Patents by Inventor Joe L. Sparks

Joe L. Sparks 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).

  • Method and apparatus for creating virtual worlds using a data flow network
    Patent number: 5588104
    Abstract: A computer display displays a data flow network as a plurality of interconnected units. An interactive program allows the appearance of the plurality of interconnected units to be changed. The data flow network then is automatically altered to correspond with the visual changes. The interconnected units of the data flow network represent inputs, functions and outputs of the data flow network. Inputs represent control signals to manipulate the data flow network, functions modify the value of inputs according to the type of the function unit and outputs represent the x, y or z value of a point in a three-dimensional coordinate system of the virtual world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: VPL Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaron Z. Lanier, Ann Lasko-Harvill, Chuck L. Blanchard, Joe L. Sparks