Patents by Inventor Timothy Edward Wood

Timothy Edward Wood 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).

  • System and method for substituting an animated character when a remote control physical character is unavailable
    Patent number: 5977951
    Abstract: An educational computer system includes a computer, a display device, a remote control character, and a wireless modem for communication between the computer and the remote control character. The remote control character can move and speak in response to signals from the computer, thereby allowing the remote control character to interact with the user and with characters displayed on the display device. When a program is run, the computer determines whether the remote control character is available. If it is not, the computer substitutes an animated character that is displayed on the display device. The computer periodically checks for the remote control characters while displaying the animated character. If the remote control character becomes available, the animated character is discontinued and the computer begins sending voice and movement information to the remote control character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Vincent Danieli, Kenneth Ray Robertson, Timothy Edward Wood