Patents Assigned to Soul Machines Limited
  • Patent number: 11908057
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Soul Machines Limited, Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Patent number: 11908060
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system for animating a virtual object or digital entity. It has particular relevance to animation using biologically based models, or behavioural models particularly neurobehavioural models. There is provided a plurality of modules having a computational element and a graphical element. The modules are arranged in a required structure and have at least one variable and being associated with at least one connector. The connectors link variables between modules across the structure, and the modules together provide a neurobehavioural model. There is also provided a method of controlling a digital entity in response to an external stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: David Peter Bullivant, Paul Burton Robertson, Mark Andrew Sagar
  • Publication number: 20230105458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system for animating a virtual object or digital entity. It has particular relevance to animation using biologically based models, or behavioural models particularly neurobehavioural models. There is provided a plurality of modules having a computational element and a graphical element. The modules are arranged in a required structure and have at least one variable and being associated with at least one connector. The connectors link variables between modules across the structure, and the modules together provide a neurobehavioural model. There is also provided a method of controlling a digital entity in response to an external stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: David Peter BULLIVANT, Paul Burton ROBERTSON, Mark Andrew SAGAR
  • Patent number: 11527030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system for animating a virtual object or digital entity. It has particular relevance to animation using biologically based models, or behavioural models particularly neurobehavioural models. There is provided a plurality of modules having a computational element and a graphical element. The modules are arranged in a required structure and have at least one variable and being associated with at least one connector. The connectors link variables between modules across the structure, and the modules together provide a neurobehavioural model. There is also provided a method of controlling a digital entity in response to an external stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: David Peter Bullivant, Paul Burton Robertson, Mark Andrew Sagar
  • Patent number: 11354844
    Abstract: A method for creating a model of a virtual object or digital entity is described, the method comprising receiving a plurality of basic shapes for a plurality of models; receiving a plurality of specified modification variables specifying a modification to be made to the basic shapes; and applying the specified modification(s) to the plurality of basic shapes to generate a plurality of modified basic shapes for at least one model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Werner Ollewagen, Xiani Tan
  • Patent number: 11176725
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC, Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Publication number: 20200349752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system for animating a virtual object or digital entity. It has particular relevance to animation using biologically based models, or behavioural models particularly neurobehavioural models. There is provided a plurality of modules having a computational element and a graphical element. The modules are arranged in a required structure and have at least one variable and being associated with at least one connector. The connectors link variables between modules across the structure, and the modules together provide a neurobehavioural model. There is also provided a method of controlling a digital entity in response to an external stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: David Peter Bullivant, Paul Burton Robertson, Mark Andrew Sagar
  • Patent number: 10755465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system for animating a virtual object or digital entity. It has particular relevance to animation using biologically based models, or behavioural models particularly neurobehavioural models. There is provided a plurality of modules having a computational element and a graphical element. The modules are arranged in a required structure and have at least one variable and being associated with at least one connector. The connectors link variables between modules across the structure, and the modules together provide a neurobehavioural model. There is also provided a method of controlling a digital entity in response to an external stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: David Peter Bullivant, Paul Burton Robertson, Mark Andrew Sagar
  • Publication number: 20190172242
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system for animating a virtual object or digital entity. It has particular relevance to animation using biologically based models, or behavioural models particularly neurobehavioural models. There is provided a plurality of modules having a computational element and a graphical element. The modules are arranged in a required structure and have at least one variable and being associated with at least one connector. The connectors link variables between modules across the structure, and the modules together provide a neurobehavioural model. There is also provided a method of controlling a digital entity in response to an external stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: David Peter Bullivant, Paul Burton Robertson, Mark Andrew Sagar
  • Patent number: 10181213
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented system for animating a virtual object or digital entity. It has particular relevance to animation using biologically based models, or behavioral models particularly neurobehavioral models. There is provided a plurality of modules having a computational element and a graphical element. The modules are arranged in a required structure and have at least one variable and being associated with at least one connector. The connectors link variables between modules across the structure, and the modules together provide a neurobehavioral model. There is also provided a method of controlling a digital entity in response to an external stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: David Peter Bullivant, Paul Burton Robertson, Mark Andrew Sagar