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).

  • Patent number: 11528247
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
  • Patent number: 10922700
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly
  • Patent number: 10441877
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20190288978
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
  • Patent number: 10361986
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
  • Patent number: 10293247
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Kenlip Ong, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20180126261
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Patent number: 9895605
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Patent number: 9539506
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
  • Publication number: 20160220896
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
  • Patent number: 9339729
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
  • Publication number: 20160121207
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20160092035
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: John Crocker, Randall Davis, Orrin Shively, Christopher W. Heatherly, James Molinets
  • Patent number: 9274641
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Patent number: 8939840
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
  • Publication number: 20130231193
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Christopher K. Shin, Natasha Berling, Robert Saygan, Leonard J. Mazzocco, Tara Cortner Hefter
  • Patent number: 8506377
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly
  • Publication number: 20120320216
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Armen Mkrtchyan, Christopher W. Heatherly
  • Publication number: 20120083325
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly
  • Publication number: 20120079608
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher W. Heatherly