Patents by Inventor Thomas Richard Leonard

Thomas Richard Leonard 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: 10722798
    Abstract: In some cases, one or more tasks may be selected for inclusion within a content item or portions of a content item such as different story arcs. Each such task may be completed based, at least in part, on an associated set of one or more actions and an associated set of one or more parameters. Also, in some cases, one or more node layouts may be generated in association with a content item or portions of a content item. Each node within a node layout may, for example, have at least one associated task within a respective content item or content item portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Robert Duane Rost, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard
  • Patent number: 10719192
    Abstract: A media universe (MU) system may leverage network-based resources to store and maintain a database of content for a world encompassed by the media universe. One or more layers of content including a client layer may be overlaid on a base or canonical layer of content in the MU database to enable an immersive client experience within the media universe. Clients may participate within the media universe via the MU system, for example to create customized digital assets. Client-generated content or other content may be dynamically integrated into digital media based within the media universe, for example by leveraging the repository to store and access the client-generated content, and network-based computing resources to dynamically insert the content into digital media for streaming to the clients. Client-generated content may be promoted to intermediate layers and/or to canon within the MU database, for example by community voting, popularity, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Robert Cabanero, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard, Eric Stephen Nylund, Adam C. F. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 10564820
    Abstract: A media universe system may leverage network-based computation resources and services, for example a streaming service, and a digital asset repository or repository service to dynamically provide active content in digital media of the media universe streamed to the client. An asset repository may contain digital assets including 3D models of objects and characters used in the digital media. Client interactions with digital media via a client interface may be mapped to particular objects, characters, locations, etc. within the media universe according to the digital assets from the repository. Most or all content within a rendered scene streamed to a client device may be rendered as active content. Clients may interact with the active content to, for example, obtain contextual information about the corresponding objects, manipulate and explore objects, discover hidden content, reveal hidden storylines, order merchandise (e.g., via 3D printing) related to the content, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Robert Cabanero, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard, Eric Stephen Nylund, Adam C. F. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 10506003
    Abstract: A media universe system may provide digital media content to clients via methods and apparatus that provide interactive and immersive viewing experiences to the clients. A repository service may store digital assets for the media universe and maintain an asset tracking database that may track how the digital assets of the media universe relate to one another over time within a world encompassed by the media universe. The repository service may also maintain mappings between the digital assets and other content of the media universe. The repository service may serve as a centralized continuity database for the world and the media universe. Providing an accessible, scalable, network-based location for the continuity database may enable developers to build interactive experiences for users to explore the world of the media universe, both spatially and temporally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Robert Cabanero, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard, Eric Stephen Nylund, Adam C. F. MacDonald, Ashraf Alkarmi, Collin Charles Davis, Michael Anthony Frazzini, Gerard Joseph Heinz, II, Michael Schleif Pesce
  • Patent number: 10217185
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing interactive and customized experiences to clients of a media universe (MU) system. The MU system may leverage network-based computation resources and services, for example a streaming service, and a digital asset repository or repository service to dynamically provide customized and customizable experiences to clients. Clients may create or modify digital assets (e.g., 3D models of characters, objects, etc.), which may be stored to the asset repository. The MU system may dynamically render digital media content of the media universe (e.g., movies, games, etc.) that includes the clients' custom digital assets (characters, objects, backgrounds, etc.) inserted into appropriate locations, and stream the dynamically customized content to respective client devices. Effectively, a client layer of content is overlaid on a base or canonical layer of content within digital media of the media universe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Robert Cabanero, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard, Eric Stephen Nylund, Adam C. F. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 9731192
    Abstract: In some cases, one or more tasks may be selected for inclusion within a content item or portions of a content item such as different story arcs. Each such task may be completed based, at least in part, on an associated set of one or more actions and an associated set of one or more parameters. Also, in some cases, one or more node layouts may be generated in association with a content item or portions of a content item. Each node within a node layout may, for example, have at least one associated task within a respective content item or content item portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Robert Duane Rost, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard
  • Patent number: 9358464
    Abstract: In some cases, one or more tasks may be selected for inclusion within a content item or portions of a content item such as different story arcs. Each such task may be completed based, at least in part, on an associated set of one or more actions and an associated set of one or more parameters. Also, in some cases, one or more node layouts may be generated in association with a content item or portions of a content item. Each node within a node layout may, for example, have at least one associated task within a respective content item or content item portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Robert Duane Rost, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard