Patents by Inventor Peter Stepniewicz

Peter Stepniewicz 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: 11483486
    Abstract: Systems and methods for virtual experience video generation are disclosed herein. The system can include a passenger vehicle including a plurality of passenger locations, a content presentation system for presenting images from a virtual world to passengers in the passenger vehicle, at least one camera for capturing video of the passenger locations, and a processor. The processor can: capture video data of a passenger of a passenger vehicle during a ride experience, identify portions of captured video data for inclusion in the virtual experience video, select video data generated from a virtual world, and combine captured video data and generated video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Huebner, Asa K. Kalama, Peter Stepniewicz, Robert S. Trowbridge, Joshua B. Gorin
  • Patent number: 11364442
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein relate to an improved interactive experience. The system can be for delivery of an interactive attraction experience. The system can include a passenger vehicle having a plurality of passenger locations and a content presentation system that can present a virtual portion of the attraction experience viewable from the plurality of passenger locations. The system can include a transceiver that can transmit a trigger signal and at least one processor. The at least one processor can control delivery of the virtual portion of the attraction experience via the content presentation system, detect presence of a non-ride device, and deliver a trigger signal via the transceiver to the non-ride device, the trigger signal linked with the attraction experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Asa K. Kalama, Robert S. Trowbridge, Peter Stepniewicz, Casey M. Ging, John C. Hampton
  • Patent number: 11344815
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic modification of an amusement ride are disclosed herein. The system can include a simulation vehicle including a plurality of controls and at least one interface. The system can include a content presentation system, and a processor. The processor can: provide content to the at least one passenger; identify a user skill level based on a plurality of user inputs received by at least some of the plurality of controls of the simulation vehicle; identify a modification to a difficulty of the ride experience based in part on the identified user skill level; and modify the difficulty of the ride experience according to the identified modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Asa K. Kalama, Robert Scott Trowbridge, Jacqueline E. King, Robert E. Huebner, Peter Stepniewicz
  • Patent number: 10918961
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a customized amusement ride experience are disclosed herein. Such a system can include a simulation vehicle that can transit at least one passenger from a starting position to a terminating position of the amusement ride, a memory including a content database and a token database, and a sensor that can receive data identifying at least one token. The system can include a processor that can: receive data from the sensor identifying the at least one token; retrieve ride data from the token database based on the data identifying the at least one token, which ride data identifies an attribute associated with the token; select content for delivery based on the ride data; retrieve the selected content for delivery from the content database; and provide the selected content to the at least one passenger of the simulation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Asa K. Kalama, Casey Ging, Peter Stepniewicz, Robert E. Huebner
  • Publication number: 20210023457
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein relate to an improved interactive experience. The system can be for delivery of an interactive attraction experience. The system can include a passenger vehicle having a plurality of passenger locations and a content presentation system that can present a virtual portion of the attraction experience viewable from the plurality of passenger locations. The system can include a transceiver that can transmit a trigger signal and at least one processor. The at least one processor can control delivery of the virtual portion of the attraction experience via the content presentation system, detect presence of a non-ride device, and deliver a trigger signal via the transceiver to the non-ride device, the trigger signal linked with the attraction experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Asa K. KALAMA, Robert S. TROWBRIDGE, Peter STEPNIEWICZ, Casey M. GING, John C. HAMPTON
  • Publication number: 20210016184
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic modification of an amusement ride are disclosed herein. The system can include a simulation vehicle including a plurality of controls and at least one interface. The system can include a content presentation system, and a processor. The processor can: provide content to the at least one passenger; identify a user skill level based on a plurality of user inputs received by at least some of the plurality of controls of the simulation vehicle; identify a modification to a difficulty of the ride experience based in part on the identified user skill level; and modify the difficulty of the ride experience according to the identified modification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Asa K. KALAMA, Robert Scott TROWBRIDGE, Jacqueline E. KING, Robert E. HUEBNER, Peter STEPNIEWICZ
  • Publication number: 20200368627
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein relate to an improved interactive experience. The system can be for delivery of an interactive attraction experience. The system can include a passenger vehicle having a plurality of passenger locations and a content presentation system that can present a virtual portion of the attraction experience viewable from the plurality of passenger locations. The system can include a transceiver that can transmit a trigger signal and at least one processor. The at least one processor can control delivery of the virtual portion of the attraction experience via the content presentation system, detect presence of a non-ride device, and deliver a trigger signal via the transceiver to the non-ride device, the trigger signal linked with the attraction experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Asa K. KALAMA, Robert S. TROWBRIDGE, Peter STEPNIEWICZ, Casey M. GING, John C. HAMPTON
  • Patent number: 10828573
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein relate to an improved interactive experience. The system can be for delivery of an interactive attraction experience. The system can include a passenger vehicle having a plurality of passenger locations and a content presentation system that can present a virtual portion of the attraction experience viewable from the plurality of passenger locations. The system can include a transceiver that can transmit a trigger signal and at least one processor. The at least one processor can control delivery of the virtual portion of the attraction experience via the content presentation system, detect presence of a non-ride device, and deliver a trigger signal via the transceiver to the non-ride device, the trigger signal linked with the attraction experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Asa K. Kalama, Robert S. Trowbridge, Peter Stepniewicz, Casey M. Ging, John C. Hampton
  • Patent number: 10828572
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic modification of an amusement ride are disclosed herein. The system can include a simulation vehicle including a plurality of controls and at least one interface, which simulation vehicle can transit at least one passenger through a ride experience from a starting position to a terminating position. The system can include a content presentation system, and a processor. The processor can: provide content to the at least one passenger; identify a user skill level based on a plurality of user inputs received by at least some of the plurality of controls of the simulation vehicle; identify a modification to a difficulty of the ride experience based in part on the identified user skill level; and modify the difficulty of the ride experience according to the identified modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Asa K. Kalama, Robert Scott Trowbridge, Jacqueline E. King, Robert E. Huebner, Peter Stepniewicz
  • Patent number: 10500510
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a customized amusement ride experience are disclosed herein. Such a system can include a simulation vehicle that can transit at least one passenger from a starting position to a terminating position of the amusement ride, a memory including a content database and a token database, and a sensor that can receive data identifying at least one token. The system can include a processor that can: receive data from the sensor identifying the at least one token; retrieve ride data from the token database based on the data identifying the at least one token, which ride data identifies an attribute associated with the token; select content for delivery based on the ride data; retrieve the selected content for delivery from the content database; and provide the selected content to the at least one passenger of the simulation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Asa K. Kalama, Casey Ging, Peter Stepniewicz, Robert E. Huebner
  • Patent number: 9485603
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein use customized beacons embedded in Bluetooth low-energy advertisements to transmit information between a user device and a beacon module. In one embodiment, the beacon module transmits the advertisement to the user device. The user device then parses the data contained within the advertisement to identify a customized beacon. Based on the information contained in the beacon, the application may provide an audio and/or visual presentation to the user. For example, the beacon may inform the user device that it is within close proximity to a particular geographic location (e.g., a point of interest). In response, the beacon application may present a visual presentation about the geographic location using a display screen within the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John David Worrall, David Alexander Francus, Gregory Gerard Johnson, Peter Stepniewicz, Jeffrey Robert Schenck, Thomas Carey Arthur
  • Patent number: 9477962
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to improve food safety in a food and beverage supply chain. Embodiments disclosed herein utilize prepared product tags to continuously monitor food and beverage temperatures. The temperatures and other associated data may be wirelessly transmitted to centralized locations for aggregation and storage. Mobile devices may directly communicate with the product tags to receive the temperature data. A host of management applications may utilize the data in order to ensure that safety rules and guidelines are met, while also providing valuable business insight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John David Worrall, Brian R. Jones, Peter Stepniewicz, Jo Gray, David A. Francus
  • Publication number: 20160142856
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein use customized beacons embedded in Bluetooth low-energy advertisements to transmit information between a user device and a beacon module. In one embodiment, the beacon module transmits the advertisement to the user device. The user device then parses the data contained within the advertisement to identify a customized beacon. Based on the information contained in the beacon, the application may provide an audio and/or visual presentation to the user. For example, the beacon may inform the user device that it is within close proximity to a particular geographic location (e.g., a point of interest). In response, the beacon application may present a visual presentation about the geographic location using a display screen within the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: John David WORRALL, David Alexander FRANCUS, Gregory Gerard JOHNSON, Peter STEPNIEWICZ, Jeffrey Robert SCHENCK, Thomas Carey ARTHUR
  • Publication number: 20160034907
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products to improve food safety in a food and beverage supply chain. Embodiments disclosed herein utilize prepared product tags to continuously monitor food and beverage temperatures. The temperatures and other associated data may be wirelessly transmitted to centralized locations for aggregation and storage. Mobile devices may directly communicate with the product tags to receive the temperature data. A host of management applications may utilize the data in order to ensure that safety rules and guidelines are met, while also providing valuable business insight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: John David WORRALL, Brian R. JONES, Peter STEPNIEWICZ, Jo GRAY, David A. FRANCUS
  • Patent number: 8947238
    Abstract: A system and method for multi-media experience capture and data transfer includes a system for transferring data including a first wireless communication system located on a moveable amusement attraction, a second wireless communication system located on the moveable amusement attraction, and logic to operate the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication system based on a changeable parameter of the moveable amusement attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David Canora, Shannon Richard Monroe, Peter Stepniewicz
  • Patent number: 8801190
    Abstract: A mirror is at least partially transparent on a first side and at least partially reflective on a second side. The mirror is positioned at an angle in front of a display such that visible light emitted from the display is reflected from the second side. Further, the a plurality of invisible light emitters are positioned in front of the second side that transmits the invisible light through the mirror from the second side to the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Joseph, David Stanley Wishart, Jr., Jere Mark Kirkley, Peter Stepniewicz, Mark A. Reichow, Christopher Raynard Runco, Thomas E. Brentnall, Thomas Fraiser LaDuke
  • Publication number: 20130127589
    Abstract: A system and method for multi-media experience capture and data transfer includes a system for transferring data including a first wireless communication system located on a moveable amusement attraction, a second wireless communication system located on the moveable amusement attraction, and logic to operate the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication system based on a changeable parameter of the moveable amusement attraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. A DELAWARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Canora, Shannon Richard Monroe, Peter Stepniewicz
  • Patent number: 8416985
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method system for providing group interactivity. The system includes a module that determines a size of an audience in an image provided by an image acquisition device and a module that controls interaction in a small audience environment. In addition, the system includes a module that controls interaction in a large audience environment. The present invention can also be viewed as a method for providing group interactivity. The method operates by determining size of an audience in a image, interacting in a small audience environment and interacting in a large audience environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest L. Martin, Peter Stepniewicz
  • Publication number: 20120138821
    Abstract: A mirror is at least partially transparent on a first side and at least partially reflective on a second side. The mirror is positioned at an angle in front of a display such that visible light emitted from the display is reflected from the second side. Further, the a plurality of invisible light emitters are positioned in front of the second side that transmits the invisible light through the mirror from the second side to the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Joseph, David Stanley Wishart, JR., Jere Mark Kirkley, Peter Stepniewicz, Mark A. Reichow, Christopher Raynard Runco, Thomas E. Brentnall, Thomas Fraiser LaDuke
  • Publication number: 20080168485
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method system for providing group interactivity. The system includes a module that determines a size of an audience in an image provided by an image acquisition device and a module that controls interaction in a small audience environment. In addition, the system includes a module that controls interaction in a large audience environment. The present invention can also be viewed as a method for providing group interactivity. The method operates by determining size of an audience in a image, interacting in a small audience environment and interacting in a large audience environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernie Martin, Peter Stepniewicz