IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,555,609
Granted Patent B2
US 12,555,609 · App. 17/209,977 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Masking in video stream

Inventors: Francis Michaud (Varennes, CA); Mathieu Nadeau (Montreal, CA); Jonathan Doyon (Saint-Laurent, CA)
G11B27/036G08B13/19686G11B27/00G11B27/031G11B27/102G11B27/34H04N5/262H04N5/2628H04N5/272H04N5/783H04N21/4318H04N21/44008H04N21/45455H04N21/45457G06F3/04817
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,555,609
App. No.
17/209,977
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and devices for combining a mask with a selectively progressing video stream may include receiving a selection of at least one mask with a mask zone that obscures at least a portion of the video stream. The methods and devices may include receiving a selection to emplace the at least one mask at a first location within the video stream. The methods and devices may include receiving a selection to enable a tracking icon to move the at least one mask to a second location within the video stream while the video stream progresses. The methods and devices may include generating a combined output of the video stream and the selective emplacement and movement of the at least one mask during the video stream progression.

Claims (41)

1 . A method for combining a mask with a video stream, the method comprising:

receiving a selection to emplace a mask with a size at a first location within a video stream, the mask comprising a mask zone that outlines or obscures at least a portion of an object visible within the video stream;

receiving a selection to automatically track movement of the at least a portion of the object with the mask while the at least a portion of the object is visible in the video stream;

adjusting the size of the mask while the video stream progresses; and

generating a combined output of the video stream and the mask as emplaced and moved with the at least a portion of the object while the at least a portion of the object is visible in the video stream.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the selection to emplace the mask at the first location within the video stream comprises receiving the selection to emplace the mask at the first location within the video stream when the video stream is paused.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprises receiving an input to resume playing the video stream.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising linking movement of the mask to the movement of the at least a portion of the object.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving an input to adjust the size of the mask zone of the mask when the video stream is paused.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the combined output comprises at least in part obscuring one or more image frames of the video stream or a copy of the video stream according to the mask as emplaced and moved with the at least a portion of the object.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the combined output comprises playing the video stream with the mask tracking the movement of the at least a portion of the object during video stream progression.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein, during the playing, the mask zone is displayed as comprising a square or rectangular shaped outline.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the selection to automatically track movement comprises receiving the selection to automatically track movement via an icon associated with the mask.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the selection to automatically track movement of the at least a portion of the object with the mask comprises receiving a selection of the mask.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting a mask duration timeline corresponding to a duration of time when the mask is present in the video stream in response to receiving the selection to emplace the mask at the first location within the video stream.

12 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the size of the mask while the video stream progresses is performed following receipt of user input to resize the mask.

13 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the size of the mask while the video stream progresses is performed automatically by tracking the at least one portion of the object in the video stream.

14 . A computer device, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the at least one processor for:

receiving a selection to emplace a mask with a size at a first location within a video stream, the mask comprising a mask zone that outlines or obscures at least a portion of an object visible within the video stream;

receiving a selection to automatically track movement of the at least a portion of the object with the mask while the at least a portion of the object is visible in the video stream;

adjusting the size of the mask while the video stream progresses; and

generating a combined output of the video stream and the mask as emplaced and moved with the at least a portion of the object while the at least a portion of the object is visible in the video stream.

15 . The computer device of claim 14 , wherein receiving the selection to emplace the mask at the first location within the video stream comprises receiving the selection to emplace the mask at the first location within the video stream when the video stream is paused.

16 . The computer device of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor for receiving an input to resume playing the video stream.

17 . The computer device of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor for linking movement of the mask to the movement of the at least a portion of the object.

18 . The computer device of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor for receiving an input to adjust the size of the mask zone of the mask when the video stream is paused.

19 . The computer device of claim 14 , wherein generating the combined output comprises at least in part obscuring one or more image frames of the video stream or a copy of the video stream according to the mask as emplaced and moved with the at least a portion of the object.

20 . The computer device of claim 14 , wherein generating the combined output comprises playing the video stream with the mask tracking the movement of the at least a portion of the object during video stream progression.

21 . The computer device of claim 20 , wherein, during the playing, the mask zone is displayed as comprising a square or rectangular shaped outline.

22 . The computer device of claim 14 , wherein receiving the selection to automatically track movement comprises receiving the selection to automatically track movement via an icon associated with the mask.

23 . The computer device of claim 14 , wherein receiving the selection to automatically track movement of the at least a portion of the object with the mask comprises receiving a selection of the mask.

24 . The computer device of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor for presenting a mask duration timeline corresponding to a duration of time when the mask is present in the video stream in response to receiving the selection to emplace the mask at the first location within the video stream.

25 . The computing device as defined in claim 14 , wherein the adjusting the size of the mask while the video stream progresses is performed following receipt of user input.

26 . The computing device as defined in claim 14 , wherein the adjusting the size of the mask while the video stream progresses is performed automatically by tracking the at least one portion of the object in the video stream.

27 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer device, comprising:

at least one instruction for causing the computing device to receive a selection to emplace a mask with a size at a first location within a video stream, the mask comprising a mask zone that outlines or obscures at least a portion of an object visible within the video stream;

at least one instruction for causing the computing device to receive a selection to automatically track movement of the at least a portion of the object with the mask while the at least a portion of the object is visible in the video stream;

at least one instruction for causing the computing device to adjust the size of the mask while the video stream progresses; and

at least one instruction for causing the computing device to generate a combined output of the video stream and the mask as emplaced and moved with the at least a portion of the object while the at least a portion of the object is visible in the video stream.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2021
From: MICHAUD, FRANCIS; NADEAU, MATHIEU; DOYON, JONATHAN
To: GENETEC INC.
Reel/Frame 055888/0263 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16341497
Provisional Application 62408610 · Oct 14, 2016
Related Publication 20210218907A1 · Jul 15, 2021
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