Robert Wesley Jensen

US Patent:

7693867, Apr 6, 2010

Filed:

Jan 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/766758

Inventors:

Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Andrew Witkin - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

7071041, 707200, 703 6, 345473, 345419

Abstract:

A method for a computer system includes opening a first file describing a first object in an object environment, determining a reference for a second object, wherein the second object includes a plurality of attributes, receiving a second file describing the second object from a storage system; in response to the reference, and opening the second file describing the second object in the object environment, determining a modified value for an attribute from the plurality of attributes for the second object, and including in the first file the reference for the second object and the modified value for the attribute, wherein the second object is not stored in the first file.

US Patent:

7836086, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Apr 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/738953

Inventors:

Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Mike Ferris - Oakland CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707793

Abstract:

A unified mechanism of scene description includes layering and cross-referencing relationships. The scene description specifies components using one or more layers. A layer includes an opinion of value for one or more attributes of one or more components. A layer can be sparsely populated with opinions of attribute values for only portions of components' attributes. Layers express opinions of value for an attribute using the semantic structure associated with the attribute. The scene description organizes layers in a layer hierarchy, which determines a layer stacking order. The layer stacking order specifies the compositing of opinions of attribute values to determine the complete authored state of the component. The layer stacking order enables attributes of components to be selectively overridden without disturbing other attribute values. Cross-referencing relationships enable encapsulation and reuse of components.

US Patent:

7836087, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Jun 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/759919

Inventors:

Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Michael Ferris - Oakland CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707793

Abstract:

The components of a computer graphics scene can be organized using multiple independent graphs. Each component can include graph relationship attributes specifying its location in one or more graphs. Graph can be utilized for any purpose within the digital production pipeline. A component can include any number of graph relationship attributes. The number and type of graph relationship attributes can be different for each component. Software tools can access one or more graphs to determine structural or functional relationships between components. Software tools can enforce policies for a graph independent of other graphs. Software tools can optimize the components of a graph independent of other graphs. A graph relationship attribute of a component can include optional parameter data to specify properties of the relationship between two or more components. Layer data structures including opinions of value can specify graph relationships.

US Patent:

7917535, Mar 29, 2011

Filed:

Mar 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/042249

Inventors:

Eric Gregory - Larkspur CA, US
Michael Ferris - Sunnyvale CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US
Timothy S. Milliron - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707791, 707802

Abstract:

Components are presented to users based on the components' assigned task memberships. The tasks represents the different activities performed by users within a digital production pipeline. Each stage of the digital production pipeline may be associated with a task. Additional user-defined tasks may be defined as needed to further distinguish components. Attributes of components are associated with one or more tasks when the component is authored. Task memberships may be inherited from parent components or overridden. A user interface includes a task selection menu to receive a selection of one or more tasks from the user. The task selection is used to filter components, so that the user interface presents only relevant information to users. Component attribute values and task associations can be expressed using layer data structures. Task restrictions of layers allow layers to only specify values of components that match the task associations of the layer.

US Patent:

8077183, Dec 13, 2011

Filed:

Oct 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/248830

Inventors:

Warren Trezevant - Oakland CA, US
Tom Hahn - Piedmont CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 3/048
G06F 3/00
G09G 5/00
G09G 5/02
G06T 13/00
G06K 9/40
G06K 9/32
G06K 9/36

US Classification:

345581, 345418, 345606, 345619, 345473, 382254, 382274, 382276, 382300, 715200, 715273, 715700, 715764

Abstract:

A stepmode animation visualization emphasizes authored values of computer graphics variables. Users select all or a portion of the computer graphics variables associated with objects in a scene to be included in the stepmode animation visualization. When users activate the stepmode animation visualization, the generated values of the selected computer graphics variables are overridden with authored values of the selected computer graphics variables. For example, the stepmode animation visualization overrides each generated value of a computer graphics variable with the nearest preceding authored value of that computer graphics variable. Users may repeatedly activate and deactivate the stepmode animation visualization without reselecting computer graphics variables. The selection of computer graphics variables affected by the stepmode animation visualization is maintained. All or a portion of the animation may be looped or repeated while the stepmode animation visualization is active.

US Patent:

8205169, Jun 19, 2012

Filed:

Jun 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/136157

Inventors:

Brendan Donohoe - Berkeley CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715790

Abstract:

An application user interface includes multiple editors, each presenting a data view and controls for operating on data. The application user interface includes a windowed mode and a full-screen mode. The windowed mode displays multiple editors simultaneously, such as in separate windows or panes. The full-screen mode displays a primary editor that substantially covers the application display area. The full-screen mode displays the secondary editors as drawer user interface elements arranged along the edges of the application display area. Secondary editors are displayed and accessed as needed via these drawer user interface elements. The relative arrangement of editors is preserved when switching between windowed mode and full-screen mode. Users can customize the application user interface in either windowed mode or full-screen mode to add, remove, or change primary and secondary editors, with any changes in the application user interface being preserved when switching between windowed mode and full-screen mode.

US Patent:

8228335, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Nov 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/323957

Inventors:

Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US
Warren Trezevant - Oakland CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T 13/00

US Classification:

345473, 345419

Abstract:

To assist users in identifying the contributions of specific computer graphics variable or animation variable knots to the timing, rhythm, and expression of complicated animations, an animation software interface includes a snapsheet mode for visualizing and authored poses of objects. The snapsheet mode presents a series of rendered still images corresponding with the authored poses of one or more selected entities. The snapsheet mode may use one or more computer graphics variables, one or more objects, or arbitrary frames or shot time values as selected entities. The snapsheet mode associates each still image with a portion of the shot time of the overall animation corresponding with the selected entity's influence in the animation. Users may modify animation data via the snapsheet mode using each image may act as a proxy for manipulating associated authored values of one or more computer graphics variables.

US Patent:

8237719, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Feb 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/364586

Inventors:

Warren Trezevant - Oakland CA, US
Oren Jacob - Piedmont CA, US
Robert Jensen - Berkeley CA, US

Assignee:

Pixar - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

G06T 13/00

US Classification:

345473

Abstract:

Animation software enables the creation and manipulation of animation in terms of relationships between poses, as opposed to discrete values of computer graphics variable knots. Poses are automatically associated with animation structures that define object pose or poses over a time interval, rather than at a single discrete time. Animation structures may define and manipulate animation data defined over time intervals as a unit, as opposed to a set of unrelated computer graphics variable knots. Animation structures may be used to block out the general form, timing, and rhythm of animations. Optional transition animation structures, pose anticipations, and pose reactions may be automatically or manually defined between adjacent pose hold durations. General parameters of an animation structure may be applied to create or modify the animation data associated with the animation structure. Operations on animation structures can be applied to all of the animation data included in these animation structures.