Disney Patents

The Walt Disney Company is an entertainment company focused on media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive games. The company's media holdings include ESPN (partial ownership), the Disney channels, ABC Family and A&E Television Networks (partial ownership). The company also operates Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani, the Disney Cruise Line, and has partial ownership interests in Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney. Tokyo Disneyland is operated by an independent company that licenses Disney intellectual property and pays royalties based on revenues. Disney also produces live-action and animated motion pictures, direct-to-video content, musical recordings and live stage plays, and distributes Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and Touchstone films.

Disney Patents by Type
  • Disney Patents Granted: Disney patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Disney Patent Applications: Disney patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Method and system for utilizing pre-existing image layers of a two-dimensional image to create a stereoscopic image
    Patent number: 9342914
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention involve methods and systems for converting a 2-D multimedia image to a 3-D multimedia image by utilizing a plurality of layers of the 2-D image. The layers may comprise one or more portions of the 2-D image and may be digitized and stored in a computer-readable database. The layers may be reproduced as a corresponding left eye and right eye version of the layer, including a pixel offset corresponding to a desired 3-D effect for each layer of the image. The combined left eye layers and right eye layers may form the composite right eye and composite left eye images for a single 3-D multimedia image. Further, this process may be applied to each frame of a animated feature film to convert the film from 2-D to 3-D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Tara Handy Turner, Evan M. Goldberg, Matthew F. Schnittker, Joseph W. Longson, Robert M. Neuman
  • Content Based Partitioning of Digital Media Content
    Publication number: 20160134905
    Abstract: There is provided a content based partitioning system and a method for use in performing content based partitioning of digital media content. In one implementation, such a content based partitioning system includes a system processor, a system memory, and a content based partitioning module stored in the system memory. The content based partitioning module, under control of the system processor, is configured to receive encoded digital media content corresponding to the digital media content, to receive encoding parameters used to encode the encoded digital media content, and to utilize the encoding parameters and the encoded digital media content to identify partition boundaries in the encoded digital media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnaud Robert
  • SIMULATION AND SKINNING OF HETEROGENEOUS TEXTURE DETAIL DEFORMATION
    Publication number: 20160133040
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing distortions introduced by deformation of a surface with an existing parameterization. In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises receiving a rest pose mesh comprising a plurality of faces, a rigidity map corresponding to the rest pose mesh, and a deformed pose mesh; using the rigidity map to generate a simulation grid on the rest pose mesh, the simulation grid comprising a plurality of cells; defining a set of constraints on the simulation grid, the constraints being derived at least in part from the rigidity map; running a simulation using the simulation grid and the set of constraints to obtain a warped grid; and texture mapping the deformed pose mesh based on data from the warped grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: KENNETH JOHN MITCHELL, CHARALAMPOS KONIARIS, DARREN COSKER
  • AIR DELIVERED SPECIAL EFFECTS
    Publication number: 20160129363
    Abstract: A discharge platform comprises an air propulsion mechanism that propels the discharge platform through the air. The discharge platform also comprises a special effect storage device that stores a special effect and is operably connected to the discharge platform. Further, the discharge platform comprises a processor. In addition, the discharge platform comprises an air delivery special effect mechanism that discharges a special effect from the special effect storage device toward a destination after receiving an instruction from the processor and during propulsion of the discharge platform through the air by the air propulsion mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Clifford Wong, John Bouman, Kevin Kelley, Ken Wagner
  • System and Method for Providing Media Content
    Publication number: 20160134678
    Abstract: There is presented a system for providing a content stored on a medium, the system comprising a media presentation module including a processor. The processor is configured to retrieve a content payload including a digital content from a data structure residing on the medium, and to retrieve a content-describing metadata stored separately from the digital content, from the data structure. The content-describing metadata provide content information including media encoding information for the digital content and a media profile information for the digital content. The content-describing metadata are configured to provide the content information to the media presentation module prior to rendering the digital content. In one embodiment, the processor is further configured to configure the media presentation module based on the media encoding information and the media profile information, and to present the content on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnaud Robert
  • Systems and methods to compensate for the effects of transmission delay
    Patent number: 9338480
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus and means are provided to determine an amount of a delay when transmitting a signal from a remote broadcast location to a studio location over a transmission link, operate a delay engine to insert the amount of the delay in a studio audio/video feed, and operate a switch to switch from the studio audio/video feed to a remote audio/video feed, the delay in the studio audio/video feed inserted prior to the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: David Andrew Duennebier, Samuel Joseph Reisner
  • Game Pieces for Use with Touch Screen Devices and Related Methods
    Publication number: 20160121207
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Audiolocation system combining use of audio fingerprinting and audio watermarking
    Patent number: 9332522
    Abstract: An audio-based navigation system for determining a present location or position of a mobile device such as a smartphone within a venue. The system includes a sound system with a first speaker playing first audio content and a second speaker playing second audio content. The first speaker is positioned in a first space in a venue, and the second speaker is positioned in a second space of the venue. The navigation system also includes a mobile device with memory storing a database of fingerprints of a plurality of differing audio content. The mobile device includes a microphone for receiving an audio signal associated with the first audio content or with the second audio content. The mobile device includes a processor(s) selectively running software to determine the mobile device location in the first or second space using either fingerprinting or watermarking module by processing the received audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Giorgio Corbellini, Stefan Mangold, Vladimir Vukadinovic
  • Managing a theme of a virtual space based on characters made accessible responsive to corresponding tokens being detected
    Patent number: 9327200
    Abstract: Objectives, an environment, and/or a theme associated with a virtual space may be managed based on characters made accessible responsive to corresponding tokens being detected. Tokens, including a first token associated with a first character or a second token associated with a second character, may be detected based on signals received from one or more token readers. The first character may be made accessible in the virtual space responsive to the first token being detected and the second character may be made accessible in the virtual space responsive to the second token being detected. Responsive to one or both of the first token being detected or the second token being detected, a given objective associated with the virtual space may be effectuated in the virtual space, an environment of the virtual space may be modified, and/or a theme of the virtual space being modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Vignocchi
  • Method and system for transmission and display of rich-media messages
    Patent number: 9332407
    Abstract: There is provided a method of processing a rich-media message by a mobile device having a display, a mobile device operating system and a software application. The method includes receiving the rich-media message over a network by the mobile device, depacketizing the rich-media message by the mobile device operating system to retrieve an encoded rich-media message and address data in the rich-media message, and activating the software application on the mobile device by the mobile device operating system based on the address data in the rich-media message. The method also includes decoding the encoded rich-media message by the software application to generate rich-media content information, determining, using the rich-media content information, whether a rich-media element identified by the rich-media content information is resident on the mobile device, and if the determining determines that the rich-media element is resident on the mobile device, displaying the rich-media element on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy A. Weinrib
  • Art-directable retargeting for streaming video
    Patent number: 9330434
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for content-aware video retargeting. An interactive framework combines key frame-based constraint editing with numerous automatic algorithms for video analysis. This combination gives content producers a high level of control of the retargeting process. One component of the framework is a non-uniform, pixel-accurate warp to the target resolution that considers automatic as well as interactively-defined features. Automatic features comprise video saliency, edge preservation at the pixel resolution, and scene cut detection to enforce bilateral temporal coherence. Additional high level constraints can be added by the producer to achieve a consistent scene composition across arbitrary output formats. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention provide a better visual result for retargeted video when compared to using conventional techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zurich (Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich)
    Inventors: Markus Gross, Alexander Hornung, Manuel Lang, Philipp Kraehenbuehl
  • DESCRIPTIVE METADATA EXTRACTION AND LINKAGE WITH EDITORIAL CONTENT
    Publication number: 20160119655
    Abstract: Embodiments provide techniques for distributing supplemental content based on content entities within video content. Embodiments include analyzing video data to identify a known content entity within two or more frames of the video data. For each of the two or more frames, a region of pixels within the respective frame is determined that corresponds to the known content entity. Embodiments further include determining supplemental content corresponding to the known content entity. A watermark is embedded at a first position within the video data, such that the watermark corresponds to an identifier associated with the determined supplemental content. Upon receiving a message specifying the identifier, embodiments include transmitting the supplement content to a client device for output together with the video data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony M. ACCARDO, Skarphedinn S. HEDINSSON, Aljosa Aleksej Andrej SMOLIC, Miquel À FARRÉ GUIU, Thabo D. BEELER
  • Video-based motion capture and adaptation
    Patent number: 9322653
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for estimating a state-space controller from a set of video frames depicting a motion of an entity. The approach includes incrementally optimizing parameters of the state-space controller and changing a structure of the state-space controller based on expanding subsets of the set of video frames. In one embodiment, a controller-estimation application greedily selects, at every stage of the incremental optimization, structure and parameters of the controller which minimize an objective function. In another embodiment, the controller-estimation application re-optimizes, after the incremental optimization, all parameters of the state-space controller based on all of the video frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid Sigal, Marek Vondrak, Jessica K. Hodgins
  • Low-risk deployment of web services
    Patent number: 9325602
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for providing low-risk deployment of a web service. In one implementation, such a method includes testing the web service on one or more virtual machines assigned to a testing environment of the system, and reassigning the one or more virtual machines to a production environment of the system configured to service live traffic for the web service. The method also includes hosting the web service using the same one or more virtual machines used to test the web service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stroomer, Philip James-Roxby, Raul Rangel
  • Non-linear photometric projector compensation
    Patent number: 9325956
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method for calibrating a projector. The method includes receiving by a processing element one or more mapping images. After receiving the images, the method includes defining by the processing element a non-linear color mapping function, the color mapping function mapping pixels between the projector and a camera used to capture the mapping images. The method then includes determining by the processing element a compensation image using the color mapping function. The compensation image corresponds to an input image and takes into account variations in the surface onto which the input image is to be projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Anselm Grundhofer
  • System and method for synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications
    Patent number: 9325953
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for the synchronizing on-air commercial programming with interactive applications, providing interactive content synchronized with on-air television programming. There is provided a system comprising a client device with a display device and an input device and running a synchronization application. The client device receives digital data transmitted from a server, and transmits user feedback information generated from user interactions with the digital data back to the server. The digital data are interactive advertisements, such as online social games, that increase users' awareness of the advertised products or messages. The digital data are delivered to the user's client device in synchronization with the broadcasting of on-air television commercials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Cheng
  • Content-aware image compression method
    Patent number: 9324161
    Abstract: Methods for content-aware image compression are disclosed. One method comprises the steps of non-uniformly downscaling an original input image according to a saliency map, creating a residual image, encoding the residual image and downscaled input image, and transmitting the residual image and downscaled input image. The encoded image components are transmitted to a receiver. Downscaling may be performed using an aspect ratio that is automatically calculated from the saliency map. The saliency map may be based on an algorithm specified at an encoder or on regions of interest selected by a plurality of users of receivers that receive the transmitted encoded image components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Fabio Zünd, Yael Pritch, Alexander Sorkine Hornung, Thomas Gross
  • Magnetic and electrostatic vibration-driven haptic touchscreen
    Patent number: 9317141
    Abstract: A system adapted for selectively attracting an object to and moving the object on a surface. The system includes an oscillating element including a contact surface such as a computer tablet with a touch screen or a table with a ferrous surface. The system includes a drive (or vibration inducing) assembly coupled to the oscillating element operable to oscillate the oscillating element to linearly move the contact surface first in a first direction and second in a second direction opposite the first direction (e.g., along an X-axis or Y-axis). The system further includes a preferential friction assembly operating to first create an attractive force between the contact surface and the object and second to modify the attractive force. This causes the object to move with the contact surface when the attractive force is created and the contact surface to move relative to the object when the attractive force is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Quinn Y. Smithwick
  • Gravity-counterbalanced robot arm
    Patent number: 9314934
    Abstract: An arm assembly for use in a robot to provide gravity counterbalancing of the robot arms. The arm assembly includes an arm and a drive assembly. The arm assembly includes a differential interconnecting the drive assembly with the arm link. The differential is attached to a torso-side or upper end of the arm link, and the differential is adapted to provide gravity counterbalancing for the predefined mass of the arm link. A pair of half counterweights are provided and arranged to each move in one degree of freedom and to provide two equal counterweights to the differential's two inputs such as input gears, pulleys, or the like. The drive assembly includes two motors that are grounded. In some embodiments, both the motors and the counterweights are spaced apart from the robot's shoulder, i.e., spaced apart from the differential near the robot's pelvis or low in the torso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Whitney
  • Acoustic data transmission based on groups of audio receivers
    Patent number: 9318116
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for acoustic data reception. Playback of modified audio content is acoustically detected by a first receiving entity and a second receiving entity operatively connected to the first receiving entity via a network. The modified audio content is generated by encoding specified data into specified audio content such that the modified audio content satisfies a predefined signal constraint characterizing imperceptibility of any differences between playback of the specified audio content and playback of the modified audio content. The specified data is collaboratively decoded based on the acoustically detected playback of the modified audio content and by the first receiving entity and the second receiving entity using the network and according to a predefined diversity scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Mangold
  • Content aware texture mapping on deformable surfaces
    Patent number: 9317952
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing distortions introduced by deformation of a surface with an existing parameterization. In one embodiment, the distortions are reduced over a user-specified convex region in texture space ensuring optimization is locally contained in areas of interest. A distortion minimization algorithm is presented that is guided by a user-supplied rigidity map of the specified region. In one embodiment, non-linear optimization is used to calculate the axis-aligned deformation of a non-uniform grid specified over the region's parameter space, so that when the space is remapped from the original to the deformed grid, the distortion of the rigid features is minimized. Since grids require minimal storage and the remapping from one grid to another entails minimal cost, grids can be precalculated for animation sequences and used for real-time texture space remapping that minimizes distortions on specified rigid features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Charalampos Koniaris, Darren Cosker, Xiasong Yang, Kenneth John Mitchell, Iain Matthews
  • Projector drift corrected compensated projection
    Patent number: 9319649
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to adjusting projected images from a projector. A projected image is compensated to neutralize effects of a projection surface and optimized based on anticipated pixel drift movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Anselm Grundhofer
  • Coupled reconstruction of hair and skin
    Patent number: 9317970
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to model hair and skin. Multiscopic images are received that depict at least part of a subject having hair. The multiscopic images are analyzed to determine hairs depicted. Two-dimensional hair segments are generated that represent the hairs. Three-dimensional hair segments are generated based on the two-dimensional hair segments. A three-dimensional model of skin is generated based on the three-dimensional hair segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zurich (Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich)
    Inventors: Thabo D. Beeler, Paul Beardsley, Robert Sumner, Bernd Bickel, Steve Marschner
  • Incremental category embedding for categorization
    Patent number: 9317782
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods of incremental category embedding for categorization. One method including selecting one or more input categories from a plurality of input categories to be added to learned categories, determining at least one representative category from the learned categories for each input category from the one or more input categories, the at least one representative category representing the input category, and approximating the input category using the at least one representative category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Ju Hwang, Leonid Sigal
  • Multi-touch Surface Extension using Conductive Traces and Pads
    Publication number: 20160101359
    Abstract: There is provided an interactive board for use with a user device having a touch screen. The interactive board includes a plurality of board pads, each of the plurality of board pads including a ground region interdigitated with a sense region, a user device region configured to receive the touch screen of the user device, the user device region including device region pads configured to transmit signals to the touch screen of the user device, a plurality of traces coupling the plurality of board pads to the device region pads, and a ground flap coupled to the ground region of each of the plurality of board pads, the ground flap configured to at least partially cover a back area of the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Christen, Quinn Smithwick, Harout Jarchafjian, Jeffrey Voris, Jorge Alted
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING SECONDARY CONTENT TO VIEWERS
    Publication number: 20160105707
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include systems and methods for delivery of secondary content to a user device. The secondary content may comprise events synchronized to primary content. In a particular embodiment, the process may include: receiving a request from a user device to access secondary content associated with a primary content; determining whether the user device is entitled to receive the secondary content; and if the user device is entitled to receive the secondary content, providing the secondary content to the user device for the user device to play whenever the user watches the primary content. The secondary content comprises at least one of an audio track, and a subtitle file, and the audio track comprises at least one of an alternate language audio track not provided in the primary content, and an audio track with words omitted from the primary content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: ALEXANDER CHEN, LEON SILVERMAN, EDWARD DRAKE
  • Measuring User Engagement During Presentation of Media Content
    Publication number: 20160105716
    Abstract: There is provided a method including rendering a gating media content segment presentation, providing a user interface to a user viewing the gating media content segment presentation, and determining two user interaction indices, including an under-threshold index and an over-threshold index, associated with the gating media content segment presentation. The method determines the under-threshold index using a first user interaction data measured before a threshold event and determines the over-threshold index using a second user interaction data measured after the threshold event, the threshold event occurs after beginning the rendering of the gating media content segment presentation and makes a user interactive mechanism selectable, the second user interaction data includes data corresponds to a user selection of the user interactive mechanism, and one of the under-threshold index and the over-threshold index is calculated using a user interaction with the user interface using an input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ariff Sidi, Skarpi Hedinsson, Giuseppe Manzari, Yii Lih Liu
  • System for the Delivery and Dynamic Presentation of Large Media Assets over Bandwidth Constrained Networks
    Publication number: 20160105710
    Abstract: Media content, based on a predetermined set of constraints, from a content provider is delivered to a local cache of a user device before viewing the media. A client asset manager process resides in the user device, an asset list at the content provider site, and the media assets are located at a remote site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Watson, Eric C. Haseltine, Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Robson, Aaron P. LaBerge, Adam T. Fritz
  • Coarse integral holographic display
    Patent number: 9310769
    Abstract: A holographic display system for generating a super hologram with full parallax in different fields of view in the horizontal and vertical directions. The system includes an array of holographic display devices, e.g., spatial light modulators (SLMs), operable to provide a plurality of holographic images of a scene from differing viewpoints of the scene. Each SLM is operated concurrently to output a narrow field of view, elemental hologram. The system includes coarse integral optics combining the holographic images into a single hologram (“super hologram”) viewable in a hologram image plane a distance from the course integral optics. The coarse integral optics combine the holographic images by providing angular tiling of the holographic images, e.g., bending the axes of parallel lenses. In this manner, the field of view, in one direction, of the super hologram is based on the number of holographic display devices provided in the array in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Quinn Smithwick
  • Multiple-input configuration and playback video enhancement
    Patent number: 9313421
    Abstract: A system and method for delaying a first version of a video feed from a video camera according to a first delay to generate a second version of the feed, supplying the first version to an insertion system, wherein the insertion system inserts an indicia into the first version to create an enhanced version with a second delay substantially matching the first delay and supplying the enhanced version and the second version to a production switcher, wherein the enhanced version and the second version supplied to the production switcher are synchronized with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Nikhil Deshpande, Ximin Gong, Peter A. von Kaenel, James W. Appleby, II, Randy W. Sills, Sr.
  • System and method for real-time location-based advertisement insertion into online content
    Patent number: 9311658
    Abstract: There is provided a media content server for inserting a location-based advertisement into an online media content. The media content server comprises a memory including an online media content for online access; a processor configured to receive a request from a client for the online media content; determine an IP address of the client based on the request; map the IP address to a local advertisement server serving an area corresponding to the IP address; request a local advertisement from the local advertisement server; provide the local advertisement to the client; and provide the online media content from the memory to the client. The online media content has a first and second sequential segments, and the local advertisement may be provided to the client after the first segment is provided and before the second segment is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Ariff Sidi, Skarpi Hedinsson
  • THREE DIMENSIONAL (3D) PRINTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRINTING 3D OBJECTS WITH USER-DEFINED MATERIAL PARAMETERS
    Publication number: 20160096318
    Abstract: A 3D printer system that allows a 3D object to be printed such that each portion or object element is constructed or designed to have a user-defined or user-selected material parameter such as varying elastic deformation. The 3D printer system stores a library of microstructures or cells that are each defined and designed to provide the desired material parameter and that can be combined during 3D printing to provide a portion or element of a printed 3D object having the material parameter. For example, a toy or figurine is printed using differing microstructures in its arms than its body to allow the arms to have a first elasticity (or softness) that differs from that of the body that is printed with microstructures providing a second elasticity. The use of microstructures allows the 3D printer system to operate to alter the effective deformation behavior of 3D objects printed using single-material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: BERND BICKEL, CHRISTIAN SCHUMACHER, STEVE MARSCHNER
  • VOICE SEARCHING METADATA THROUGH MEDIA CONTENT
    Publication number: 20160098998
    Abstract: Systems and methods for voice searching media content based on metadata or subtitles are provided. Metadata associated with media content can be pre-processed at a media server. Upon receiving a vocal command representative of a search for an aspect of the media content, the media server performs a search for one or more portions of the media content relevant to the aspect of the media content being searched for. The media performs the search by matching the aspect of the media content being searched for with the pre-processed metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: JING X. WANG, MARK ARANA, EDWARD DRAKE, ALEXANDER C. CHEN
  • PUPPET CONTROL MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20160096120
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a puppet device. The apparatus also comprises a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device. The control mechanism comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible. Further, another apparatus comprises an object. The apparatus also comprises an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Scott Trowbridge, Akhil Madhani
  • Traveling virtual pet game system
    Patent number: 9302184
    Abstract: A traveling virtual pet game simulates a pet traveling between various geographic locations. As the pet travels, users interact with the virtual pet to aid the pet in acquiring traits associated with the geographic regions in which it travels and to observe traits that the pet has previously acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Damon R. Beggs
  • Content player with transference reader
    Patent number: 9305515
    Abstract: A first proximity-based device at a content player receives content modification data from a second proximity-based device within a product and/or a product package when the product or product package is placed within a proximity to the first proximity-based device. A processor at the content player performs modified playback of media content based on the content modification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Chen, Evan Acosta, Edward Drake, Mark Arana
  • Digital receipt for use with an interoperable keychest
    Patent number: 9305144
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for a digital receipt for use with an interoperable keychest. There is provided a method for online registration of a digital receipt associated with a content, comprising performing a transaction to obtain from a first distributor the content encrypted by a title key and a first digital rights management (DRM) license usable with the first distributor to access the title key, receiving from the first distributor the digital receipt associated with the content including information relevant to the transaction, and transmitting the digital receipt to the interoperable keychest acting as a central key repository (CKR) for an online registration of the digital receipt associated with the content. Authorized media distributors may then generate new DRM licenses using the CKR, enabling interoperable content playback of the same universal file across different media distributors and clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnaud Robert
  • Decision streams for synchronizing visual script language processing between networked computers
    Patent number: 9302185
    Abstract: A method is provided for decision streams for synchronizing visual script language processing between networked computers. A master computing device may receive a remote kickoff stream indicating master nodes to be processed on a master graph, create a master decision stream using the remote kickoff stream, process master nodes of the master graph to populate the master decision stream with states and actions during the processing, and distribute the master decision stream to clients for synchronization of private graphs. The master and private graphs may be copies of the same visual script for implementing game logic, which may be created and edited using a graphical user interface (GUI). Nodes of the graphs can be marked as master, requiring global synchronization, or private, allowing immediate local processing with reduced latency. Thus, online game designers are empowered to balance the competing concerns of state synchronization and latency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Dawson, Phil Knight, Kirk Baum
  • System and method for associating a universal user identification and a domain specific user identification
    Patent number: 9306928
    Abstract: There is presented a system and method for associating a domain transcendent identification (ID) of a user and a domain specific ID of the user, the system comprising an ID association server accessible by a plurality of secure domains over a network. The system also includes an ID associator application that when executed by ID association server is configured to receive a domain specific ID that associates the user to the secure domain, enter the domain specific ID in a domain transcendent ID record created for the user, generate a unique data associated with the domain transcendent ID record and identify a network location for submission of the unique data, send the unique data and the network location to the user, and associate the domain transcendent ID and the domain specific ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnaud Robert, Edward C. Drake
  • Scalable and tileable holographic displays
    Patent number: 9304492
    Abstract: A holographic display system for generating a super hologram with full parallax in different fields of view in the horizontal and vertical directions. The display system includes assemblies or subsystems each adapted to combine holographic displays and coarse integral displays to produce or display a coarse integral hologram. The display system is adapted to combine such displays or display systems to add more detail or information. For example, the display system can be assembled as if it were made up of “holographic bricks” that can be stacked and combined to provide a unique image/output. Briefly, the display system described herein teaches techniques for combining coarse integral holographic (CIH) displays in a seamless and scalable manner, e.g., a display system where multiple spatial light modulators (SLMs) can be placed or provided behind coarse integral optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Quinn Y. Smithwick
  • Overlay-based watermarking for video synchronization with contextual data
    Patent number: 9299119
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing a broadcast video with contextual data are disclosed, wherein the broadcast video is enhanced by graphical overlays. Synchronization is achieved by means of digital watermarking of the broadcast video in conjunction with the graphical-overlays. Exemplary embodiments embed a watermark bitstream into the broadcast video based on an overlay-template, characteristic of a corresponding overlay-graphic. The watermarked video is then transmitted over a communication link to a receiving-end including a detector. According to some embodiment, the embedder inserts the watermark bitstream into the overlay-graphics' regions of the video and the detector extracts the watermark bitstream based on information in the overlay-template and based on a restored version of the original overlay-graphics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Smadar Gefen, Joseph DiGiovanni
  • Augmenting physical appearance using illumination
    Patent number: 9300901
    Abstract: A system for augmenting the appearance of an object including a plurality of projectors. Each projector includes a light source and a lens in optical communication with the light source, where the lens focuses light emitted by the light source on the object. The system also includes a computer in communication with the plurality of projectors, the computer including a memory component and a processing element in communication with the memory component and the plurality of projectors. The processing element determines a plurality of images to create an augmented appearance of the object and provides the plurality of images to the plurality of projectors to project light corresponding to the plurality of images onto the object to create the augmented appearance of the object. After the images are projected onto the object, the augmented appearance of the objected is substantially the same regardless of a viewing angle for the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Anselm Grundhofer, Amit Bermano, Bernd Bickel, Philipp Bruschweiler, Markus Gross, Daisuke Iwai
  • Enhanced system and method for rendering visual surface
    Patent number: 9299185
    Abstract: An enhanced system and method for rendering virtual surface is disclosed. A grid may be constructed in a world space to provide positions that facilitate the rendering of the virtual surface. The grid may be constructed by intersecting circular lines and radial lines. The distance of circular lines with respect to one another may be determined by intersecting tessellation level and binary tree. Motion caused by a viewpoint transformation may be compensated by adjusting the grid. Rotational change of the viewpoint may compensated by rotating the grid according a degree of grid edge. Translational change of the viewpoint may be compensated by moving or rotating the grid in a direction opposite to the translational change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Huw Bowles
  • Rear projected screen materials and processes
    Patent number: 9289969
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials and methods used to form a three dimensional (3D) article having a printed layer thereon. The 3D articles are capable of displaying rear projected images, effectively as a 3D “screen” for displaying an image or a movie. The 3D articles are used as standalone articles or as a portion of an animatronic figure. The articles are made by forming a substantially planar thermoformable laminate including a rear projection screen material, printing and curing a radiation curable ink onto one or both sides of the laminate, and thermoforming to impart a shape to the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Dolce Lin Wang, Thomas F. LaDuke
  • Wheelchair ramp for a ride vehicle
    Patent number: 9289337
    Abstract: A curved wheelchair ramp for ride vehicles of an amusement park attraction, ride, or other environment is provided. In one embodiment, the wheelchair ramp is maneuverable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the wheelchair ramp may form a door to the ride vehicle. In the extended position, the wheelchair ramp extends, in a curve, between an access opening of the ride vehicle to a station platform. In various embodiments, the ramp may have a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The segments may fold together or may nest together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Joel L. Fritsche, Don Robert Hilsen, William Lawrence Wolf, Charles Albert Flueck
  • Portable virtual characters
    Patent number: 9292957
    Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, apparatuses and products for portable virtual characters such as virtual characters. One embodiment provides a method for providing a virtual character, including: storing, in device memory, a listing of at least one mobile device having at least one device component selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a camera, and a microphone; and transferring, using a processor, to a mobile device information to permit an instantiation of a mobile device version of a virtual character on the mobile device, the instantiation of the virtual character on the mobile device including at least one virtual character attribute matching the at least one device component selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a camera, and a microphone. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: William Valentine Zajac, III
  • System for the delivery and dynamic presentation of large media assets over bandwidth constrained networks
    Patent number: 9294807
    Abstract: Media content, based on a predetermined set of constraints, from a content provider is delivered to a local cache of a user device before viewing the media. A client asset manager process resides in the user device, an asset list at the content provider site, and the media assets are located at a remote site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Watson, Eric C. Haseltine, Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Robson, Aaron P. LaBerge, Adam T. Fritz
  • System and/or method for authentication and/or authorization via a network
    Patent number: 9294466
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to authenticating an identity of users desiring access to an application program and determining whether an authenticated user is authorized to access one or more aspects of the application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Doron Grinstein
  • Universal balancing controller for lateral stabilization of bipedal robots in dynamic unstable environments
    Patent number: 9292786
    Abstract: A robot, such as a bipedal robot, that includes three or more rigid links such as two legs and a pelvis. The robot includes joints pivotally connecting pairs of the rigid links and an actuator associated with each of the joints. The robot includes a universal balancing controller with an output feedback control module providing control signals to selectively drive the actuators to balance the robot on a support element which may be configured to provide a dynamic, unstable environment or to provide a static, stable environment. During use, the control signals are generated in response to processing of global robot data from sensors associated with the rigid links or the joints. The control signals are generated by the output feedback control module without any need for measurements of the support element or without any measurement of a dynamic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Umashankar Nagarajan, Katsu Yumane
  • Integrated audio-visual systems
    Patent number: 9288564
    Abstract: Integrated audio-visual systems are provided. Such integrated audio-visual systems are capable of reproducing sound frequencies without compromising visual characteristics. In particular, a surface of the acoustic diaphragm also serves as the image projection screen. Such surface may be made of materials capable of reflecting light and converting audio signals simultaneously. The surface may be integrated with electromagnetic conductive materials or nanomaterials. In response to an audio signal, the surface is driven by various driving mechanism to create acoustic vibration. Any number of audio zones may be created on the surface and the audio emanation areas may be customized for the desired application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Norbert Faerstain, Michael Kern, James Hurrell