Patents Examined by Michael Grant
  • Patent number: 10366513
    Abstract: A portioning machine for providing a custom cosmetic includes a mixer having a mixing chamber and also accommodates a plurality of syringes having outlets that are directly coupled to the mixing chamber. In one embodiment, the portioning machine includes a plurality of slots, where each slot is configured to receive an assembly having at least one syringe. In another embodiment, the portioning machine includes a slot configured to receive an assembly having a plurality of syringes. Each syringe is associated with an actuator, and the portioning machine includes a portioning processor configured to control the actuators to dispense additives from selected syringes into the mixing chamber in accordance with a target set of additive ratios to produce the custom cosmetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Equality Cosmetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie Gordon Nichol, Sung K. Park
  • Patent number: 10304291
    Abstract: A gaming device that enables players to accumulate awards by activating an award distributor having a plurality of award symbols and at least one selection group activator symbol. The gaming device provides the player with a plurality of activations where an award is associated with each award symbol indicated in each activation. When a selection group activator symbol is indicated, the gaming device displays at least one selection set having a plurality of selections associated with selection awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one selection and provides the associated selection award to the player. The number of available selections in the selection set decreases by one after the player picks a selection. If the selection group activator symbol is subsequently indicated, the player picks from the remaining available selections in the selection set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 10147333
    Abstract: A system for interactive online instruction includes an instructional subscription website and video management system configured to process video recordings. The video recordings may include (i) student videos uploaded by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos. A method of interactive online instruction is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing prerecorded course materials on an instructional subscription website including video lessons accessible by subscribing students, and providing a video management system configured to process video recordings including (i) student videos submitted by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ArtistWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Butler
  • Patent number: 10140887
    Abstract: Techniques described herein relate to generating braille output and/or visual display output based on received mathematical expression input. Data corresponding to one or more mathematical expressions may be received via expression input devices or visual display devices, and may be converted to braille output characters for display on refreshable braille devices. Additionally, mathematical expression input data may be received via refreshable braille display devices and converted to output characters for display on visual display devices. In some embodiments, mathematical expression input data may be converted first to content markup, and then converted from the content markup to presentation markup and/or braille output characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: PEARSON EDUCATION, INC.
    Inventor: Samuel Sean Dooley
  • Patent number: 10140882
    Abstract: A service may be provided that allows interacting users to interact with characters presented by devices of the interacting users. The operation of the character presented to an interacting user may be customized for that interacting user. For example, a first controlling user may specify first information for configuring or controlling the operation of the character when the character is interacting with a first interacting user, and a second controlling user may specify second information for configuring or controlling the operation of the character when the character is interacting with a second interacting user. The information provided by a controlling user may be used to select a segment to be used for a session between an interacting user and the character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Affinity Project, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Fanty, Ronald Steven Suskind, Stuart R. Patterson, John Nguyen, Stephen R. Springer
  • Patent number: 10127825
    Abstract: A personal intuition-based cognitive assistant system includes one or more components which may be worn by a user as a camera-headset, one or more sensors that capture an intuitive state of the user, a camera that capture videos, a processor that provides a cognitive navigating map for the captured videos based on the captured intuitive states of the user, and an inputter that input notes, comments to the videos linked by cognitive navigating map, and a memory to store all components of the information with links and identified cognitive map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: FUVI COGNITIVE NETWORK CORP.
    Inventor: Phu-Vinh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10058772
    Abstract: The gaming system, gaming device and gaming method provides a plurality of sequential player events in which the player must take an action in a designated period of time and where the player has less time to take the action in each subsequent event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Dwayne A. Davis, Scott T. Hilbert, Michael M. Oberberger, Alexandria E. Sutich
  • Patent number: 9972213
    Abstract: An indication of a portion of a lesson to be viewed by students is received. Computing devices of the students are notified that the portion of the lesson is to be viewed and student interaction information that indicates whether the students are viewing the portion of the lesson plan on the computing devices is received. An amount of the students viewing the portion of the lesson is determined based on the student interaction information and task information that indicates the determined amount of the students that are viewing the portion of the lesson is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Amplify Education, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Jason Berger, Laurence E. Holt, Robert Del Principe, Don Eschenauer
  • Patent number: 9865175
    Abstract: In a method for training a person while operating a vehicle, the vehicle has a control system for receiving vehicle operating commands from the person for controlling the vehicle. A calculation unit is provided for simulating a state of the vehicle and/or the environment to which the vehicle is subjected, the simulated state being a possible real state of the vehicle and/or the environment which is different from the actual state of the vehicle and/or the environment. The vehicle operating commands and the calculation unit are used for calculating vehicle command signals. The vehicle command signals are used for controlling the vehicle so as to cause the vehicle to respond to the vehicle operating commands in a way that corresponds to the state simulated by the calculation unit instead of the actual state of the vehicle and/or the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Sweden AB
    Inventors: Thomas Johnsson, Anders Lundbladh, Dan Ring, Olof Hannius
  • Patent number: 9858685
    Abstract: A system and method determine color of skin of a subject and produce a customized cosmetic based at least in part on the determined color of skin. A region of skin is covered with a chamber having an open area facing the skin. The skin is illuminated with light caused to enter the chamber. The light is caused to be dispersed within the chamber. A camera is used to record an image of a portion of the dispersed light in the chamber and the recorded image is processed to characterize the color of the skin. The recorded image includes a plurality of colors which are mapped to the closest color recipe. The color recipe is used to calculate actuator displacements for a portioning machine that includes a cartridge having cosmetic additives that produce the customized cosmetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Equality Cosmetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie Gordon Nichol, Sung K. Park
  • Patent number: 9841897
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of recording objective responses of a subject to stimuli, and devices and user interfaces (UI) for use therewith. In particular, the present invention provides UIs that allow a user to record objective multivariable responses to stimuli, devices comprising such UIs, and methods of using such UIs and devices to assess the characteristics of a sample or product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Opertech Bio, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Kyle Palmer, Daniel J. Long
  • Patent number: 9839388
    Abstract: The personality assessment and treatment determination system includes a facial recognition device for imaging a patient's face and receiving demographic and personality information from the patient, and a micro-lab device positioned in communication with the facial recognition device. The micro-lab device includes a body having at least one slot configured for receiving a slide holding the patient's bodily fluid, a scanner for analyzing the patient's bodily fluid, and a selector switch for selecting the bodily fluid to be analyzed. The information from the facial recognition device, each of the plurality of questionnaires, and from the micro-lab device is combined to determine the patient's psychological disorder and a treatment for the patient's psychological disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventors: Mahdi S. H. S. A. Al-Sayed Ebrahim, Abrar H. A. Al-Bahrani
  • Patent number: 9812025
    Abstract: A system for interactive online instruction includes an instructional subscription website and video management system configured to process video recordings. The video recordings may include (i) student videos uploaded by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos. A method of interactive online instruction is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing prerecorded course materials on an instructional subscription website including video lessons accessible by subscribing students, and providing a video management system configured to process video recordings including (i) student videos submitted by a student and (ii) instructor videos providing feedback to said student videos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ArtistWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Butler
  • Patent number: 9802125
    Abstract: A first user of a first device may interact with a character presented on the first device where the character presented on the first device is guided by a second user of a second device. To begin a communications session, the first user may request to communicate with the character. A server may process the request to speak with the character and identify the second user from a plurality of guiding users, where the second user is identified by comparing profile information of the first user with profile information of the second user. The server may then send a request to the second device of the second user to guide the character presented by the first device. The first user may then communicate with the character with the guidance of the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Affinity Project, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Suskind, Stuart R. Patterson, John Nguyen, Mark Alan Fanty, Stephen R. Springer, Erik Martin Gregory
  • Patent number: 9792825
    Abstract: A user of a device may interact with a character presented by the device. A session between the user and the character may be started by a user, may be triggered by an event, or may be started in other ways. The user of the of the device may be associated with one or more trigger events. Information about the trigger events may be obtained and processed to determine when a trigger event has occurred. When a trigger event has occurred, a session may be started on the device with the character. A segment may be selected to be presented during the session, and an interaction corresponding to the segment may be presented by the character to the user. For example, the character may speak a phrase using a text-to-speech voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Affinity Project, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Fanty, Ronald Steven Suskind, Stuart R. Patterson, John Nguyen, Stephen R. Springer
  • Patent number: 9792409
    Abstract: A communicative water bottle includes communication logic and wireless transmission logic technology electronically connected with a variety of sensors either on the water bottle or located remote from the water bottle. The sensors on the bottle create digital data associated with amount of fluid in the bottle and change thereof. The sensors remote from the bottle, which can be on an activity tracker, create digital data associated with an activity being performed by a user, such as running, or the absence of activity, such as remaining sedentary. A display on the bottle can indicate to the user the amount of fluid consumed or a reminder that fluid should be consumed. The fluid consumption data syncs with other remote devices such as mobile applications executable on smartphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Wernow, Howard L. Wernow
  • Patent number: 9773381
    Abstract: A gaming system and method which provides a community group event to a plurality of players at a plurality of the gaming devices in the gaming system. Each gaming device participating in the group event is associated with an individual group event eligibility timer. Such individual group event eligibility timers regularly decrement based on time and may increment based on one or more aspects of the player's gaming experience, such as wagers placed. If the individual group event eligibility timer associated with a gaming device participating in the group event lapses before the conclusion of a group event timer or mode, that gaming device is eliminated from the group event. Upon the conclusion of the group event, a group event award is shared amongst the players at the remaining or non-eliminated gaming devices (i.e., the gaming devices associated with individual group event eligibility timers with any amount of remaining time).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Daniel J. DeWaal, Glen Keith Russell, Alexandria Estella Ponte Sutich, Anthony J. Baerlocher, David H. Muir, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9711056
    Abstract: A personal emotion-based cognitive assistant system includes one or more components which may be worn by a user as a headset, one or more sensors that capture an emotional state of the user, a processor that identifies personal meaning of an environment of the user based on the captured emotional state, and a memory that stores the identified personalized meaning with data about the environment in different areas of the memory based on the identified personal meaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: FUVI COGNITIVE NETWORK CORP.
    Inventor: Phu-Vinh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9652996
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for measuring a person's cognitive load comprises initially receiving 100 stroke data (FIG. 4, FIG. 5(a)) representative of hand-based strokes produced by a person 200 while performing a task. A processor 216 selects 104 a subset of the stroke data FIG. 5(c) that meets one or more predetermined stability criteria. A measure indicative of the person's cognitive load based on the subset of stroke data is determined 106. In this was the user's cognitive load in an objective, uniform and non-intrusive manner by analyzing the user's writing behavior. An analysis of all of a user's writing strokes will bias the evaluation result. The accuracy of the cognitive load measurement is increased by applying stability criteria to select the best strokes for further analysis. By disregarding unstable strokes the computation costs for determining the user's cognitive load is also improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL ICT AUSTRALIA LIMITED
    Inventors: Fang Chen, Kun Yu
  • Patent number: 9604141
    Abstract: Operation input obtaining means obtains an operation input performed by a player with respect to an input device. Designated position setting means sets a designated position with respect to a virtual game world in accordance with the operation input. Biological signal obtaining means obtains a biological signal from the player. Designated position change means changes the designated position in accordance with the biological signal obtained by the biological signal obtaining means. Game processing means performs a predetermined game process on the basis of the designated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: NINTENDO CO., LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Goro Abe, Makoto Yoshizawa, Norihiro Sugita, Tomoyuki Yambe, Chie Kawabe