Patents by Inventor Jacob Edward Blackstock

Jacob Edward Blackstock 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: 11188190
    Abstract: Method of generating animation overlays starts with a processor causing a communication interface for a communication session to be displayed at client devices. The processor receives from a first client device an animation sending request and causes an animation sending interface to be displayed in the communication interface of the first client device. The animation sending interface comprises animation overlay icons. Each of the animation overlay icons comprise a first avatar associated with the first user. The processor receives from the first client device a selection of a first animation overlay icon and causes the first animation overlay corresponding to the first animation overlay icon to be displayed as an overlay on the communication interface of each of the plurality of client devices. The first animation overlay is an animation that includes the first avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, Timothy Jordan Garcia, Matthew Colin Grantham, Shahan Panth, David Whyte
  • Patent number: 11178083
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by generating customized images with avatars of different users within electronic messages. For example, users of different mobile computing devices can exchange electronic communications with images generated to include avatars representing themselves as well as their friends, colleagues, and other acquaintances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth
  • Publication number: 20210266277
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by generating and displaying media overlays with avatars of different users. For example, media overlays can be generated by the system and displayed in conjunction with media content (e.g., images and/or video) generated by an image-capturing device (e.g., a digital camera).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Richard Allen, Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Timothy Jordan Garcia
  • Patent number: 11069103
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by providing a customized display of avatars corresponding to users exchanging electronic communications, such as short message service (SMS) or multimedia service (MMS) texts and emails. The appearance of the displayed avatars may be dynamically altered based on the actions taken by the users, as well as based on the content of the messages between the users or information from other sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, Diego Muñoz Escalante, Matthew Colin Grantham, William Wu
  • Publication number: 20210152505
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by generating customized images with avatars of different users within electronic messages. For example, users of different mobile computing devices can exchange electronic communications with images generated to include avatars representing themselves as well as their friends, colleagues, and other acquaintances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth
  • Patent number: 10938758
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by generating and displaying media overlays with avatars of different users. For example, media overlays can be generated by the system and displayed in conjunction with media content (e.g., images and/or video) generated by an image-capturing device (e.g., a digital camera).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Richard Allen, Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Timothy Jordan Garcia
  • Publication number: 20200409533
    Abstract: Method of generating animation overlays starts with a processor causing a communication interface for a communication session to he displayed at client devices. The processor receives from a first client device an animation sending request and causes an animation sending interface to be displayed in the communication interface of the first client device. The animation sending interface comprises animation overlay icons. Each of the animation overlay icons comprise a first avatar associated with the first user. The processor receives from the first client device a selection of a first animation overlay icon and causes the first animation overlay corresponding to the first animation overlay icon to be displayed as an overlay on the communication interface of each of the plurality of client devices. The first animation overlay is an animation that includes the first avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, Timothy Jordan Garcia, Matthew Colin Grantham, Shahan Panth, David Whyte
  • Patent number: 10880246
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by generating customized images with avatars of different users within electronic messages. For example, users of different mobile computing devices can exchange electronic communications with images generated to include avatars representing themselves as well as their friends, colleagues, and other acquaintances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth
  • Publication number: 20200306637
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving a request to display an avatar within a graphical user interface of a client device, authenticating the request based on user data, retrieving the avatar from a database, transmitting the avatar to the client device and presenting the avatar within the user interface of the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, Maoning Guo, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Rahul Bhupendra Sheth, Leah Spontaneo, Wenzhou Wang, Artem Yagodin
  • Publication number: 20190386941
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by generating customized images with avatars of different users within electronic messages. For example, users of different mobile computing devices can exchange electronic communications with images generated to include avatars representing themselves as well as their friends, colleagues, and other acquaintances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth
  • Patent number: 10454857
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by generating customized images with avatars of different users within electronic messages. For example, users of different mobile computing devices can exchange electronic communications with images generated to include avatars representing themselves as well as their friends, colleagues, and other acquaintances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, Diego Muñoz Escalante, Matthew Colin Grantham
  • Patent number: 10432559
    Abstract: System for generating customized images to be displayed within an electronic message. System retrieves communication data associated with a communication between a first user and a second user. System determines a relationship between the first user and the second user based on the communication data and generates avatar characteristics based on the relationship. System generates an image including a first avatar representing the first user and a second avatar representing the second user. The first and second avatars are generated based on the avatar characteristics. System causes the image to be displayed. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth
  • Publication number: 20190280997
    Abstract: A system according to various exemplary embodiments includes a processor and a user interface coupled to the processor, the user interface comprising an input device and a display screen. The system further comprises a sensor component coupled to the processor, the sensor component comprising a location sensor for determining location information associated with the system, and memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising: retrieving sensor information from the sensor component, the sensor information including location information from the location sensor; retrieving, from the memory, avatar information associated with a user of the system; generating a customized graphic based on the sensor information and the user's avatar information; and presenting the customized graphic within an electronic message via the display screen of the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, Shahan Panth, David James Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20190001223
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for modifying avatar components of avatar datasets for multiple users, generating avatars based on the datasets, and displaying multiple avatars on a display screen of a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Franklin Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10155168
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method of providing adaptable avatars. In an embodiment, the method comprises: designing an avatar with components for a first service environment; saving the avatar components; retrieving the avatar components from a second service environment; and rendering a new version of that avatar for the second service environment using the saved avatar components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Franklin Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20180198743
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by generating and selecting customized media content items (such as images) with avatars of different users within electronic messages based on the context of communications between the users. For example, users of different mobile computing devices can exchange electronic communications with each other, and the system can analyze these communications to present options for media content items containing the users' avatars based on content in the communications, actions or events taken by or involving the users, or combinations thereof. The users may select such media content items for inclusion in their electronic communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, Matthew Colin Grantham, Jason Bernard Innis
  • Publication number: 20180113587
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by generating and displaying media overlays with avatars of different users. For example, media overlays can be generated by the system and displayed in conjunction with media content (e.g., images and/or video) generated by an image-capturing device (e.g., a digital camera).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Richard Allen, Dorian Franklin Baldwin, Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth
  • Publication number: 20180115503
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by generating customized images with avatars of different users within electronic messages. For example, users of different mobile computing devices can exchange electronic communications with images generated to include avatars representing themselves as well as their friends, colleagues, and other acquaintances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: DORIAN FRANKLIN BALDWIN, JACOB EDWARD BLACKSTOCK, DAVID JAMES KENNEDY, SHAHAN PANTH
  • Publication number: 20170113140
    Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for modifying avatar components of avatar datasets for multiple users, generating avatars based on the datasets, and displaying multiple avatars on a display screen of a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Franklin Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20140160149
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method of providing adaptable avatars. In an embodiment, the method comprises: designing an avatar with components for a first service environment; saving the avatar components; retrieving the avatar components from a second service environment; and rendering a new version of that avatar for the second service environment using the saved avatar components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BITSTRIPS INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Edward Blackstock, David James Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Franklin Baldwin