Disney Patent Applications

METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR MANAGING ASSETS STORED IN LOCAL MEMORY OF AN OPTICAL DISC PLAYER DEVICE

Granted: December 10, 2009
Application Number: 20090307723
Methods and apparatuses are provided, which may be implemented for use in managing data assets stored in local memory of the optical disc player device.

METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR COMBINING AND DISTRIBUTING USER ENHANCED VIDEO/AUDIO CONTENT

Granted: December 10, 2009
Application Number: 20090307227
Methods and apparatuses are provided, which may be implemented to combine and distribute user enhanced video and/or audio content.

INTERACTIVE DOCUMENT READER

Granted: December 3, 2009
Application Number: 20090298586
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems for providing an interactive document reader.

OPERATING SHOW OR RIDE ELEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO VISUAL OBJECT RECOGNITION AND TRACKING

Granted: December 3, 2009
Application Number: 20090298603
A ride or show control apparatus using visual recognition to provide a more interactive experience to guests or participants. The apparatus is adapted for operating a ride or show element, such as a robotic character. The apparatus includes a mechanized or robotic element with movable components positioned near a guest traffic area. The apparatus includes an imaging assembly capturing images of the traffic area and outputting digital image data. A controller is provided that includes a…

FABRICATING MULTI-COMPONENT SKIN SYSTEMS FOR ROBOTICS AND OTHER APPLICATIONS

Granted: November 26, 2009
Application Number: 20090289391
A method for fabricating a product, such as an amimatronic character, with artificial skin. The method includes providing data defining an exterior surface geometry of the product. A base geometry model of the product is generated based on the exterior surface geometry data, which in turn is used to fabricate a prototype of the product. Then, an exterior skin mold is formed using the product prototype mounted on an alignment block. The method includes fabricating an inner support…

REAR PROJECTED EXPRESSIVE HEAD

Granted: November 26, 2009
Application Number: 20090292614
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for providing image projection and entertainment.

Method and system for synchronizing an online application and a portable device

Granted: November 26, 2009
Application Number: 20090292640
There is provided a method of synchronizing a portable device with an online user account. The method comprises establishing a first connection between the portable device and an online application, receiving data from the online application concerning the online user account, including a persona, updating the portable device with a portable user account corresponding to the online user account, including the persona, terminating the first connection between the portable device and the…

INTERACTIVE INTERFACE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR AMUSEMENT AND THEME PARK RIDES

Granted: November 12, 2009
Application Number: 20090277295
A ride vehicle for use in amusement park rides with interactive game or show equipment. A vehicle body is included with a passenger seat and an interactive device operable by a passenger to interact with the interactive game. A mounting assembly is provided in or on vehicle body and is configured for pivotally mounting the interactive device on the vehicle body. The mounting assembly may be adapted such as with a cam or guide plate to rotate or otherwise position the interactive device…

Method and system for server location tracking

Granted: November 12, 2009
Application Number: 20090282140
There is provided a method of locating a first server coupled to a network of servers in a data center having a plurality of servers including the first server, the network including a data center management computer. The method comprises obtaining, by a first server, an identification data from a locator coupled to the server, wherein the identification data can be utilized to determine a location of the locator in the data center; storing the identification data in a memory of the…

AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE WITH VEHICLES PIVOTING ABOUT A COMMON CHASSIS TO PROVIDE RACING AND OTHER EFFECTS

Granted: November 5, 2009
Application Number: 20090272289
A ride system is provided that allows selective relative positioning of vehicles in an amusement or theme park ride to simulate racing or other effects. The ride system includes a chassis that is adapted to be supported by and to travel on or along a length of track of a particular ride. A support is attached to the chassis and moves with the chassis during operation of the ride. The ride system includes first and second passenger vehicles that are spaced apart on and supported by the…

MAGICAL IMAGE CUPS AND CONTAINERS WITH 3D DISPLAYS

Granted: November 5, 2009
Application Number: 20090272015
An optical illusion device such as a drinking glass/cup for providing a multi-dimensional visual display. The device includes a body with tubular sidewalls extending from an opening at a first end to an opening at a second end. A base assembly is provided at the second end. The base assembly includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall that together form or define an inner chamber. A visual display assembly is provided with a mirror element with a convex reflective surface or…

CABLE TOW WHIP RIDE WITH INSIDE CURVES

Granted: October 29, 2009
Application Number: 20090266266
A whip ride is provided for amusement parks. A platform is provided with a guide slot extending through the platform. A drive assembly is positioned beneath the platform and includes a drive member (e.g., drive cable) moving on a constrained path. A track follows a path horizontally offset from the drive path. The drive assembly includes a bogie or drive truck mounted on the track and pivotably linked to the drive member to be driven by the drive member. A passenger whip vehicle is…

VEHICLE TRANSFER DURING OPERATION OF AN OMNIMOVER RIDE

Granted: October 29, 2009
Application Number: 20090269175
An assembly for transferring passenger-carrying vehicles to and from an amusement park ride conveying a train of vehicles without stopping for passenger loading. The assembly includes a transfer vehicle and a vehicle receiver positioned in the vehicle train. The vehicle receiver includes a connection mechanism, such as an electromagnet selectively operable to capture and release the transfer vehicle. A turntable is positioned adjacent to the track and selectively rotates at a rotation…

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING METALLIC AND REFLECTIVE QUALITIES TO AN OBJECT ILLUMINATED WITH ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Granted: October 29, 2009
Application Number: 20090269518
Compositions and methods related to providing an object with metallic and reflective qualities when illuminated with ultraviolet light are provided herein. Such compositions generally comprise reflective metal flakes and ultraviolet-luminescent pigments. Also provided are methods for making compositions comprising reflective metal flakes and ultraviolet-luminescent pigments and for applying a composition comprising reflective metal flakes and ultraviolet-luminescent pigments to an…

Method and system for adaptive data transfer over packet networks

Granted: October 29, 2009
Application Number: 20090271513
There is provided a method for adaptive data transfer over packet networks. The method comprises selecting a first communication path for transferring the data to the second computer, starting to transfer the data over the first communication path to the second computer, monitoring transfer characteristics of the first communication path related to the data transfer, storing the transfer characteristics associated with the first communication path in a database, comparing the transfer…

Method and system enabling identification of information content having enhanced desirability to a user

Granted: October 22, 2009
Application Number: 20090265359
There is provided a method of enabling identification of information content having enhanced desirability to a user comprising collecting content into an information database, updating the collected content according to one or more updating schedules, s filtering the updated content by reference to at least one theme, associating each of the filtered content items with a respective visual representation, and labeling the respective visual representations with one or more visual cues…

System and method enabling sampling and preview of a digital multimedia presentation

Granted: October 15, 2009
Application Number: 20090259943
There is presented a system and method enabling sampling and preview of a digital multimedia presentation. The system comprises a presentation server and a presentation content database configured to store a plurality of digital content including the digital multimedia presentation, accessible through the presentation server. The system also comprises a presentation sampling and preview application configured to determine a time duration of the digital multimedia presentation, designate…

System and method for providing digital multimedia presentations

Granted: October 15, 2009
Application Number: 20090259955
There is presented a system and method for providing a digital multimedia presentation. The system comprises a presentation server and a presentation content database configured to store a plurality of digital multimedia content items, accessible through the presentation server. The system also comprises a presentation control application configured to enable identification of a digital multimedia content item for presentation from among the plurality of digital multimedia content items.…

System and method for enabling review of a digital multimedia presentation and redirection therefrom

Granted: October 15, 2009
Application Number: 20090259956
There is presented a system for providing a digital multimedia presentation. The system comprises a presentation server; a presentation content database accessible through the presentation server, the presentation content database configured to store a plurality of contents including the digital multimedia presentation, a plurality of digital media contents and a plurality of advertising contents; and a review and redirection application configured to determine at least one of the…

FOUNTAIN WITH FOG-FILLED, ILLUMINATED WATER DOMES

Granted: October 8, 2009
Application Number: 20090250528
A fountain system for creating unique water displays or water attractions. The fountain system includes a pump providing water at a flow rate and a plurality of fountain assemblies connected to the pimp outlet. Each of the fountain assemblies includes a nozzle such as a bell or dome nozzle that receives the water from the pump and discharges the water from its outlet in the form of an enclosed dome about the nozzle outlet. The fountain assembly includes a fog generator or fogger such as…