Patents by Inventor Timothy M. PANEC

Timothy M. PANEC 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: 11465050
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for immersive interactions are provided. A first smart device available for interaction is identified by an interactivity system. A first physical game piece is detected by the interactivity system, and a first identifier of the first physical game piece is received, from the first physical game piece, via one or more wireless signals. A first set of predefined effects that can be performed using the first smart device is identified based on the first identifier. The first smart device is instructed to perform at least a first predefined effect of the first set of predefined effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Elliott H. Baumbach, Tritia V. Medrano, Timothy M. Panec, Clifford Wong, Nathan D. Nocon, Jason A. Yeung
  • Patent number: 11385635
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for autonomous drone play and directional alignment by in response to receiving a command for a remotely controlled device to perform a behavior, monitoring a first series of actions performed by the remotely controlled device that comprise the behavior; receiving feedback related to how the remotely controlled device performs the behavior, wherein the feedback is received from at least one of a user, a second device, and environmental sensors; updating, according to the feedback, a machine learning model used by the remotely controlled device to produce a second, different series of actions to perform the behavior; and in response to receiving a subsequent command to perform the behavior, instructing the remotely controlled device to perform the second series of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Timothy M. Panec, Tritia V. Medrano, Clifford Wong, Nicholas F. Barone, Elliott H. Baumbach
  • Patent number: 11256460
    Abstract: Techniques for improved interactive devices are provided. Input is received from a user, where the input includes a first request. The input is evaluated using one or more natural language processing techniques to determine a context of the input, and a response to the input is generated based at least in part on the determined context. A first virtual character of a plurality of virtual characters is selected based at least in part on the determined context. The first virtual character is displayed on a rotating display, and the generated response is implemented while the first virtual character is being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Nathan D. Nocon, Timothy M. Panec, Jonathan R D Hsu, Janice K. Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 11216665
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for an augmented reality (AR) system able to track the movement of real-world objects and apply that movement to virtual objects. The AR system includes a radio configured to receive first sensor data from a sensor attached to a first physical object in physical space. The AR system further includes a processor configured to determine when a physical object changes from a first state to a second state object based on the first sensor data, and update an environmental map based on the change from the first state to the second state of the first physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey D. Drake, Timothy M. Panec, Tritia V. Medrano, Stephen A. Thornton, Jason A. Yeung, Nathan D. Nocon, Elliott H. Baumbach
  • Patent number: 11209966
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein provide techniques for extending on-screen gameplay via an augmented reality (AR) system. An extended AR application executing on an AR headset system receives, via a game controller, first data associated with a first object associated with a computer-generated game. The extended AR application renders an augmented reality object based on the first data associated with the first object. The extended AR application displays at least a first portion of the augmented reality object via an augmented reality headset system. Further, an image associated with the computer-generated game is simultaneously rendered on a display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Drake, Elliot Baumbach, Jonathan R. Hsu, Tritia V. Medrano, Nathan Nocon, Timothy M. Panec, Clifford W. Wong, Jason Yeung
  • Publication number: 20210322883
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for immersive interactions are provided. A first smart device available for interaction is identified by an interactivity system. A first physical game piece is detected by the interactivity system, and a first identifier of the first physical game piece is received, from the first physical game piece, via one or more wireless signals. A first set of predefined effects that can be performed using the first smart device is identified based on the first identifier. The first smart device is instructed to perform at least a first predefined effect of the first set of predefined effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Michael P. GOSLIN, Elliott H. BAUMBACH, Tritia V. MEDRANO, Timothy M. PANEC, Clifford WONG, Nathan D. NOCON, Jason A. YEUNG
  • Patent number: 11134034
    Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein describe integrating artificial intelligence chatbots into a communication between real-world users. A context of a shared communication session between the real-world users may be determined. In response to a user selection, a contextually relevant communication may be presented in communication session. The contextually relevant communication may be responsive to the context of the communication session and/or may convey a persona of an entity, such as a movie character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Eric C. Haseltine, Timothy M. Panec, Jason Yeung, Hunter Gibson
  • Patent number: 11090806
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for synchronized robot orientation are described herein. A magnetometer, gyroscope, and accelerometer in a remotely controlled device are used to determine a current orientation of that device, and a command with a specified orientation or location are set to several such devices. The remotely controlled devices self-align based on the specified orientation/location, and when in position, receive swarm commands to perform actions as a group of devices in coordination with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Michael P. Goslin, Clifford Wong, Jonathan RD Hsu, Timothy M. Panec
  • Patent number: 11087529
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for the rendering of illumination effects on real-world objects in augmented reality systems. An example method generally includes overlaying a shader on the augmented reality display. The shader generally corresponds to a three-dimensional geometry of an environment in which the augmented reality display is operating, and the shader generally comprises a plurality of vertices forming a plurality of polygons. A computer-generated lighting source is introduced into the augmented reality display. One or more polygons of the shader are illuminated based on the computer-generated lighting source, thereby illuminating one or more real-world objects in the environment with direct lighting from the computer-generated lighting source and reflected and refracted lighting from surfaces in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Yeung, Kenneth J. Mitchell, Timothy M. Panec, Elliott H. Baumbach, Corey D. Drake
  • Patent number: 11076276
    Abstract: This disclosure presents systems and methods to provide wireless communication between computing platforms and wearable articles. Exemplary implementations may: obtain wireless communication signals from a first wearable article and detect presence of the first wearable article; obtain wireless communication signals from the first wearable article conveying article information identifying the first wearable article and/or a user; identify customizable attributes of one or more application programs; determine custom-defined values for the customizable attributes; effectuate the custom-defined values for the customizable attributes of one or more application programs such that the one or more application programs reflect the custom-defined values; and/or perform other operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Hunter J. Gibson, Michael P. Goslin, Tritia V. Medrano, Timothy M. Panec, Jason Yeung
  • Patent number: 11070958
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for performing an operation comprising receiving, by a first wearable device, input specifying to establish a relationship with a second wearable device within a predefined distance of the first wearable device, receiving, by the first wearable device from the second wearable device via wireless data transmissions, an identifier of the second wearable device, a tile identifier of a tile communicably coupled to a tile interface of the second wearable device, and a state associated with the tile; and storing, in a first entry of a data structure of the first wearable device, an indication of the relationship with the second wearable device, wherein the indication comprises the identifier of the second wearable device, the tile identifier, and the state associated with the tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Panec, Stephen A. Thornton, Katherine M. Bassett
  • Patent number: 11057236
    Abstract: The present disclosure may be embodied in systems, methods, and computer readable media, and may allow for interactive responses by network-enabled objects, programs, and machines. Embodiments described are well-suited for communicating and responding using small-sized data messages, thus allowing for their implementation in standard messaging systems and by simple devices such as toys and other low-level electronic devices that may have limited processing capacity and/or memory. The present disclosure provides in one embodiment a method comprising receiving at least one broadcast message, each broadcast message in the at least one broadcast message comprising a plurality of identifiers and determining a highest priority identifier amongst the plurality of identifiers received in the at least one broadcast message. The method may further comprise identifying a command sequence associated with the highest priority identifier and executing the command sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Panec, Stephen A. Thornton
  • Patent number: 10981073
    Abstract: Techniques for randomized device interaction are provided. A first communication pattern is selected, with at least a degree of randomness, from a plurality of communication patterns, where each of the plurality of communication patterns specifies one or more audio profiles. A first audio profile specified in the first communication pattern is identified. A first portion of audio is extracted from a first audio file with at least a degree of randomness, and the first portion of audio is modified based on the first audio profile. Finally, the first modified portion of audio is outputted by a first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Nocon, Stephen A. Thornton, Timothy M. Panec
  • Patent number: 10970031
    Abstract: A system configured to provide gaze-based audio presentation for interactive experiences. The interactive experiences may take place in an interactive space. An interactive space may include one or both of augmented reality (AR) environment, a virtual reality (VR) environment, and/or other interactive spaces. The interactive space may include audio content and/or virtual content. A user's gaze may be tracked. Based on the user's gaze indicating they are looking at a given virtual object, the audio content may be modified. The modification may include one or more of increasing audio content specifically associated with given virtual object, decreasing a volume of other audio content, and/or other modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Maxwell McCoy, Elliott Baumbach, Timothy M. Panec
  • Publication number: 20210097757
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for the rendering of illumination effects on real-world objects in augmented reality systems. An example method generally includes overlaying a shader on the augmented reality display. The shader generally corresponds to a three-dimensional geometry of an environment in which the augmented reality display is operating, and the shader generally comprises a plurality of vertices forming a plurality of polygons. A computer-generated lighting source is introduced into the augmented reality display. One or more polygons of the shader are illuminated based on the computer-generated lighting source, thereby illuminating one or more real-world objects in the environment with direct lighting from the computer-generated lighting source and reflected and refracted lighting from surfaces in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Jason A. YEUNG, Kenneth J. MITCHELL, Timothy M. PANEC, Elliott H. BAUMBACH, Corey D. DRAKE
  • Publication number: 20210081498
    Abstract: Embodiments provide interactive artificial intelligence. Input to an artificial intelligence (AI) system is received, where the AI system comprises a plurality of machine learning (ML) models. A context of the input is determined, where the context indicates a role-playing scenario. A first ML model of the plurality of ML models is then selected based on the determined context, where the first ML model was trained based at least in part on the role-playing scenario. Output is generated by processing the input using the first ML model. The output is then returned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael P. GOSLIN, Jason A. YEUNG, Timothy M. PANEC, Corey D. DRAKE, Hunter J. GIBSON, Jerry W. REES, Raymond J. SCANLON
  • Publication number: 20210075747
    Abstract: The systems and methods presented herein describe integrating artificial intelligence chatbots into a communication between real-world users. A context of a shared communication session between the real-world users may be determined. In response to a user selection, a contextually relevant communication may be presented in communication session. The contextually relevant communication may be responsive to the context of the communication session and/or may convey a persona of an entity, such as a movie character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael P. Goslin, Eric C. Haseltine, Timothy M. Panec, Jason Yeung, Hunter Gibson
  • Publication number: 20210049361
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for an augmented reality (AR) system able to track the movement of real-world objects and apply that movement to virtual objects. The AR system includes a radio configured to receive first sensor data from a sensor attached to a first physical object in physical space. The AR system further includes a processor configured to determine when a physical object changes from a first state to a second state object based on the first sensor data, and update an environmental map based on the change from the first state to the second state of the first physical object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Corey D. DRAKE, Timothy M. PANEC, Tritia V. MEDRANO, Stephen A. THORNTON, Jason A. YEUNG, Nathan D. NOCON, Elliott H. BAUMBACH
  • Patent number: 10918949
    Abstract: This disclosure presents systems and methods to provide sports-based interactive experiences. The interactive experiences may be facilitated by providing users' views of virtual content related to a particular sport. The systems and methods may utilize action sequence information and/or other information. The action sequence information may specify anticipated sequences of output signals generated by sensors coupled to real-world items of playing equipment. The output signals in the anticipated sequences of output signals may be associated with anticipated control signals for controlling the virtual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. Panec
  • Patent number: 10916061
    Abstract: This disclosure presents systems and methods to synchronize real-world motion of physical objects with presentation of virtual content. Individual physical objects may be detected and/or identified based on image information defining one or more images of a real-world environment. Individual network connections may be established between individual computing platforms and individual physical objects. A network connection may facilitate a synchronization of a presentation of virtual content on a computing platform with motion of one or more physical objects in the real-world environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Panec, Janice Rosenthal, Hunter J. Gibson, Nathan D. Nocon, Stephen A. Thornton