Patents by Inventor Renee M. Johnson

Renee M. Johnson 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: 9483115
    Abstract: A control system for selectively operating a sound system provided in a walk-around character costume. e.g., to play audio files in an order defined by a dialog tree that can be navigated by a performer wearing the costume. The control system includes a trigger mechanism provided in the costume operable by a performer wearing the costume to generate and transmit at least one trigger signal to navigate through a dialog tree. A controller receives the trigger signal and transmits a control signal causing the sound system to playback pre-recorded dialog. The system includes a trigger processing module run by the controller for processing the trigger signal and, in response to such processing, for navigating pre-recorded audio for a show to select the set of pre-recorded dialog. The trigger mechanism includes a first and a second pressure sensor in a thumb and index finger of a glove of the costume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Holger Irmler, Brent David Strong, Asa K. Kalama, Raymond J. Scanlon, Cory Joseph Rouse, Renee M. Johnson, Tina Y. Shioji, Abigail F. Tamayo, David Frederick Beaudry
  • Publication number: 20140358263
    Abstract: A control system for selectively operating a sound system provided in a walk-around character costume. e.g., to play audio files in an order defined by a dialog tree that can be navigated by a performer wearing the costume. The control system includes a trigger mechanism provided in the costume operable by a performer wearing the costume to generate and transmit at least one trigger signal to navigate through a dialog tree. A controller receives the trigger signal and transmits a control signal causing the sound system to playback pre-recorded dialog. The system includes a trigger processing module run by the controller for processing the trigger signal and, in response to such processing, for navigating pre-recorded audio for a show to select the set of pre-recorded dialog. The trigger mechanism includes a first and a second pressure sensor in a thumb and index finger of a glove of the costume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Holger Irmler, Brent David Strong, Asa K. Kalama, Raymond J. Scanlon, Cory Joseph Rouse, Renee M. Johnson, Tina Y. Shioji, Abigail F. Tamayo, David Frederick Beaudry
  • Patent number: 8874444
    Abstract: A method is provided for a simulated conversation by a pre-recorded audio navigator, with particular application to informational and entertainment settings. A monitor may utilize a navigation interface to select pre-recorded responses in the voice of a character represented by a performer. The pre-recorded responses may then be queued and sent to a speaker proximate to the performer. By careful organization of an audio database including audio buckets and script-based navigation with shifts for tailoring to specific guest user profiles and environmental contexts, a convincing and dynamic simulated conversation may be carried out while providing the monitor with a user-friendly navigation interface. Thus, highly specialized training is not necessary and flexible scaling to large-scale deployments is readily supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Holger Irmler, Asa K. Kalama, Raymond J. Scanlon, Brent D. Strong, Cory J. Rouse, Renée M. Johnson, Andrew Stone
  • Publication number: 20130226588
    Abstract: A method is provided for a simulated conversation by a pre-recorded audio navigator, with particular application to informational and entertainment settings. A monitor may utilize a navigation interface to select pre-recorded responses in the voice of a character represented by a performer. The pre-recorded responses may then be queued and sent to a speaker proximate to the performer. By careful organization of an audio database including audio buckets and script-based navigation with shifts for tailoring to specific guest user profiles and environmental contexts, a convincing and dynamic simulated conversation may be carried out while providing the monitor with a user-friendly navigation interface. Thus, highly specialized training is not necessary and flexible scaling to large-scale deployments is readily supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Holger Irmler, Asa K. Kalama, Raymond J. Scanlon, Brent D. Strong, Cory J. Rouse, Renée M. Johnson, Andrew Stone