Patents by Inventor Nicholas K. Yee

Nicholas K. Yee 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: 8956218
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for adjusting a number of game mechanics associated with a game system. During operation, the system obtains a psychosocial profile associated with a user, adjusts the game mechanics based on the obtained psychosocial profile, and updates the game system based on the adjusted game mechanics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicolas B. Ducheneaut, Nicholas K. Yee
  • Publication number: 20140200960
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for recruiting individuals with a desired socio-demographic distribution. During operation, the system receives the desired socio-demographic distribution, obtains a seed sample comprising a plurality of participants, calculates a socio-demographic distribution associated with the seed sample, calculates an incentive provided to a user for recruiting an individual with a desired socio-demographic attribute, and presents the incentive to the user, thereby motivating the user to recruit the individual with the desired socio-demographic attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicolas B. Ducheneaut, Victoria M.E. Bellotti, Nicholas K. Yee
  • Patent number: 8231465
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates location-aware, mixed-reality gaming platform. During operation, the system determines a layout of a user's surrounding. The system further detects the user's location and/or nearby objects. Next, the system associates virtual content to the determined layout and associates a set of game rules with the virtual content. Subsequently, the system produces a visual and/or audio representation of a game based on the game rules and virtual content to the user, thereby allowing the user to play a game that corresponds to his surrounding and location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas K. Yee, Victoria M. E. Bellotti, Nicolas B. Ducheneaut
  • Patent number: 8099679
    Abstract: A system facilitates traversing digital records with dimensional attributes. The system stores a number of digital records. The system further associates a respective digital record with a number of attributes, wherein a respective attribute can be specified in a number of levels of abstraction. The system allows a user to control a presentation of the stored digital records based on their attributes. The user can set one or more criteria for the attributes of the digital records to be presented by: specifying the value of at least one fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, changing at least one non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, and/or specifying a level of abstraction for the fixed and/or non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented. The system then presents a set of digital records to the user based on the attribute criteria set by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas K. Yee, Victoria M. E. Bellotti, Nicolas B. Ducheneaut, Ignacio Solis
  • Publication number: 20090215536
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates location-aware, mixed-reality gaming platform. During operation, the system determines a layout of a user's surrounding. The system further detects the user's location and/or nearby objects. Next, the system associates virtual content to the determined layout and associates a set of game rules with the virtual content. Subsequently, the system produces a visual and/or audio representation of a game based on the game rules and virtual content to the user, thereby allowing the user to play a game that corresponds to his surrounding and location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicholas K. Yee, Victoria M.E. Bellotti, Nicolas B. Ducheneaut
  • Publication number: 20090210793
    Abstract: A system facilitates traversing digital records with dimensional attributes. The system stores a number of digital records. The system further associates a respective digital record with a number of attributes, wherein a respective attribute can be specified in a number of levels of abstraction. The system allows a user to control a presentation of the stored digital records based on their attributes. The user can set one or more criteria for the attributes of the digital records to be presented by: specifying the value of at least one fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, changing at least one non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, and/or specifying a level of abstraction for the fixed and/or non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented. The system then presents a set of digital records to the user based on the attribute criteria set by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicholas K. Yee, Victoria M.E. Bellotti, Nicolas B. Ducheneaut, Ignacio Solis