Patents

40 granted, some of them possibly no longer maintained. See justia for a rather complete list.

  1. Electronic device, method and computer program Patent number: 9936295. Abstract: An electronic device comprising a processing unit arranged to determine an estimation signal (y(k)) based on an input signal (x(k)) and based on a non-stationary reference signal (s0(k)). Type: Grant. Filed: July 11, 2016. Date of Patent: April 3, 2018. Assignee: Sony CORPORATION. Inventors: Stanislaw Gorlow, Mathieu Ramona, Francois Pachet
  2. DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ACCOMPANIMENT OF INPUT MUSIC DATA Publication number: 20180046709. Abstract: A device for automatically generating a real time accompaniment of input music data includes a music input that receives music data. A music analyzer analyzes received music data to obtain a music data description including one or more characteristics of the analyzed music data. A query generator generates a query to a music database including music patterns and associated metadata including one or more characteristics of the music patterns, the query being generated from the music data description and from an accompaniment description describing preferences of the real time accompaniment and/or music rules describing general rules of music. A query interface queries the music database using a generated query and receives a music pattern selected from the music database by use of the query. A music output outputs the received music pattern. Type: Application. Filed: October 11, 2017. Publication date: February 15, 2018 Applicant: SONY CORPORATION. Inventors: Pierre ROY, Francois PACHET
  3. Device, system and method for generating an accompaniment of input music data Patent number: 9798805. Abstract: A device for automatically generating a real time accompaniment of input music data includes a music input that receives music data. A music analyzer analyzes received music data to obtain a music data description including one or more characteristics of the analyzed music data. A query generator generates a query to a music database including music patterns and associated metadata including one or more characteristics of the music patterns, the query being generated from the music data description and from an accompaniment description describing preferences of the real time accompaniment and/or music rules describing general rules of music. A query interface queries the music database using a generated query and receives a music pattern selected from the music database by use of the query. A music output outputs the received music pattern. Type: Grant. Filed: June 3, 2013. Date of Patent: October 24, 2017. Assignee: SONY CORPORATION. Inventors: Pierre Roy, Francois Pachet
  4. Automatic music continuation method and device, Publication number:  Abstract: The invention allows to generate music as a real time continuation of an input sequence of music data, through a continuation phase comprising the steps of: Type: Application. Filed: June 7, 2002. Publication date: December 26, 2002. Inventor: Francois Pachet
  5. Real time audio spatialisation system with high level control. Publication number:  Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for controlling an audio spatialisation in real time, comprising.. Type: Application. Filed: March 15, 2001. Publication date: December 27, 2001. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Olivier Delerue
  6. ELECTRONIC DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM. Publication number:  Abstract: An electronic device comprising a processing unit arranged to determine an estimation signal (y(k)) based on an input signal (x(k)) and based on a non-stationary reference signal (s0(k)). Type: Application. Filed: July 11, 2016. Publication date: January 26, 2017. Applicant: Sony Corporation. Inventors: Stanislaw GORLOW, Mathieu RAMONA, Francois PACHET
  7. Information type identification method and apparatus, E.G. for music file name content identification. Publication number:  Abstract: The method serves to automatically identify in a set of data sequences at least one specific type of information contained in each data sequence of the set, wherein the type of information has an unknown presentation in the data sequences. Type: Application. Filed: April 23, 2002. Publication date: December 19, 2002. Inventor: Francois Pachet
  8. Method and system for generating sequencing information representing a sequence of items selected in a database. Patent number: 7130860. Abstract: A method and a system for generating sequencing information representing a sequence of items selected in a database. Similarity relation techniques are applied between the items. Type: Grant. Filed: September 27, 2001. Date of Patent: October 31, 2006. Assignee: SONY France S.A. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Daniel Cazaly, Pierre Roy
  9. Information sequence extraction and building apparatus e.g. for producing personalised music title sequences. Publication number: 20020078029. Abstract: The invention serves to store at least one sequence of information (2) formed of a succession of information items, such as music titles, in which an artistic or rational link is considered to exist between at least some pairs of adjacent items in the succession. The apparatus comprises an input (I1) for receiving the sequence of information (2), and a storage unit (32) for storing it. Type: Application. Filed: December 14, 2001. Publication date: June 20, 2002. Inventor: Francois Pachet
  10. Method and apparatus for automatically generating a general extraction function calculable on an input signal, e.g. an audio signal to extract therefrom a predetermined global characteristic value of its contents, e.g. a descriptor. Publication number: 20040181401. Abstract: The invention enables to generate a general function (4) which can operate on an input signal (Sx) to extract from the latter a value (DVex) of a global characteristic value expressing a feature (De) of the information conveyed by that signal. Type: Application. Filed: December 16, 2003. Publication date: September 16, 2004. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Aymeric Zils
  11. Hybrid audio-visual categorization system and method. Publication number: 20100125539. Abstract: Meta-data (tags) for an audiovisual file can be generated by prompting a user to input certain tags (meta-data) descriptive of the audiovisual file, to serve as an initial estimate of the tags, and then revising the initial estimate (notably to expand it and/or render it more precise) based on the assumption that the relationships which hold between the different tags for a set of manually-tagged training examples will also hold for the tags of the input file now being tagged. Type: Application. Filed: November 20, 2009. Publication date: May 20, 2010. Applicant: SONY FRANCE S.A. Inventors: Jean-Julien Aucouturier, Pierre Roy, Francois Pachet
  12. Content-Management Interface. Publication number: 20080126937. Abstract: A content-management interface is implemented using superposition of graphical “widget” elements onto an on-screen display of the real-time image of a user. The widgets are motion-sensitive control elements which are responsive to user movement that produces motion of the user’s displayed image at an on-screen location associated with that widget. The user can operate the widget virtually, for example by moving his hand over a widget, or pushing a widget along. Meta-data descriptive of the content to be managed is mapped onto widgets, enabling the user to interact with the meta-data, notably by changing it or by selecting content with reference to it. Type: Application. Filed: October 5, 2005. Publication date: May 29, 2008. Applicant: SONY FRANCE S.A. Inventor: François Pachet
  13. Hybrid audio-visual categorization system and method. Patent number: 8321414. Abstract: Meta-data (tags) for an audiovisual file can be generated by prompting a user to input certain tags (meta-data) descriptive of the audiovisual file, to serve as an initial estimate of the tags, and then revising the initial estimate (notably to expand it and/or render it more precise) based on the assumption that the relationships which hold between the different tags for a set of manually-tagged training examples will also hold for the tags of the input file now being tagged.
    Type: Grant. Filed: November 20, 2009. Date of Patent: November 27, 2012. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventors: Jean-Julien Aucouturier, Pierre Roy, Francois Pachet
  14. Incremental sequence completion system and method. Publication number: 20020002897. Abstract: The present invention relates to a method designed to be used to compute music sequences in all possible contexts and situations, including: Internet adaptive radio, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) with intelligent scheduling, music recommendation systems, and other innovative Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) services in general. These sequences are generated “iteratively”, and step by step. To the above end, there is provided a method of generating incrementally a sequence of items from a database containing said items, characterised in that the sequence is generated by implementing in combination a sequence completion system and a user profiling system, thereby taking into account both sequence coherence and user profile. Type: Application. Filed: July 2, 2001. Publication date: January 10, 2002. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Daniel Cazaly
  15. Content-management interface. Patent number: 7886229. Abstract: A content-management interface is implemented using superposition of graphical “widget” elements onto an on-screen display of the real-time image of a user. The widgets are motion-sensitive control elements which are responsive to user movement that produces motion of the user’s displayed image at an on-screen location associated with that widget. The user can operate the widget virtually, for example by moving his hand over a widget, or pushing a widget along. Meta-data descriptive of the content to be managed is mapped onto widgets, enabling the user to interact with the meta-data, notably by changing it or by selecting content with reference to it. Type: Grant. Filed: October 5, 2005. Date of Patent: February 8, 2011. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventor: Francois Pachet
  16. Information sequence extraction and building apparatus e.g. for producing personalised music title sequences. Patent number: 7203702. Abstract: This invention serves to provide an apparatus for storing at least one sequence of information formed from a succession of information items in which an artistic or rational link is considered to exist between at least some pairs of adjacent items in the succession. The apparatus comprises an input for receiving the sequence of information, and a storage unit for storing the information. Further, a segmentation device is provided for segmenting the sequence of information into individually accessible segments, each corresponding to a respective information item, in response to segmentation data indicating end limits of the information items. The storage unit outputs the segments in a sequence corresponding to the succession of information items. Type: Grant. Filed: December 14, 2001. Date of Patent: April 10, 2007. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventor: François Pachet
  17. DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A REAL TIME MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENT FOR MULTI-MODAL MUSIC. Publication number: 20160247496. Abstract: A device for generating a real time music accompaniment includes a music input interface, a music mode classifier that classifies pieces of music received at the music input interface into one of different music modes including at least a solo mode, a bass mode, and a harmony mode, a music storage, and a music output interface. A music selector selects one or more recorded pieces of music as real time music accompaniment to an actually played piece of music received at the music input interface, wherein the one or more selected pieces of music are selected to be in a different music mode than the actually played piece of music. A music output interface outputs the selected pieces of music. Type: Application. Filed: December 5, 2013. Publication date: August 25, 2016. Applicant: SONY CORPORATION. Inventors: Francois PACHET, Pierre ROY
  18. Information item morphing system. Publication number: 20020083055. Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating sequencing information representing a sequence of items selected in a database. Each of the items comprises a set of descriptors. The method is characterised by comprising the steps of: a) specifying a length of items and at least one of the descriptors; b) performing similarity relation techniques between the items; and c) generating a fixed-length sequence having a morphological continuity. Each of the items is represented by a series of constraint variables having a domain in the database, and modelling each of the values of descriptors in a desired sequence as a constrained variable. The similarity relation performing step may comprise performing global similarity techniques by combining individual similarity measures on all of the descriptors. The sequence-generating step comprises transforming at least one of the values into unary constraints in terms of constraint satisfaction programming techniques. Type: Application. Filed: September 27, 2001. Publication date: June 27, 2002. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Daniel Cazaly, Pierre Roy
  19. METHOD FOR CREATING A MARKOV PROCESS THAT GENERATES SEQUENCES. Publication number: 20120246209. Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for creating a Markov process that generates sequences. Each sequence has a finite length L, comprises items from a set of a specific number n of items, and satisfies one or more control constraints specifying one or more requirements on the sequence. The method comprises the steps of receiving data defining an initial Markov process of a specific order d and having an initial probability distribution and of receiving data defining one or more control constraints. The method further comprises the step of generating data defining intermediary matrices, each matrix being of dimension n by n, by zeroing out transitions in the initial Markov process data that are forbidden by the one or more control constraints. Type: Application. Filed: March 19, 2012. Publication date: September 27, 2012. Applicants: Sony Europe Limited, Sony Corporation. Inventors: Francois PACHET, Pierre Roy, Gabriele Barbieri
  20. Method for creating a markov process that generates sequences. Patent number: 9110817. Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for creating a Markov process that generates sequences. Each sequence has a finite length L, comprises items from a set of a specific number n of items, and satisfies one or more control constraints specifying one or more requirements on the sequence. The method comprises the steps of receiving data defining an initial Markov process of a specific order d and having an initial probability distribution and of receiving data defining one or more control constraints. The method further comprises the step of generating data defining intermediary matrices, each matrix being of dimension nd by n, by zeroing out transitions in the initial Markov process data that are forbidden by the one or more control constraints. Type: Grant. Filed: March 19, 2012. Date of Patent: August 18, 2015. Assignee: Sony Corporation. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Pierre Roy, Gabriele Barbieri
  21. Mapped meta-data sound-playback device and audio-sampling/sample-processing system usable therewith. Publication number: 20060074649. Abstract: Audio samples corresponding to audio extracts or whole audio titles are automatically mapped to triggers 12 in a playable sound-producing device 1, the mapping being dependent on the meta-data associated with the audio samples. Thus, a user can play the sound-producing device and generate sounds derived from his favourite audio titles. It is possible to define different mappings between the audio samples and the playable domain of the sound-producing device: an audio sample selector 50 can select between different possible samples for playback by comparing the audio properties of the samples and the play-mode and/or characteristics of the user’s performance. An audio sampler/sample-processor 70 can automatically extract segments of an audio source file and map them to triggers in the sound-producing device 1. Type: Application. Filed: October 4, 2005. Publication date: April 6, 2006. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Jean-Julien Aucouturier
  22. Incremental sequence completion system and method. Patent number: 6452083. Abstract: The present invention relates to a method designed to be used to compute music sequences in all possible contexts and situations, including: Internet adaptive radio, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) with intelligent scheduling, music recommendation systems, and other innovative Electronic Music Distribution (EMD) services in general. These sequences are generated “iteratively”, and step by step. To the above end, there is provided a method of generating incrementally a sequence of items from a database containing said items, characterized in that the sequence is generated by implementing in combination a sequence completion system and a user profiling system, thereby taking into account both sequence coherence and user profile. Type: Grant. Filed: July 2, 2001. Date of Patent: September 17, 2002. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventors: François Pachet, Daniel Cazaly
  23.  DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ACCOMPANIMENT OF INPUT MUSIC DATA. Publication number: 20150127669. Abstract: A device for automatically generating a real time accompaniment of input music data includes a music input that receives music data. A music analyzer analyzes received music data to obtain a music data description including one or more characteristics of the analyzed music data. A query generator generates a query to a music database including music patterns and associated metadata including one or more characteristics of the music patterns, the query being generated from the music data description and from an accompaniment description describing preferences of the real time accompaniment and/or music rules describing general rules of music. A query interface queries the music database using a generated query and receives a music pattern selected from the music database by use of the query. A music output outputs the received music pattern. Type: Application. Filed: June 3, 2013. Publication date: May 7, 2015. Applicant: SONY CORPORATION. Inventors: Pierre Roy, Francois Pachet
  24. HYBRID AUDIO-VISUAL CATEGORIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD. Publication number: 20080040362. Abstract: Meta-data (tags) for an audiovisual file can be generated by producing an initial estimate of the tags and then revising the estimate (notably to expand it and/or render it more precise) based on the assumption that the relationships which hold between the different tags for a set of manually-tagged training examples will also hold for the tags of the input file now being tagged. A fully-automatic method and system is a hybrid between signal-based and machine-learning approaches, because the initial tag estimate is based on the physical properties of the signal representing the audiovisual file. The initial tag estimate may be produced by inferring that the input content will have the same tags as those files of the same kind, in the training database, which have a global similarity to the input audiovisual file in terms of signal properties. Type: Application. Filed: March 23, 2007. Publication date: February 14, 2008. Applicant: SONY FRANCE S.A. Inventors: Jean-Julien Aucouturier, Pierre Roy, Francois Pachet
  25.  ONE-CLICK SELECTION OF MUSIC OR OTHER CONTENT. Publication number: 20100174695. Abstract: A set of temporal phases are defined, occurring successively during the playback of music (or other content) to a user. Each temporal phase is associated with a set of selection criteria. If the user operates a selection device (which can be a computer mouse button) while a piece of music or other content is being played back, the selection phase applicable at the time of user-action is determined and further content is selected based on the selection criteria associated with the applicable phase. This enables the user, with minimal action, to influence the content being rendered. The selection criteria can be related to the meta-data of the content being played back at the time of user action. The meaning attributed to the applicable temporal phase can be varied depending on the pressure of the mouse button click. Type: Application. Filed: March 30, 2007. Publication date: July 8, 2010. Applicant: Sony France S.A. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Pierre Roy
  26.  ANIMAL-MACHINE AUDIO INTERACTION SYSTEM. Publication number: 20110082574. Abstract: An animal-machine audio interaction system includes a sound monitor for monitoring the sounds made by one or more animals, a sound segmenter for identifying coherent sound segments within the sounds made by the animal(s), a sound analyzer for analyzing and assigning a category to each sound segment, an output sound selector for selecting an output sound appropriate to the category assigned by the sound analyzer, and a sound output unit for outputting the selected output sound to the animal(s). A different control protocol may be used to define the categories assigned to the animal sounds and to determine the respective audio responses that are appropriate to the different sound categories. During operation of the system, a closed-loop audio interaction is set up between the animal(s) and the system. This interaction may be used for various purposes, such as investigating animal behaviour, entertaining the animal(s) and controlling animal behaviour. Type: Application. Filed: October 1, 2010. Publication date: April 7, 2011. Applicant: Sony Corporation. Inventors: Francois PACHET, Pierre ROY
  27.  Hybrid audio-visual categorization system and method. Patent number: 8392414. Abstract: Meta-data (tags) for an audiovisual file can be generated by producing an initial estimate of the tags and then revising the estimate (notably to expand it and/or render it more precise) based on the assumption that the relationships which hold between the different tags for a set of manually-tagged training examples will also hold for the tags of the input file now being tagged. A fully-automatic method and system is a hybrid between signal-based and machine-learning approaches, because the initial tag estimate is based on the physical properties of the signal representing the audiovisual file. The initial tag estimate may be produced by inferring that the input content will have the same tags as those files of the same kind, in the training database, which have a global similarity to the input audiovisual file in terms of signal properties. Type: Grant. Filed: March 23, 2007. Date of Patent: March 5, 2013. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventors: Jean-Julien Aucouturier, Pierre Roy, Francois Pachet
  28.  Music spatialisation system and method. Patent number: 6826282. Abstract: A storage unit stores data representative of one or several sound sources and a listener of said sound sources. These data comprise position data corresponding to respective positions of the sound sources and the listener. An interface is provided for enabling a user to select the listener or a sound source and to control a change in the position data corresponding to the selected listener or sound source. A constraint solver means changes, in response to the position data change controlled by the user, at least some of the position data corresponding to the element(s), among the listener and the sound sources, other than said selected listener or sound source, in accordance with predetermined constraints. The system further comprises a command generator for delivering control data exploitable by a music spatialisation unit as a function of the position data corresponding to the sound sources and the listener. Type: Grant. Filed: May 25, 1999. Date of Patent: November 30, 2004. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Luc Steels, Olivier Delerue
  29.  Animal-machine audio interaction system. Patent number: 8838260. Abstract: An animal-machine audio interaction system includes a sound monitor for monitoring the sounds made by one or more animals, a sound segmenter for identifying coherent sound segments within the sounds made by the animal(s), a sound analyzer for analyzing and assigning a category to each sound segment, an output sound selector for selecting an output sound appropriate to the category assigned by the sound analyzer, and a sound output unit for outputting the selected output sound to the animal(s). A different control protocol may be used to define the categories assigned to the animal sounds and to determine the respective audio responses that are appropriate to the different sound categories. During operation of the system, a closed-loop audio interaction is set up between the animal(s) and the system. This interaction may be used for various purposes, such as investigating animal behavior, entertaining the animal(s) and controlling animal behavior. Type: Grant. Filed: October 1, 2010. Date of Patent: September 16, 2014. Assignee: Sony Corporation. Inventors: François Pachet, Pierre Roy
  30.  METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPDATING PROTOTYPES. Publication number: 20100299328. Abstract: An apparatus and method for machine-updating of prototypes—for example, during design of digital objects, or content-management—has input means (15) for inputting descriptive classifiers (tags) that a user assigns to prototypes and a tag model generator (20) that uses machine learning techniques to produce a model of the association between the assigned tags and the values of quantifiable, non-subjective attributes of the tagged prototypes. In order to obtain a desired updating of a current prototype, the user issues a command which defines the desired variation of the current prototype by referring to one or more conditions that should be met by specified tags of the updated prototype. The prototype-updating apparatus/method has a prototype updater (30) that identifies a suitable updated prototype whose tags meet the condition(s) specified in the user’s command and which, globally, is fairly similar to the pre-update prototype. Type: Application. Filed: October 15, 2008. Publication date: November 25, 2010. Applicant: Sony France S.A. Inventor: Francois Pachet
  31.  Method and apparatus for updating prototypes. Patent number: 8856120. Abstract: An apparatus and method for machine-updating of prototypes—for example, during design of digital objects, or content-management—has input means (15) for inputting descriptive classifiers (tags) that a user assigns to prototypes and a tag model generator (20) that uses machine learning techniques to produce a model of the association between the assigned tags and the values of quantifiable, non-subjective attributes of the tagged prototypes. In order to obtain a desired updating of a current prototype, the user issues a command which defines the desired variation of the current prototype by referring to one or more conditions that should be met by specified tags of the updated prototype. The prototype-updating apparatus/method has a prototype updater (30) that identifies a suitable updated prototype whose tags meet the condition(s) specified in the user’s command and which, globally, is fairly similar to the pre-update prototype. Type: Grant. Filed: October 15, 2008. Date of Patent: October 7, 2014. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventor: Francois Pachet
  32.  Sequence generation using a constraint satisfaction problem formulation. Patent number: 6430573. Abstract: A method and system for automatic generation of sequences (notably temporal or spatial sequences) from items in a database involves the organisation of the data in a generic format, and the formulation of the problem as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem using special constraint classes. The database format includes attribute values referring to a predetermined taxonomy allowing similarity and difference between the respective values to be evaluated. Type: Grant. Filed: May 25, 1999. Date of Patent: August 6, 2002. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Pierre Roy
  33.  Mapped meta-data sound-playback device and audio-sampling/sample-processing system usable therewith. Patent number: 7709723. Abstract: Audio samples corresponding to audio extracts or whole audio titles are automatically mapped to triggers 12 in a playable sound-producing device 1, the mapping being dependent on the meta-data associated with the audio samples. Thus, a user can play the sound-producing device and generate sounds derived from his favorite audio titles. It is possible to define different mappings between the audio samples and the playable domain of the sound-producing device: an audio sample selector 50 can select between different possible samples for playback by comparing the audio properties of the samples and the play-mode and/or characteristics of the user’s performance. An audio sampler/sample-processor 70 can automatically extract segments of an audio source file and map them to triggers in the sound-producing device 1. Type: Grant. Filed: October 4, 2005. Date of Patent: May 4, 2010. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventors: François Pachet, Jean-Julien Aucouturier
  34.  Automatic music continuation method and device. Patent number: 7034217. Abstract: The invention allows to generate music as a real time continuation of an input sequence of music data, through a continuation phase comprising the steps of: detecting the occurrence of an end of a current input sequence of music data (12), and starting to generate said continuation upon the detected occurrence of an end of a current input sequence of music data. The data rate of the current input sequence of music data can be determined so as to time the start of the continuation substantially in phase with the determined data rate such that the transition from an end of the current input sequence to the starting of the continuation is substantially seamless. Type: Grant. Filed: June 7, 2002. Date of Patent: April 25, 2006. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventor: François Pachet
  35.  Markovian-sequence generator and new methods of generating Markovian sequences. Patent number: 8566258. Abstract: A new type of Markovian sequence generator and generation method generates a Markovian sequence having controllable properties, notably properties that satisfy at least one control criterion which is a computable requirement holding on items in the sequence. The Markovian sequence is generated chunkwise, each chunk containing a plurality of items in the sequence. During generation of each chunk a search is performed in the space of Markovian sequences to find a chunk-sized series of items which enables the control criterion to be satisfied. The search can be performed using a generate and test approach in which chunk-sized Markovian sequences are generated then tested for compliance with the requirement(s) of the control criteria. Type: Grant. Filed: July 12, 2010. Date of Patent: October 22, 2013. Assignee: Sony Corporation. Inventors: François Pachet, Pierre Roy
  36.  Markovian-sequence Generator and New Methods of Generating Markovian Sequences. Publication number: 20110010321. Abstract: A new type of Markovian sequence generator and generation method generates a Markovian sequence having controllable properties, notably properties that satisfy at least one control criterion which is a computable requirement holding on items in the sequence. The Markovian sequence is generated chunkwise, each chunk containing a plurality of items in the sequence. During generation of each chunk a search is performed in the space of Markovian sequences to find a chunk-sized series of items which enables the control criterion to be satisfied. The search can be performed using a generate and test approach in which chunk-sized Markovian sequences are generated then tested for compliance with the requirement(s) of the control criteria. Type: Application. Filed: July 12, 2010. Publication date: January 13, 2011. <strong”>Applicant:  Sony Corporation. <strong”>Inventors:  Francois PACHET, Pierre ROY
  37.  Information type identification method and apparatus, e.g. for music file name content identification. Patent number: 6794566. Abstract: The method serves to automatically identify in a set of data sequences at least one specific type of information contained in each data sequence of the set, wherein the type of information has an unknown presentation in the data sequences. It comprises the steps of: initially defining at least one characteristic feature of the specific type of information, and of expressing the characteristic feature(s) in terms of at least one recognition rule executable by processor means (2), applying the recognition rule(s) through the processor means to analyze the set of data sequences, determining in each data sequence a data portion thereof satisfying the recognition rule(s), and identifying the data portion as corresponding to the specific type of information. Type: Grant. Filed: April 23, 2002. Date of Patent: September 21, 2004. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventor: François Pachet
  38.  Rhythm feature extractor. Publication number: 20020005110. Abstract: The invention relates to a method of extracting a representation of its rhythmic structure, from a given signal. The representation is designed to yield a similarity relation between item titles. Type: Application. Filed: April 5, 2001. Publication date: January 17, 2002. Inventors: Francois Pachet, Olivier Delerue
  39.  Rhythm feature extractor. Patent number: 6469240. Abstract: The invention relates to a method of extracting a representation of its rhythmic structure, from a given signal. The representation is designed to yield a similarity relation between item titles. Type: Grant. Filed: April 5, 2001. Date of Patent: October 22, 2002. Assignee: Sony France, S.A. Inventors: François Pachet, Olivier Delerue
  40. Method and apparatus for automatically generating a general extraction function calculable on an input signal, e.g. an audio signal to extract therefrom a predetermined global characteristic value of its contents, e.g. a descriptor. Patent number: 7624012. Abstract: The invention enables to generate a general function (4) which can operate on an input signal (Sx) to extract from the latter a value (DVex) of a global characteristic value expressing a feature (De) of the information conveyed by that signal. It operates by: generating at least one compound function (CF1-CFn), said compound function being generated from at least one of a set of elementary functions (EF1, EF2, . . .Type: Grant. Filed: December 16, 2003. Date of Patent: November 24, 2009. Assignee: Sony France S.A. Inventors: François Pachet, Aymeric Zils