Patents by Inventor Ava Robinson

Ava Robinson 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).

  • Publication number: 20260126885
    Abstract: Described are recording tools for generating following behaviors and creating interactive AR experiences. The following recording application enables a user with little or no programming skills to virtually connect virtual objects to other elements, including virtual avatars representing fellow users, thereby creating an interactive story in which multiple elements are apparently and persistently connected. The following interface includes methods for selecting objects and instructions for connecting a virtual object to a target object. In one example, the recording application presents on the display a virtual tether between the objects until a connecting action is detected. The following interface is presented on the display as an overlay, in the foreground relative to the physical environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2025
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Ava Robinson, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12524124
    Abstract: Described are recording tools for generating following behaviors and creating interactive AR experiences. The following recording application enables a user with little or no programming skills to virtually connect virtual objects to other elements, including virtual avatars representing fellow users, thereby creating an interactive story in which multiple elements are apparently and persistently connected. The following interface includes methods for selecting objects and instructions for connecting a virtual object to a target object. In one example, the recording application presents on the display a virtual tether between the objects until a connecting action is detected. The following interface is presented on the display as an overlay, in the foreground relative to the physical environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Ava Robinson, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20250355486
    Abstract: Described are virtual AR interfaces for generating a virtual rotational interface for the purpose of controlling connected IoT devices using the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of a portable electronic device. The IMU control application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual rotational interface overlay on a display and adjust a feature of a connected IoT product by rotating a portable electronic device. The device IMU moves a slider on the virtual rotational interface. The IMU control application sends a control signal to the IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the slider position. The virtual rotational interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The IMU control application detects the device orientation (in the physical environment) and in response presents a corresponding slider element on the virtual rotational interface (in the AR environment).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2025
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12405658
    Abstract: Described are virtual AR interfaces for generating a virtual rotational interface for the purpose of controlling connected IoT devices using the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of a portable electronic device. The IMU control application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual rotational interface overlay on a display and adjust a feature of a connected IoT product by rotating a portable electronic device. The device IMU moves a slider on the virtual rotational interface. The IMU control application sends a control signal to the IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the slider position. The virtual rotational interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The IMU control application detects the device orientation (in the physical environment) and in response presents a corresponding slider element on the virtual rotational interface (in the AR environment).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20250208699
    Abstract: A method for detecting full-body gestures by a mobile device includes a host mobile device detecting the tracked body of a co-located participant in a multi-party session. When the participant's tracked body provides a full-body gesture, the host's mobile device recognizes that there is a tracked body providing a full-body gesture. The host mobile device iterates through the list of participants in the multi-party session and finds the closest participant mobile device with respect to the screen-space position of the head of the gesturing participant. The host mobile device then obtains the user ID of the closest participant mobile device and broadcasts the recognized full-body gesture event to all co-located participants in the multi-party session, along with the obtained user ID. Each participant's mobile device may then handle the gesture event as appropriate for the multi-party session. For example, a character or costume may be assigned to a gesturing participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2025
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12282592
    Abstract: A method for detecting full-body gestures by a mobile device includes a host mobile device detecting the tracked body of a co-located participant in a multi-party session. When the participant's tracked body provides a full-body gesture, the host's mobile device recognizes that there is a tracked body providing a full-body gesture. The host mobile device iterates through the list of participants in the multi-party session and finds the closest participant mobile device with respect to the screen-space position of the head of the gesturing participant. The host mobile device then obtains the user ID of the closest participant mobile device and broadcasts the recognized full-body gesture event to all co-located participants in the multi-party session, along with the obtained user ID. Each participant's mobile device may then handle the gesture event as appropriate for the multi-party session. For example, a character or costume may be assigned to a gesturing participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20250078428
    Abstract: Multi-player co-located AR experiences are augmented by assigning characters and costumes to respective participants (a.k.a. “users” of AR-enabled mobile devices) in multi-player AR sessions for storytelling, play acting, and the like. Body tracking technology and augmented reality (AR) software are used to decorate the bodies of the co-located participants with virtual costumes within the context of the multi-player co-located AR experiences. Tracked bodies are distinguished to determine which body belongs to which user and hence which virtual costume belongs to which tracked body so that corresponding costumes may be assigned for display in augmented reality. A host-guest mechanism is used for networked assignment of characters and corresponding costumes in the co-located multi-player AR session. Body tracking technology is used to move the costume with the body as movement of the assigned body is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12175608
    Abstract: Multi-player co-located AR experiences are augmented by assigning characters and costumes to respective participants (a.k.a. “users” of AR-enabled mobile devices) in multi-player AR sessions for storytelling, play acting, and the like. Body tracking technology and augmented reality (AR) software are used to decorate the bodies of the co-located participants with virtual costumes within the context of the multi-player co-located AR experiences. Tracked bodies are distinguished to determine which body belongs to which user and hence which virtual costume belongs to which tracked body so that corresponding costumes may be assigned for display in augmented reality. A host-guest mechanism is used for networked assignment of characters and corresponding costumes in the co-located multi-player AR session. Body tracking technology is used to move the costume with the body as movement of the assigned body is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20240402796
    Abstract: A virtual interface application presented in augmented reality (AR) is described for controlling Internet of Things (IoT) products. The virtual interface application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual control interface overlay on a display, receive a selection from the user using her hands or feet, and send a control signal to a nearby IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the selection. The virtual control interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The virtual interface application includes a foot tracking tool for detecting an intersection between the foot location (in the physical environment) and the virtual surface position (in the AR environment). When an intersection is detected, the virtual interface application sends a control signal with instructions to the IoT product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Youjean Cho, Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12148448
    Abstract: Described are authoring tools for creating interactive AR experiences. The story-authoring application enables a user with little or no programming skills to create an interactive story that includes recording voice commands for advancing to the next scene, inserting and manipulating virtual objects in a mixed-reality environment, and recording a variety of interactions with connected IoT devices. The story creation interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12121811
    Abstract: Systems and methods directed to generating an interactive graphical marker that includes a first region with a first indicator and a second region with a second indicator, the second region being around a circumference of the first region. The systems and methods are also directed to monitoring an animation of the interactive graphical marker to detect when the first indicator and the second indicator are aligned at a predetermined angle of rotation, and in response to detecting that the first indicator and the second indicator are aligned, initiating an interactive game application on a second computing device and a third computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, Ava Robinson, Andrés Monroy-Hernández, Rajan Vaish
  • Publication number: 20240338071
    Abstract: Described are virtual AR interfaces for generating a virtual rotational interface for the purpose of controlling connected IoT devices using the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of a portable electronic device. The IMU control application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual rotational interface overlay on a display and adjust a feature of a connected IoT product by rotating a portable electronic device. The device IMU moves a slider on the virtual rotational interface. The IMU control application sends a control signal to the IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the slider position. The virtual rotational interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The IMU control application detects the device orientation (in the physical environment) and in response presents a corresponding slider element on the virtual rotational interface (in the AR environment).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12073011
    Abstract: A virtual interface application presented in augmented reality (AR) is described for controlling Internet of Things (IoT) products. The virtual interface application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual control interface overlay on a display, receive a selection from the user using her hands or feet, and send a control signal to a nearby IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the selection. The virtual control interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The virtual interface application includes a foot tracking tool for detecting an intersection between the foot location (in the physical environment) and the virtual surface position (in the AR environment). When an intersection is detected, the virtual interface application sends a control signal with instructions to the IoT product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Youjean Cho, Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Patent number: 12045383
    Abstract: Described are virtual AR interfaces for generating a virtual rotational interface for the purpose of controlling connected IoT devices using the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of a portable electronic device. The IMU control application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual rotational interface overlay on a display and adjust a feature of a connected IoT product by rotating a portable electronic device. The device IMU moves a slider on the virtual rotational interface. The IMU control application sends a control signal to the IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the slider position. The virtual rotational interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The IMU control application detects the device orientation (in the physical environment) and in response presents a corresponding slider element on the virtual rotational interface (in the AR environment).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20240078759
    Abstract: Multi-player co-located AR experiences are augmented by assigning characters and costumes to respective participants (a.k.a. “users” of AR-enabled mobile devices) in multi-player AR sessions for storytelling, play acting, and the like. Body tracking technology and augmented reality (AR) software are used to decorate the bodies of the co-located participants with virtual costumes within the context of the multi-player co-located AR experiences. Tracked bodies are distinguished to determine which body belongs to which user and hence which virtual costume belongs to which tracked body so that corresponding costumes may be assigned for display in augmented reality. A host-guest mechanism is used for networked assignment of characters and corresponding costumes in the co-located multi-player AR session. Body tracking technology is used to move the costume with the body as movement of the assigned body is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20240077933
    Abstract: A method for detecting full-body gestures by a mobile device includes a host mobile device detecting the tracked body of a co-located participant in a multi-party session. When the participant's tracked body provides a full-body gesture, the host's mobile device recognizes that there is a tracked body providing a full-body gesture. The host mobile device iterates through the list of participants in the multi-party session and finds the closest participant mobile device with respect to the screen-space position of the head of the gesturing participant. The host mobile device then obtains the user ID of the closest participant mobile device and broadcasts the recognized full-body gesture event to all co-located participants in the multi-party session, along with the obtained user ID. Each participant's mobile device may then handle the gesture event as appropriate for the multi-party session. For example, a character or costume may be assigned to a gesturing participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20240077935
    Abstract: A virtual interface application presented in augmented reality (AR) is described for controlling Internet of Things (IoT) products. The virtual interface application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual control interface overlay on a display, receive a selection from the user using her hands or feet, and send a control signal to a nearby IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the selection. The virtual control interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The virtual interface application includes a foot tracking tool for detecting an intersection between the foot location (in the physical environment) and the virtual surface position (in the AR environment). When an intersection is detected, the virtual interface application sends a control signal with instructions to the IoT product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Youjean Cho, Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20240079031
    Abstract: Described are authoring tools for creating interactive AR experiences. The story-authoring application enables a user with little or no programming skills to create an interactive story that includes recording voice commands for advancing to the next scene, inserting and manipulating virtual objects in a mixed-reality environment, and recording a variety of interactions with connected IoT devices. The story creation interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20240077984
    Abstract: Described are recording tools for generating following behaviors and creating interactive AR experiences. The following recording application enables a user with little or no programming skills to virtually connect virtual objects to other elements, including virtual avatars representing fellow users, thereby creating an interactive story in which multiple elements are apparently and persistently connected. The following interface includes methods for selecting objects and instructions for connecting a virtual object to a target object. In one example, the recording application presents on the display a virtual tether between the objects until a connecting action is detected. The following interface is presented on the display as an overlay, in the foreground relative to the physical environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Ava Robinson, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
  • Publication number: 20240077934
    Abstract: Described are virtual AR interfaces for generating a virtual rotational interface for the purpose of controlling connected IoT devices using the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of a portable electronic device. The IMU control application enables a user of a portable electronic device to activate a virtual rotational interface overlay on a display and adjust a feature of a connected IoT product by rotating a portable electronic device. The device IMU moves a slider on the virtual rotational interface. The IMU control application sends a control signal to the IoT product which executes an action in accordance with the slider position. The virtual rotational interface is presented on the display as a virtual object in an AR environment. The IMU control application detects the device orientation (in the physical environment) and in response presents a corresponding slider element on the virtual rotational interface (in the AR environment).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández