Patents by Inventor Christopher S. A. MacGregor

Christopher S. A. MacGregor 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: 9912847
    Abstract: A user can capture an image of an object, using a computing device, to obtain information about that object. If a specular highlight (or other saturated region) is detected, the device can attempt to determine a location of a light source associated with the highlight. The device can then provide instructions as to a direction to move in order to reduce the presence of the specular highlight in subsequent images. Multiple images of the object can be captured and analyzed to generate a three-dimensional reconstruction of the environment, whereby a position of the light source can be determined. In other embodiments, movement of the specular reflections in response to movement of the device is used to determine a direction of the light source. In other embodiments, an image of the user is captured to determine the position of the light source based on shadows or reflections on the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Yuan, Leo B. Baldwin, Geoffrey Scott Heller, Daniel Bibireata, Louis L. LeGrand, III, Christopher S. A. MacGregor, Charles P. Vaughn, Francislav P. Penov
  • Patent number: 9407722
    Abstract: A processing device receives a schedule from a server, the schedule identifying delivery times for a set of items associated with the user device. At each delivery time, the processing device contacts the server to obtain one or more items from the server in accordance with the schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Beryl Tomay, Valient I. Gough, Christopher S. A. MacGregor, Kenneth P. Kiraly, Sailesh Rachabathuni, David Berbessou
  • Patent number: 9294873
    Abstract: The location of an electronic device can be tracked and updated in order to provide a user of the device accurate directions from the user's current location to a target location, for various types of environments. Upon detecting a trigger (e.g., detecting a QR code or detecting an access point signal), an example device can switch from using a first type of positioning element (e.g., GPS) to a second type of positioning element (e.g., using accelerometers, QR codes, etc.) in determining the user's current location. By using the appropriate type of positioning element for each environment, the device may determine the user's current location more accurately. The device may provide an overlay (e.g., arrows) for displaying the directions over images captured from the user's surroundings to provide a more realistic and intuitive experience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. A. MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9013416
    Abstract: An electronic device including two or more display elements can provide enhanced functionality with improved rates of power consumption. A user can cause information that does not change rapidly to be provided or moved to a relatively static display element, such as an electronic ink display, which enables that information to be displayed for a period of time with little additional power consumption. Similarly, content (e.g., video) that changes rapidly can be displayed on a relatively dynamic display element, such as and LCD or OLED display. Each display can be touch sensitive, such that a user can move content between the displays by pressing on, or making a motion in contact with, at least one of the displays. Various modes can be activated which cause certain types of content to be displayed on the dynamic and/or static display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingjing Huang, Christopher S. A. MacGregor, Dennis Hodge, Isaac S. Noble, Bradley J. Bozarth
  • Publication number: 20140365617
    Abstract: A processing device receives a schedule from a server, the schedule identifying delivery times for a set of items associated with the user device. At each delivery time, the processing device contacts the server to obtain one or more items from the server in accordance with the schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Beryl Tomay, Valient I. Gough, Christopher S.A. MacGregor, Kenneth P. Kiraly, Sailesh Rachabathuni, David Berbessou
  • Patent number: 8867401
    Abstract: A server creates a schedule for each of multiple user devices based on a set of items associated with a corresponding user device, and allows each user device to obtain associated items in accordance with the schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Beryl Tomay, Valient I. Gough, Christopher S. A. MacGregor, Kenneth P. Kiraly, Sailesh Rachabathuni, David Berbessou
  • Patent number: 8624725
    Abstract: The location of an electronic device can be tracked and updated in order to provide a user of the device accurate directions from the user's current location to a target location, for various types of environments. Upon detecting a trigger (e.g., detecting a QR code or detecting an access point signal), an example device can switch from using a first type of positioning element (e.g., GPS) to a second type of positioning element (e.g., using accelerometers, QR codes, etc.) in determining the user's current location. By using the appropriate type of positioning element for each environment, the device may determine the user's current location more accurately. The device may provide an overlay (e.g., arrows) for displaying the directions over images captured from the user's surroundings to provide a more realistic and intuitive experience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. A. MacGregor
  • Patent number: 8583765
    Abstract: Electronic devices may locate and test wireless networks that are available, and may establish connections with no or minimal user intervention. The electronic device may periodically transmit a datagram to a connection server, providing updated information as to the network address of the electronic device as well as maintaining a pathway through intervening network devices. The connection server may then initiate a connection via this pathway with the information provided in the datagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sailesh Rachabathuni, Kenneth P. Kiraly, Christopher S. A. MacGregor
  • Publication number: 20120218191
    Abstract: An electronic device including two or more display elements can provide enhanced functionality with improved rates of power consumption. A user can cause information that does not change rapidly to be provided or moved to a relatively static display element, such as an electronic ink display, which enables that information to be displayed for a period of time with little additional power consumption. Similarly, content (e.g., video) that changes rapidly can be displayed on a relatively dynamic display element, such as and LCD or OLED display. Each display can be touch sensitive, such that a user can move content between the displays by pressing on, or making a motion in contact with, at least one of the displays. Various modes can be activated which cause certain types of content to be displayed on the dynamic and/or static display element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingjing Huang, Christopher S. A. MacGregor, Dennis Hodge, Isaac S. Noble, Bradley J. Bozarth