurred on the wire(s) for a brief time. The damaging voltage creates an electromagnetic field that is enhanced by the sharp electrode thereby causing the easily ionized gas to become plasma and conduct between the wire and grounded electrode. This conduction prevents the damaging voltage on the wire from becoming so great that IC's become damaged. A protection module consists of devices to protect one or many signals in a single module. An implementation of the protection module is a free-standing module that is placed inline with a cable. Also, an implementation of the protection module is a device to be mounted on the printed circuit board or mounted to a panel of the circuit to be protected.

US Patent:

20090309252, Dec 17, 2009

Filed:

Jul 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/174996

Inventors:

James E. Schuetz - Sanford MI, US
Thomas W. McCullough - Lake Jackson TX, US
Neil Anderson - Calumet MI, US
Justin LaCosse - Calumet MI, US
Thomas D. Wood - Houghton MI, US

Assignee:

CENTURY, INC. - Traverse City MI

International Classification:

B01D 71/00

US Classification:

264 79

Abstract:

A method of controlling evaporation of a fluid, such as water, in an article includes the step of encapsulating the article with a film such that the fluid is prevented from evaporating from the article. The method further includes the step of heating the article encapsulated with the film to a first desired temperature for a first period of time while preventing the fluid from evaporating from the article. The method also includes the step of removing the film from the article after heating the article to the first desired temperature for the first period of time and, after the step of removing the film the article, the method includes the step of further heating the article to a second desired temperature for a second period of time while the fluid freely evaporates from the article.

US Patent:

20120002884, Jan 5, 2012

Filed:

Jun 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/827714

Inventors:

Yansong Ren - Plano TX, US
Fangzhe Chang - Edison NJ, US
Thomas L. Wood - Colts Neck NJ, US
James Robert Ensor - Red Bank NJ, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/68
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

382218, 707769, 707E17014

Abstract:

Video files stored in a data store are managed by analyzing the semantic relationship of at least one associated descriptive tag of a given video file to tags associated with video files in the data store. The results of the analysis are used to select a set of video files from those stored in the data store. The content of the given video file is compared with the content of the selected set to determine the similarity of the content. The results of the determination may be used to update information concerning the similarity of video files in the data store, for example, to be used in providing results in response to a search query.

US Patent:

20120177296, Jul 12, 2012

Filed:

Jan 7, 2011

Appl. No.:

12/986728

Inventors:

Yansong Ren - Plano TX, US
Fangzhe Chang - Edison NJ, US
Thomas L. Wood - Colts Neck NJ, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/68

US Classification:

382218

Abstract:

In a method of comparing a query video and a target video, frames of the query video and frames of the target video arc partitioned into blocks. The mean intensity value is calculated for each block. Minima and maxima values are extracted from temporal changes of the mean intensity values for each block. Inclines and declines are obtained from the minima and maxima values. The inclines and declines are used in determining if alignment exists between the query video and the target video.

US Patent:

20120189212, Jul 26, 2012

Filed:

Jan 24, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/012516

Inventors:

Yansong Ren - Plano TX, US
Fangzhe Chang - Edison NJ, US
Thomas L. Wood - Colts Neck NJ, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/68

US Classification:

382218

Abstract:

A method for comparing a query video and a target video includes partitioning frames of the query video and frames of the target video into blocks and calculating the mean intensity value for each block. A plurality of query time series is produced for the query video, each query time series representing temporal variation in mean intensity value for blocks from the same location in different frames of the query video. A plurality of target time series is produced for the target video, each target time series representing temporal variation in mean intensity value for blocks from the same location in different frames of the target video the query time series and the target time series are used in determining if alignment exists between the query video and the target video.

US Patent:

20130259228, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/434399

Inventors:

Yansong Ren - Plano TX, US
Lawrence O'Gorman - Madison NJ, US
John R. Zhang - Calgary, CA
Thomas L. Wood - Colts Neck NJ, US

Assignee:

ALCATEL-LUCENT USA INC. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04L 9/00

US Classification:

380200

Abstract:

A method for authenticating video content includes: receiving a digital signature, an unsecured video fingerprint, and an unsecured video content from a transmitting node at a receiving node in a communication network; determining if the digital signature is consistent with the unsecured video fingerprint at the receiving node to verify the unsecured video fingerprint; and determining if the unsecured video fingerprint is consistent with the unsecured video content at the receiving node to verify the unsecured video content in a manner that tolerates a predetermined measure of loss in the unsecured video content. If the unsecured video fingerprint and the unsecured video content are verified, the unsecured video content is authenticated for subsequent use at the receiving node. A receiving node associated with the method includes an input module, a fingerprint verification module, a content verification module, and a controller module.