Patents by Inventor Bob Hickman

Bob Hickman 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: 11972048
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or another object held or worn by a player. The system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Bob Hickman, Brent David Strong
  • Patent number: 11925870
    Abstract: A system for providing user-driven customization and enhanced personalization of interactive experiences. The system includes data storage for storing player profiles, with each including customization preferences useful in enhancing or generating one of the interactive experiences. The system includes a gameplay space adapted to provide an interactive experience, which includes one or more interactive elements. The system includes a gameplay device configured to be worn or carried by a player. A detection device detects a presence of the player in the gameplay space and obtains a unique identifier for the gameplay device. The system includes a controller retrieving a set of the customization preferences in one of the player profiles associated with the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Jaio, Bob Hickman, Brent D. Strong, Jeffrey L. Elbert
  • Publication number: 20230390647
    Abstract: A system for providing user-driven customization and enhanced personalization of interactive experiences. The system includes data storage for storing player profiles, with each including customization preferences useful in enhancing or generating one of the interactive experiences. The system includes a gameplay space adapted to provide an interactive experience, which includes one or more interactive elements. The system includes a gameplay device configured to be worn or carried by a player. A detection device detects a presence of the player in the gameplay space and obtains a unique identifier for the gameplay device. The system includes a controller retrieving a set of the customization preferences in one of the player profiles associated with the identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Christina Jaio, Bob Hickman, Brent D. Strong, Jeffrey L. Elbert
  • Patent number: 11602695
    Abstract: A method includes storing a plurality of scores and a plurality of session identifiers for a game. The plurality of scores are generated by monitoring player activity during game sessions identified by the plurality of session identifiers and by applying rules of the game to determine scoring events based on the player activity. The method also includes generating, during a game session, a code for a player, providing the code to the player before the player leaves the game, and receiving, from a device, a target session identifier generated by the device based on the code and in response to receiving the target session identifier. The method further includes retrieving a score of the plurality of scores generated during a game session identified by a session identifier of the plurality of session identifiers that matches the target session identifier and communicating, to the device, the retrieved score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Elbert, Brent D. Strong, Bob Hickman, Robert J. Peitzman
  • Publication number: 20230025448
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or another object held or worn by a player. The system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Bob Hickman, Brent David Strong
  • Patent number: 11524239
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or other object held or worn by a player. The system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Przemyslaw Iwanowski, Brent David Strong, Matthew S. Daly, Sarit Ghildayal, Bob Hickman, John Cody Hampton, Alex Christopher Wilde, Amanda Marie Leahy
  • Publication number: 20220339544
    Abstract: A method includes storing a plurality of scores and a plurality of session identifiers for a game. The plurality of scores are generated by monitoring player activity during game sessions identified by the plurality of session identifiers and by applying rules of the game to determine scoring events based on the player activity. The method also includes generating, during a game session, a code for a player, providing the code to the player before the player leaves the game, and receiving, from a device, a target session identifier generated by the device based on the code and in response to receiving the target session identifier. The method further includes retrieving a score of the plurality of scores generated during a game session identified by a session identifier of the plurality of session identifiers that matches the target session identifier and communicating, to the device, the retrieved score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. ELBERT, Brent D. STRONG, Bob HICKMAN, Robert J. PEITZMAN
  • Patent number: 11474602
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or another object held or worn by a player. The system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Bob Hickman, Brent David Strong
  • Publication number: 20220080321
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or other object held or worn by a player. The system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Przemyslaw Iwanowski, Brent David Strong, Matthew S. Daly, Sarit Ghildayal, Bob Hickman, John Cody Hampton, Alex Christopher Wilde, Amanda Marie Leahy
  • Patent number: 11207599
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or other object held or worn by a player. Th system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Przemyslaw Iwanowski, Brent David Strong, Matthew S. Daly, Sarit Ghildayal, Bob Hickman, John Cody Hampton, Alex Christopher Wilde, Amanda Marie Leahy
  • Publication number: 20210279893
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for providing an interactive experience. The method includes illuminating, by an enhancer, an area with light having wavelength invisible to humans. A plurality of image detectors capture at least two images of a person in the area including a portion of the light reflected from the person. A processing element determines a first skeletal feature of the person based on the at least two images. The processing element determines a position characteristic of the first skeletal feature; constructs, from the first skeletal feature, a vector in three dimensions corresponding to the position characteristic; and outputs an interactive effect based on the position characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Przemyslaw Iwanowski, Bob Hickman, Brent D. Strong, Sarit Ghildayal, Matthew S. Daly, Jeffrey Elbert
  • Publication number: 20210263588
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or another object held or worn by a player. The system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Bob Hickman, Brent David Strong
  • Publication number: 20210260485
    Abstract: A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or other object held or worn by a player. Th system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elbert, Przemyslaw Iwanowski, Brent David Strong, Matthew S. Daly, Sarit Ghildayal, Bob Hickman, John Cody Hampton, Alex Christopher Wilde, Amanda Marie Leahy
  • Patent number: 9656169
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying a graphical representation of a player type profile. A respective player type profile may be generated for each of a plurality of users of a virtual environment that characterizes each user by a predominant player type. Player types may be defined by the designers of the virtual environment. The player type profile may be generated by logging the actions performed by the user when connected to the virtual environment and then analyzing the actions to determine the best characterization for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John Holbrook Crocker, Bob Hickman, Allan D. Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8799788
    Abstract: A single instance of a virtual space may be provided that can be simultaneously represented in at least two dimensions or three dimensions on separate client computing devices. Virtual space information used to facilitate presentation of the virtual space may be agnostic as to whether the virtual space will be represented in two or three dimensions. That is, the same virtual space information may be sent to one or more client computing platforms regardless of the dimensionality of virtual space representations presented by any given client computing platform. A determination may be made at individual client computing platforms as to whether to present the virtual space representation in two dimensions or three dimensions based on one or more metrics associated with the individual client computing platforms. Such metrics may include a computing power of the one or more processors, a communication bandwidth, a screen size, and/or other metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Hickman, Allan D. Jones
  • Patent number: 8782263
    Abstract: A single client session may be managed such that two or more virtual instances are presented without regard to technologies of the different virtual instances. Individual ones of the two or more virtual instances may be of a virtual environment or a virtual space. A first virtual instance may be loaded into the client session responsive to a user being authenticated for the first virtual instance based on received authentication information. A second virtual instance may then be loaded into the client session responsive to the user being authenticated for the second virtual instance based on the same received authentication information. Information associated with the user, information associated with a user character controlled by the user, and/or other instance services may be provided to the first virtual instance and/or the second virtual instance. Individual ones of the virtual instances may be monitored for a runtime error and/or memory abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nightingale, Bob Hickman, Jackson Barrett Dunstan
  • Patent number: 8566844
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly provide a system configured to receive, process and broadcast generalized event notifications from components and provide these generalized event notifications (messages) to a predetermined set of subscriber components. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate a messaging system providing increased system flexibility for implementing and managing changes in complex computing systems having one or more related system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Hickman, John Crocker, Jackson B. Dunstan
  • Publication number: 20130130792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and displaying a graphical representation of a player type profile. A respective player type profile may be generated for each of a plurality of users of a virtual environment that characterizes each user by a predominant player type. Player types may be defined by the designers of the virtual environment. The player type profile may be generated by logging the actions performed by the user when connected to the virtual environment and then analyzing the actions to determine the best characterization for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: John Holbrook Crocker, Bob Hickman, Allan D. Jones, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120311463
    Abstract: A single instance of a virtual space may be provided that can be simultaneously represented in at least two dimensions or three dimensions on separate client computing devices. Virtual space information used to facilitate presentation of the virtual space may be agnostic as to whether the virtual space will be represented in two or three dimensions. That is, the same virtual space information may be sent to one or more client computing platforms regardless of the dimensionality of virtual space representations presented by any given client computing platform. A determination may be made at individual client computing platforms as to whether to present the virtual space representation in two dimensions or three dimensions based on one or more metrics associated with the individual client computing platforms. Such metrics may include a computing power of the one or more processors, a communication bandwidth, a screen size, and/or other metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob HICKMAN, Allan D. Jones
  • Publication number: 20110107353
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly provide a system configured to receive, process and broadcast generalized event notifications from components and provide these generalized event notifications (messages) to a predetermined set of subscriber components. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate a messaging system providing increased system flexibility for implementing and managing changes in complex computing systems having one or more related system components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Bob Hickman, John Crocker, Jackson B. Dunstan