Patents by Inventor Brett A. Allen

Brett A. Allen 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: 20170278294
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a view-dependent texture in conjunction with a three-dimensional model of a geographic area are provided. A view-dependent texture can be rendered in conjunction with at least portions of the three-dimensional model. A base texture can be rendered for portions of the three-dimensional model in the same field of view that are viewed from a slightly different perspective than a reference direction associated with the view-dependent texture. For instance, a stretching factor can be determined for each portion of the three-dimensional model based on the reference direction and a viewpoint direction associated with the portion of the three-dimensional model. A base texture, a view-dependent texture, or a blended texture can be selected for rendering at the portion of the three-dimensional model based on the stretching factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Scott E. Dillard, Brett A. Allen, Aleksey Golovinskiy
  • Patent number: 9704282
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a view-dependent texture in conjunction with a three-dimensional model of a geographic area are provided. A view-dependent texture can be rendered in conjunction with at least portions of the three-dimensional model. A base texture can be rendered for portions of the three-dimensional model in the same field of view that are viewed from a slightly different perspective than a reference direction associated with the view-dependent texture. For instance, a stretching factor can be determined for each portion of the three-dimensional model based on the reference direction and a viewpoint direction associated with the portion of the three-dimensional model. A base texture, a view-dependent texture, or a blended texture can be selected for rendering at the portion of the three-dimensional model based on the stretching factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Dillard, Brett A. Allen, Aleksey Golovinskiy
  • Patent number: 9626790
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a view-dependent texture in conjunction with a polygon mesh to provide a textured three-dimensional model of a geographic area are provided. The view-dependent texture can be optimized for viewing the three-dimensional model from a single reference direction. When a user navigates to a camera viewpoint of the three-dimensional model associated with the single reference direction, the view-dependent texture can be rendered in conjunction with the three-dimensional model to provide a more realistic representation of the geographic area to the user. When a user navigates to a camera viewpoint of the three-dimensional model that is not associated with the single reference direction, a base texture can be rendered in conjunction with the three-dimensional model. The base texture can be optimized based on viewing the three-dimensional model from a plurality of differing viewpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Brett A. Allen, Scott E. Dillard
  • Patent number: 9401025
    Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Kevin Wooley, Brett A. Allen, Michael Sanders
  • Publication number: 20160012598
    Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: STEVE SULLIVAN, KEVIN WOOLEY, BRETT A. ALLEN, MICHAEL SANDERS
  • Patent number: 9171402
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a view-dependent texture in conjunction with a polygon mesh to provide a textured three-dimensional model of a geographic area are provided. The view-dependent texture can be optimized for viewing the three-dimensional model from a single reference direction. When a user navigates to a camera viewpoint of the three-dimensional model associated with the single reference direction, the view-dependent texture can be rendered in conjunction with the three-dimensional model to provide a more realistic representation of the geographic area to the user. When a user navigates to a camera viewpoint of the three-dimensional model that is not associated with the single reference direction, a base texture can be rendered in conjunction with the three-dimensional model. The base texture can be optimized based on viewing the three-dimensional model from a plurality of differing viewpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Brett A. Allen, Scott E. Dillard
  • Patent number: 9165397
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a view-dependent texture in conjunction with a three-dimensional model of a geographic area are provided. A view-dependent texture can be rendered in conjunction with at least portions of the three-dimensional model. A base texture can be rendered for portions of the three-dimensional model in the same field of view that are viewed from a slightly different perspective than a reference direction associated with the view-dependent texture. For instance, a stretching factor can be determined for each portion of the three-dimensional model based on the reference direction and a viewpoint direction associated with the portion of the three-dimensional model. A base texture, a view-dependent texture, or a blended texture can be selected for rendering at the portion of the three-dimensional model based on the stretching factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Dillard, Brett A. Allen, Aleksey Golovinskiy
  • Patent number: 9142024
    Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Kevin Wooley, Brett A. Allen, Michael Sanders
  • Patent number: 9003287
    Abstract: Interaction between a 3D animation and a corresponding script includes: displaying a user interface that includes at least a 3D animation area and a script area, the 3D animation area including (i) a 3D view area for creating and playing a 3D animation and (ii) a timeline area for visualizing actions by one or more 3D animation characters, the script area comprising one or more objects representing lines from a script having one or more script characters; receiving a first user input corresponding to a user selecting at least one of the objects from the script area for assignment to a location in the timeline area; generating a timeline object at the location in response to the first user input, the timeline object corresponding to the selected object; and associating audio data with the generated timeline object, the audio data corresponding to a line represented by the selected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua Goldenberg, Louise Rasmussen, Adam Schnitzer, Domenico Porcino, George Lucas, Brett A. Allen
  • Patent number: 9002064
    Abstract: A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method. The method includes identifying a frame of a video sequence, transforming a model into an initial guess for how the region appears in the frame, performing an exhaustive search of the frame, performing a plurality of optimization procedures, wherein at least one additional model parameter is taken into account as each subsequent optimization procedure is initiated. A system includes a computer readable storage medium, a graphical user interface, an input device, a model for texture and shape of the region, the model generated using the video sequence and stored in the computer readable storage medium, and a solver component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Christoph Bregler, Kiran S. Bhat, Brett A. Allen
  • Publication number: 20140375633
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a view-dependent texture in conjunction with a three-dimensional model of a geographic area are provided. A view-dependent texture can be rendered in conjunction with at least portions of the three-dimensional model. A base texture can be rendered for portions of the three-dimensional model in the same field of view that are viewed from a slightly different perspective than a reference direction associated with the view-dependent texture. For instance, a stretching factor can be determined for each portion of the three-dimensional model based on the reference direction and a viewpoint direction associated with the portion of the three-dimensional model. A base texture, a view-dependent texture, or a blended texture can be selected for rendering at the portion of the three-dimensional model based on the stretching factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Scott E. Dillard, Brett A. Allen, Aleksey Golovinskiy
  • Publication number: 20140219499
    Abstract: A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method. The method includes identifying a frame of a video sequence, transforming a model into an initial guess for how the region appears in the frame, performing an exhaustive search of the frame, performing a plurality of optimization procedures, wherein at least one additional model parameter is taken into account as each subsequent optimization procedure is initiated. A system includes a computer readable storage medium, a graphical user interface, an input device, a model for texture and shape of the region, the model generated using the video sequence and stored in the computer readable storage medium, and a solver component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Christoph Bregler, Kiran S. Bhat, Brett A. Allen
  • Patent number: 8649555
    Abstract: A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method. The method includes identifying a frame of a video sequence, transforming a model into an initial guess for how the region appears in the frame, performing an exhaustive search of the frame, performing a plurality of optimization procedures, wherein at least one additional model parameter is taken into account as each subsequent optimization procedure is initiated. A system includes a computer readable storage medium, a graphical user interface, an input device, a model for texture and shape of the region, the model generated using the video sequence and stored in the computer readable storage medium, and a solver component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Christoph Bregler, Kiran S. Bhat, Brett A. Allen
  • Publication number: 20130132835
    Abstract: Interaction between a 3D animation and a corresponding script includes: displaying a user interface that includes at least a 3D animation area and a script area, the 3D animation area including (i) a 3D view area for creating and playing a 3D animation and (ii) a timeline area for visualizing actions by one or more 3D animation characters, the script area comprising one or more objects representing lines from a script having one or more script characters; receiving a first user input corresponding to a user selecting at least one of the objects from the script area for assignment to a location in the timeline area; generating a timeline object at the location in response to the first user input, the timeline object corresponding to the selected object; and associating audio data with the generated timeline object, the audio data corresponding to a line represented by the selected object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Joshua Goldenberg, Louise Rasmussen, Adam Schnitzer, Domenico Porcino, George Lucas, Brett A. Allen
  • Patent number: 8401294
    Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for pattern matching includes receiving a pattern image, a mask image and a search image, the mask image having an arbitrary shape and identifying a portion of the pattern image. The method includes evaluating a normalized cross-correlation equation based on the pattern image, the mask image and the search image, including at least a convolution of the mask image and the search image. The method includes outputting a result of evaluating the normalized cross-correlation equation, the result indicating whether the search image matches the portion of the pattern image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Brett A. Allen
  • Publication number: 20100164862
    Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Kevin Wooley, Brett A. Allen, Michael Sanders