Patents Examined by Gerald Gauthier
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Patent number: 11837249Abstract: Systems, methods and non-transitory computer readable media for processing audio and visually presenting information are provided. Audio data captured by one or more audio sensors included in a wearable apparatus from an environment of a wearer of the wearable apparatus may be obtained. The audio data may be analyzed to obtain textual information. The audio data may be analyzed to associate different portions of the textual information with different speakers. A head mounted display system may be used to present each portion of the textual information in a presentation region associated with the speaker associated with the portion of the textual information.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Inventor: Ron Zass
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Patent number: 11832053Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone assembly comprising an array microphone and a housing configured to support the array microphone and sized and shaped to be mountable in a drop ceiling in place of at least one of a plurality of ceiling tiles included in the drop ceiling. A front face of the housing includes a sound-permeable screen having a size and shape that is substantially similar to the at least one of the plurality of ceiling tiles. Embodiments also include an array microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones arranged, on a substrate, in a number of concentric, nested rings of varying sizes around a central point of the substrate. Each ring comprises a subset of the plurality of microphones positioned at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Mathew T. Abraham, David Grant Cason, John Casey Gibbs, Gregory William Lantz, Albert Francis McGovern, Jr., Brent Robert Shumard
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Patent number: 11804237Abstract: A conference terminal and an echo cancellation method for a conference are provided. In the echo cancellation method, a synthetic speech signal is received. The synthetic speech signal includes a user speech signal of a speaking party corresponding to a first conference terminal of multiple conference terminals and an audio watermark signal corresponding to the first conference terminal. One or more delay times corresponding to the audio watermark signal are detected in a received audio signal. The received audio signal is recorded through a sound receiver of a second conference terminal of the conference terminals. An echo in the received audio signal is canceled according to the delay time.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Acer IncorporatedInventors: Po-Jen Tu, Jia-Ren Chang, Kai-Meng Tzeng
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Patent number: 11792586Abstract: An external portion of an auditory prosthesis includes an external magnet that interacts with an implantable magnet to hold the external portion against the skin. Magnetic force generated by the stray field of these magnets can disturb the operation of a vibrating element of the auditory prosthesis. The technologies described herein utilize additional magnets disposed within portions of the auditory prosthesis to redirect the magnetic flux, which allows the vibrating element to be disposed more closely to the magnets, reducing the overall height profile of the prosthesis.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Patrik Kennes, Charles Roger Aaron Leigh, Paul Michael Carter, Mark Alan Von Huben, Jonathan Diolaso, Scott Matthew Ibbotson, Irene Tsimos Diolaso
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Patent number: 11790920Abstract: Playback devices comprising a network interface, an optional speaker(s), and one or more processors are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the playback device is configured to communicate with a computing system that stores configuration data corresponding to each of a plurality of users. The playback device detects one or more users near the playback device and retrieves user configuration data corresponding to each of the one or more detected users, and thereafter, uses the user configuration data of the one or more detected users to process voice commands, play media content, and/or perform other voice and/or media related functions.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventor: Paul Andrew Bates
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Patent number: 11789697Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for attending to a presenting user. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device that includes an image sensor, microphones, a display, processor(s), and memory. The device (1) obtains audio signals by concurrently receiving audio data at each microphone; (2) determines based on the obtained audio signals that a person is speaking in a vicinity of the device; (3) obtains video data from the image sensor; (4) determines via the video data that the person is not within a field of view of the image sensor; (5) reorients the electronic device based on differences in the received audio data; (6) after reorienting the electronic device, obtains second video data from the image sensor and determines that the person is within the field of view; and (7) attends to the person by directing the display toward the person.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Yuan Yuan, Johan Schalkwyk, Kenneth Mixter
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Patent number: 11778106Abstract: A method for detecting and flagging problems in videoconferencing is provided. The method includes measuring, by a processing device of a user videoconferencing device, a first set of acoustic data associated with a conference room during a video conference attended by a plurality of users. The first set of acoustic data indicates one or more acoustic parameters, including the reverberation time, the signal-to-noise ratio, or the absolute noise level of the conference room. The method further includes comparing the one or more first acoustic parameters to one or more thresholds during the video conference. Moreover, the method includes providing at least one of the first acoustic parameters or a result of the comparison to the at least one user during the video conference.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Christian Schüldt, Magnus Berggren, John Fredric Lindstrom
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Patent number: 11778104Abstract: An example method of suggesting contacts in a communications routing system includes: routing, via a routing engine, communications events between a communications device and a plurality of further communications devices coupled to the communications routing system as VoIP calls using respective VoIP telephone numbers; storing, for a user account associated with the communications device, a contact database representing VoIP telephone numbers stored in a contact tracking application of the communications device; storing, in the contact database for the user account, a log of communications events including a record for each new telephone number; and when the record for a new telephone number satisfies a threshold condition, providing a prompt, at the communications device, to add the new telephone number to the contact tracking application.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: TEXTNOW, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Dennis Halk, Derek Ting
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Patent number: 11778088Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method provide an improved call log that presents information relating to logged phone calls in a collapsed manner, meaning that for each phone number having a call stored in the memory of the device, only the most recent in time call is listed on the call log. An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method also provide a call history for any phone call from the improved call log that is selected by the user. The call history includes a listing of all of the calls stored by the device that are associated with the selected call log call.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Andrew Douglas Bocking, Raymond Paul Vander Veen
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Patent number: 11778407Abstract: Determining the angle of sound relative to the centerline of a microphone array. The angle of the centerline of a camera field-of-view (FoV) and the angle of the camera FoV is determined. Knowing the angle from the centerline of the microphone array of the particular sound and then the angle of the centerline of the camera FoV and angles of the camera FoV allows a determination if the sound is inside the FoV of the camera. If so, the microphones are unmuted. If not, the microphones are muted. As the camera zooms or pans, the changes in camera FoV and centerline angle are computed and used with the sound angle, so that the muting and unmuting occurs automatically as the camera zoom and pan angle change.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Stephen C. Botzko
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Patent number: 11763815Abstract: A location monitoring system tracks a location of a user within a healthcare facility. When the user is detected in a patient room an electronic controller activates a voice command database having a plurality of voice commands specific to the user. A microphone located in the patient room receives one of the plurality of voice commands. The electronic controller transmits the one of the plurality of voice commands to a remote device positioned outside of the patient room.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Jerald W. Judy, Bita Akhlaghi, David O. Melgar, Daniel Sampson, Edwin N. Swift, Jennifer A. Gunn, Darren S. Hudgins, Patrick D. Harrison, William B. Richard
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Patent number: 11765209Abstract: 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: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: 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: 11757812Abstract: Interleaved conversation concept flow enhancement can include detecting a topic of an on-going conversation over an electronic communication system. In response to detecting a topic newly introduced into the on-going conversation, a topic-divergence metric (TDM) with respect to the original topic and the newly introduced topic can be determined. A topic-divergence response action can be initiated in response to the newly introduced topic diverging from the original topic by more than a predetermined threshold based on the TDM.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Paul R. Bastide, Fang Lu, Robert E. Loredo, Matthew E. Broomhall
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Patent number: 11755277Abstract: A system includes a sensing module configured to collect physiological information from a user; an audio input device configured to capture auditory content that is in an environment proximate the user; and one or more processors configured to: determine that a user has entered a state of inwardly focused attention based on first physiological information collected from the user; and in response, record the auditory content captured by the audio input device.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventors: Joseph Verbeke, Stefan Marti
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Patent number: 11758095Abstract: A system for providing a shared contents service using remote controlling of a shared autonomous device, includes: at least one shared autonomous device unit having driving, shooting, sensing and communication functions via an Internet communication network; a license transaction unit selling a license for the shared autonomous device unit, and delegating the sold license to a purchaser; a system connection unit processing the system connection of a license purchaser communication terminal by using the license delegated through the license transaction unit; a remote control unit receiving a control instruction signal of the shared autonomous device unit from the license purchaser communication terminal remotely connected through the system connection unit, and instructing to execute autonomous driving of the shared autonomous device unit according to the received control instruction signal; and a contents information providing unit providing, to a corresponding license purchaser, contents information acquiredType: GrantFiled: June 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignees: INTEGRIT INC.Inventor: Chang Seok Lee
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Patent number: 11758087Abstract: Provided are a data processing method for a multimedia conference, a data processing apparatus for a multimedia conference, and an electronic device. The method includes: receiving a multimedia data stream sent by a conference participant user of the multimedia conference; generating, according to a received recording instruction for the multimedia conference, storage data of the multimedia conference based on the multimedia data stream sent by the conference participant user; and storing the storage data in cloud.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: DOUYIN VISION CO., LTD.Inventors: Bin Cheng, Mao Li, Jingsheng Yang, Yuze Gao
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Patent number: 11758089Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and associated methods for video communications and related features. In one embodiment, a big-screen video communications apparatus is provided that includes a projector and speaker for projecting received images and sounds and includes a camera and microphone for capturing images and sounds for transmission.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: VTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITEDInventors: Tomy Cai, Channing Chang
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Patent number: 11750739Abstract: The technology disclosed herein enables an endpoint system to present a visual indicator that user communications have been suspended. In a particular embodiment, a method includes exchanging audio user communications for the communication between the first endpoint system and a second endpoint system. At the first endpoint system, the method includes determining that the second endpoint system caused a suspension of the audio user communications and providing a first visual indicator of the suspension.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Avaya Management L.P.Inventors: Viralkumar R. Mehta, Shivani Gupta
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Patent number: 11750925Abstract: A camera is auto-focused on an in-person attendee in a meeting who is speaking into a microphone at a live location of the meeting. The live location includes a real-time location system (RTLS) having a RTLS tag and a plurality of RTLS anchors for locating a position of the RTLS tag in three-dimensional space. The RTLS tag is fixed to the microphone and transmits a signal that is received by the plurality of RTLS anchors. In operation, it detected when the microphone is active. The position of the RTLS tag in the live location is then identified in three-dimensional space by using the signal transmitted from the RTLS tag and received by the RTLS anchors to calculate the position of the RTLS tag in three-dimensional space. The position of the RTLS tag in three-dimensional space in the live location is presumed to be the same position as the microphone that the RTLS tag is fixed to.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2023Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Inventor: Benjamin Slotznick
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Patent number: 11748463Abstract: Systems and methods for call detail record (CDR) analysis to determine a risk score for a call and identify fraudulent activity and for fraud detection in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems. An example method may store information extracted from received calls. Queries of the stored information may be performed to select data using keys, wherein each key relates to one of the received calls, and wherein the queries are parallelized. The selected data may be transformed into feature vectors, wherein each feature vector relates to one of the received calls and includes a velocity feature and at least one of a behavior feature or a reputation feature. A risk score for the call may be generated during the call based on the feature vectors.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: PINDROP SECURITY, INC.Inventors: Scott Strong, Kailash Patil, David Dewey, Raj Bandyopadhyay, Telvis Calhoun, Vijay Balasubramaniyan