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).
  • Techniques for upscaling images generated with undetermined downscaling kernels
    Patent number: 11080824
    Abstract: A scaling application estimates a downscaling kernel used to generate a downscaled image. The scaling application upscales the downscaled image based on the estimated downscaling kernel, thereby generating a higher resolution version of the downscaled image with minimal visual artifacts. The scaling application includes various networks that perform the above operations. A kernel mapping network generates a degradation map based on the estimated downscaling kernel. A degradation-aware generator network generates a reconstructed image based on the downscaled image and the degradation map. A kernel discriminator network generates an image delta that reflects visual artifacts present in the reconstructed image. The scaling application includes a parameter optimizer that iteratively modifies the estimated downscaling kernel to reduce visual artifacts indicated in the image delta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., ETH ZÜRICH
    Inventors: Christopher Schroers, Yifan Wang, Victor Cornillere, Olga Sorkine-Hornung, Abdelaziz Djelouah
  • Techniques for performing point-based inverse rendering
    Patent number: 11074743
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a differentiable rendering application enables an inverse rendering application to infer attributes associated with a 3D scene. In operation, the differentiable rendering application renders an image based on a first set of points associated with the 3D scene. The differentiable rendering application then generates an artificial gradient that approximates a change in a value of a first pixel included in the image with respect to a change in an attribute of a first point included in the first set of points. Subsequently, the inverse rendering application performs optimization operation(s) on the first point based on the artificial gradient to generate a second set of points. Notably, an error associated with the second set of points is less than an error associated with the first set of points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Cengiz Öztireli, Olga Sorkine-Hornung, Shihao Wu, Yifan Wang
  • Cosmetic transformation through image synthesis
    Patent number: 11074736
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a system for performing cosmetic transformation through image synthesis includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing an image synthesis software code. The hardware processor executes the image synthesis software code to receive a user image depicting a user of the system, to receive a reference image for transforming to resemble the user image, the reference image projecting an identifiable persona, and to generate a user image metadata describing the user image, based on the user image. The hardware processor further executes the image synthesis software code to identify a reference image metadata describing the reference image, and to transform the reference image to resemble the user image, based on the user image metadata and the reference image metadata, while preserving the identifiable persona projected by the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Fidaleo
  • Eye contact sensing and control for robotic characters
    Patent number: 11072075
    Abstract: A system for sensing and controlling eye contact for a robot. The system includes a robotic figure with a movable eye. The system includes a light source positioned in the robotic figure to output light through a light outlet of the eye. A light sensor is included that senses light striking surfaces in a physical space in which the robotic figure is positioned including the output light from the light source. The system includes an image processor processing output of the light sensor to identify a location of a target formed by the output light striking surfaces in the physical space and to identify a location of a face of a human. Further, the system includes a robot controller generating eye movement control signals based on the location of the target and the location of the face to position the eye to provide eye contact with the human observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David Loyal Christensen, Alexis P. Wieland, Lanny S. Smoot, Alfredo M. Ayala, Quinn Y. Smithwick, Kyna P. McIntosh, James R. Kennedy, Matthew K. Pan, Günter D. Niemeyer, Daniel De Jesus Campos Zamora, Sungjoon Choi
  • Electrical charger for a spinning device
    Patent number: 11074837
    Abstract: There is provided a system that includes a base providing a wireless power source, a rotor situated over the base and configured to spin, and a device coupled to the rotor and configured to spin with the rotor, the device having a display and a wireless power receiver, where the wireless power source and the wireless power receiver are configured to power the device to show an image on the display while the rotor is spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Nocon
  • System for communicating and using traffic analysis in a space with moving obstacles
    Patent number: 11072073
    Abstract: A system for improving navigation of robots in a space with a plurality of pedestrians or other movable objects or obstacles. The system includes a traffic analysis assembly that has a traffic sensor(s) sensing movement of the obstacles in the space. The traffic analysis assembly further includes a processor running a flow module that processes (such as the Gunnar-Farneback optical flow algorithm) output from the traffic sensor to generate traffic analysis results, which include density values for the obstacles in the space and motion information for the obstacles in the space (e.g., speed and direction). The system includes a robot with a controller running a navigation module selecting a navigation route between a current location of the robot and a target location in the space using the traffic analysis result. The workspace is configured such that the obstacles such as pedestrians have unregulated flow patterns in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph George Hager, IV, Michael R. Honeck, Jeremy Andrew Mika
  • Adaptive rendered environments using user context
    Patent number: 11071907
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for adaptive rendered environments using user context. The method comprises determining user context data corresponding to a user of a virtual environment, altering a feature of the virtual environment using the user context data to obtain an altered feature, and rendering the altered feature of the virtual environment for display. The feature may include a non-player character in the virtual environment, such as eyesight focus of the non-player character or a physical action of the non-player character. The user context data may correspond to real world position data of a user and may be determined using a camera, for example through image recognition, or using a user device. Additionally, the virtual environment may include a cinematic, interactive game, or user generated content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Paquet, Steven Makofsky
  • Systems and methods to provide wireless communication between computing platforms and articles
    Patent number: 11076276
    Abstract: This disclosure presents systems and methods to provide wireless communication between computing platforms and wearable articles. Exemplary implementations may: obtain wireless communication signals from a first wearable article and detect presence of the first wearable article; obtain wireless communication signals from the first wearable article conveying article information identifying the first wearable article and/or a user; identify customizable attributes of one or more application programs; determine custom-defined values for the customizable attributes; effectuate the custom-defined values for the customizable attributes of one or more application programs such that the one or more application programs reflect the custom-defined values; and/or perform other operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Hunter J. Gibson, Michael P. Goslin, Tritia V. Medrano, Timothy M. Panec, Jason Yeung
  • Guided training for automation of content annotation
    Patent number: 11074456
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a system for automating content annotation includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing an automation training software code. The hardware processor executes the automation training software code to initially train a content annotation engine using labeled content, test the content annotation engine using a first test set of content obtained from a training database, and receive corrections to a first automatically annotated content set resulting from the test. The hardware processor further executes the automation training software code to further train the content annotation engine based on the corrections, determine one or more prioritization criteria for selecting a second test set of content for testing the content annotation engine based on the statistics relating to the first automatically annotated content, and select the second test set of content from the training database based on the prioritization criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Miquel Angel Farre Guiu, Matthew Petrillo, Monica Alfaro Vendrell, Marc Junyent Martin, Daniel Fojo, Anthony M. Accardo, Avner Swerdlow, Katharine Navarre
  • Image generation system including a spinning display
    Patent number: 11074838
    Abstract: According to one implementation, an image generation system includes a base having a rotor and a motor for spinning the rotor about an axis of rotation, and a display secured to the rotor, wherein a center of mass of the display is situated off of the axis of rotation. Such an image generation system also includes a first counterweight coupled to the rotor and having a first location relative to the rotor, and a second counterweight coupled the to the rotor and having a second location relative to the rotor different than the first location. The first counterweight and the second counterweight are configured to stabilize the display while the display is spun by the motor and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Hsu, Nathan Nocon
  • Touchable and 360-degree playable holographic display
    Patent number: 11073703
    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 or tulle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joseph, Jessica Anne Klouda
  • LEARNING-BASED SAMPLING FOR IMAGE MATTING
    Publication number: 20210225037
    Abstract: A method of generating a training data set for training an image matting machine learning model includes receiving a plurality of foreground images, generating a plurality of com posited foreground images by com positing randomly selected foreground images from the plurality of foreground images, and generating a plurality of training images by compositing each composited foreground image with a randomly selected background image. The training data set includes the plurality of training images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Tunc Ozan AYDIN, Ahmet Cengiz ÖZTIRELI, Jingwei TANG, Yagiz AKSOY
  • Techniques for generating promotional plans to increase viewership
    Patent number: 11070861
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a promotional subsystem generates promotional plans that include promotionals, where each promotional targets one or more pieces of scheduled content. First, the promotional subsystem generates a statistical model based on historical respondent viewership data. The statistical model model maps a respondent viewing of a promotional that targets a piece of scheduled content to a probability of the respondent viewing the piece of scheduled content. Subsequently, the promotional subsystem generates a proposed promotional plan based on the statistical model, a schedule that includes the piece of scheduled content, and a risk tolerance. Advantageously, the promotional subsystem may be configured to generate different proposed promotional plans based on different risk tolerances associated with different viewership growth strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Denslow, Nicholas Cambria, Haining Yu, Ludwig Kuznia, Steven Whittington
  • Illumination-based system for distributing immersive experience content in a multi-user environment
    Patent number: 11070786
    Abstract: An immersive experience system is provided. The immersive experience system has a processor that determines a position of a first head-mounted display. Further, the processor determines a position of a second head-mounted display. The processor also generates a first image for a first immersive experience corresponding to the position of the first head-mounted display. Moreover, the process encodes the first image into a first infrared spectrum illumination having a first wavelength. In addition, the processor generates a second image for a second immersive experience corresponding to the position of the second head-mounted display. Finally, the processor encodes the second image into a second infrared spectrum illumination having a second wavelength. The first wavelength is distinct from the second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Chapman, Joseph Popp, Alice Taylor, Joseph Hager
  • Dynamic word embeddings
    Patent number: 11068658
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to perform an operation comprising deriving, based on a corpus of electronic text, a machine learning data model that associates words with corresponding usage contexts over a window of time, according to a diffusion process, wherein the machine learning data model comprises a plurality of skip-gram models, wherein each skip-gram model comprises a word embedding vector and a context embedding vector for a respective time step associated with the respective skip-gram model, generating a smoothed model by applying a variational inference operation over the machine learning data model, and identifying, based on the smoothed model and the corpus of electronic text, a change in a semantic use of a word over at least a portion of the window of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Marcel Mandt, Robert Bamler
  • Managing wearable device friendships without exchanging personal information
    Patent number: 11070958
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for performing an operation comprising receiving, by a first wearable device, input specifying to establish a relationship with a second wearable device within a predefined distance of the first wearable device, receiving, by the first wearable device from the second wearable device via wireless data transmissions, an identifier of the second wearable device, a tile identifier of a tile communicably coupled to a tile interface of the second wearable device, and a state associated with the tile; and storing, in a first entry of a data structure of the first wearable device, an indication of the relationship with the second wearable device, wherein the indication comprises the identifier of the second wearable device, the tile identifier, and the state associated with the tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Panec, Stephen A. Thornton, Katherine M. Bassett
  • Techniques for creative review of 3D content in a production environment
    Patent number: 11068145
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein provide techniques for automatically displaying and providing electronic feedback about a 3D production asset. A client device executing a software application receives an asset data bundle associated with the 3D production asset. The client device generates a customized user interface based on at least one aspect of the asset data bundle. The client device displays the 3D production asset via the customized user interface. The client device receives an input associated with the 3D production asset via the customized user interface. The client device causes the input to be transmitted to at least one of a media content server and a production database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Breymann, Anthony M. Accardo, Evan A. Binder, Katharine S. Navarre, Gino Guzzardo, Miquel Angel Farre Guiu
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF REAL-TIME AMBIENT LIGHT SIMULATION BASED ON GENERATED IMAGERY
    Publication number: 20210217226
    Abstract: Systems and methods for simulation of ambient light based on generated imagery are disclosed herein. Such a system can include a simulation sled, a simulation display that can display generated imagery viewable from the simulation sled, an ambient light simulator that can selectively illuminate portions of the simulation sled, and a processor. The simulation sled can include a plurality of user controls. The processor can: control the simulation display to generate imagery; identify an effect of the generated imagery on the simulation sled; and control the ambient light simulator to selectively illuminate at least portions of the simulation sled according to the identified effect of the simulated light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Asa K. KALAMA, Jose GUTIERREZ, Paul BAILEY, Karl NETTMANN, William HASTINGS
  • Dynamic media content for in-store screen experiences
    Patent number: 11062359
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for performing an operation comprising detecting a first mobile device within a predefined proximity of a display device, receiving profile data from the first mobile device, identifying at least one rule for selecting media content based on the profile data, selecting, based on the at least one rule applied to the profile data, a first item of media content of a plurality of items of media content, and outputting the first item of media content for display on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Frazier Watson, Nitzan Katz, Lanny S. Smoot
  • Guided simulation with generalized collision objects
    Patent number: 11062060
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for simulating three-dimensional (3D) virtual environments using generalized collision objects. In one aspect, the generalized collision object includes a shape specifying the boundary of the generalized collision object, a shape velocity specifying how the generalized collision object moves and evolves through space, and a material velocity specifying how the material being simulated moves at the boundary of the generalized collision object. Taking the shape, shape velocity, and material velocity as inputs, a simulation application determines source and sink boundary conditions to apply in a simulation based on a difference between components of the shape velocity and the material velocity that are normal to the boundary of the generalized collision object. The simulation application then performs the simulation of the 3D virtual environment while enforcing velocity boundary conditions using the material velocity and the determined source and sink boundary conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexey Stomakhin
  • Media content metadata mapping
    Patent number: 11064268
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a media content annotation system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive a first version of media content and a second version of the media content altered with respect to the first version, and to map each of multiple segments of the first version of the media content to a corresponding one segment of the second version of the media content. The software code further aligns each of the segments of the first version of the media content with its corresponding one segment of the second version of the media content, and utilizes metadata associated with each of at least some of the segments of the first version of the media content to annotate its corresponding one segment of the second version of the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Miquel Angel Farre Guiu, Matthew C. Petrillo, Monica Alfaro Vendrell, Marc Junyent Martin, Katharine S. Ettinger, Evan A. Binder, Anthony M. Accardo, Avner Swerdlow
  • Generation of audio including emotionally expressive synthesized content
    Patent number: 11062692
    Abstract: An audio processing system for generating audio including emotionally expressive synthesized content includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a software code including a trained neural network. The hardware processor is configured to execute the software code to receive an audio sequence template including one or more audio segment(s) and an audio gap, and to receive data describing one or more words for insertion into the audio gap. The hardware processor is configured to further execute the software code to use the trained neural network to generate an integrated audio sequence using the audio sequence template and the data, the integrated audio sequence including the one or more audio segment(s) and at least one synthesized word corresponding to the one or more words described by the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvator D. Lombardo, Komath Naveen Kumar, Douglas A. Fidaleo
  • Systems and methods for partitioning an animatable model
    Patent number: 11062495
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for partitioning an animatable model. The system may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium operatively coupled to processors. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may store instructions that, when executed, cause the processors to perform a number of operations. One operation may include obtaining an animatable model. The animatable model may include a geometry matrix. Another operation may include obtaining user input to partition an animatable model into multiple partitions. The user input may include a connected curve in the geometry matrix. Yet another operation may include partitioning the animatable model into the multiple partitions based on the user input. Individual ones of the multiple partitions may include a partition geometry matrix and a corresponding partition animatable model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Justin Bisceglio, Christopher Franz Moore, Daniel Sampaio Lima, Scotty Sharp, Steven Song
  • Objects trail-based analysis and control of video
    Patent number: 11064107
    Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing scenes from cameras imaging an event, such as a sporting event broadcast, are provided. Systems and methods include detecting and tracking patterns and trails. This may be performed with intra-frame processing and without knowledge of camera parameters. A system for analyzing a scene may include an object characterizer, a foreground detector, an object tracker, a trail updater, and a video annotator. Systems and methods may provide information regarding centers and spans of activity based on object locations and trails, which may be used to control camera field of views such as a camera pose and zoom level. A magnification may be determined for images in a video sequence based on the size of an object in the images. Measurements may be determined from object trails in a video sequence based on an effective magnification of images in the video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Smadar Gefen, Gregory House, Yuecheng Zhang
  • Physical navigation guided via story-based augmented and/or mixed reality experiences
    Patent number: 11054272
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing physical navigation guidance via augmented reality (AR) environments are provided. An AR experience is generated based on navigation information including a starting location and a destination location. The AR experience comprises physical navigation guidance from the starting location to the destination location using virtual elements that are associated with either or both the starting location and/or the destination location. For example, virtual elements in the AR environment can transition from virtual elements associated with the starting location to virtual elements associated with the destination location as the user progresses from the starting location to the destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason T. Bejot, Edward Drake
  • Object re-identification with temporal context
    Patent number: 11055538
    Abstract: Techniques for object re-identification based on temporal context. Embodiments extract, from a first image corresponding to a first camera device and a second image corresponding to a second camera device, a first plurality of patch descriptors and a second plurality of patch descriptors, respectively. A measure of visual similarity between the first image and the second image is computed, based on the first plurality of patch descriptors and the second plurality of patch descriptors. A temporal cost between the first image and the second image is computed, based on a first timestamp at which the first image was captured and a second timestamp at which the second image was captured. The measure of visual similarity and the temporal cost are combined into a single cost function, and embodiments determine whether the first image and the second image depict a common object, using the single cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal Koperski, Slawomir W. Bak, G. Peter K. Carr
  • Systems and methods for determining actions depicted in media contents based on attention weights of media content frames
    Patent number: 11055537
    Abstract: There is provided a system comprising a label database including a plurality of label, a non-transitory memory storing an executable code, and a hardware processor executing the executable code to receive a media content including a plurality of segments, each segment including a plurality of frames, extract a first plurality of features from a segment, extract a second plurality of features from each frame of the segment, determine an attention weight for each frame of the segment based on the first plurality of features extracted from the segment and the second plurality of features extracted from the segment, and determine that the segment depicts one of the plurality of labels in a label database based on the first plurality of features, the second plurality of features, and the attention weight of each frame of the plurality of frames of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Atousa Torabi, Leonid Sigal
  • Auto-stereo imaging for viewing in a vehicle
    Patent number: 11054656
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for autostereoscopic imaging in a vehicle provide for an enhanced viewer experience. In one example, a reflector is positioned to receive an image from a projector and reflect the image onto a viewing surface through which an external scene is visible, and a camera is positioned relative to the viewing surface to observe the external scene. The system determines first and second viewing distances and viewing angles from the viewing surface to respective first and second eyes for a viewer; produces first and second sub-images for viewing at the respective eyes based on an image; and projects the first and second sub-images from the projector to the reflector to reflect the sub-images to the respective first and second positions on the viewing surface, wherein the positions are set according to the viewing distances and angles to provide a 3D image to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Jonathan Rd Hsu
  • Contextual image presentation
    Patent number: 11055337
    Abstract: There are provided contextual image presentation systems and methods. Such a system includes a hardware processor and a system memory having stored therein a contextual image generator including a data mapping module and a data visualization module. The contextual image generator receives social media data describing social media posts, determines a geographical location corresponding to at least some of the social media posts, and identifies a subject category corresponding respectively to each of the social media posts. In addition, the contextual image generator groups the social media posts into social media collections based on at least one of the subject category and the geographical location corresponding to each social media post. The contextual image generator further generates a contextual image that visually associates at least one of the social media collections with the subject category and/or the geographical location used to group that social media collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonas Geduldig, George Veloso, Michael J. Strein, Terrence Pong
  • Content adaptive optimization for neural data compression
    Patent number: 11057634
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a data compression software code. The hardware processor executes the data compression software code to receive a series of compression input data and encode a first compression input data of the series to a latent space representation of the first compression input data. The data compression software code further decodes the latent space representation to produce an input space representation of the first compression input data corresponding to the latent space representation, and generates f refined latent values for re-encoding the first compression input data based on a comparison of the first compression input data with its input space representation. The data compression software code then re-encodes the first compression input data using the refined latent values to produce a first compressed data corresponding to the first compression input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Schroers, Simon Meierhans, Joaquim Campos, Jared McPhillen, Abdelaziz Djelouah, Erika Varis Doggett, Scott Labrozzi, Yuanyi Xue
  • Systems and methods for detecting light signatures and performing actions in response thereto
    Patent number: 11055552
    Abstract: There is provided systems and methods for performing actions based on light signatures. An exemplary system includes a light source, a light detector, a non-transitory memory storing a plurality of light signatures and a hardware processor. The hardware processor executes an executable code to illuminate, using the light source, a target object with a first light, collect, using the light detector, a second light being a reflection of the first light by the target object, match the second light with one of the plurality of light signatures, and perform an action in response to matching the second light with the one of the plurality of light signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Michael Holton
  • Systems and methods for interactive responses by toys and other connected devices
    Patent number: 11057236
    Abstract: The present disclosure may be embodied in systems, methods, and computer readable media, and may allow for interactive responses by network-enabled objects, programs, and machines. Embodiments described are well-suited for communicating and responding using small-sized data messages, thus allowing for their implementation in standard messaging systems and by simple devices such as toys and other low-level electronic devices that may have limited processing capacity and/or memory. The present disclosure provides in one embodiment a method comprising receiving at least one broadcast message, each broadcast message in the at least one broadcast message comprising a plurality of identifiers and determining a highest priority identifier amongst the plurality of identifiers received in the at least one broadcast message. The method may further comprise identifying a command sequence associated with the highest priority identifier and executing the command sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Panec, Stephen A. Thornton
  • Motion tracking and image recognition of hand gestures to animate a digital puppet, synchronized with recorded audio
    Patent number: 11049309
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for creating a digital puppet show by animating a digital puppet using gestures and sound. The method includes presenting the digital puppet to a user on a display. The method further includes receiving motion data corresponding to a gesture, using a camera, from the user, translating the motion data into digital data using a motion tracking algorithm, and animating the digital puppet, on the display, using the digital data. The method can further include receiving audio data from the user using a microphone and playing the audio data, using a speaker, while animating the digital puppet on the display to create the digital puppet show.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm Murdock, Michael Hy, Armen Mkrtchyan
  • Multi-perspective display of an image using illumination switching
    Patent number: 11048108
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a multi-perspective image display system includes a motor configured to spin a rotor, a display screen coupled to the rotor, and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the motor to spin the display screen, using the rotor, about an axis of rotation at a spin rate, and to determine, based on the spin rate, an illumination on-time for an illumination source of the display screen. The controller is also configured to sequentially render each of multiple different perspectives of an image on the display screen during each revolution of the display screen about the axis of rotation and, concurrently with sequentially rendering each of the plurality of perspectives of the image on the display screen, to strobe the illumination source of the display screen based on the determined illumination on-time to display the multiple different perspectives of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Stephen A. Thornton, Clifford Wong, Eric C. Haseltine
  • Play sequence visualization and analysis
    Patent number: 11049526
    Abstract: A method for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include receiving a video stream of the sporting event and a measurement stream, asynchronous to the video stream, associated with objects in the sporting event. The method may further include displaying a synchronized presentation of the video stream and the measurement stream. The synchronization may be performed near the time of the displaying. Another method for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include receiving measurement information related to actions from one or more sporting events. The method may also include identifying plays from the actions using the measurement information and displaying a representation of the identified plays. A system for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include an integrated server and a synchronization mechanism. Another method for visualizing plays in a sporting event may include displaying a video of a play selected from a representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory House, Ilke Levent Akin
  • Media content validation using geometrically encoded metadata
    Patent number: 11049285
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a system for validating media content includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a media content validation software code. The hardware processor is configured to execute the media content validation software code to search the media content for a geometrically encoded metadata structure. When the geometrically encoded metadata structure is detected, the hardware processor is further configured to execute the media content validation software code to identify an original three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the detected geometrically encoded metadata structure, to extract metadata from the detected geometrically encoded metadata structure, decode the metadata extracted from the detected geometrically encoded metadata structure based on the identified original 3D geometry, and obtain a validation status of the media content based on the decoded metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Chapman, Todd P. Swanson, Mehul Patel, Joseph Popp, Ty Popko
  • Communication system generating a floating image of a remote venue
    Patent number: 11048099
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a communication system includes a computing platform having one or more hardware processor(s) and a system memory storing a software code, as well as an image capture device, a transceiver, and a display including one or more display screen(s) controlled by the hardware processor(s). The communication system also includes a base including a motor coupled to a rotor for rotating the display. The hardware processor(s) is/are configured to execute the software code to receive audio-visual data including image data corresponding to a remote venue and render the image data on the display screen(s) while spinning the display to generate a floating image of the remote venue. The hardware processor(s) is/are further configured to execute the software code to, concurrently with spinning the display, obtain local image data of a local venue and transmit local audio-visual data including the local image data to the remote venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Clifford Wong, Nathan Nocon, Michael P. Goslin
  • System to protect critical remotely accessible media devices
    Patent number: 11042401
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling the performance of remote operations on computing devices within a video processing environment are described. One embodiment determines to perform a remote operation on a remote device in a media processing environment and determines a signal chain within the media processing environment that includes the remote device. An operational status of the signal chain is determined, based on a media processing schedule for the signal chain. Upon determining that the operational status indicates that the remote device is available for performance of the remote operation, embodiments initiate the performance of the remote operation on the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Efthimis Stefanidis, Michael J. Strein, Craig L. Beardsley, Vladislav Feldman
  • Masking method for augmented reality effects
    Patent number: 11042747
    Abstract: To provide masks for augmented reality (AR) effects in real-time, the embodiments described herein capture a plurality of images of an environment that includes one or more real-world objects after initiating an AR session with an AR device located in the environment. Upon detecting a trigger to generate an AR effect targeting a first real-world object of the one or more real-world objects, a first virtual representation of the first real-world object is generated, based on the plurality of images of the environment, and a second virtual representation of a second real-world object of the one or more real-world objects is generated based on the plurality of images of the environment, wherein the second real-world object is at least partially occluded by the first real-world object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Elliott H. Baumbach
  • Denoising Monte Carlo renderings using progressive neural networks
    Patent number: 11037274
    Abstract: Supervised machine learning using neural networks is applied to denoising images rendered by MC path tracing. Specialization of neural networks may be achieved by using a modular design that allows reusing trained components in different networks and facilitates easy debugging and incremental building of complex structures. Specialization may also be achieved by using progressive neural networks. In some embodiments, training of a neural-network based denoiser may use importance sampling, where more challenging patches or patches including areas of particular interests within a training dataset are selected with higher probabilities than others. In some other embodiments, generative adversarial networks (GANs) may be used for training a machine-learning based denoiser as an alternative to using pre-defined loss functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: Pixar, Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thijs Vogels, Fabrice Rousselle, Brian McWilliams, Mark Meyer, Jan Novak
  • Automated system for design and fabrication of artificial rockwork structures
    Patent number: 11030356
    Abstract: A system for automating design of a support frame for artificial rockwork structures. The system includes a processor and memory storing a three dimensional (3D) mesh for an exterior surface of a rockwork structure. The system includes an offset module that is code/instructions or software executed by the processor to process the 3D mesh and generate an offset mesh defining a 3D topology of the exterior surface at an offset distance from the 3D mesh. The system also includes a chip-defining module including software executed by the processor to divide the offset mesh into a plurality of subsections. The system further includes a rebar line-defining module with software executed by the processor to generate an assembly of rebar pieces for each of the subsections that defines for each of the rebar pieces a length, a location within the subsection, and a set of spaced apart bends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Steven Marshall, Daniel Robert Richardson, Katrina Anne Wilder, Douglas Charles Scharfenberg, Shawn Michael Holmes, Hepzibah Chandranand, Mike S. Welch, Michael Tschanz
  • Secondary robot commands in robot swarms
    Patent number: 11032166
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture that handle secondary robot commands in robot swarms may operate by receiving, at a receiving device in a swarm of devices, a packet included in a signal broadcast within an environment from a transmitting device in the swarm of devices; parsing the packet for a command associated with a primary effect and a secondary effect; in response to determining that the receiving device is paired with the transmitting device, implementing, by the receiving device, the primary effect; and in response to determining that the receiving device is not paired with the transmitting device, implementing, by the receiving device, the secondary effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Michael P. Goslin, Janice K. Rosenthal, Corey D. Drake
  • System to manage security scanning in media environments
    Patent number: 11030323
    Abstract: Techniques for selectively initiating security scanning operations on remote devices are described. Embodiments determine to perform a security scanning operation on a remote device in a media processing environment. A signal chain within the media processing environment that includes the remote device is determined. Embodiments determine an operational status of the signal chain, based on a media processing schedule for the signal chain. Upon determining that the operational status indicates that the remote device is available for performance of the security scanning operation, performance of the security scanning operation on the remote device is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Strein, Craig L. Beardsley, Efthimis Stefanidis, Vladislav Feldman
  • Computer-assisted design and fabrication of kinetic wire mechanisms
    Patent number: 11029664
    Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems that are useful in design and fabrication of kinetic wire mechanisms or characters. The method includes a computational technique for the design of kinetic wire mechanisms tailored for fabrication on consumer-grade hardware such as a desktop CNC bending device. The method takes as input a skeletal animation of the mechanism to be fabricated and estimates, from the skeletal animation, a cable-driven and compliant wire structure, which matches user-selected keyframes. To enable localized deformations, the technique involves shaping the mechanism's body (i.e., the wire) into functional spring-like entities at a set of locations along the length of the mechanism's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Moritz Bächer, Stelian Coros, Lars Espen Knoop, Hongyi Xu
  • High speed projection onto dynamic moving objects
    Patent number: 11022814
    Abstract: A system for projecting content, such as images, onto a moving object. The system includes a tracking module, a prediction module, a projection generation module, and a projector. In one example, the tracking module and the prediction module provide commentary data to the projection generation module, which uses the data to select or render content for projection on the object at a select location. The complementary data includes tracked position information and predicted position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Joseph, Dumene Comploi, Jessica A. Klouda, Thomas F. LaDuke, Edgar F. Mahnke, IV, Mark A. Reichow, Thomas T. Tait
  • Augmenting a physical object with virtual components
    Patent number: 11024098
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for immersive and simultaneous animation in a mixed reality environment. Techniques disclosed represent a physical object, present at a scene, in a 3D space of a virtual environment associated with the scene. A virtual element is posed relative to the representation of the physical object in the virtual environment. The virtual element is displayed to users from a perspective of each user in the virtual environment. Responsive to an interaction of one user with the virtual element, an edit command is generated and the pose of the virtual element is adjusted in the virtual environment according to the edit command. The display of the virtual element to the users is then updated according to the adjusted pose. When simultaneous and conflicting edit commands are generated by collaborating users, policies to reconcile the conflicting edit commands are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey D. Drake, Kenneth J. Mitchell, Rachel E. Rodgers, Joseph G. Hager, IV, Kyna P. McIntosh, Ye Pan
  • INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEM DATA TAP AND MODEL FOR MANAGING INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20210157302
    Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to tapping input/output (I/O) data from an industrial control system (ICS) or applying the tapped I/O data to a learned model to perform predictive or prescriptive maintenance. In one implementation, a method comprises: tapping I/O data from a controller of an ICS while the controller executes first control code to control one or more devices of the ICS; transmitting the tapped I/O data over a network to a second system; and executing, via the second system, second control code comprising an original or modified version of all or a subset of the first control code of the ICS, wherein the second control code executes in response to receiving the tapped I/O data. The output of executing the second control code may be provided to a model to predict a future event involving the ICS or to prescribe maintenance of the ICS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Brock, Brian Walters, Nicholas Stantzos, Christopher Hofer, Mario Scarabino, Michael Tschanz
  • Systems and methods for game profile development based on virtual and/or real activities
    Patent number: 11014008
    Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate game profile development based on virtual and real activities of users are described herein. A user may perform virtual and/or real activities in order to develop a game profile so that the user can play one or more games where the game profile may be implemented. Users may be motivated to perform the virtual and/or real activities to develop the game profiles and show off and/or test their developed game profiles. The one or more games where the game profile may be implemented may be specific to one or more geo-graphic locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Jonathan R. Hsu, Corey D. Drake, Tritia Medrano
  • Systems and methods to provide narrative experiences for users of a virtual space
    Patent number: 11017599
    Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein are related to providing narrative experiences for users of a virtual space. A machine learning based technique may be implemented for generating paths through the virtual space that present the narrative experiences. A path may be based on tagged points of interest, as illustrated in stored narrative information associated with the virtual space. A machine-learning training loop may be applied wherein the system may be trained to recognize and/or understand what sorts of virtual content within the virtual space may be considered to be of narrative interest to audience members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm E. Murdock, Mohammad Poswal, Taylor Hellam, Dario Di Zanni
  • Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface
    Patent number: D924923
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paull, Jerrell Jimerson, Anthony Sokolowski, Ole Lutjens, Lucas Perlove, Peter Harmon, Reed Korn, Brian Ziffer, Juan Sichon, Kurt Brockett