Patents by Inventor Hanns Tappeiner

Hanns Tappeiner 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: 20160228783
    Abstract: A system of interconnected flexible supports are adapted for use with a mobile device operative by a mobile computing device such as a smart phone and/or tablet for controlled movement of the mobile device in a plurality of directions. The system includes a plurality of flexible supports which may be magnetically coupled together to form a flexible layout having infinite configurations. The supports are configured to be self-aligned when coupled by the magnetic attraction between adjacent supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Charles Fiebig, Hanns Tappeiner, David McVicar
  • Publication number: 20150375129
    Abstract: Mobile agents automatically manipulate components such as blocks on a working surface, to perform operations such as construction of generalized structures. The working surface and/or the components can have machine-readable codes to assist the agents in maintaining current knowledge of their respective locations. Agents identify components by type and location, and can move components according to directions; such directions can be provided by a user, or can be based on a pre-programmed directive, or can be determined dynamically based on current conditions or in response to actions of other agents. Agents may cooperate with one another. Agents can also respond to changes in the environment, alterations in works in progress, and/or other conditions, and may be configured to exhibit responses simulating emotional reactions. Different mobile agents can be associated with different character traits, which may be configured to change based on environmental conditions and/or the behavior of other mobile agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Hanns Tappeiner, Boris Sofman, Patrick DeNeale
  • Patent number: 9155961
    Abstract: Mobile agents automatically manipulate components such as blocks on a working surface, to perform operations such as construction of generalized structures. The working surface and/or the components can have machine-readable codes to assist the agents in maintaining current knowledge of their respective locations. Agents identify components by type and location, and can move components according to directions; such directions can be provided by a user, or can be based on a pre-programmed directive, or can be determined dynamically based on current conditions or in response to actions of other agents. Agents may cooperate with one another. Agents can also respond to changes in the environment, alterations in works in progress, and/or other conditions, and may be configured to exhibit responses simulating emotional reactions. Different mobile agents can be associated with different character traits, which may be configured to change based on environmental conditions and/or the behavior of other mobile agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Anki, Inc.
    Inventors: Hanns Tappeiner, Boris Sofman, Patrick DeNeale
  • Patent number: 9067145
    Abstract: A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Anki, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Sofman, Hanns Tappeiner, Mark Matthew Palatucci, Patrick Lee DeNeale
  • Publication number: 20150011315
    Abstract: A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Boris Sofman, Hanns Tappeiner, Mark Matthew Palatucci, Patrick Lee DeNeale
  • Publication number: 20140342834
    Abstract: Mobile agents automatically manipulate components such as blocks on a working surface, to perform operations such as construction of generalized structures. The working surface and/or the components can have machine-readable codes to assist the agents in maintaining current knowledge of their respective locations. Agents identify components by type and location, and can move components according to directions; such directions can be provided by a user, or can be based on a pre-programmed directive, or can be determined dynamically based on current conditions or in response to actions of other agents. Agents may cooperate with one another. Agents can also respond to changes in the environment, alterations in works in progress, and/or other conditions, and may be configured to exhibit responses simulating emotional reactions. Different mobile agents can be associated with different character traits, which may be configured to change based on environmental conditions and/or the behavior of other mobile agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Anki, Inc.
    Inventors: Hanns Tappeiner, Boris Sofman, Patrick DeNeale
  • Patent number: 8882560
    Abstract: A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system of the present invention is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Anki, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Sofman, Hanns Tappeiner, Mark Matthew Palatucci, Patrick Lee DeNaele
  • Patent number: 8747182
    Abstract: A system includes a drivable surface that includes location encoding markings. A mobile agent is provided that includes a drive motor, an imaging system for taking images of the markings, a vehicle wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller operatively coupled to the motor, the imaging system, and the vehicle wireless transceiver. A basestation is provided that includes a controller operatively coupled to a basestation wireless transceiver. Via wireless communication between the wireless transceivers of the mobile agent and the basestation, an action to be implemented by the mobile agent can be determined by the basestation and communicated to the mobile agent, whereupon the microcontroller of the mobile agent controls detailed movement of the mobile agent on the drivable surface based on images taken of the markings of the drivable surface by the imaging system to cause the mobile agent to implement the action on the drivable surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Anki, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Sofman, Hanns Tappeiner, Mark Matthew Palatucci
  • Publication number: 20130324250
    Abstract: A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system of the present invention is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Anki, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Sofman, Hanns Tappeiner, Mark Matthew Palatucci, Patrick Lee DeNeale