Patents by Inventor Jonathan Backer

Jonathan Backer 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 9067142
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Backer, Thomas R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130303279
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan BACKER, Thomas R. SMITH
  • Patent number: 8506408
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc
    Inventors: Jonathan Backer, Thomas R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120062490
    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: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20120007808
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for facilitating an interaction using first and second peripheral devices and related structures. Each of the first and second peripheral devices have a plurality of touch points for touching a touch surface of a touch-sensitive system. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises detecting a plurality of contemporaneous touches on the touch surface of the touch-sensitive system. One of the first and second peripheral devices is identified based on the plurality of contemporaneous touches as compared to the plurality of touch points of one of the first and second peripheral devices. In some embodiments, orientation of the one of the first and second peripheral devices can be determined based on the plurality of contemporaneous touches as compared to the plurality of touch points of the one of the first and second peripheral devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Kenlip Ong, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20120007817
    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: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Heatherly, Kenlip Ong, Armen Mkrtchyan, Jonathan Backer, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20110319173
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Backer, Thomas R. Smith