Patents by Inventor William R. Hazlewood

William R. Hazlewood 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).

  • Patent number: 11790437
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for personalizing portable shopping displays using mobile devices and inaudible tones. Example methods may include causing a first inaudible tone to be emitted by a speaker, the first inaudible tone configured to initiate a change in a user interface at a mobile device, determining a second inaudible tone from a user device using a microphone, the second inaudible tone including a user identifier of a user, and determining a user interaction with a product at a product display. Certain example methods may include determining user preference data, and causing presentation of product information for the product using the user preference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Janet Ellen Galore, Alaa-Eddine Mendili, Dominick Khanh Pham, Jeff Gelfuso
  • Patent number: 11593871
    Abstract: Three-dimensional models (or avatars) may be defined based on imaging data captured from a customer. The avatars may be based on a virtual mannequin having one or more dimensions in common with the customer, a body template corresponding to the customer, or imaging data captured from the customer. The avatars are displayed on displays or in user interfaces and used for any purpose, such as to depict how clothing will appear or behave while being worn by a customer alone or with other clothing. Customers may drag-and-drop images of clothing onto the avatars. One or more of the avatars may be displayed on any display, such as a monitor or a virtual reality headset, which may depict the avatars in a static or dynamic mode. Images of avatars and clothing may be used to generate print catalogs depicting the appearance or behavior of the clothing while worn by the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Yuji Haitani, William R. Hazlewood, Alaa-Eddine Mendili, Dominick Khanh Pham
  • Patent number: 11107128
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for portable interactive product displays with region-specific products. Example methods may include determining a set of product identifiers of products to be positioned at an interactive display, the set of product identifiers including a first product identifier for a first product, determining a user identifier associated with a user device positioned within a distance of the interactive display, and determining a user interaction with the first product by a user of the user device. Certain methods may include determining a user interaction history for the user using the user identifier, and determining that an indication of the user interaction is to be added to the user interaction hi story.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Janet Ellen Galore, Alaa-Eddine Mendili, Dominick Khanh Pham, Jeff Gelfuso
  • Patent number: 10776861
    Abstract: Three-dimensional models (or avatars) may be defined based on imaging data captured from a customer. The avatars may be based on a virtual mannequin having one or more dimensions in common with the customer, a body template corresponding to the customer, or imaging data captured from the customer. The avatars are displayed on displays or in user interfaces and used for any purpose, such as to depict how clothing will appear or behave while being worn by a customer alone or with other clothing. Customers may drag-and-drop images of clothing onto the avatars. One or more of the avatars may be displayed on any display, such as a monitor or a virtual reality headset, which may depict the avatars in a static or dynamic mode. Images of avatars and clothing may be used to generate print catalogs depicting the appearance or behavior of the clothing while worn by the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Yuji Haitani, William R. Hazlewood, Alaa-Eddine Mendili, Dominick Khanh Pham
  • Patent number: 10747336
    Abstract: An operating area for a virtual reality system may be defined based on the positions of sensors (e.g., infrared sensors) or fiducial markings within an environment where the virtual reality system is to be operated. The sensors or the fiducial markings may be provided on an operating surface in the form of a carpet, a mat or another like floor covering. When the virtual reality system is to be calibrated prior to use, positions of the sensors or the fiducial markings may be sensed by a base station, a headset or another virtual reality system unit, and an operating area may be defined based on virtual boundaries constructed using such positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominick Khanh Pham, William R. Hazlewood, Christina Nichole Durbin, Charles Shearer Dorner, Alaa-Eddine Mendili
  • Patent number: 10664903
    Abstract: Three-dimensional models (or avatars) may be defined based on imaging data captured from a customer. The avatars may be based on a virtual mannequin having one or more dimensions in common with the customer, a body template corresponding to the customer, or imaging data captured from the customer. The avatars are displayed on displays or in user interfaces and used for any purpose, such as to depict how clothing will appear or behave while being worn by a customer alone or with other clothing. Customers may drag-and-drop images of clothing onto the avatars. One or more of the avatars may be displayed on any display, such as a monitor or a virtual reality headset, which may depict the avatars in a static or dynamic mode. Images of avatars and clothing may be used to generate print catalogs depicting the appearance or behavior of the clothing while worn by the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Yuji Haitani, William R. Hazlewood, Alaa-Eddine Mendili, Dominick Khanh Pham
  • Patent number: 10621785
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a blended reality view to a user, the blended reality view combining images reflected by a mirror with images transmitted from a screen behind the mirror. Systems for generating blended reality views can include a display device with a screen positioned behind a mirror. The display device can generate a pattern of illumination and non-illumination on the screen so that the illuminated portions of the screen substantially transmit through the mirror. Projectors can be used to illuminate objects in front of the mirror so that the illuminated objects are reflected by the mirror. In combination, the portions of the screen transmitted through the mirror and the illuminated objects reflected by the mirror can provide a blended reality view to a user viewing the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Shearer Dorner, Paul Barnhart Sayre, III, William R. Hazlewood
  • Patent number: 10580066
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for personalizing portable shopping displays using mobile devices and inaudible tones. Example methods may include causing a first inaudible tone to be emitted by a speaker, the first inaudible tone configured to initiate a change in a user interface at a mobile device, determining a second inaudible tone from a user device using a microphone, the second inaudible tone including a user identifier of a user, and determining a user interaction with a product at a product display. Certain example methods may include determining user preference data, and causing presentation of product information for the product using the user preference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Janet Ellen Galore, Alaa-Eddine Mendili, Dominick Khanh Pham, Jeff Gelfuso
  • Patent number: 10504277
    Abstract: Techniques described herein include systems and methods for transforming communications and content from one communication platform to another communication platform such that content can be shared between users utilizing different user devices. In some embodiments, a communication session may be maintained between one or more users where each user is utilizing a different user device. First input may be received from a first communication platform from a first user that is intended to be shared to the one or more users in the communication session. In embodiments, a corresponding communication platform for each user participating in the communication session may be determined based on device information provided by associated user devices of the user when providing previous communications with the communication session and content included in the first input. The first input may be transformed from the first communication platform to one or more different communication platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Yuji Haitani, Alaa-Eddine Mendili, William R. Hazlewood, Dominick Khanh Pham
  • Patent number: 10423241
    Abstract: An operating area for a virtual reality system may be defined based on the positions of sensors (e.g., infrared sensors) or fiducial markings within an environment where the virtual reality system is to be operated. The sensors or the fiducial markings may be provided on an operating surface in the form of a carpet, a mat or another like floor covering. When the virtual reality system is to be calibrated prior to use, positions of the sensors or the fiducial markings may be sensed by a base station, a headset or another virtual reality system unit, and an operating area may be defined based on virtual boundaries constructed using such positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominick Khanh Pham, William R. Hazlewood, Christina Nichole Durbin, Charles Shearer Dorner, Alaa-Eddine Mendili
  • Patent number: 10382692
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for digital photo frames with personalized content. In one embodiment, an example device may include at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions, and at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to determine a human face in an ambient environment, determine a user identifier associated with the human face, and determine a database index comprising relationships between media content and user identifiers. The at least one processor may be configured to determine a set of media content available to the device, the set of media content comprising pre-indexed images and videos, determine first media content of the set of media content associated with the user identifier in the database index, and initiate presentation of the first media content at a display in the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumesh Santha Kumar, William R. Hazlewood
  • Publication number: 20180252793
    Abstract: Techniques for determining a location of a user device may be provided. For example, the location of the user device may be determined using various method described herein, including methods related to audio analysis, positioning systems, data received through a plurality of communication protocols, and/or signal analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Neeresh Padmanabhan
  • Publication number: 20180255527
    Abstract: Techniques for determining a location of a user device may be provided. For example, the location of the user device may be determined using various method described herein, including methods related to audio analysis, positioning systems, data received through a plurality of communication protocols, and/or signal analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Neeresh Padmanabhan
  • Publication number: 20180255429
    Abstract: Techniques for determining a location of a user device may be provided. For example, the location of the user device may be determined using various method described herein, including methods related to audio analysis, positioning systems, data received through a plurality of communication protocols, and/or signal analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Neeresh Padmanabhan
  • Patent number: 10034268
    Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for enabling communication with a user device using that user device's magnetometer. In some embodiments, a magnetic beacon may generate a sequence of input signals that correspond to activations and deactivations of a magnetic field. A magnetometer in a user device may detect sudden changes in magnetic field and may be used to determine that those changes include a message. In some embodiments, the user device may monitor for an initiation sequence. Upon detecting a sequence of magnetic field activations and deactivations (which may appear to the magnetometer as a sequence of sudden rotational position changes), the user device may interpret a message conveyed by the magnetic beacon. In some embodiments, the user device may communicate the message to a service provider computer, which may subsequently identify additional information related to the message and provide that additional information to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Neeresh Padmanabhan
  • Patent number: 9959437
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for making ordinary objects network-enabled interfaces. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag may be fixed or detachably attached to an item capable of being manipulated by a person to obtain information about the item or to cause a performance of a task associated with the item. The RFID tag may include a capacitive touch interface that, when manipulated by a person, causes the RFID tag to emit an identifier associated with a corresponding item. A receiver, having the identifier and an instruction from a person, may communicate with a remote computing device to process the instruction and to generate a response to the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gonzalo Alberto Ramos, Charles Shearer Dorner, William R. Hazlewood, Wesley Scott Lauka
  • Publication number: 20180101991
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a blended reality view to a user, the blended reality view combining images reflected by a mirror with images transmitted from a screen behind the mirror. Systems for generating blended reality views can include a display device with a screen positioned behind a mirror. The display device can generate a pattern of illumination and non-illumination on the screen so that the illuminated portions of the screen substantially transmit through the mirror. Projectors can be used to illuminate objects in front of the mirror so that the illuminated objects are reflected by the mirror. In combination, the portions of the screen transmitted through the mirror and the illuminated objects reflected by the mirror can provide a blended reality view to a user viewing the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Shearer Dorner, Paul Barnhart Sayre, III, William R. Hazlewood
  • Patent number: 9922306
    Abstract: In some examples, a mobile reading device is provided. The mobile reading device may include an movement device and a reader device. The reader device may be configured to read, via one or more antennas, identifying tags associated with items. The one or more antennas may be included as part of the mobile reading device, within a holder structure, or in some other structure or device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Scott Russell, Thomas Matthew Ryle, Jonathan David Phillips, Justin David Kelly, Wesley Scott Lauka, William R. Hazlewood
  • Patent number: 9858719
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a blended reality view to a user, the blended reality view combining images reflected by a mirror with images transmitted from a screen behind the mirror. Systems for generating blended reality views can include a display device with a screen positioned behind a mirror. The display device can generate a pattern of illumination and non-illumination on the screen so that the illuminated portions of the screen substantially transmit through the mirror. Projectors can be used to illuminate objects in front of the mirror so that the illuminated objects are reflected by the mirror. In combination, the portions of the screen transmitted through the mirror and the illuminated objects reflected by the mirror can provide a blended reality view to a user viewing the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Shearer Dorner, Paul Barnhart Sayre, III, William R. Hazlewood
  • Patent number: 9715865
    Abstract: A projection equipped computing device is described that projects an accurate representation of an item available for purchase from an electronic marketplace onto a projection surface. For example, the device may identify physical dimensions of an item from an image of the item. The device may then determine the distance between it and the projection surface and project a light beam toward the projection surface to form a representation of the item on the projection surface. The representation of the item formed on projection surface has representative dimensions that mimic, at the determined distance, the physical dimensions of the item as identified from the image of the item. Accordingly, the user of the device can envision how the item would appear in a space located relative to the projection surface if the user purchased the item from the electronic marketplace and placed the item in that space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Hazlewood, Jenny Ann Blackburn, Janet Ellen Galore, Timothy Andrew Ong, Gonzalo Alberto Ramos