Patents by Inventor Steve Sullivan
Steve Sullivan 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).
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Publication number: 20160350961Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Colin Davidson, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley
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Patent number: 9424679Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Colin Davidson, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley
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Publication number: 20160227132Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Michael Sanders, Steve Sullivan, Spencer Reynolds, Brian Cantwell
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Patent number: 9401025Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Kevin Wooley, Brett A. Allen, Michael Sanders
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Patent number: 9342912Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes determining a transform of a portion of constituent components of a source shape. The transform includes one or more states for the portion of constituent components of the source shape. The method also includes accessing a mapping function that associates the one or more states with one or more controls for a target shape, where the one or more controls configured for access by a user for manipulating constituent components of the target shape. The method includes outputting a transform for the target shape based on the one or more controls associated with the transformed constituent components of the source shape.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Frederic P. Pighin, Cary Phillips, Steve Sullivan
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Patent number: 9324179Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Michael Sanders, Steve Sullivan, Spencer Reynolds, Brian Cantwell
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Patent number: 9256973Abstract: A system includes a computer system capable of representing one or more animated characters. The computer system includes a blendshape manager that combines multiple blendshapes to produce the animated character. The computer system also includes an expression manager to respectively adjust one or more control parameters associated with each of the plurality of blendshapes for adjusting an expression of the animated character. The computer system also includes a corrective element manager that applies one or more corrective elements to the combined blendshapes based upon at least one of the control parameters. The one or more applied corrective elements are adjustable based upon one or more of the control parameters absent the introduction of one or more additional control parameters.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Michael Koperwas, Frederic P. Pighin, Cary Phillips, Steve Sullivan, Eduardo Hueso
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Publication number: 20160012598Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: STEVE SULLIVAN, KEVIN WOOLEY, BRETT A. ALLEN, MICHAEL SANDERS
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Patent number: 9142024Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Kevin Wooley, Brett A. Allen, Michael Sanders
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Publication number: 20150130801Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: KEVIN WOOLEY, MICHAEL SANDERS, STEVE SULLIVAN, SPENCER REYNOLDS, BRIAN CANTWELL
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Publication number: 20150077418Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Colin Davidson, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley
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Patent number: 8964052Abstract: Among other aspects, on computer-implemented method includes: receiving at least one command in a computer system from a handheld device; positioning a virtual camera and controlling a virtual scene according to the command; and in response to the command, generating an output to the handheld device for displaying a view of the virtual scene as controlled on a display of the handheld device, the view captured by the virtual camera as positioned.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: LucasFilm Entertainment Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Michael Sanders, Steve Sullivan, Spencer Reynolds, Brian Cantwell
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Patent number: 8941665Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes selecting a subset of images from a set of captured images. A surface feature of one object is represented in the content of each selected subset image. The method also includes decomposing the surface feature content of each selected image to produce a model of representations of the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Francesco Callari
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Patent number: 8928674Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes comparing content captured during one session and content captured during another session. A surface feature of an object represented in the content of one session corresponds to a surface feature of an object represented in the content of the other session. The method also includes substantially aligning the surface features of the sessions and combining the aligned content.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Francesco G. Callari
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Patent number: 8908960Abstract: In one general aspect, a method is described. The method includes generating a positional relationship between one or more support structures having at least one motion capture mark and at least one virtual structure corresponding to geometry of an object to be tracked and positioning the support structures on the object to be tracked. The support structures has sufficient rigidity that, if there are multiple marks, the marks on each support structure maintain substantially fixed distances from each other in response to movement by the object. The method also includes determining an effective quantity of ray traces between one or more camera views and one or more marks on the support structures, and estimating an orientation of the virtual structure by aligning the determined effective quantity of ray traces with a known configuration of marks on the support structures.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Colin Davidson, Michael Sanders, Kevin Wooley
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Publication number: 20140313220Abstract: A method is described that includes receiving, from a first device, input used to select a first object in a computer-generated environment. The first device has at least two degrees of freedom with which to control the selection of the first object. The method also includes removing, in response to the selection of the first object, at least two degrees of freedom previously available to a second device used to manipulating a second object in the computer-generated environment. The removed degrees of freedom correspond to the at least two degrees of freedom of the first device and specify an orientation of the second object relative to the selected first object. Additionally, the method includes receiving, from the second device, input including movements within the reduced degrees of freedom used to manipulate a position of the second object while maintaining the specified orientation relative to the selected first object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventor: Steve Sullivan
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Patent number: 8854376Abstract: A motion library can be created by generating motion feature vectors for at least some of multiple frames of a video sequence using a 3D mesh, each motion feature vector corresponding to characteristics of the body deformation in one of the frames. The A user can select a subset of the frames. For each frame in the subset, the user can define settings for controls of an animation character, the settings selected by the user to correspond to the body deformation in the respective frame. Mappings are generated using the settings and the motion feature vectors, the mappings regulating the controls based on multiple motion feature vectors. The motion library can be used to generate an animation from an actor performance.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.Inventors: Kiran S. Bhat, Frederic P. Pighin, Michael Koperwas, Steve Sullivan
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Publication number: 20140192059Abstract: A system includes a computer system capable of representing one or more animated characters. The computer system includes a blendshape manager that combines multiple blendshapes to produce the animated character. The computer system also includes an expression manager to respectively adjust one or more control parameters associated with each of the plurality of blendshapes for adjusting an expression of the animated character. The computer system also includes a corrective element manager that applies one or more corrective elements to the combined blendshapes based upon at least one of the control parameters. The one or more applied corrective elements are adjustable based upon one or more of the control parameters absent the introduction of one or more additional control parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Michael Koperwas, Frederic P. Pighin, Cary Phillips, Steve Sullivan, Eduardo Hueso
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INTEGRATED ONLINE GAMING PORTAL OFFERING ENTERTAINMENT-RELATED CASUAL GAMES AND USER-GENERATED MEDIA
Publication number: 20140155155Abstract: An integrated online gaming portal offers entertainment-related casual games and/or user-generated media. The integrated online gaming portal offers a variety of features, including media-based casual games, casual games featuring user-generated content, and a media-based horoscope. Media is received from a variety of sources, including TV and movie studios, actors/actresses, sponsors, and the user him- or herself. A media-integrated game is generated by incorporating the received media into a portal game, and a user is provided with access to the generated game. In some embodiments, the generated game is hosted by the portal server, while in other embodiments the generated game is downloaded to a computer or mobile device of the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: William Kuper, David M. Long, Kelly Long, Ryan Ciociola, Dana Hogenson, Steve Sullivan -
Patent number: 8698735Abstract: A method is described that includes receiving, from a first device, input used to select a first object in a computer-generated environment. The first device has at least two degrees of freedom with which to control the selection of the first object. The method also includes removing, in response to the selection of the first object, at least two degrees of freedom previously available to a second device used to manipulating a second object in the computer-generated environment. The removed degrees of freedom correspond to the at least two degrees of freedom of the first device and specify an orientation of the second object relative to the selected first object. Additionally, the method includes receiving, from the second device, input including movements within the reduced degrees of freedom used to manipulate a position of the second object while maintaining the specified orientation relative to the selected first object.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: LucasFilm Entertainment Company Ltd.Inventor: Steve Sullivan