Patents by Inventor DARBY JOHNSTON

DARBY JOHNSTON has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11508125
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for switching between different modes of a media content item. A media content item may include a movie that has different modes, such as a cinematic mode and an interactive mode. For example, a movie may be presented in a cinematic mode that does not allow certain user interactions with the movie. The movie may be switched to an interactive mode during any point of the movie, allowing a viewer to interact with various aspects of the movie. The movie may be displayed using different formats and resolutions depending on which mode the movie is being presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Lutz Markus Latta, Ian Wakelin, Darby Johnston, Andrew Grant, John Gaeta
  • Patent number: 11099654
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a view of a virtual reality (VR) environment via a computing device with a touch sensitive surface are disclosed. In some examples, a user may be enabled to augment the view of the VR environment by providing finger gestures to the touch sensitive surface. In one example, the user is enabled to call up a menu in the view of the VR environment. In one example, the user is enabled to switch the view of the VR environment displayed on a device associated with another user to a new location within the VR environment. In some examples, the user may be enabled to use the computing device to control a virtual camera within the VR environment and have various information regarding one or more aspects of the virtual camera displayed in the view of the VR environment presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Darby Johnston, Ian Wakelin
  • Publication number: 20200249765
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a view of a virtual reality (VR) environment via a computing device with a touch sensitive surface are disclosed. In some examples, a user may be enabled to augment the view of the VR environment by providing finger gestures to the touch sensitive surface. In one example, the user is enabled to call up a menu in the view of the VR environment. In one example, the user is enabled to switch the view of the VR environment displayed on a device associated with another user to a new location within the VR environment. In some examples, the user may be enabled to use the computing device to control a virtual camera within the VR environment and have various information regarding one or more aspects of the virtual camera displayed in the view of the VR environment presented to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Darby Johnston, Ian Wakelin
  • Patent number: 10627908
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a view of a virtual reality (VR) environment via a computing device with a touch sensitive surface are disclosed. In some examples, a user may be enabled to augment the view of the VR environment by providing finger gestures to the touch sensitive surface. In one example, the user is enabled to call up a menu in the view of the VR environment. In one example, the user is enabled to switch the view of the VR environment displayed on a device associated with another user to a new location within the VR environment. In some examples, the user may be enabled to use the computing device to control a virtual camera within the VR environment and have various information regarding one or more aspects of the virtual camera displayed in the view of the VR environment presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Darby Johnston, Ian Wakelin
  • Patent number: 10600245
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for switching between different modes of a media content item. A media content item may include a movie that has different modes, such as a cinematic mode and an interactive mode. For example, a movie may be presented in a cinematic mode that does not allow certain user interactions with the movie. The movie may be switched to an interactive mode during any point of the movie, allowing a viewer to interact with various aspects of the movie. The movie may be displayed using different formats and resolutions depending on which mode the movie is being presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Lutz Markus Latta, Ian Wakelin, Darby Johnston, Andrew Grant, John Gaeta
  • Patent number: 10602200
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for switching between different modes of a media content item. A media content item may include a movie that has different modes, such as a cinematic mode and an interactive mode. For example, a movie may be presented in a cinematic mode that does not allow certain user interactions with the movie. The movie may be switched to an interactive mode during any point of the movie, allowing a viewer to interact with various aspects of the movie. The movie may be displayed using different formats and resolutions depending on which mode the movie is being presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Grant, Lutz Markus Latta, Ian Wakelin, Darby Johnston, John Gaeta
  • Patent number: 10423234
    Abstract: A system and method facilitating a user to manipulate a virtual reality (VR) environment are disclosed. The user may provide an input via a touch sensitive surface of a computing device associated with the user to bind a virtual object in the VR environment to the computing device. The user may then move and/or rotate the computing device to cause the bound virtual object to move and/or rotate in the VR environment accordingly. In some examples, the bound virtual object may cast a ray into the VR environment. The movement and/or rotation of the virtual object controlled by the computing device in those examples can change the direction of the ray. In some examples, the virtual object may include a virtual camera. In those examples, the user may move and/or rotate the virtual camera in the VR environment by moving and/or rotate the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Darby Johnston, Ian Wakelin
  • Patent number: 9508179
    Abstract: A method of generating an animation rig for a three-dimensional (3-D) computing environment may include providing a rig generation environment that includes a library storing a plurality of blocks. Each of the plurality of blocks may represent particular rig elements and include information for generating the rig elements in the 3-D computing environment along with a first icon that is visually representative of the particular rig elements. The method may also include receiving and displaying two or more blocks in the rig generation environment, and receiving one or more graphical connections between the blocks. The method may additionally include generating the animation rig using the information of each of the two or more blocks and sending the animation rig from the rig generation environment to the 3-D computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Justin Lee Jutan, Rachel Rose, Darby Johnston
  • Publication number: 20160283081
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a view of a virtual reality (VR) environment via a computing device with a touch sensitive surface are disclosed. In some examples, a user may be enabled to augment the view of the VR environment by providing finger gestures to the touch sensitive surface. In one example, the user is enabled to call up a menu in the view of the VR environment. In one example, the user is enabled to switch the view of the VR environment displayed on a device associated with another user to a new location within the VR environment. In some examples, the user may be enabled to use the computing device to control a virtual camera within the VR environment and have various information regarding one or more aspects of the virtual camera displayed in the view of the VR environment presented to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Darby Johnston, Ian Wakelin
  • Publication number: 20160284136
    Abstract: A system and method facilitating a user to manipulate a virtual reality (VR) environment are disclosed. The user may provide an input via a touch sensitive surface of a computing device associated with the user to bind a virtual object in the VR environment to the computing device. The user may then move and/or rotate the computing device to cause the bound virtual object to move and/or rotate in the VR environment accordingly. In some examples, the bound virtual object may cast a ray into the VR environment. The movement and/or rotation of the virtual object controlled by the computing device in those examples can change the direction of the ray. In some examples, the virtual object may include a virtual camera. In those examples, the user may move and/or rotate the virtual camera in the VR environment by moving and/or rotate the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Darby Johnston, Ian Wakelin
  • Publication number: 20160227262
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for switching between different modes of a media content item. A media content item may include a movie that has different modes, such as a cinematic mode and an interactive mode. For example, a movie may be presented in a cinematic mode that does not allow certain user interactions with the movie. The movie may be switched to an interactive mode during any point of the movie, allowing a viewer to interact with various aspects of the movie. The movie may be displayed using different formats and resolutions depending on which mode the movie is being presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew Grant, Lutz Markus Latta, Ian Wakelin, Darby Johnston, John Gaeta
  • Patent number: 9332285
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for switching between different modes of a media content item. A media content item may include a movie that has different modes, such as a cinematic mode and an interactive mode. For example, a movie may be presented in a cinematic mode that does not allow certain user interactions with the movie. The movie may be switched to an interactive mode during any point of the movie, allowing a viewer to interact with various aspects of the movie. The movie may be displayed using different formats and resolutions depending on which mode the movie is being presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Grant, Lutz Markus Latta, Ian Wakelin, Darby Johnston, John Gaeta
  • Publication number: 20150022517
    Abstract: A method of generating an animation rig for a three-dimensional (3-D) computing environment may include providing a rig generation environment that includes a library storing a plurality of blocks. Each of the plurality of blocks may represent particular rig elements and include information for generating the rig elements in the 3-D computing environment along with a first icon that is visually representative of the particular rig elements. The method may also include receiving and displaying two or more blocks in the rig generation environment, and receiving one or more graphical connections between the blocks. The method may additionally include generating the animation rig using the information of each of the two or more blocks and sending the animation rig from the rig generation environment to the 3-D computing environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MICHAEL JUSTIN LEE JUTAN, RACHEL ROSE, DARBY JOHNSTON