Patents by Inventor David Robert Thomas
David Robert Thomas 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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Patent number: 11951878Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, each seat having an adjustable seat base and an adjustable seat back, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the cabin interior, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals, the controller further controlling at least one of the adjustable seat base and adjustable seat back of a seat based on the determined location of the pet so that the seat is configured to accommodate the pet.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, David Brian Glickman, Gregory Paul Thomas, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11952305Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for processing an optical fiber includes: drawing an optical fiber through a draw furnace, conveying the optical fiber through a flame reheating device downstream from the draw furnace, wherein the flame reheating device comprises one or more burners each comprising: a body having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, an opening within the body extending from the top surface through the body to the bottom surface, wherein the optical fiber passes through the opening, and one or more gas outlets within the body; and igniting a flammable gas provided by the one or more gas outlets to form a flame encircling the optical fiber passing through the opening, wherein the flame heats the optical fiber by at least 100 degrees Celsius at a heating rate exceeding 10,000 degrees Celsius/second.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATEDInventors: Ravindra Kumar Akarapu, Joel Patrick Carberry, David Alan Deneka, Steven Akin Dunwoody, Kenneth Edward Hrdina, John Michael Jewell, Yuanjie Jiang, Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias, Ming-Jun Li, Barada Kanta Nayak, Dale Robert Powers, Chunfeng Zhou, Vincent Matteo Tagliamonti, Christopher Scott Thomas
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Patent number: 11932156Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior and comprising a front row of seats and a rear row of seats, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, and a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet or passenger within the cabin interior. The vehicle also includes a movable center console positioned between a pair of the forward row of seats and forward of the rear row of seats and comprising a holder for holding a drink container, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the detected pet or passenger on the rear row of seats based on the processed signals, the controller further controlling the movable console between a forward first position and a rearward second position closer to the rear row of seats.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, David Brian Glickman, Gregory Paul Thomas, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11893310Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20230410816Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
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Publication number: 20230399102Abstract: A method for communicating with a passenger making a journey in a vehicle is provided, the vehicle having a broadcast system for transmitting information to one or more passengers, the passenger having and operating a Portable Electronic Device (PED), the PED operable to receive information from the broadcast system of the vehicle and to display information content to the passenger; the method comprising transmitting information to the PED of one or more passengers within the vehicle; wherein the PED displays information content derived from the information transmitted to the PED. A communication system for performing the method and a vehicle comprising the communication system are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: David Robert Thomas, James Henry Daniel Woodhead, Phil Hall, Tom Michael Walker, John Michael Wright
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Patent number: 11688402Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests. Natural Language Understanding (“NLU”) processing may be performed to generate command data that represents a subject of an utterance. The command data may be sent to an application that causes presentation of first output content in a first modality at a first time in response to receiving the command data, and generates second output content in a second modality different from the first modality, wherein the second output content is associated with the first output content. The second output content may be presented in the second modality at a second time subsequent to the first time.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
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Publication number: 20230051866Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20230013750Abstract: A system for collecting tissue samples, such as meat tissues on carcasses, for example in the food industry. Also provided are methods for collecting tissue samples, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions to execute at least one step of the method for collecting tissue samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: David Robert Thomas, Ciaran Meghen, Gregory Alan Peters, Amy Johanna Douglas, Robert Galbraith, Ryan Michael Watson
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Patent number: 11360736Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2017Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20200402515Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
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Patent number: 10706854Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
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Publication number: 20180012601Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
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Patent number: 9754591Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
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Patent number: 9552816Abstract: A speech-based system includes an audio device in a user premises and a network-based service that supports use of the audio device by multiple applications. The audio device may be directed to play audio content such as music, audio books, etc. The audio device may also be directed to interact with a user through speech. The network-based service monitors event messages received from the audio device to determine which of the multiple applications currently has speech focus. When receiving speech from a user, the service first offers the corresponding meaning to the application, if any, that currently has primary speech focus. If there is no application that currently has primary speech focus, or if the application having primary speech focus is not able to respond to the meaning, the service then offers the user meaning to the application that currently has secondary speech focus.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter Spalding VanLund, Kurt Wesley Piersol, James David Meyers, Jacob Michael Simpson, Vikram Kumar Gundeti, David Robert Thomas, Andrew Christopher Miles
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Publication number: 20160180853Abstract: A speech-based system includes an audio device in a user premises and a network-based service that supports use of the audio device by multiple applications. The audio device may be directed to play audio content such as music, audio books, etc. The audio device may also be directed to interact with a user through speech. The network-based service monitors event messages received from the audio device to determine which of the multiple applications currently has speech focus. When receiving speech from a user, the service first offers the corresponding meaning to the application, if any, that currently has primary speech focus. If there is no application that currently has primary speech focus, or if the application having primary speech focus is not able to respond to the meaning, the service then offers the user meaning to the application that currently has secondary speech focus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Peter Spalding VanLund, Kurt Wesley Piersol, James David Meyers, Jacob Michael Simpson, Vikram Kumar Gundeti, David Robert Thomas, Andrew Christopher Miles