Patents by Inventor Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins

Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins 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: 9641790
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to creating and providing an interactive video program. One disclosed embodiment includes combining a first interactive video segment of a first type and a second interactive video segment of a second, different type than the first segment. The first interactive video segment includes a first video component, a second video component related to the first component, and metadata including information related to a possible user input that triggers the second component. The interactive video program includes an active viewing route that proceeds through the first and second interactive video segments, and includes playback of the second component. The active viewing route is triggered by receipt of an actual user input that corresponds to the possible user input. The interactive video program also includes a passive viewing route that proceeds through the first and second interactive video segments without playback of the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Stone, Jerry Johnson, Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins
  • Patent number: 8961321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing gaming data are provided. The system may include at least one computing device coupled to a gaming service. The computing device may be configured to execute a gaming engine configured to generate a first character profile based on a user's interaction within a gaming environment included in a first gaming application. Additionally, the computing device may be configured to execute an update module configured to merge the first character profile with a second character profile generated via a second gaming application based on a user's interaction within a second gaming environment and generate a merged character profile, the merged character profile including content from the first and second character profiles, wherein the content include statistical data, character trait data, and/or item data from the first and second character profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jason York, Richard T. Martinez, Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins, Peter Douglas Molyneux
  • Publication number: 20130094830
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to creating and providing an interactive video program. One disclosed embodiment includes combining a first interactive video segment of a first type and a second interactive video segment of a second, different type than the first segment. The first interactive video segment includes a first video component, a second video component related to the first component, and metadata including information related to a possible user input that triggers the second component. The interactive video program includes an active viewing route that proceeds through the first and second interactive video segments, and includes playback of the second component. The active viewing route is triggered by receipt of an actual user input that corresponds to the possible user input. The interactive video program also includes a passive viewing route that proceeds through the first and second interactive video segments without playback of the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Stone, Jerry Johnson, Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins
  • Publication number: 20130097643
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to providing an interactive video viewing experience. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes receiving an interactive video program that comprises a first video segment and one or more branch video segments that each corresponds to a branch along a decision path. The method includes pre-buffering a transition portion of a corresponding branch video segment for each possible user input of one or more possible user inputs along the decision path. The method includes sending the first video segment to a display device and, based upon an actual user input, branching from the first video segment to a transition portion of a branch video segment that corresponds to the actual user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Stone, Jerry Johnson, Matthew White, Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins
  • Publication number: 20130097565
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to assessing a user's ability to recognize a target item by reacting to the target item and performing a target gesture. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of assessing a user's ability to recognize a target item from a collection of learning items that includes the target item. The method includes providing to a display device the learning items in a sequence and receiving input from a sensor to recognize a user gesture made by the user. If the user gesture is received within a target timeframe corresponding to the target item, then the method includes determining whether the user gesture matches a target gesture. If the user gesture matches the target gesture, then the method includes providing to the display device a reward image for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aimee Freeding, Brian Stone, Matthew White, Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins
  • Publication number: 20100210364
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing gaming data are provided. The system may include at least one computing device coupled to a gaming service. The computing device may be configured to execute a gaming engine configured to generate a first character profile based on a user's interaction within a gaming environment included in a first gaming application. Additionally, the computing device may be configured to execute an update module configured to merge the first character profile with a second character profile generated via a second gaming application based on a user's interaction within a second gaming environment and generate a merged character profile, the merged character profile including content from the first and second character profiles, wherein the content include statistical data, character trait data, and/or item data from the first and second character profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason York, Richard T. Martinez, Joshua Whitney Samuels Atkins, Peter Douglas Molyneux