Patents by Inventor Douglas Paul Sweetland

Douglas Paul Sweetland 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: 10845969
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an interactive media content with explorable content on a computing device that includes rendering a field of view within a navigable media content item; rendering at least one targetable object within the media content item; through a user input mechanism, receiving a navigation command; navigating the field of view within the media based at least in part on the received user input mechanism; detecting a locking condition based, at least in part, on of the targetable object being in the field of view and entering a object-locked mode with the targetable object; and in the object-locked mode, automatically navigating the field of view to substantially track the targetable object of the object-locked mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Brian M. Collins, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland
  • Patent number: 10341731
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for view-selection feedback for a visual experience are described. These techniques and apparatuses enable writers, directors, and other story creators to create or alter visual experiences based on feedback provided by view selections made during visual experiences. This feedback can be analyzed to determine portions of a visual experience that users focused on, wanted to see more of, were not interested in, found difficult to understand, and so forth. With this feedback, visual experiences, such as live-action movies and animated shorts, can be created or improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Darren Mark Austin
  • Patent number: 10056114
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for small-screen movie-watching using a viewport. These techniques enable viewers to experience movies and other media programs using a small screen as a viewport to the movie rather than dramatically compressing or cropping the movie to fit the small screen. A viewer may select whatever portion of the movie imagery he or she desires to experience through the small screen at a size sufficient to perceive details of plot elements and an environment in which the plot elements interact. Thus, the viewer may follow plot elements central to the plot while also exploring the environment that provides context for these plot elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Colby Nipper
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava
  • Publication number: 20180225028
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an interactive media content with explorable content on a computing device that includes rendering a field of view within a navigable media content item; rendering at least one targetable object within the media content item; through a user input mechanism, receiving a navigation command; navigating the field of view within the media based at least in part on the received user input mechanism; detecting a locking condition based, at least in part, on of the targetable object being in the field of view and entering a object-locked mode with the targetable object; and in the object-locked mode, automatically navigating the field of view to substantially track the targetable object of the object-locked mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Brian M. Collins, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland
  • Patent number: 9933921
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an interactive media content with explorable content on a computing device that includes rendering a field of view within a navigable media content item; rendering at least one targetable object within the media content item; through a user input mechanism, receiving a navigation command; navigating the field of view within the media based at least in part on the received user input mechanism; detecting a locking condition based, at least in part, on of the targetable object being in the field of view and entering a object-locked mode with the targetable object; and in the object-locked mode, automatically navigating the field of view to substantially track the targetable object of the object-locked mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Brian M. Collins, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland
  • Patent number: 9779480
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling view-driven consumption of frameless media. These techniques and apparatuses provide frameless media and enable a user to engage with the frameless media by orienting a viewing device within the world created by that frameless media. This orienting by the user drives what the user sees in this world and when the user sees it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Jan J. Pinkava
  • Patent number: 9766786
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for visual storytelling on a mobile media-consumption device are described. These techniques and apparatuses enable a user to view events central to the story while also viewing context for the story. By so doing, a user may enjoy the story as the story's author intended without sacrificing a user's ability to engage with the story's context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Darren Mark Austin, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland
  • Publication number: 20170178690
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for small-screen movie-watching using a viewport. These techniques enable viewers to experience movies and other media programs using a small screen as a viewport to the movie rather than dramatically compressing or cropping the movie to fit the small screen. A viewer may select whatever portion of the movie imagery he or she desires to experience through the small screen at a size sufficient to perceive details of plot elements and an environment in which the plot elements interact. Thus, the viewer may follow plot elements central to the plot while also exploring the environment that provides context for these plot elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava
  • Patent number: 9589597
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for small-screen movie-watching using a viewport. These techniques enable viewers to experience movies and other media programs using a small screen as a viewport to the movie rather than dramatically compressing or cropping the movie to fit the small screen. A viewer may select whatever portion of the movie imagery he or she desires to experience through the small screen at a size sufficient to perceive details of plot elements and an environment in which the plot elements interact. Thus, the viewer may follow plot elements central to the plot while also exploring the environment that provides context for these plot elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava
  • Publication number: 20160054863
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for view-selection feedback for a visual experience are described. These techniques and apparatuses enable writers, directors, and other story creators to create or alter visual experiences based on feedback provided by view selections made during visual experiences. This feedback can be analyzed to determine portions of a visual experience that users focused on, wanted to see more of, were not interested in, found difficult to understand, and so forth. With this feedback, visual experiences, such as live-action movies and animated shorts, can be created or improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Darren Mark Austin
  • Publication number: 20150023650
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for small-screen movie-watching using a viewport. These techniques enable viewers to experience movies and other media programs using a small screen as a viewport to the movie rather than dramatically compressing or cropping the movie to fit the small screen. A viewer may select whatever portion of the movie imagery he or she desires to experience through the small screen at a size sufficient to perceive details of plot elements and an environment in which the plot elements interact. Thus, the viewer may follow plot elements central to the plot while also exploring the environment that provides context for these plot elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava
  • Publication number: 20150026576
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for visual storytelling on a mobile media-consumption device are described. These techniques and apparatuses enable a user to view events central to the story while also viewing context for the story. By so doing, a user may enjoy the story as the story's author intended without sacrificing a user's ability to engage with the story's context.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Darren Mark Austin, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland
  • Publication number: 20150022557
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling view-driven consumption of frameless media. These techniques and apparatuses provide frameless media and enable a user to engage with the frameless media by orienting a viewing device within the world created by that frameless media. This orienting by the user drives what the user sees in this world and when the user sees it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Jan J. Pinkava