Patents by Inventor David J. Canora

David J. Canora 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: 9478254
    Abstract: Systems and associated methods for generating custom media products along various story arcs are described. The story arcs correspond to sub-themes for organizing media content within a larger theme, or story, into a custom media product. The media content can include stock media content, guest-specific or custom media content, which can include rendered content. Embodiments utilize authoring tools and automated workflow mechanisms to take various forms of raw media content and create customized media products for individual guests or groups of guests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Canora, Robert Alan Swirsky, Michael J. Gomes
  • Patent number: 9367852
    Abstract: A method for managing distribution of entitlements, such as personalized or enhanced experiences at a destination such a theme park. The method includes receiving a request for experience state management from an experience system that defines an experience provided by the experience system and identifies a single or multiple visitors. The method includes accessing an experience state associated with the identified visitors. The experience state defines experiences the visitor is entitled to receive and a ranked or prioritized listing of these experiences. The method includes responding to the experience system indicating whether the visitor is eligible to receive the defined experience based on their experience state and, when there are two or more eligible visitors, arbitrating amount the members of this eligible group. A feedback loop causes the experience states to be updated to modify the prioritized listings and to update an experience history for use in later arbitrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Canora, Christopher James Purvis, Brian J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8972048
    Abstract: A token-based system providing self-service vending of snacks or beverages. The system includes a vending machine with a controller selectively dispensing goods. A token reader is linked to the controller. Tokens are provided to users of the system that each includes access data. During use, the token reader reads the access data and provides it to the controller. The controller dispenses a unit of the goods based on the access data read from the token. The system provides token-based vending with the token being a handheld or wearable object providing the access data, such as with an RFID tag on a bracelet or pin or with a barcode or magnetic stripe on a card or room key. The vending machine may be a beverage dispenser that dispenses a drink with a user obtaining a disposable container near the dispenser and presenting their token to the token reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Canora, Scott W. Rench
  • Publication number: 20120271834
    Abstract: A method for managing distribution of entitlements, such as personalized or enhanced experiences at a destination such a theme park. The method includes receiving a request for experience state management from an experience system that defines an experience provided by the experience system and identifies a single or multiple visitors. The method includes accessing an experience state associated with the identified visitors. The experience state defines experiences the visitor is entitled to receive and a ranked or prioritized listing of these experiences. The method includes responding to the experience system indicating whether the visitor is eligible to receive the defined experience based on their experience state and, when there are two or more eligible visitors, arbitrating amount the members of this eligible group. A feedback loop causes the experience states to be updated to modify the prioritized listings and to update an experience history for use in later arbitrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID J. CANORA, CHRISTOPHER JAMES PURVIS, BRIAN J. WILSON
  • Patent number: 8201073
    Abstract: A method and system for enabling the creation of custom-choreographed multimedia content by combining content selected by a user with additional predefined content not selected by the user using an intelligent scripting and video rendering engine. The system and method reduce the user's involvement in preparing the multimedia content to simply selecting specific content the user wants to include in the final multimedia product and leaves the choreography and creation of the final product to the system and method, which intelligently script the final multimedia product based on the particular content selected by a user and/or any characteristics associated with the selected content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Canora, Michael A. Colglazier, Eric James Goodman, Ronald L. Weaver, Jr., Robert Alan Swirsky
  • Publication number: 20120079360
    Abstract: Systems and associated methods for generating custom media products along various story arcs are described. The story arcs correspond to sub-themes for organizing media content within a larger theme, or story, into a custom media product. The media content can include stock media content, guest-specific or custom media content, which can include rendered content. Embodiments utilize authoring tools and automated workflow mechanisms to take various forms of raw media content and create customized media products for individual guests or groups of guests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Canora, Robert Alan Swirsky, Michael J. Gomes
  • Publication number: 20100125362
    Abstract: A token-based system providing self-service vending of snacks or beverages. The system includes a vending machine with a controller selectively dispensing goods. A token reader is linked to the controller. Tokens are provided to users of the system that each includes access data. During use, the token reader reads the access data and provides it to the controller. The controller dispenses a unit of the goods based on the access data read from the token. The system provides token-based vending with the token being a handheld or wearable object providing the access data, such as with an RFID tag on a bracelet or pin or with a barcode or magnetic stripe on a card or room key. The vending machine may be a beverage dispenser that dispenses a drink with a user obtaining a disposable container near the dispenser and presenting their token to the token reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID J. CANORA, SCOTT W. RENCH
  • Publication number: 20090216547
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for providing real-time recommendations. The method includes accessing an itinerary corresponding to a guest of a venue, the venue having a plurality of attractions. The itinerary was created in response to one or both of preferences of the guest and historical data about the venue. Real-time data about the guest and/or real-time data about the venue are received. A real-time recommendation is created in response to the itinerary, to a current location of the guest, and to one or more of the real-time data about the guest and the real-time data about the venue. The real-time recommendation includes one or more suggested future activities for the guest. The one or more suggested future activities are communicated to the guest via a user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Canora, David B. Gross, Robert David Grossman, Ernest L. Martin, Scott Rench