Patents by Inventor Tim Szu-Hsien Wu

Tim Szu-Hsien Wu 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: 11908057
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Soul Machines Limited, Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Patent number: 11893671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Publication number: 20240037826
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Publication number: 20230377238
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to the autonomous animation of Gestures by the automatic application of animations to Input Text—or the automatic application of animation Mark-up wherein the Mark-up triggers nonverbal communication expressions or Gestures. In order for an Embodied Agent's movements to come across as natural and human-like as possible, a Text-To-Gesture Algorithm (TTG Algorithm) analyses Input Text of a Communicative Utterance before it is uttered by a Embodied Agent, and marks it up with appropriate and meaningful Gestures given the meaning, context, and emotional content of Input Text and the gesturing style or personality of the Embodied Agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Jo Hutton, Mark Sagar, Amy Wang, Hannah Clark-Younger, Kirstin Marcon, Paige Skinner, Shane Blakett, Teah Rota, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Utkarsh Saxena, Xueyuan Zhang, Hazel Watson-Smith, Travers Biddle, Emma Perry
  • Patent number: 11354844
    Abstract: A method for creating a model of a virtual object or digital entity is described, the method comprising receiving a plurality of basic shapes for a plurality of models; receiving a plurality of specified modification variables specifying a modification to be made to the basic shapes; and applying the specified modification(s) to the plurality of basic shapes to generate a plurality of modified basic shapes for at least one model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Werner Ollewagen, Xiani Tan
  • Publication number: 20220108510
    Abstract: To realistically animate a String (such as a sentence) a hierarchical search algorithm is provided to search for stored examples (Animation Snippets) of sub-strings of the String, in decreasing order of sub-string length, and concatenate retrieved sub-strings to complete the String of speech animation. In one embodiment, real-time generation of speech animation uses model visemes to predict the animation sequences at onsets of visemes and a look-up table based (data-driven) algorithm to predict the dynamics at transitions of visemes. Specifically posed Model Visemes may be blended with speech animation generated using another method at corresponding time points in the animation when the visemes are to be expressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Xiani Tan, Xueyuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220092837
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Publication number: 20220058849
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Publication number: 20210390751
    Abstract: A method for creating a model of a virtual object or digital entity is described, the method comprising receiving a plurality of basic shapes for a plurality of models; receiving a plurality of specified modification variables specifying a modification to be made to the basic shapes; and applying the specified modification(s) to the plurality of basic shapes to generate a plurality of modified basic shapes for at least one model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Werner Ollewagen, Xiani Tan
  • Patent number: 11176725
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC, Soul Machines Limited
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Publication number: 20200342649
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Patent number: 10783690
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges
  • Publication number: 20180197322
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image retargeting are provided. Image data may be acquired that includes motion capture data indicative of motion of a plurality of markers disposed on a surface of a first subject. Each of the markers may be associated with a respective location on the first subject. A plurality of blendshapes may be calculated for the motion capture data based on a configuration of the markers. An error function may be identified for the plurality of blendshapes, and it may be determined that the plurality of blendshapes can be used to retarget a second subject based on the error function. The plurality of blendshapes may then be applied to a second subject to generate a new animation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Sagar, Tim Szu-Hsien Wu, Frank Filipe Bonniwell, Homoud B. Alkouh, Colin Joseph Hodges