Patents by Inventor Jaron Lanier

Jaron Lanier 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).

  • Publication number: 20240114063
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide controlled user interface transitions for private breakout communication sessions. A system provides a Together Mode user interface that gives participants of a communication session a feeling that they are in the same room. When a person joins a communication session, a system uses a seating policy to determine a location of that user. That user is placed near or next to a select user. A policy is applied when users meet one or more conditions. If a number of people join the communication session, each person is ranked according to an organizational chart and each person is positioned and ordered relative to the select user according to each person's rank. The system configures the updated user interface arrangement to maintain the position of the select group of the participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventor: Jaron LANIER
  • Patent number: 11895167
    Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide controlled user interface transitions for private breakout communication sessions. A system provides a Together Mode user interface that gives participants of a communication session a feeling that they are in the same room. When a person joins a communication session, a system uses a seating policy to determine a location of that user. That user is placed near or next to a select user meeting one or more conditions. If a number of people join the communication session, each person is ranked according to an organizational chart and each person is positioned and ordered relative to the select user according to each person's rank. The system configures the updated user interface arrangement to maintain the position of the select group of the participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Jaron Lanier
  • Publication number: 20220400142
    Abstract: Systems that execute controlled user interface transitions for private breakout communication sessions are described herein. A system provides a user interface that gives participants of a communication session a feeling that they are in the same room. When a select group of the participants break out into a private communication session, the system can transition from a first user interface arrangement showing all meeting participants to a second user interface arrangement that only shows the select group of the participants. The system configures the second user interface arrangement to maintain the position of the select group of the participants while removing the participants who are not selected to participate in the private communication session. By maintaining the position of the participants of the private communication session, the system can help participants to maintain a cognitive stream of nonverbal social cues that were provided in the original user interface arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventor: Jaron LANIER
  • Patent number: 11418760
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems that display visual indicators that provide user awareness of independent activity of participants in a communication session. The visual indicators are displayed within a Together Mode user interface that gives participants of a communication session a feeling that they are in the same room. The visual indicators further the technical benefits of the Together Mode user interface by providing additional context to particular non-verbal social cues. A system can generate a visual indicator that notifies meeting participants that a particular user is engaged with a computing device. The visual indicator can be generated in response to detecting that the user is interacting with an input device, such as a keyboard or touchscreen. The visual indicator mitigates confusion of non-verbal social cues, e.g., when a person appears to be looking at another participant of a meeting but is actually looking at, and interacting with, a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Jaron Lanier
  • Publication number: 20220247975
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems that display visual indicators that provide user awareness of independent activity of participants in a communication session. The visual indicators are displayed within a Together Mode user interface that gives participants of a communication session a feeling that they are in the same room. The visual indicators further the technical benefits of the Together Mode user interface by providing additional context to particular non-verbal social cues. A system can generate a visual indicator that notifies meeting participants that a particular user is engaged with a computing device. The visual indicator can be generated in response to detecting that the user is interacting with an input device, such as a keyboard or touchscreen. The visual indicator mitigates confusion of non-verbal social cues, e.g., when a person appears to be looking at another participant of a meeting but is actually looking at, and interacting with, a computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventor: Jaron LANIER
  • Patent number: 11374988
    Abstract: Systems that execute controlled user interface transitions for private breakout communication sessions are described herein. A system provides a user interface that gives participants of a communication session a feeling that they are in the same room. When a select group of the participants break out into a private communication session, the system can transition from a first user interface arrangement showing all meeting participants to a second user interface arrangement that only shows the select group of the participants. The system configures the second user interface arrangement to maintain the position of the select group of the participants while removing the participants who are not selected to participate in the private communication session. By maintaining the position of the participants of the private communication session, the system can help participants to maintain a cognitive stream of nonverbal social cues that were provided in the original user interface arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Jaron Lanier
  • Patent number: 10605609
    Abstract: The discussion relates to spatially meshed interactive devices. One example can include a mesh component that has access to a layout of features of a facility and to information about users associated with the facility. The example can also include multiple interactive devices including sensors and communication components. The multiple interactive devices are communicatively coupled via the communication components and at least some of the multiple interactive devices are communicatively coupled to the mesh component. The multiple interactive devices are located at known positions in the facility to create a spatial mesh at the facility relative to the features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brett D. Brewer, Jaron Lanier, Agustya Mehta
  • Patent number: 10325407
    Abstract: Techniques described herein include mixed reality tools, referred to as HoloPaint, that allow use of any of a variety of sensors to determine physical parameters of real objects in a mixed reality environment. HoloPaint may correlate current measurements of the real world with past measurements to perform inventory management, analysis of changes of physical parameters of real objects and environments, and so on. A user may select which parameter to analyze by selecting a particular type of virtual paint, such as for drawing onto an object to be analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Judith Amores Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10204451
    Abstract: A multi-optical surface optical design for generating multiple focal planes with identical image data displayed at substantially the same time to generate the perception of varying focal depths is described. The multi-optical surface optical design can include a device comprising reflective optical surfaces that can be arranged on top of one another and configured to generate multiple focal planes and an image source for projecting image data onto the reflective optical surfaces. The technologies described can cause image data to be rendered in a focal plane corresponding to a desired focal distance and multiple copies of the image can be perceived in other focal planes of the multiple focal planes at substantially the same time as the image data is rendered in the focal plane. Each copy of the multiple copies can be presented with a perceived degree of sharpness such that each copy is out-of-focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Scott Lerner, Joel S. Kollin, Andrew Maimone, Josh Hudman
  • Patent number: 10192363
    Abstract: Techniques described herein include graphically representing mathematical functions or operators in a mixed or virtual reality display device. The graphical representations may be moved around in a virtual reality space that includes displayed source material, such as data. If the graphical representations are located along a line of sight from a virtual location of a user of the mixed or virtual reality display device to the displayed source data, then the mathematical functions or operators represented by the graphical representations are applied to the displayed source data. Results may be displayed on the graphical representation virtually located closest to the virtual location of the user. Techniques described herein allow for simultaneous collaboration among mixed or virtual reality display devices of multiple users interacting with the graphical representations in the virtual reality space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Andrzej Banburski
  • Publication number: 20180321042
    Abstract: The discussion relates to spatially meshed interactive devices. One example can include a mesh component that has access to a layout of features of a facility and to information about users associated with the facility. The example can also include multiple interactive devices including sensors and communication components. The multiple interactive devices are communicatively coupled via the communication components and at least some of the multiple interactive devices are communicatively coupled to the mesh component. The multiple interactive devices are located at known positions in the facility to create a spatial mesh at the facility relative to the features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brett D. BREWER, Jaron LANIER, Agustya MEHTA
  • Patent number: 10033994
    Abstract: A method of displaying visual information to different viewer-eyes includes receiving eye strength data indicative of a deficiency of a weak viewer-eye with respect to a dominant viewer-eye. The method further includes causing a 3D-display system to display a first perspective of an image to the weak viewer-eye and causing the 3D-display system to display a second perspective of the image to the dominant viewer-eye. A difference between the first perspective and the second perspective is a variation of a display characteristic of one of the first and second perspectives where the variation is made in accordance with the indicated deficiency of the weak viewer-eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, Alistair K. Chan, William Gates, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Jaron Lanier, John L. Manferdelli, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9977493
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a display system having multiple fields of view. An example display system comprises a first display configured to produce images across a first field of view, a second display configured to produce images across a second field of view, the second field of view being larger than the first field of view, and a controller configured to selectively present a virtual object via one or more of the first display and the second display based on a feature of the virtual object as displayed within a user's viewspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Joel S. Kollin
  • Patent number: 9922463
    Abstract: The techniques describe herein use sensor(s) to scan a real-world environment and obtain data associated with geometry of the real-world environment that affects how energy propagates (e.g., locations of spatial objects in a room). The sensor(s) also detect energy (e.g., sound) in the real-world environment, from which a location of a source of the energy can be determined. The techniques combine the geometry data and the energy data to determine how the detected energy propagates from the location of the source through the real-world environment. The techniques can then cause a representation of the propagating energy to be displayed, to a user, as virtual content via a mixed reality device. Accordingly, a user is able to see energy that is otherwise invisible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Kishore Rathinavel, Nikunj Raghuvanshi
  • Publication number: 20180075658
    Abstract: Techniques described herein include mixed reality tools, referred to as HoloPaint, that allow use of any of a variety of sensors to determine physical parameters of real objects in a mixed reality environment. HoloPaint may correlate current measurements of the real world with past measurements to perform inventory management, analysis of changes of physical parameters of real objects and environments, and so on. A user may select which parameter to analyze by selecting a particular type of virtual paint, such as for drawing onto an object to be analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Judith Amores Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20180075657
    Abstract: Techniques described herein include mixed reality tools, referred to as HoloPaint, that allow one or more users to turn their physical environment into a painting and drawing canvas. In a mixed reality environment, the user is able to paint or draw in the air and/or on a surface. In a mixed reality environment, HoloPaint may allow the one or more users to paint in the air, mold and extract 3D meshes of surfaces, select among a number of various properties from the physical environment, spray and surface paint, splatter paint, and sculpt or shape digital content, among other things. Techniques described herein allow for simultaneous collaboration among mixed reality display devices of multiple users interacting with the graphical representations in the mixed reality environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Judith Amores Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20180061132
    Abstract: Techniques described herein include graphically representing mathematical functions or operators in a mixed or virtual reality display device. The graphical representations may be moved around in a virtual reality space that includes displayed source material, such as data. If the graphical representations are located along a line of sight from a virtual location of a user of the mixed or virtual reality display device to the displayed source data, then the mathematical functions or operators represented by the graphical representations are applied to the displayed source data. Results may be displayed on the graphical representation virtually located closest to the virtual location of the user. Techniques described herein allow for simultaneous collaboration among mixed or virtual reality display devices of multiple users interacting with the graphical representations in the virtual reality space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Andrzej Banburski
  • Patent number: 9818228
    Abstract: Mixed reality social interactions are described. Techniques described herein include determining authentication information associated with a mixed reality display device and determining that a content item is visible in a mixed reality environment associated with the mixed reality display device. In an example, a content item may be determined to be visible based at least in part on content data indicating that the content item is owned by the mixed reality display device and/or has been shared with the mixed reality display device. The content data may also indicate an identification of a content item of the plurality of content items, an owner of the content item, and permissions associated with the content item. The techniques further describe causing a graphical representation of the content item to be presented via a display on the mixed reality display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Ran Gal, Wayne Chang, Javier Arturo Porras Luraschi, Viktor A. Mateevitsi, Gheric Speiginer, Joseph Menke
  • Patent number: 9792490
    Abstract: A system for enhancing a facial expression includes a processing circuit configured to receive video of a user, generate facial data corresponding to a face of the user, analyze the facial data to identify a facial expression, enhance the facial data based on the facial expression, and output modified video including the enhanced facial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, Alistair K. Chan, William David Duncan, William Gates, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Jaron Lanier, John L. Manferdelli, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170154464
    Abstract: A multi-optical surface optical design for generating multiple focal planes with identical image data displayed at substantially the same time to generate the perception of varying focal depths is described. The multi-optical surface optical design can include a device comprising reflective optical surfaces that can be arranged on top of one another and configured to generate multiple focal planes and an image source for projecting image data onto the reflective optical surfaces. The technologies described can cause image data to be rendered in a focal plane corresponding to a desired focal distance and multiple copies of the image can be perceived in other focal planes of the multiple focal planes at substantially the same time as the image data is rendered in the focal plane. Each copy of the multiple copies can be presented with a perceived degree of sharpness such that each copy is out-of-focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Scott Lerner, Joel S. Kollin, Andrew Maimone, Josh Hudman