Patents by Inventor Christopher W. Heatherly
Christopher W. Heatherly 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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Patent number: 11528247Abstract: There is provided a system and method for user generated gameplay in chat. The system including a memory storing a text and multimedia messaging software application, and a processor configured to execute the text and multimedia messaging software application to initiate a message exchange session with a remote mobile device, in response to a request received from a user of the mobile device, the message exchange session displaying a user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, provide a plurality of games for selection by the user to be played during the message exchange session and within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, receive a selection of one of the plurality of games by the user after initiating the message exchange session, and initiate the one of the plurality of games for playing within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
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Patent number: 10922700Abstract: According to some embodiments, it may be recognized that a consumer has placed a consumer object, such as a toy or action figure, into a field of view of a camera (e.g., a video camera incorporated into a portable computer). A software benefit associated with the consumer object may then be automatically determined, and, responsive to the recognition and determination, it may be arranged for the consumer to receive that software benefit (e.g., in a virtual world).Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly
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Patent number: 10441877Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
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Publication number: 20190288978Abstract: There is provided a system and method for user generated gameplay in chat. The system including a memory storing a text and multimedia messaging software application, and a processor configured to execute the text and multimedia messaging software application to initiate a message exchange session with a remote mobile device, in response to a request received from a user of the mobile device, the message exchange session displaying a user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, provide a plurality of games for selection by the user to be played during the message exchange session and within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, receive a selection of one of the plurality of games by the user after initiating the message exchange session, and initiate the one of the plurality of games for playing within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
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Patent number: 10361986Abstract: There is provided a system and method for user generated gameplay in chat. The system including a memory storing a text and multimedia messaging software application, and a processor configured to execute the text and multimedia messaging software application to initiate a message exchange session with a remote mobile device, in response to a request received from a user of the mobile device, the message exchange session displaying a user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, provide a plurality of games for selection by the user to be played during the message exchange session and within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, receive a selection of one of the plurality of games by the user after initiating the message exchange session, and initiate the one of the plurality of games for playing within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
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Patent number: 10293247Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for facilitating an interaction with a first peripheral device using a touch-sensitive system having a processor and a touch surface. An example method includes detecting, using the processor, the first peripheral device touching the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system, identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device touching the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system, and determining, using the processor, that the first peripheral device has an accessory attached thereto. A method may include determining, using the processor, transformation of the first peripheral device. Another method may include determining, using the processor, a position of the first peripheral device with respect to digital elements displayed on the touch surface, and interacting with the first peripheral device based on the position of the first peripheral device with respect to the digital elements displayed on the touch surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Kenlip Ong, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
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Publication number: 20180126261Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2018Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
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Patent number: 9895605Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
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Patent number: 9539506Abstract: There is provided a system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds. There is provided an object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including a processor and a plurality of sensors including a position sensor. The processor is configured to establish a first connection with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object, determine a position of the object using the position sensor, and send the position of the object using the first connection. There is also provided a physical environment having similar capabilities as the object.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
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Publication number: 20160220896Abstract: There is provided a system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds. There is provided an object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including a processor and a plurality of sensors including a position sensor. The processor is configured to establish a first connection with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object, determine a position of the object using the position sensor, and send the position of the object using the first connection. There is also provided a physical environment having similar capabilities as the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
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Patent number: 9339729Abstract: There is provided a system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds. There is provided an object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including a processor and a plurality of sensors including a position sensor. The processor is configured to establish a first connection with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object, determine a position of the object using the position sensor, and send the position of the object using the first connection. There is also provided a physical environment having similar capabilities as the object.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
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Publication number: 20160121207Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2016Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
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Publication number: 20160092035Abstract: There is provided a system and method for user generated gameplay in chat. The system including a memory storing a text and multimedia messaging software application, and a processor configured to execute the text and multimedia messaging software application to initiate a message exchange session with a remote mobile device, in response to a request received from a user of the mobile device, the message exchange session displaying a user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, provide a plurality of games for selection by the user to be played during the message exchange session and within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages, receive a selection of one of the plurality of games by the user after initiating the message exchange session, and initiate the one of the plurality of games for playing within the user interface for exchanging text and multimedia messages.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
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Patent number: 9274641Abstract: There is provided a system and method for communicating with a first peripheral device, of a plurality of peripheral devices, using a touch-sensitive system that has a processor and a touch surface. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes detecting, using the processor, a plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method further includes identifying, using the processor, the first peripheral device based on the plurality of touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system that are made by the first peripheral device. The method additionally includes communicating data, using the processor, to a receptive circuit of the first peripheral device in response to the identifying of the first peripheral device.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
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Patent number: 8939840Abstract: There is provided a system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds. There is provided an object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including a processor and a plurality of sensors including a position sensor. The processor is configured to establish a first connection with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object, determine a position of the object using the position sensor, and send the position of the object using the first connection. There is also provided a physical environment having similar capabilities as the object.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
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Publication number: 20130231193Abstract: There is provided a system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds. There is provided an object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including a processor and a plurality of sensors including a position sensor. The processor is configured to establish a first connection with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object, determine a position of the object using the position sensor, and send the position of the object using the first connection. There is also provided a physical environment having similar capabilities as the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
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Patent number: 8506377Abstract: According to some embodiments, an image may be received from a camera of a portable computing device associated with a player (e.g., a wireless telephone or game system). At least a portion of a board game may be recognized within the image, and an augmented version of the image may be displayed on the portable computing device. According to some embodiments, a board game score may be automatically determined for the player based on (i) an input received from the player via the portable computing device and (ii) the image associated with the board game. According to other embodiments, the image associated with the board game includes a portion of a visual message not readable by a human and the augmented version of the image includes supplemental information readable by a human when combined with the portion of the visual message.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly
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Publication number: 20120320216Abstract: There are presented methods and systems for virtual environment manipulation by detection of physical objects. An example method includes projecting an infrared pattern onto a physical environment having a physical object, capturing an infrared image of the physical environment using an infrared camera, detecting, in the infrared image, an infrared distortion caused by at least a portion of the physical object, the at least portion of the physical object comprising patterned materials affecting an infrared light, modifying a virtual environment based on the infrared distortion caused by the patterned materials affecting the infrared light, and rendering the modified virtual environment on a display. For example, the at least portion of the physical object is a tag placed on the physical object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2011Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Armen Mkrtchyan, Christopher W. Heatherly
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Publication number: 20120083325Abstract: According to some embodiments, an image may be received from a camera of a portable computing device associated with a player (e.g., a wireless telephone or game system). At least a portion of a board game may be recognized within the image, and an augmented version of the image may be displayed on the portable computing device. According to some embodiments, a board game score may be automatically determined for the player based on (i) an input received from the player via the portable computing device and (ii) the image associated with the board game. According to other embodiments, the image associated with the board game includes a portion of a visual message not readable by a human and the augmented version of the image includes supplemental information readable by a human when combined with the portion of the visual message.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: April 5, 2012Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly
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Publication number: 20120079608Abstract: According to some embodiments, it may be recognized that a consumer has placed a consumer object, such as a toy or action figure, into a field of view of a camera (e.g., a video camera incorporated into a portable computer). A software benefit associated with the consumer object may then be automatically determined, and, responsive to the recognition and determination, it may be arranged for the consumer to receive that software benefit (e.g., in a virtual world).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly