SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANIMATING NON-HUMANOID CHARACTERS WITH HUMAN MOTION DATA
Granted: March 27, 2014
Application Number:
20140085313
Systems, methods and products for animating non-humanoid characters with human motion are described. One aspect includes selecting key poses included in initial motion data at a computing system; obtaining non-humanoid character key poses which provide a one to one correspondence to selected key poses in said initial motion data; and statically mapping poses of said initial motion data to non-humanoid character poses using a model built based on said one to one correspondence from said…
IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING ENVIRONMENT
Granted: March 20, 2014
Application Number:
20140080109
Techniques for providing an immersive storytelling experience using a plurality of storytelling devices. Each of the storytelling devices may be configured to perform one or more actions based on a current context of a story and in response to a stimulus event. The actions include at least one of an auditory and a visual effect. Embodiments also provide a controller device configured to manage a playback of the story, by adjusting the stimulus event and the effect of each of the…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MULTI-LAYER OBJECTS FROM DIGITAL MODELS
Granted: March 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140063558
A set of two-dimensional layers is determined based on a digital three-dimensional model. An image corresponding to each of the layers is rendered on each of a corresponding number of sheets of at least partially transparent material. The sheets of material are assembled together to produce a three-dimensional structure corresponding to the digital model.
INTERACTIVE THREE DIMENSIONAL DISPLAYS ON HANDHELD DEVICES
Granted: March 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140063008
Techniques are disclosed for rendering an anamorphic projection of 3D scene geometry on a handled device using a correct asymmetric perspective geometry projection. Once pose of the handheld device is determined, a relative eye position may be inferred when the device is tilted away from an initial or default pose, based on data supplied by accelerometers. Thus, embodiments of the invention result in a holographic style display without the need for glasses or external sensing…
PERFORMING SEAMLESS POSITIONING USING VARIOUS LOCATION TECHNIQUES
Granted: March 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140062774
A computing device may rely on GPS and IR communication to determine its current location. The limits of GPS may prevent it from reliably providing location data to the computing device in a variety of situations such as in downtown metropolitan areas, geographic regions with thick canopies, in buildings, and the like. As a result, a second communication technique may also be used to provide location data to the computing device. For example, an IR transmitter may transmit location data…
PARTITIONING MODELS INTO 3D-PRINTABLE COMPONENTS
Granted: February 20, 2014
Application Number:
20140052415
The disclosure provides a technique for recursively partitioning a 3D model of an object into two or more components such that each component fits within a predefined printing volume. The technique includes determining a set of planar cuts each of which partitions the 3D model into at least two components, evaluating one or more objective functions for each cut in the set of planar cuts, and selecting a cut from the set of planar cuts based on the evaluations of the objective functions.…
STEREO COMPOSITION BASED ON MULTIPLE CAMERA RIGS
Granted: February 20, 2014
Application Number:
20140049536
A method for performing stereo composition using multiple camera pairs. The method includes positioning first and second pairs of virtual cameras for imaging an animated scene. The method includes, with the first and second pairs of the cameras, obtaining 3D data for each camera for the animated scene. Then, a blending region is selected by defining a first boundary surface for the first pair of the cameras and a second boundary surface, spaced a distance apart from the first boundary…
BACKSCATTER RFID SENSOR WITH A BEND TRANSDUCER
Granted: February 20, 2014
Application Number:
20140049421
A bend sensor for use in wirelessly sensing an amount of bend of a joint or other monitored object. The sensor includes a radio frequency (RF) antenna and an integrated circuit linked to the antenna. The integrated circuit or chip is passive and responds to, or is powered by, a read signal received by the antenna to transmit a reflected signal via the antenna such as to an RFID reader. The sensor also includes a transducer linked to the integrated circuit. The transducer defines…
DIGITAL LANDMARKS
Granted: February 13, 2014
Application Number:
20140045533
Techniques are described for providing an indication of creative digital media associated with a geographic location. Embodiments determine positional information corresponding to a geographic location. One or more instances of creative digital media that include content with a predefined association with the geographic location are identified from a plurality of instances of creative digital media. Embodiments provide an indication of at least a portion of the identified instances of…
DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF MATERIALS WITH DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS FROM BASE MATERIALS HAVING DETERMINED CHARACTERISTICS
Granted: February 13, 2014
Application Number:
20140046469
In an object generation system, consumable base materials are characterized in a characterization process wherein an object generation system can use a plurality of so-characterized base materials. User input representing a desired object and set of characteristics for that desired object are processed, using a computer or computing device, to derive a mapping of locations for placement of portions of the plurality of base materials such that when the mapping is provided to an object…
Method and Apparatus for Redirection of Server External Hyper-Link References
Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140040348
A message is provided to a tracking server system in response to a client system referencing a predetermined resource locator that corresponds to a resource external to the tracking server system. The tracking server system indirectly provides for the client system to have an informational element selectable by the client system, where the informational element is graphically identified on the client system with informational content obtainable from a content server system through use of…
INTERACTIVE ROLE-PLAY AND SOCIAL GAMING SYSTEM
Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140038723
A role-play module that monitors a social networking platform receives an indication of a game event from a first player located in a physical environment where a role-play game is conducted. The first player has a first role in the role-play game. Further, the role-play module provides the indication to the social networking platform such that the social networking platform provides the indication to a second player remotely situated from the physical environment. The second player has…
CONTENT RETARGETING USING FACIAL LAYERS
Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140035929
Techniques are disclosed for retargeting facial expressions. Input is received that represents a facial expression of a first character. Facial layers are generated based on the received input. The facial layers include one or more parameters extracted from the received input. A facial expression for a second character and corresponding to the facial expression of the first character is generated, based on the facial layers and without defining any spatial correspondence between the…
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POSITION TRACKING USING MAGNETOQUASISTATIC FIELDS
Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140035566
Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods, apparatuses and program products that provide position tracking using a simple, low frequency oscillator that is attached to an object to be tracked, and one or more receiving stations that are placed around the area in which the object moves. Embodiments of the invention enable position tracking of the object using light weight equipment which minimally impacts the object's natural state.
BED MATTRESS LIFT
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140026318
An aspect provides a method for separating a mattress from an underlying bedding component, including: actuating a fluid pump to inflate one or more inflatable bladder components with fluid; the one or more inflatable bladder components being disposed between the mattress and the underlying bedding component such that on inflation with the fluid, the one or more inflatable bladder components separates the mattress and the underlying bedding component. Other aspects are described and…
Preprocessing Video to Insert Visual Elements and Applications Thereof
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140033250
Embodiments of this invention relate to preprocessing video such that visual elements, such as advertisements, can be inserted at a later point in time when the video is requested by a user. In an embodiment, a video and target data is received. The video is analyzed to determine how a target moves and changes over time. Metadata describing how the target moves and changes over time is stored. When a user requests an on-demand video such as from a video sharing site, a visual element is…
LOCATION BASED GAMING SYSTEM
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140031131
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems for providing an interactive experience to game participants.
GENERATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOVIES WITH IMPROVED DEPTH CONTROL
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140028802
Techniques for creating 3-D movies allow improved control over camera positioning parameters and editing of depth in post-process to provide for a smoother variation in the viewer's convergence distance and a more pleasant viewing experience. A director can define reference parameters related to a desired viewing experience, and camera positioning parameters are derived therefrom. A depth script specifying piecewise continuous variations in reference parameters can be applied in…
IMAGE AESTHETIC SIGNATURES
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140028695
The disclosure provides an approach for determining transducer functions for mapping objective image attribute values to estimated subjective attribute values. The approach includes determining objective attribute values for each of one or more aesthetic attributes for each image in a first set of images. The approach further includes determining, for each aesthetic attribute, a mapping from the objective attribute values to respective estimated subjective attribute values based on the…
VOLUMETRIC DISPLAY WITH RIM-DRIVEN, VARIFOCAL BEAMSPLITTER AND HIGH-SPEED, ADDRESSABLE BACKLIGHT
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140028663
An apparatus for generating volumetric images viewable without 3D eyewear. The apparatus includes an image display assembly displaying a first image at a first display time and a second image at a second display time (e.g., a number of planar or 2D images on a display screen/surface). The apparatus includes a flexible two-way mirror element (a varifocal beamsplitter). During operations, the first and second images from the display assembly are directed toward and then reflected from the…
