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).
  • Digital companion device with display
    Patent number: 11256460
    Abstract: Techniques for improved interactive devices are provided. Input is received from a user, where the input includes a first request. The input is evaluated using one or more natural language processing techniques to determine a context of the input, and a response to the input is generated based at least in part on the determined context. A first virtual character of a plurality of virtual characters is selected based at least in part on the determined context. The first virtual character is displayed on a rotating display, and the generated response is implemented while the first virtual character is being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Nathan D. Nocon, Timothy M. Panec, Jonathan R D Hsu, Janice K. Rosenthal
  • Appearance synthesis of digital faces
    Patent number: 11257276
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating digital faces. In some examples, a style-based generator receives as inputs initial tensor(s) and style vector(s) corresponding to user-selected semantic attribute styles, such as the desired expression, gender, age, identity, and/or ethnicity of a digital face. The style-based generator is trained to process such inputs and output low-resolution appearance map(s) for the digital face, such as a texture map, a normal map, and/or a specular roughness map. The low-resolution appearance map(s) are further processed using a super-resolution generator that is trained to take the low-resolution appearance map(s) and low-resolution 3D geometry of the digital face as inputs and output high-resolution appearance map(s) that align with high-resolution 3D geometry of the digital face. Such high-resolution appearance map(s) and high-resolution 3D geometry can then be used to render standalone images or the frames of a video that include the digital face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., ETH ZURICH, (EIDGENÖSSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZÜRICH)
    Inventors: Prashanth Chandran, Dominik Thabo Beeler, Derek Edward Bradley
  • Augmented reality camera frustum
    Patent number: 11249304
    Abstract: An apparatus such as a head-mounted display (HMD) may have a camera for capturing a visual scene for presentation via the HMD. A user of the apparatus may be operating a second, physical camera for capturing video or still images within the visual scene. The HMD may generate an augmented reality (AR) experience by presenting an AR view frustum representative of the actual view frustum of the physical camera. The field of view of the user viewing the captured visual scene via the AR experience is generally larger that the AR view frustum, allowing the user to avoid unnatural tracking movements and/or hunting for subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Chapman, Joseph Popp
  • Near field communication antenna system for a playset
    Patent number: 11239899
    Abstract: A playset comprises a near field communication extending system. The near field communication extending comprises a main antenna and a plurality of extending antennas. The main antenna is positioned at a first location of the playset and configured to wirelessly communicate to a near field communication device of a mobile device. The plurality of extending antennas is positioned at a plurality of different locations in an interior of the playset. Each of the plurality of extending antennas is connectable to the main antenna via a plurality of connection elements. The playset further comprises an antenna switching mechanism coupled to the plurality of extending antennas via a plurality of connection elements. The antenna switching mechanism is configured to switchably couple the main antenna with each of the plurality of extending antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Janice K. Rosenthal, Elliott H. Baumbach, Michael P. Goslin, Hunter J. Gibson, Jason A. Yeung
  • Placing large objects and objects separated by large distances in augmented reality
    Patent number: 11238610
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for placing large objects and objects separated by large distances in an AR environment. An AR headset system may place and generate digital objects using relative geographical coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and altitude) between the user's current position and the object being placed. In one implementation, a digital object's geographical coordinates may be calculated by determining a user's geographical coordinates, using a distance determination device to measure a distance to a boundary in the user's real-world environment within an AR headset's field of view, and calculating an orientation of the AR headset relative to the user's position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Mehul Patel, James Voris
  • Techniques for automatically detecting programming deficiencies
    Patent number: 11237805
    Abstract: A quality control (QC) engine analyzes sample code provided by a user and then generates example code that more effectively performs the same or similar operations performed by the sample code. An objective model analyzes the sample code to generate one or more tags indicating the intended objective(s) of the sample code. The quality model analyzes the sample code to generate one or more ratings indicating the degree to which the sample code achieves each intended objective. The performance model analyzes the tags and the ratings and estimates the performance of the sample code when executed in a production environment. The recommendation engine queries a database of code based on the tags, the ratings, and the estimated performance of the sample code to determine example code that achieves the same or similar objectives(s) as the sample code, but with at least one of higher ratings and greater performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Machacek, Anirvan Chakraborty, Christian Villoslada
  • Efficient encoding and decoding sequences using variational autoencoders
    Patent number: 11238341
    Abstract: Embodiments include applying neural network technologies to encoding/decoding technologies by training and encoder model and a decoder model using a neural network. Neural network training is used to tune a neural network parameter for the encoder model and a neural network parameter for the decoder model that approximates an objective function. The common objective function may specify a minimized reconstruction error to be achieved by the encoder model and the decoder model when reconstructing (encoding then decoding) training data. The common objective function also specifies for the encoder and decoder models, a variable f representing static aspects of the training data and a set of variables z1:T representing dynamic aspects of the training data. During runtime, the trained encoder and decoder models are implemented by encoder and decoder machines to encode and decoder runtime sequences having a higher compression rate and a lower reconstruction error than in prior approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Marcel Mandt, Yingzhen Li
  • Robust distribution of ip timing signals
    Patent number: 11239934
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide techniques to selectively distribute Precision Time Protocol (PTP) data in a network. The network can include multiple different network devices (e.g., switches) connected to form a network architecture (e.g., a spine/leaf architecture). Rather than distributing the PTP data (e.g., PTP timestamps) through all the network devices in order to synchronize local clocks to a global, master clock, the embodiments herein describe an out-of-band distribution network which selectively distributes the PTP data to select network devices in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig L. Beardsley, Jerome G. Liscano, Michael J. Strein, Carl A. Brown, Nishith Shah, Benjamin H. Kepler
  • Automated content compilation
    Patent number: 11234027
    Abstract: In one implementation, an automated content compilation system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a content integration software code. The hardware processor executes the content integration software code to receive commercials for presentation with a media content including primary content segments and predetermined advertising intervals, and to assemble commercial clusters corresponding respectively to the predetermined advertising intervals, each of the commercial clusters including a subset of the commercials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladislav Feldman, Michael J. Strein, Efthimis Stefanidis
  • System and method to improve performance of a speech recognition system by measuring amount of confusion between words
    Patent number: 11232786
    Abstract: Systems and methods to improve the performance of an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system using a confusion index indicative of the amount of confusion between words are described, where a confusion index (CI) or score is calculated by receiving a first word (Word1) and a second word (Word2), calculating an acoustic score (A12) indicative of the phonetic difference between Word1 and Word2, calculating a weighted language score (W(U1+U2), indicative of a weighted likelihood (or word frequency) of Word1 and Word2 occurring in the corpus, the confusion index CI incorporating both the acoustic score and the weighted language score, such that the CI for words that sound alike and have a high likelihood of occurring in the corpus will be higher than the CI for words that sound alike and do not have a high likelihood of occurring in the corpus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Sanchita Tiwari, Chang Shu
  • Asynchronous online viewing party
    Patent number: 11233972
    Abstract: Various embodiments of systems, methods, computer devices, and computer software for providing an asynchronous online viewing party are provided. One embodiment comprises a system for providing an online viewing party. One such system comprises: a server operatively coupled to a database for supporting the online viewing party, the database comprising: content to be asynchronously provided to participants of the online viewing party; and time-based events provided by one or more of the participants, the time-based events associated with the content and linked to corresponding locations in the content; and a user interface configured to interface with the server, the user interface comprising logic configured to display the content and the time-based events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan David Barsook, David Ehlers, Jason R. Grant, Khai T. Tran, David J. Watson, Nicklas Wilson
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURABLE CONTROL OF VOICE COMMAND SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20220020363
    Abstract: A method of providing configurable control of voice command systems is disclosed herein. The method comprising a parent device receiving a voice command and comparing the voice command to a set of preferences for a user. The set of preferences may relate to one or more interactions between the user and a playback device. The method further comprises the parent device translating the voice command to a user interface (UI) command sequence for the playback device based on the comparison. The playback device may then send the UI command sequence to the playback device as the configurable voice command. The playback device executes the UI command sequence to transition from the current output state to the desired output state intended by the user. A system for providing configurable voice control and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: NOEL BRANDON VASQUEZ
  • Hybrid cloud-based media production
    Patent number: 11228564
    Abstract: A hybrid cloud-based media production system includes a facility extension platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a software code. The hardware processor executes the software code to identify multicast production media flow(s) for processing in a cloud-based virtual production environment, to identify cloud-based resource(s) for processing one or more cloud production media flow(s) corresponding to the multicast production media flow(s), in the cloud-based virtual production environment, and to coordinate provisioning of the cloud-based virtual production environment with the identified cloud-based resource(s). The hardware processor also executes the software code to align, using a cloud permissible timing protocol, the timing of the cloud production media flow(s) in the cloud-based virtual production environment, and to process the cloud production media flow(s) in the cloud-based virtual production environment using the identified cloud-based resource(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Zachary N. Toback, Ryan N. McCormick, Craig L. Beardsley, Brian M. Kennedy
  • Authenticated content delivery platform
    Patent number: 11228451
    Abstract: Methods and systems for authenticated supplemental content delivery are disclosed herein. The systems can include a first requestor and a second requestor. The system can include a plurality of networked servers. The plurality of networked servers can: receive a first supplemental content request including a digital certificate from the first requestor; determine the inclusion of the digital certificate in the first supplemental content request; validate the digital certificate; determine a supplemental content class from a set of supplemental content classes based on the digital certificate; select first supplemental content based on: the determined supplemental content class; and provide the selected first supplemental content in an electronic form to the first requestor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Arnaud Robert, Gregory Thomas Brandeau
  • Display system for producing daylight-visible holographic or floating 3D imagery
    Patent number: 11226493
    Abstract: A system for displaying three dimensional (3D) images. The system includes a 3D display operating in a first state to display a 3D image by outputting light into a viewing space and operating in a second state in which the 3D image is not displayed. The system further includes a screen element positioned between the 3D display and the viewing space. The screen element reflects light from the viewing space to appear opaque to a viewer in the viewing space when the 3D display operates in the second state. The screen element transmits the light output by the 3D display, whereby the 3D display image is perceivable by the viewer in the viewing space. The screen element includes a sheet of mesh or netting material that transmits light output by the 3D display through its pores or openings and may be a planar sheet of scrim, tulle, or chiffon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joseph, Jessica Anne Klouda, Donald Leo Matz, Jacob A. Ellis
  • Three-dimensional geometry-based models for changing facial identities in video frames and images
    Patent number: 11222466
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for changing the identities of faces in video frames and images. In embodiments, three-dimensional (3D) geometry of a face is used to inform the facial identity change produced by an image-to-image translation model, such as a comb network model. In some embodiments, the model can take a two-dimensional (2D) texture map and/or a 3D displacement map associated with one facial identity as inputs and output another 2D texture map and/or 3D displacement map associated with a different facial identity. The other 2D texture map and/or 3D displacement map can then be used to render an image that includes the different facial identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich)
    Inventors: Jacek Krzysztof Naruniec, Derek Edward Bradley, Thomas Etterlin, Paulo Fabiano Urnau Gotardo, Leonhard Markus Helminger, Christopher Richard Schroers, Romann Matthew Weber
  • Media content system for transferring a playback marker between network-connected playback devices
    Patent number: 11223665
    Abstract: A media content system has a receiver that receives a request to transfer a playback marker from a first network-connected playback device to a second network-connected playback device, and receives the playback marker from the first network-connected playback device. The playback marker indicates a time at which playback of media content is stopped at the first network-connected playback device. Further, the media content system has a processor that generates a stop command to perform the stoppage of the playback of the media content at the first network-connected playback device, and generates a play command to perform playback resumption at the playback marker within the media content at the second network-connected playback device. Additionally, the media content system has a transmitter that sends the playback marker to the second network-connected playback device such that the second network-connected device performs the playback resumption at the time indicated by the playback marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Evan Schneider
  • Representation of real-world features in virtual space
    Patent number: 11216665
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for an augmented reality (AR) system able to track the movement of real-world objects and apply that movement to virtual objects. The AR system includes a radio configured to receive first sensor data from a sensor attached to a first physical object in physical space. The AR system further includes a processor configured to determine when a physical object changes from a first state to a second state object based on the first sensor data, and update an environmental map based on the change from the first state to the second state of the first physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey D. Drake, Timothy M. Panec, Tritia V. Medrano, Stephen A. Thornton, Jason A. Yeung, Nathan D. Nocon, Elliott H. Baumbach
  • Techniques for object appearance capture
    Patent number: 11216646
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing facial appearance properties. In some examples, a facial capture system includes light source(s) that produce linearly polarized light, at least one camera that is cross-polarized with respect to the polarization of light produced by the light source(s), and at least one other camera that is not cross-polarized with respect to the polarization of the light produced by the light source(s). Images captured by the cross-polarized camera(s) are used to determine facial appearance properties other than specular intensity, such as diffuse albedo, while images captured by the camera(s) that are not cross-polarized are used to determine facial appearance properties including specular intensity. In addition, a coarse-to-fine optimization procedure is disclosed for determining appearance and detailed geometry maps based on images captured by the cross-polarized camera(s) and the camera(s) that are not cross-polarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Riviere, Paulo Urnau Gotardo, Abhijeet Ghosh, Derek Edward Bradley, Dominik Thabo Beeler
  • Firewall rule remediation for improved network security and performance
    Patent number: 11218447
    Abstract: A firewall manager periodically accesses a set of servers to identify the various services currently active on each server. The firewall manager also periodically accesses a set of firewalls configured to protect those servers to identify various firewall rules implemented by those firewalls. The firewall manager then compares the services data with the rules data to identify any obsolete firewall rules that are (i) defined based on an IP address not currently allocated to any of the servers or (ii) defined based on a port of an active server that is not associated with any service running on server. Such rules are considered obsolete. Upon identifying any obsolete firewall rules, the firewall manager accesses the firewalls associated with those rules and then removes the obsolete rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark G. Cloud, Robert K. Floyd, III, Jeffrey Sol Mansukhani
  • Extended on-screen gameplay via augmented reality
    Patent number: 11209966
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein provide techniques for extending on-screen gameplay via an augmented reality (AR) system. An extended AR application executing on an AR headset system receives, via a game controller, first data associated with a first object associated with a computer-generated game. The extended AR application renders an augmented reality object based on the first data associated with the first object. The extended AR application displays at least a first portion of the augmented reality object via an augmented reality headset system. Further, an image associated with the computer-generated game is simultaneously rendered on a display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Drake, Elliot Baumbach, Jonathan R. Hsu, Tritia V. Medrano, Nathan Nocon, Timothy M. Panec, Clifford W. Wong, Jason Yeung
  • User account access management
    Patent number: 11212266
    Abstract: A user account access management system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a user account access software code. The hardware processor executes the user account access software code to receive, from a first user device, a secondary account profile data for generating a secondary account associated with a primary user account registered with a web based service, and to receive, from a second user device, a sign up request for using the web based service. The hardware processor further executes the user account access software code to transmit an authentication token to one of the first user device and the second user device, receive the authentication token from the other of the first user device and the second user device, and link the secondary account with the second user device based on receiving the authentication code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamad H. Monibi, Alexander Romanelli
  • Gameplay system with play augmented by merchandise
    Patent number: 11207599
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or other object held or worn by a player. Th system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Przemyslaw Iwanowski, Brent David Strong, Matthew S. Daly, Sarit Ghildayal, Bob Hickman, John Cody Hampton, Alex Christopher Wilde, Amanda Marie Leahy
  • Systems and methods to provide artificial intelligence experiences
    Patent number: 11210826
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to providing artificial intelligence experiences. The artificial intelligence experiences may include a persistent virtual character. The artificial intelligence experiences are presented through an augmented reality system. The persistent virtual characters are associated with geo-locations. The persistent virtual characters are accessible to the user at the geolocation associated with the persistent virtual characters. A system managing the persistent virtual characters is continuously updated based on user interaction with the persistent virtual characters and information received from external sources. The persistent virtual characters manner of behavior toward the user is based on previous user interaction with the persistent virtual characters and information received from external sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Goslin
  • Methods and systems for digital file distribution to theaters
    Patent number: 11212564
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently distributing digital cinema files from a server to a theater are disclosed. The systems and methods may comply with DCI requirements. A server updates an original composition playlist, updates a track file associated with the updated composition playlist, and distributes the updated composition playlist and updated track file to one or more theaters over a communications network. The theater is configured to store the updated track file at a storage containing copies of all track files associated with the updated composition playlist and update the theater's original composition playlist to the updated composition playlist. The server may have a database configured to track the composition playlists and associated track files present in each theater in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Silverman, James Voris, Mark Arana
  • Automated pixel error detection using an inpainting neural network
    Patent number: 11210774
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a pixel error detection system includes a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code. The hardware processor is configured to execute the software code to receive an input image, to mask, using an inpainting neural network (NN), one or more patch(es) of the input image, and to inpaint, using the inpainting NN, the masked patch(es) based an input image pixels neighboring each of the masked patch(es). The hardware processor is configured to further execute the software code to generate, using the inpainting NN, a residual image based on differences between the inpainted masked patch(es) and the patch(es) in the input image and to identify one or more anomalous pixel(s) in the input image using the residual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc., ETH Zürich (EIDGENÖSSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZÜRICH)
    Inventors: Christopher Richard Schroers, Abdelaziz Djelouah, Sutao Wang, Erika Varis Doggett
  • Virtual-world simulator
    Patent number: 11210843
    Abstract: In one implementation, a virtual-world simulator includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a software code, a tracking system communicatively coupled to the computing platform, and a projection device communicatively coupled to the computing platform. The hardware processor is configured to execute the software code to obtain a map of a geometry of a real-world venue including the virtual-world simulator, to identify one or more virtual effects for display in the real-world venue, and to use the tracking system to track a moving perspective of one of a user in the real-world venue or a camera in the real-world venue. The hardware processor is further configured to execute the software code to control the projection device to simulate a virtual-world by conforming the identified one or more virtual effects to the geometry of the real-world venue from a present vantage point of the tracked moving perspective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Dane M. Coffey, Evan M. Goldberg, Steven M. Chapman, Daniel L. Baker, Matthew Deuel, Mark R. Mine
  • Virtual reality and/or augmented reality viewer having variable transparency
    Patent number: 11209681
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a dual-mode augmented reality and virtual reality viewer (AR/VR viewer) includes a device configured to provide AR and VR effects, the device including a display screen, a VR shield, and a transparency control unit coupled to the VR shield. The AR/VR viewer also includes a computing platform for generating the AR and VR effects communicatively coupled to the device. The display screen has a user facing first surface for receiving the AR and VR effects, and a second surface opposite the user facing first surface. The display screen or a transmissive layer adjoining the display screen is configured to have a variable transparency. The VR shield is configured to be one of substantially transparent in an AR mode and substantially opaque in a VR mode under the control of the transparency control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall Davis, Nathan D. Nocon
  • Extensible resource management for hybrid cloud-based media production
    Patent number: 11212258
    Abstract: An extensible resource manager (ERM) of a hybrid cloud-based media production system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a resource management software code. The hardware processor executes the resource management software code to communicate with a network orchestrator of the hybrid cloud-based media production system to identify multicast production media flow(s) for processing in a cloud-based virtual production environment, to identify cloud-based resource(s) for processing cloud production media flow(s) corresponding to the multicast production media flow(s), in the cloud-based virtual production environment, and to determine whether a license exists for the identified cloud-based resource(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Craig L. Beardsley, Ryan N. McCormick
  • Standardized remote access and set-up for electronic devices
    Patent number: 11212166
    Abstract: In one implementation, a system providing remote access set-up for electronic devices includes a mobile device and a profile server communicatively coupled to the mobile device via a network. The profile server includes a hardware processor, and a server memory storing a profile management software code and a profile information associated with a user of the mobile device. The hardware processor executes the profile management software code to receive, via the network, a platform ID of a configurable hardware platform communicatively coupled to the mobile device, and to determine, based on the platform ID, platform assets including a default configuration associated with the configurable hardware platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Yazmaliza Yaacob, Lee Bombard, Gregory Head, Alexander C. Chen
  • Efficient encoding and decoding sequences using variational autoencoders
    Patent number: 11205121
    Abstract: Embodiments include applying neural network technologies to encoding/decoding technologies by training and encoder model and a decoder model using a neural network. Neural network training is used to tune a neural network parameter for the encoder model and a neural network parameter for the decoder model that approximates an objective function. The common objective function may specify a minimized reconstruction error to be achieved by the encoder model and the decoder model when reconstructing (encoding then decoding) training data. The common objective function also specifies for the encoder and decoder models, a variable f representing static aspects of the training data and a set of variables z1:T representing dynamic aspects of the training data. During runtime, the trained encoder and decoder models are implemented by encoder and decoder machines to encode and decoder runtime sequences having a higher compression rate and a lower reconstruction error than in prior approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Marcel Mandt, Yingzhen Li
  • Water ride with external heading controlled rafts
    Patent number: 11202964
    Abstract: A water ride system with a flume that includes one or more sections in which a raft is unguided (except with flume sidewalls) to provide a dynamic experience with side-to-side movement and rotation. Further, the flume is configured to include one or more controlled or guided sections in which a raft is funneled or directed into a keyed guided portion of the ride path and then later released into one of uncontrolled or unguided sections of the flume. A raft includes a keyed guide assembly, mounted upon a lower surface of the raft body, that includes a pair of spaced apart guide members. In a guiding subsection of the flume, the bottom wall or lower surface of the flume includes a raised portion that includes a guideway or groove for receiving the guide assembly, whereby the raft has it directional and rotational movements guided in the flume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristopher M. Laffin
  • Automated media production pipeline for generating personalized media content
    Patent number: 11206441
    Abstract: A generative media pipeline automatically creates a personalized media program that is customized to reflect the specific viewing preferences of at least one individual user. The generative media pipeline obtains user data indicating the viewing preferences associated with the user and optionally the viewing context of the user. A recommendation service within the generative media pipeline provides a set of content options that includes various types of media content corresponding to the viewing preferences. A recipe service within the generative media pipeline obtains a recipe that defines the logical structure of the personalized media program. The recipe service populates the recipe by executing one or more video processing functions with some or all media content included in the content options. The recipe service thereby generates a logically structured and polished personalized media program that is individually tailored to reflect the specific preferences of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Katharine S. Navarre, Jason Lewis, Dionysius Mavromatis, Adam Eivy, Sujal Shah
  • System and method to operate a set remotely
    Patent number: 11201995
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods operating a set remotely, and more specifically, for enabling the control of a remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device as well as the communication between the remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device and various specialty devices of a cloud control center configured to remotely control features of the remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device. In operation, a talent component may receive a user input indicative of turning on the r remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device. Based on receiving the user input, the talent component may automatically connect, via a network, to a cloud control center. Based on connecting to the talent component, the cloud control center may remotely control the remotely adjustable audio-visual recording device an enable the remote recording of audio-visual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Rene A. Sanchez, Lawrence Anthony, Eddie F. Rodriguez, Jr., Robert W. Schefferine, Anthony J. Ybarra
  • Domain transcendent file cryptology network
    Patent number: 11201857
    Abstract: A domain transcendent file cryptology network includes a first data cryptology node in a first data domain having a first security protocol. A hardware processor of the first data cryptology node executes a first instantiation of a software code to receive a request to transfer a data file from the first data domain to a second data domain having a second, different, security protocol, obtain one or more characteristics of the data file, and generate an authentication tag for the data file based on the characteristic(s). The first instantiation of the software code also encrypts the data file and transmits the encrypted data file, the authentication tag, and a decryption key to a second data cryptology node in the second data domain. The decryption key and the authentication tag enable decryption of the encrypted data file by a second instantiation of the software code on the second data cryptology node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Scott, Matthew D. Estes, Douglas A. Hill
  • Robotic devices with safety retention suits for reducing ballistic risks
    Patent number: 11193736
    Abstract: A robot system designed to provide non-invasive mitigation of ballistic safety risks. The robot system includes a robotic device and a safety retention suit, which covers or encloses the movable components or parts of the robotic device. The safety retention suit is formed of a fabric sheet of material chosen, in part, for its flexibility as well as durability to allow the part or the component of the robot enclosed within the suit to move freely. The safety retention suit includes one-to-many strands, threads, or cables of a material chosen to move with the flexible material of the suit when the enclosed component of the robotic device is moving during standard operations. When a mechanical failure occurs, the cables of the suit stretch but, as an overall unit, do not break so as to retain any portions of the covered or enclosed robotic part within the suit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan T. Pope, Brian Orr, Maxime Leboeuf
  • Systems and methods for incremental natural language understanding
    Patent number: 11195533
    Abstract: A system for incremental natural language understanding includes a media module, a memory storing a software code, and a hardware processor communicatively coupled to the media module. The hardware processor is configured to execute the software code to receive an audio stream including a first utterance, and generate a first and second incremental speech recognition outputs based on first and second portions of the first utterance. In addition, the hardware processor is configured to execute the software code to determine, prior to generating the second incremental speech recognition output, a first intent of the first utterance based on the first incremental speech recognition output. The hardware processor is further configured to execute the software code to retrieve a first resource based on the determined first intent, and incorporate the first resource in the media content to be played by the media module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Komath Naveen Kumar, James R. Kennedy, Salvator D. Lombardo, Prashanth Gurunath Shivakumar
  • Segment quality-guided adaptive stream creation
    Patent number: 11190826
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for improved stream generation are provided. A video comprising a plurality of segments and an encoding ladder specifying a plurality of maximum average bitrates (MABs) are received. A plurality of intermediate bitrates interspersed among the plurality of MABs are selected. A target average bitrate (TAB) segment is generated by encoding a first segment using a first MAB, and a first intermediate average bitrate (IAB) segment is generated by encoding the first segment using a first intermediate bitrate. Quality scores are generated for the first TAB segment and the first IAB segment. A first output segment is selected for the first segment at the first MAB based on the quality scores, where the first output segment is either the first TAB segment or the first IAB segment. Upon receiving a request for the first segment at the first MAB, the first output segment is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Labrozzi, Chetan K. Mathur, Yuanyi Xue, Michael J. Bracco
  • View point representation for 3-D scenes
    Patent number: 11189077
    Abstract: Techniques are described for deriving information, including graphical representations, based on perspectives of a 3D scene by utilizing sensor model representations of location points in the 3D scene. A 2D view point representation of a location point is derived based on the sensor model representation. From this information, a data representation can be determined. The 2D view point representation can be used to determine a second 2D view point representation. Other techniques include using sensor model representations of location points associated with dynamic objects in a 3D scene. These sensor model representations are generated using sensor systems having perspectives external to the location points and are used to determine a 3D model associated with a dynamic object. Data or graphical representations may be determined based on the 3D model. A system for obtaining information based on perspectives of a 3D scene includes a data manager and a renderer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory House
  • Gaze based rendering for audience engagement
    Patent number: 11189047
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an audience engagement system and method to display images on a display. The method includes detecting a gaze direction of a designated viewer, rendering a gaze object within an image on a gaze axis corresponding to the gaze direction, rendering an audience object within the image on a normal axis corresponding to a display axis, composting the audience object and the gaze object together in a composited image, and displaying the composited image on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Ye Pan, Kenny Mitchell
  • Systems and methods for modifying labeled content
    Patent number: 11182634
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for modifying labeled target content for a capture device. A computer-implemented method may use a computer system that includes non-transient electronic storage, a graphical user interface, and one or more physical computer processors. The computer-implemented method may include: obtaining labeled target content, the labeled target content including one or more facial features that have been labeled; modifying the labeled target content to match dynamically captured content from a first capture device to generate modified target content; and storing the modified target content. The dynamically captured content may include the one or more facial features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Mitchell, Caio Jose dos Santos Brito
  • Voice searching metadata through media content
    Patent number: 11182431
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing X. Wang, Mark Arana, Edward Drake, Alexander C. Chen
  • Converting a monocular camera into a binocular stereo camera
    Patent number: 11178380
    Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus comprising a mobile computing device comprising a camera, and a mount removably attached with the mobile computing device to arrange the camera in a first position. The mount comprises a first surface, and two reflective elements spaced apart from each other and having a predefined disposition relative to the first position. The two reflective elements comprise respective convex surfaces extending from the first surface, the respective convex surfaces providing respective optical paths between an object and the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Joseph L. Olson
  • Buffering data on high bandwidth networks
    Patent number: 11178198
    Abstract: Techniques for buffering data over high bandwidth networks are provided. A first portion of data is downloaded into a buffer at a first download speed. The first portion of data is outputted from the buffer. Upon determining that data is being downloaded at a second download speed greater than the first download speed, it is determined to use a cache for one or more subsequent portions of data, and a second portion of data is downloaded into the cache. Upon determining that the buffer is empty, the second portion of data is outputted from the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikita I. Tkachov
  • System and method for creating a temporal-based dynamic watermark
    Patent number: 11172093
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically and automatically generating digital watermarks are provided. Watermark payloads utilized in generating the digital watermarks are altered based upon changing conditions, such as environmental characteristics associated with playback or distribution of media content. Changing conditions may also encompass a change in the distribution/presentation chain of devices associated with the playback or distribution of the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Arana, Leon Silverman
  • Enhancing group decisions within social messaging applications
    Patent number: 11170781
    Abstract: Techniques to enhance group decision-making within messaging platforms. A conversation thread between two or more participants is analyzed. One or more keywords occurring in the conversation thread that are associated with an event characteristic are identified by comparing messages of each of the two or more participants against a keyword listing. Natural language processing is used to determine a contextual use of the one or more keywords. One or more events relevant to the event characteristic and the contextual use are determined. An application programming interface is used to locate and retrieve event-related information for the one or more events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Hebert, Anthony Mutalipassi, Nicholas Lewerke, Levon Karayan
  • Facial animation retargeting using an anatomical local model
    Patent number: 11170550
    Abstract: A retargeting engine automatically performs a retargeting operation. The retargeting engine generates an anatomical local model of a digital character based on performance capture data and/or a 3D model of the digital character. The anatomical local model includes an anatomical model corresponding to internal features of the digital character and a local model corresponding to external features of the digital character. The retargeting engine includes a Machine Learning model that maps a set of locations associated with the face of a performer to a corresponding set of locations associated with the face of the digital character. The retargeting engine includes a solver that modifies a set of parameters associated with the anatomical local model to cause the digital character to exhibit one or more facial expressions enacted by the performer, thereby retargeting those facial expressions onto the digital character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Edward Bradley, Dominik Thabo Beeler
  • Systems and methods for determining semantic roles of arguments in sentences
    Patent number: 11164087
    Abstract: There is provided a system including a non-transitory memory storing an executable code and a hardware processor executing the executable code to receive an input sentence including a first predicate and at least a first argument depending from the first predicate, identify the first predicate, identify the first argument based on the first predicate, apply a dependency multiplication to determine a semantic role of the first argument based on the first predicate, and assign the first argument to an argument cluster including one or more similar arguments based on the semantic role of the first argument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Boyang Li, Yi Luan
  • Rotational blur-free image generation
    Patent number: 11164489
    Abstract: According to one implementation, an image generation system includes a rotor and a motor for spinning the rotor about an axis of rotation, and a display secured to the rotor. The display includes a display surface and a display aperture, a first privacy screen situated at the display surface and having a convex curvature relative to light emitted from the display surface, and a second privacy screen situated between the first privacy screen and the display aperture and having a concave curvature relative to light emitted from the display surface. The first privacy screen and the second privacy screen are configured to substantially prevent rotational blur of an image displayed by the display surface while the display is spun by the motor and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Clifford Wong
  • LED snow globe
    Patent number: D936514
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Robert J. Bristow