Patents by Inventor Benjamin S. Phipps
Benjamin S. Phipps 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).
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Publication number: 20220021978Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to the intelligent coordination of audio signal output adjustments among multiple electronic devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Yifeng GUI, Benjamin S. PHIPPS
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Patent number: 11217251Abstract: An example method includes, at an electronic device: receiving an indication of a notification; in accordance with receiving the indication of the notification: obtaining one or more data streams from one or more sensors; determining, based on the one or more data streams, whether a user associated with the electronic device is speaking; and in accordance with a determination that the user is not speaking: causing an output associated with the notification to be provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: William M. York, Rebecca P. Fish, Gagan A. Gupta, Xinyuan Huang, Heriberto Nieto, Benjamin S. Phipps, Kurt Piersol
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Patent number: 11183193Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bryan Hansen, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Yifeng Gui, Xinyuan Huang, Benjamin S. Phipps, Eugene Ray, Mahesh Ramaray Shanbhag, Jaireh Tecarro, Sumit Wattal
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Publication number: 20210352115Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Bryan HANSEN, Nikrouz GHOTBI, Yifeng GUI, Xinyuan HUANG, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Eugene RAY, Mahesh Ramaray SHANBHAG, Jaireh TECARRO, Sumit WATTAL
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Publication number: 20210350803Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Bryan HANSEN, Nikrouz GHOTBI, Yifeng GUI, Xinyuan HUANG, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Eugene RAY, Mahesh Ramaray SHANBHAG, Jaireh TECARRO, Sumit WATTAL
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Publication number: 20210350810Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intercom system via a digital assistant are provided. The intercom system is trigger-free, in that users communicate, in real-time, via devices without employing a trigger to speak. Acoustic fingerprints are employed to associate users with devices. Acoustic fingerprints include vector embeddings of speech input in an acoustic-feature vector space. Speech heard at multiple devices, as embedded in a fingerprint, may be clustered in the vector space, and the structure of the clusters is employed to associate users and devices. Based on the fingerprints, a device is mapped to a user, and the user employs that device to participate in a conversation, via the intercom service.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2020Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Sachin KAJAREKAR, Eugene RAY, Mahesh Ramaray SHANBHAG, Kisun YOU, Patrick L. Coffman
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Publication number: 20210350799Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2020Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Bryan HANSEN, Nikrouz GHOTBI, Yifeng GUI, Xinyuan HUANG, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Eugene RAY, Mahesh Ramaray SHANBHAG, Jaireh TECARRO, Sumit WATTAL
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Publication number: 20210264913Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to using voice interaction to access call functionality of a companion device. In an example process, a user utterance is received. Based on the user utterance and contextual information, the process causes a server to determine a user intent corresponding to the user utterance. The contextual information is based on a signal received from the companion device. In accordance with the user intent corresponding to an actionable intent of answering the incoming call, a command is received. Based on the command, instructions are provided to the companion device, which cause the companion device to answer the incoming call and provide audio data of the answered incoming call. Audio is outputted according to the audio data of the answered incoming call.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Karl Ferdinand SCHRAMM, Justin BINDER, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Po Keng SUNG
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Patent number: 11102259Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a network system to enable content playback on multiple devices. An electronic device can receive information associated with media playback request and resolve a media item and intended playback device for the media request based on a set of available media items and player devices. The device can then transmit, via the data interface, a request to play the media item at the player device via a secure device to device communication system.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bob Bradley, Bryan E. Hansen, Vincent M. Lane, Benjamin S. Phipps, Karl F. Schramm, Andrew J. Sinesio, Jaireh Tecarro
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Patent number: 11043220Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bryan Hansen, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Yifeng Gui, Xinyuan Huang, Benjamin S. Phipps, Eugene Ray, Mahesh Ramaray Shanbhag, Jaireh Tecarro, Sumit Wattal
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Patent number: 11038934Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bryan Hansen, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Yifeng Gui, Xinyuan Huang, Benjamin S. Phipps, Eugene Ray, Mahesh Ramaray Shanbhag, Jaireh Tecarro, Sumit Wattal
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Patent number: 10984798Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to using voice interaction to access call functionality of a companion device. In an example process, a user utterance is received. Based on the user utterance and contextual information, the process causes a server to determine a user intent corresponding to the user utterance. The contextual information is based on a signal received from the companion device. In accordance with the user intent corresponding to an actionable intent of answering the incoming call, a command is received. Based on the command, instructions are provided to the companion device, which cause the companion device to answer the incoming call and provide audio data of the answered incoming call. Audio is outputted according to the audio data of the answered incoming call.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Karl Ferdinand Schramm, Justin Binder, Benjamin S. Phipps, Po Keng Sung
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Publication number: 20200382513Abstract: A device implementing a system for sharing a voice profile includes a processor configured to receive a request to share a first voice profile corresponding to a first user account associated with a first device, with a second device associated with a second user account, the second device being voice-enabled, the first voice profile being stored on a first data store associated with the first user account. The processor is further configured to update a second data store associated with the second user account to include a reference to the first voice profile stored on the first data store, and to send, to the second device, a notification that the second data store has been updated to include the reference to the first voice profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Anumita BISWAS, Karl F. SCHRAMM, Benjamin S. PHIPPS
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Publication number: 20200380980Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. An example method includes receiving, from one or more external electronic devices, a plurality of speaker profiles for a plurality of users; receiving a natural language speech input; determining, based on comparing the natural language speech input to the plurality of speaker profiles: a first likelihood that the natural language speech input corresponds to a first user of the plurality of users; and a second likelihood that the natural language speech input corresponds to a second user of the plurality of users; determining whether the first likelihood and the second likelihood are within a first threshold; and in accordance with determining that the first likelihood and the second likelihood are not within the first threshold: providing a response to the natural language speech input, the response being personalized for the first user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Stephen H. SHUM, Corey J. PETERSON, Sachin S. KAJAREKAR, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Erik MARCHI, Jessica PECK, Anumita BISWAS, Harry SIMMONDS, Chas MANNEMALA
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Publication number: 20200357406Abstract: An example method includes, at an electronic device: receiving an indication of a notification; in accordance with receiving the indication of the notification: obtaining one or more data streams from one or more sensors; determining, based on the one or more data streams, whether a user associated with the electronic device is speaking; and in accordance with a determination that the user is not speaking: causing an output associated with the notification to be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: William M. YORK, Rebecca P. FISH, Gagan A. GUPTA, Xinyuan HUANG, Heriberto NIETO, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Kurt PIERSOL
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Patent number: 10791176Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In one example process, a first instance of a digital assistant operating on a first electronic device receives a natural-language speech input indicative of a user request. The first electronic device obtains a set of data corresponding to a second instance of the digital assistant on a second electronic device, and updates one or more settings of the first instance of the digital assistant based on the received set of data. The first instance of the digital assistant performs one or more tasks based on the updated one or more settings and provides an output indicative of whether the one or more tasks are performed.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin S. Phipps, Gennaro Frazzingaro, Karl F. Schramm
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Publication number: 20200302932Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to using voice interaction to access call functionality of a companion device. In an example process, a user utterance is received. Based on the user utterance and contextual information, the process causes a server to determine a user intent corresponding to the user utterance. The contextual information is based on a signal received from the companion device. In accordance with the user intent corresponding to an actionable intent of answering the incoming call, a command is received. Based on the command, instructions are provided to the companion device, which cause the companion device to answer the incoming call and provide audio data of the answered incoming call. Audio is outputted according to the audio data of the answered incoming call.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Karl Ferdinand SCHRAMM, Justin BINDER, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Po Keng SUNG
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Publication number: 20200267222Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In one example process, a first instance of a digital assistant operating on a first electronic device receives a natural-language speech input indicative of a user request. The first electronic device obtains a set of data corresponding to a second instance of the digital assistant on a second electronic device, and updates one or more settings of the first instance of the digital assistant based on the received set of data. The first instance of the digital assistant performs one or more tasks based on the updated one or more settings and provides an output indicative of whether the one or more tasks are performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Gennaro FRAZZINGARO, Karl F. SCHRAMM
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Publication number: 20200236152Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a network system to enable content playback on multiple devices. An electronic device can receive information associated with media playback request and resolve a media item and intended playback device for the media request based on a set of available media items and player devices. The device can then transmit, via the data interface, a request to play the media item at the player device via a secure device to device communication system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Bob Bradley, Bryan E. Hansen, Vincent M. Lane, Benjamin S. Phipps, Karl F. Schramm, Andrew J. Sinesio, Jaireh Tecarro
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Patent number: 10720160Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to using voice interaction to access call functionality of a companion device. In an example process, a user utterance is received. Based on the user utterance and contextual information, the process causes a server to determine a user intent corresponding to the user utterance. The contextual information is based on a signal received from the companion device. In accordance with the user intent corresponding to an actionable intent of answering the incoming call, a command is received. Based on the command, instructions are provided to the companion device, which cause the companion device to answer the incoming call and provide audio data of the answered incoming call. Audio is outputted according to the audio data of the answered incoming call.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Karl Ferdinand Schramm, Justin Binder, Benjamin S. Phipps, Po Keng Sung