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).
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Publication number: 20260126885Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2025Publication date: May 7, 2026Inventors: Lei Zhang, Ava Robinson, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12524124Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 13, 2026Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Lei Zhang, Ava Robinson, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20250355486Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2025Publication date: November 20, 2025Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12405658Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 20, 2024Date of Patent: September 2, 2025Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20250208699Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2025Publication date: June 26, 2025Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12282592Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20250078428Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2024Publication date: March 6, 2025Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12175608Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20240402796Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Youjean Cho, Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12148448Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12121811Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 30, 2023Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, Ava Robinson, Andrés Monroy-Hernández, Rajan Vaish
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Publication number: 20240338071Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12073011Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Youjean Cho, Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Patent number: 12045383Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2022Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20240078759Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20240077933Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Daekun Kim, Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20240077935Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Youjean Cho, Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20240079031Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Lei Zhang, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20240077984Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Lei Zhang, Ava Robinson, Daekun Kim, Youjean Cho, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández
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Publication number: 20240077934Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Lei Zhang, Youjean Cho, Daekun Kim, Ava Robinson, Yu Jiang Tham, Rajan Vaish, Andrés Monroy-Hernández