Patents by Inventor Andrew P. Witkin

Andrew P. Witkin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10248960
    Abstract: In a networked system, a method and apparatus for measuring advertising effectiveness involves broadcasting an advertisement at a broadcast time, monitoring at least one social network or other online forum following the broadcast time, filtering social network traffic to identify messages, search engine queries to identify queries, or other traffic entries, that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement, determining a time of initiation for at least a plurality of entries that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement, and determining at least one demographic for at least the plurality of the entries that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John Anderson, Andrew P. Witkin, Sharon Witkin, Cameron Davies, Anjali Dange, Miguel Campo-Rembado
  • Patent number: 10163243
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for accounting for features of computer-generated dynamic or simulation models being at different scales. Some examples of dynamic or simulation models may include models representing hair, fur, strings, vines, tails, or the like. In various embodiments, features at different scales in a complex dynamic or simulation model can be treated differently when rendered and/or simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Andrew P. Witkin, John Anderson, Lena Petrovic
  • Publication number: 20150325030
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for accounting for features of computer-generated dynamic or simulation models being at different scales. Some examples of dynamic or simulation models may include models representing hair, fur, strings, vines, tails, or the like. In various embodiments, features at different scales in a complex dynamic or simulation model can be treated differently when rendered and/or simulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew P. Witkin, John Anderson, Lena Petrovic
  • Patent number: 9098944
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for accounting for features of computer-generated dynamic or simulation models being at different scales. Some examples of dynamic or simulation models may include models representing hair, fur, strings, vines, tails, or the like. In various embodiments, features at different scales in a complex dynamic or simulation model can be treated differently when rendered and/or simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Andrew P. Witkin, John Anderson, Lena Petrovic
  • Patent number: 8698810
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for orienting (or reorienting) properties of computer-generated models, such as those associated with dynamic models or simulation models. Properties (e.g., material or physical properties) that influence the behavior of a dynamic or simulation model (e.g., a complex curve model representing a curly hair) may be oriented or re-oriented as desired using readily available reference frames. These references frame may be obtained using a proxy model that corresponds to the dynamic or simulation model in a less computationally expensive manner in some embodiments than some techniques for determining reference frames directly using the dynamic or simulation model. In some embodiments, the proxy model may include a smoothed version of the dynamic or simulation model. In other embodiments, the proxy model may include a filtered or simplified version of the dynamic or simulation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: Andrew P. Witkin, John Anderson, Lena Petrovic
  • Patent number: 8648863
    Abstract: A method for a computer system for inspecting an animation sequence having a series of specified poses of an animated character includes receiving a mathematical performance style model associated with the animated character, receiving the series of specified poses of the animated character, each specified pose comprising respective values for the plurality of animation variables, determining an associated quality factor for each specified pose in response to the respective values for the plurality of animation variables and in response to the mathematical performance style model associated with the animated character, and providing feedback to a user in response to an associated quality factor for at least one specified pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Pixar
    Inventors: John Anderson, Andrew P. Witkin, Robert Cook
  • Publication number: 20120123854
    Abstract: In a networked system, a method and apparatus for measuring advertising effectiveness involves broadcasting an advertisement at a broadcast time, monitoring at least one social network or other online forum following the broadcast time, filtering social network traffic to identify messages, search engine queries to identify queries, or other traffic entries, that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement, determining a time of initiation for at least a plurality of entries that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement, and determining at least one demographic for at least the plurality of the entries that appear to be responsive to the broadcast advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John Anderson, Andrew P. Witkin, Sharon Witkin, Cameron Davies, Anjali Dange, Miguel Campo-Rembado
  • Publication number: 20110216074
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for orienting (or reorienting) properties of computer-generated models, such as those associated with dynamic models or simulation models. Properties (e.g., material or physical properties) that influence the behavior of a dynamic or simulation model (e.g., a complex curve model representing a curly hair) may be oriented or re-oriented as desired using readily available reference frames. These references frame may be obtained using a proxy model that corresponds to the dynamic or simulation model in a less computationally expensive manner in some embodiments than some techniques for determining reference frames directly using the dynamic or simulation model. In some embodiments, the proxy model may include a smoothed version of the dynamic or simulation model. In other embodiments, the proxy model may include a filtered or simplified version of the dynamic or simulation model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: Andrew P. Witkin, John Anderson, Lena Petrovic
  • Publication number: 20110216070
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for accounting for features of computer-generated dynamic or simulation models being at different scales. Some examples of dynamic or simulation models may include models representing hair, fur, strings, vines, tails, or the like. In various embodiments, features at different scales in a complex dynamic or simulation model can be treated differently when rendered and/or simulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Pixar
    Inventors: Andrew P. Witkin, John Anderson, Lena Petrovic
  • Patent number: 5993314
    Abstract: An interactive audience participation system which utilizes audio command signals, such as loudness or sound intensity, transmitted by different audience groups. These respective audio command signals are detected to determine the aggregate of the signals for each group and then the detected aggregates are converted into data. An audience sensed interactive communication medium device, such as a large stadium video screen, is correspondingly manipulated by the detected data so that the audience may play a competitive or collaborative game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Stadium Games, Ltd.
    Inventors: Roger B. Dannenberg, Andrew P. Witkin, Robert N. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4745550
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for processing patterns such as oriented patterns, to derive constituents which are more useful than the original patterns. For example, an oriented pattern such as a seismic section can be decomposed into a flow field, which is an estimate of a moving accretion boundary which formed the subsurface layers, and a residual pattern, which is an estimate of layer properties, such as acoustic velocity. Similarly, an oriented pattern such as a chart displaying changes in borehole resistivity with depth along its vertical direction and changes in resistivity with angle around the borehole along its horizontal dimension, can be decomposed into a flow field and a residual pattern, where the flow field is an estimate of a moving accretion boundary and the residual pattern is an estimate of resistivity changes with depth and angle independent of the accretion boundary. The flow field can be mapped onto regular, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Witkin, Michael H. Kass
  • Patent number: 4658372
    Abstract: Information indicative discrete events of interest imbedded in raw data are globally classified, or filtered with respect to scale and changes in the scale of observation to effect intelligent perception of phenomena. Large scale components are classified as events while small scale components of an identified event designate points of occurrence of the event. The invention has broad application in artificial intelligence and signal processing wherein perceived discrete events, including minima, maxima, inflections, cusps, and discontinuities have a significance other than as noise. Methods and apparatus are described which utilize the subject invention in signal processing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew P. Witkin