Patents by Inventor Thomas Goossens

Thomas Goossens 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: 20240144626
    Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Marcel VAN OS, Thomas GOOSSENS, Laurent BAUMANN, Michael Dale LAMPELL, Alexandre CARLHIAN
  • Publication number: 20240029334
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an avatar on a lock screen. A received user input causes a respective change in a respective element of the lock screen other than the avatar and an animation is displayed, over time, of the avatar transitioning through a plurality of poses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Raymond S. SEPULVEDA, Kevin N. ARMSTRONG, Amaury BALLIET, Adam M. COTUGNO, Lisa K. FORSSELL, Thomas GOOSSENS, Aurelio GUZMAN, Guilherme JACINTO, Steve S. KO, Jason D. RICKWALD, Nicolas V. SCAPEL
  • Patent number: 11869165
    Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Van Os, Thomas Goossens, Laurent Baumann, Michael Dale Lampell, Alexandre Carlhian
  • Patent number: 11776190
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an avatar on a lock screen. A received user input causes a respective change in a respective element of the lock screen other than the avatar and an animation is displayed, over time, of the avatar transitioning through a plurality of poses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond S. Sepulveda, Jason D. Rickwald, Nicolas V. Scapel, Kevin N. Armstrong, Amaury Balliet, Adam M. Cotugno, Lisa K. Forssell, Thomas Goossens, Aurelio Guzman, Guilherme Jacinto, Steve S. Ko
  • Publication number: 20230106884
    Abstract: Simulating a 3D audio environment, including receiving a visual representation of an object at a location in a scene, wherein the location represents a point in 3D space, receiving a sound element, and binding the sound element to the visual representation of the object such that a characteristic of the sound element is dynamically modified coincident with a change in location in the scene of the visual representation of the object in 3D space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Goossens, Sebastien Metrot
  • Publication number: 20230043249
    Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Marcel VAN OS, Thomas GOOSSENS, Laurent BAUMANN, Michael Dale LAMPELL, Alexandre CARLHIAN
  • Patent number: 11481988
    Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Van Os, Thomas Goossens, Laurent Baumann, Michael Dale Lampell, Alexandre Carlhian
  • Patent number: 11423629
    Abstract: Simulating a 3D audio environment, including receiving a visual representation of an object at a location in a scene, wherein the location represents a point in 3D space, receiving a sound element, and binding the sound element to the visual representation of the object such that a characteristic of the sound element is dynamically modified coincident with a change in location in the scene of the visual representation of the object in 3D space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Goossens, Sebastien Metrot
  • Patent number: 11276217
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide for techniques to facilitate online communication. In one embodiment, the communication is facilitated by providing a framework to enable the transmission of customized avatars across the messaging platform. The avatars may be recipe based, such that a receiving client device can receive the avatar recipe and render an avatar based on the recipe. In one embodiment the recipe includes set of components and a parameters associated with the set of components. An expression identifier associated with an expression to represent via the avatar can be received via the messaging platform and an animation of the avatar can be displayed to convey the intended expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Goossens, Aymeric Bard, Alexandre Carlhian, Thomas Deniau, Raphaël Mor
  • Patent number: 11120600
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a video of an emoji that has been puppeted using inputs from image, depth, and audio. The inputs can capture facial expressions of a user, eye, eyebrow, mouth, and head movements. A pose, held by the user, can be detected that can be used to generate supplemental animation. The emoji can further be animated using physical properties associated with the emoji and captured movements. An emoji of a dog can have its ears move in response to an up-and-down movement, or a shaking of the head. The video can be sent in a message to one or more recipients. A sending device can render the puppeted video in accordance with hardware and software capabilities of a recipient's computer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin D. Stoyles, Alexandre R. Moha, Nicolas V. Scapel, Guillaume P. Barlier, Aurelio Guzman, Bruno M. Sommer, Nina Damasky, Thibaut Weise, Thomas Goossens, Hoan Pham, Brian Amberg
  • Patent number: 10922901
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model. Each asset can be associated with a pivot point and with an asset normal. A contact point on the surface of a model where an asset is to be positioned may be identified, and a surface normal that may be perpendicular to the surface at the contact point may also be identified. Then, the asset can be placed on the model such that the position of the pivot point of the asset may coincide with the position of the identified contact point on the surface of the model, and such that the orientation of the asset normal may match the orientation of the identified surface normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Goossens
  • Patent number: 10796470
    Abstract: Various customization options are provided for customizing a 3D avatar of a head. Features of the head and assets corresponding to the features can be customized using blend shapes. An amount of storage for the plurality of blend shapes is minimized by determining overlapping blend shapes that can be reused for a plurality of different assets. Further, techniques are provided for dynamic changes to an avatar in accordance with selected features and assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas V. Scapel, Alexandre R. Moha, Guillaume P. Barlier, Thomas Goossens
  • Patent number: 10719969
    Abstract: Various customization options are provided for customizing a 3D avatar of a head. Features of the head and assets corresponding to the features can be customized using blend shapes. An amount of storage for the plurality of blend shapes is minimized by determining overlapping blend shapes that can be reused for a plurality of different assets. Further, techniques are provided for dynamic changes to an avatar in accordance with selected features and assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas V. Scapel, Alexandre R. Moha, Guillaume P. Barlier, Thomas Goossens
  • Publication number: 20200226848
    Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Marcel VAN OS, Thomas GOOSSENS, Laurent BAUMANN, Michael Dale LAMPELL, Alexandre CARLHIAN
  • Patent number: 10607386
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide for techniques to facilitate online communication. In one embodiment, the communication is facilitated by providing a framework to enable the transmission of customized avatars across the messaging platform. The avatars may be recipe based, such that a receiving client device can receive the avatar recipe and render an avatar based on the recipe. In one embodiment the recipe includes set of components and a parameters associated with the set of components. An expression identifier associated with an expression to represent via the avatar can be received via the messaging platform and an animation of the avatar can be displayed to convey the intended expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Goossens, Aymeric Bard, Alexandre Carlhian, Thomas Deniau, Raphaël Mor
  • Patent number: 10607419
    Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Van Os, Thomas Goossens, Laurent Baumann, Michael Dale Lampell, Alexandre Carlhian
  • Publication number: 20200058172
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model. Each asset can be associated with a pivot point and with an asset normal. A contact point on the surface of a model where an asset is to be positioned may be identified, and a surface normal that may be perpendicular to the surface at the contact point may also be identified. Then, the asset can be placed on the model such that the position of the pivot point of the asset may coincide with the position of the identified contact point on the surface of the model, and such that the orientation of the asset normal may match the orientation of the identified surface normal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Goossens
  • Patent number: 10535176
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve the animation capabilities of a computer system are described. Animation targets may be represented as a combination of a current animation pose and an incremental morph. The incremental morph may be represented as a series of non-zero weights, where each weight alters one of a predetermined number of target poses. Each target pose may be represented as a weighted difference with respect to a reference pose. Target poses may be stored in memory in a unique and beneficial manner. The disclosed manner permits the efficient retrieval of pose vertex data at run-time and may be especially efficient in systems that do not use, or have very little, cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aymeric Bard, Thomas Goossens, Amaury Balliet
  • Publication number: 20190371033
    Abstract: Various customization options are provided for customizing a 3D avatar of a head. Features of the head and assets corresponding to the features can be customized using blend shapes. An amount of storage for the plurality of blend shapes is minimized by determining overlapping blend shapes that can be reused for a plurality of different assets. Further, techniques are provided for dynamic changes to an avatar in accordance with selected features and assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas V. Scapel, Alexandre R. Moha, Guillaume P. Barlier, Thomas Goossens
  • Patent number: RE49044
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) avatar can be automatically created that resembles the physical appearance of an individual captured in one or more input images or video frames. The avatar can be further customized by the individual in an editing environment and used in various applications, including but not limited to gaming, social networking and video conferencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Nelson, Cedric Bray, Thomas Goossens, Rudolph Van Der Merwe, Richard E. Crandall, Bertrand Serlet