Patents by Inventor Christopher Thaddeus HUGHES

Christopher Thaddeus HUGHES 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).

  • Publication number: 20230274741
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices, each having microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The first device detects a voice input. It determines a device state and a relevance of the voice input. It identifies a subset of electronic devices from the plurality to which the voice input is relevant. In accordance with a determination that the subset includes the first device, the first device determines a first score of a criterion associated with the voice input and receives second scores of the criterion from other devices in the subset. In accordance with a determination that the first score is higher than the second scores, the first device responds to the detected input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander H. Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 11670297
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices, each having microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The first device detects a voice input. It determines a device state and a relevance of the voice input. It identifies a subset of electronic devices from the plurality to which the voice input is relevant. In accordance with a determination that the subset includes the first device, the first device determines a first score of a criterion associated with the voice input and receives second scores of the criterion from other devices in the subset. In accordance with a determination that the first score is higher than the second scores, the first device responds to the detected input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 11430442
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for contextual hotwords are disclosed. In one aspect, a method, during a boot process of a computing device, includes the actions of determining, by a computing device, a context associated with the computing device. The actions further include, based on the context associated with the computing device, determining a hotword. The actions further include, after determining the hotword, receiving audio data that corresponds to an utterance. The actions further include determining that the audio data includes the hotword. The actions further include, in response to determining that the audio data includes the hotword, performing an operation associated with the hotword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Aleksandar Kracun
  • Publication number: 20210249015
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices, each having microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The first device detects a voice input. It determines a device state and a relevance of the voice input. It identifies a subset of electronic devices from the plurality to which the voice input is relevant. In accordance with a determination that the subset includes the first device, the first device determines a first score of a criterion associated with the voice input and receives second scores of the criterion from other devices in the subset. In accordance with a determination that the first score is higher than the second scores, the first device responds to the detected input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 11024311
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices, each having microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The first device detects a voice input. It determines a device state and a relevance of the voice input. It identifies a subset of electronic devices from the plurality to which the voice input is relevant. In accordance with a determination that the subset includes the first device, the first device determines a first score of a criterion associated with the voice input and receives second scores of the criterion from other devices in the subset. In accordance with a determination that the first score is higher than the second scores, the first device responds to the detected input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20210043210
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for contextual hotwords are disclosed. In one aspect, a method, during a boot process of a computing device, includes the actions of determining, by a computing device, a context associated with the computing device. The actions further include, based on the context associated with the computing device, determining a hotword. The actions further include, after determining the hotword, receiving audio data that corresponds to an utterance. The actions further include determining that the audio data includes the hotword. The actions further include, in response to determining that the audio data includes the hotword, performing an operation associated with the hotword.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Aleksandar Kracun
  • Patent number: 10839803
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for contextual hotwords are disclosed. In one aspect, a method, during a boot process of a computing device, includes the actions of determining, by a computing device, a context associated with the computing device. The actions further include, based on the context associated with the computing device, determining a hotword. The actions further include, after determining the hotword, receiving audio data that corresponds to an utterance. The actions further include determining that the audio data includes the hotword. The actions further include, in response to determining that the audio data includes the hotword, performing an operation associated with the hotword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Aleksandar Kracun
  • Publication number: 20200211556
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices, each having microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The first device detects a voice input. It determines a device state and a relevance of the voice input. It identifies a subset of electronic devices from the plurality to which the voice input is relevant. In accordance with a determination that the subset includes the first device, the first device determines a first score of a criterion associated with the voice input and receives second scores of the criterion from other devices in the subset. In accordance with a determination that the first score is higher than the second scores, the first device responds to the detected input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 10559306
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices, each having microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The first device detects a voice input. It determines a device state and a relevance of the voice input. It identifies a subset of electronic devices from the plurality to which the voice input is relevant. In accordance with a determination that the subset includes the first device, the first device determines a first score of a criterion associated with the voice input and receives second scores of the criterion from other devices in the subset. In accordance with a determination that the first score is higher than the second scores, the first device responds to the detected input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20190287528
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for contextual hotwords are disclosed. In one aspect, a method, during a boot process of a computing device, includes the actions of determining, by a computing device, a context associated with the computing device. The actions further include, based on the context associated with the computing device, determining a hotword. The actions further include, after determining the hotword, receiving audio data that corresponds to an utterance. The actions further include determining that the audio data includes the hotword. The actions further include, in response to determining that the audio data includes the hotword, performing an operation associated with the hotword.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Aleksandar Kracun
  • Patent number: 10276161
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for contextual hotwords are disclosed. In one aspect, a method, during a boot process of a computing device, includes the actions of determining, by a computing device, a context associated with the computing device. The actions further include, based on the context associated with the computing device, determining a hotword. The actions further include, after determining the hotword, receiving audio data that corresponds to an utterance. The actions further include determining that the audio data includes the hotword. The actions further include, in response to determining that the audio data includes the hotword, performing an operation associated with the hotword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Aleksandar Kracun
  • Publication number: 20190051303
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices, each having microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The first device detects a voice input. It determines a device state and a relevance of the voice input. It identifies a subset of electronic devices from the plurality to which the voice input is relevant. In accordance with a determination that the subset includes the first device, the first device determines a first score of a criterion associated with the voice input and receives second scores of the criterion from other devices in the subset. In accordance with a determination that the first score is higher than the second scores, the first device responds to the detected input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 10102857
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device that includes microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The electronic device: (1) detects a voice input; (2) determines a first quality score for the detected voice input; (3) receives quality scores generated by other electronic devices for detection of the voice input by the other electronic devices; (4) in accordance with a determination that the first quality score is not the highest amongst the quality scores for the voice input, identifies a criterion associated with the voice input; and (5) in accordance with a determination that the identified criterion is the most relevant to the electronic device, responds to the detected input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20180182390
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for contextual hotwords are disclosed. In one aspect, a method, during a boot process of a computing device, includes the actions of determining, by a computing device, a context associated with the computing device. The actions further include, based on the context associated with the computing device, determining a hotword. The actions further include, after determining the hotword, receiving audio data that corresponds to an utterance. The actions further include determining that the audio data includes the hotword. The actions further include, in response to determining that the audio data includes the hotword, performing an operation associated with the hotword.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Ignacio Lopez Moreno, Aleksandar Kracun
  • Publication number: 20180040322
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for determining device leadership among voice interface devices. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device that includes microphones, a speaker, processors, and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The electronic device: (1) detects a voice input; (2) determines a first quality score for the detected voice input; (3) receives quality scores generated by other electronic devices for detection of the voice input by the other electronic devices; (4) in accordance with a determination that the first quality score is not the highest amongst the quality scores for the voice input, identifies a criterion associated with the voice input; and (5) in accordance with a determination that the identified criterion is the most relevant to the electronic device, responds to the detected input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 9812128
    Abstract: A method at a first electronic device of multiple electronic devices, each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices including one or more microphones and a speaker, includes detecting a voice input; determining a quality score for the detected voice input; communicating the quality score to the other devices of the plurality of electronic devices; receiving quality scores generated by the other devices for detection of the voice input by the other devices; if the quality score generated by the first electronic device is the highest amongst the quality scores, outputting an audible and/or visual response to the detected voice input, where the other devices of the plurality of electronic devices forgo outputting an audible response to the detected voice input; and if the quality score generated by the first electronic device is not the highest amongst the quality scores, forgoing outputting a response to the detected voice input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20170025124
    Abstract: A method at a first electronic device of multiple electronic devices, each electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices including one or more microphones and a speaker, includes detecting a voice input; determining a quality score for the detected voice input; communicating the quality score to the other devices of the plurality of electronic devices; receiving quality scores generated by the other devices for detection of the voice input by the other devices; if the quality score generated by the first electronic device is the highest amongst the quality scores, outputting an audible and/or visual response to the detected voice input, where the other devices of the plurality of electronic devices forgo outputting an audible response to the detected voice input; and if the quality score generated by the first electronic device is not the highest amongst the quality scores, forgoing outputting a response to the detected voice input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth Mixter, Diego Melendo Casado, Alexander Houston Gruenstein, Terry Tai, Christopher Thaddeus Hughes, Matthew Nirvan Sharifi
  • Patent number: 8423351
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are provided for correcting one or more typed words on an electronic device. The method can include receiving one or more typed words from a text input device and generating one or more candidate words for the one or more typed words. The method can also include receiving an audio stream at the electronic device that corresponds to the one or more typed words. The audio stream can then be translated into text using the one or more candidate words, where the translation includes assigning a confidence score to each of the one or more candidate words. Based on the confidence score associated with each of the one or more candidate words, a candidate word can be selected among the one or more candidate words to represent each portion of the text. A word from the one or more typed words can be replaced with the selected candidate word based on the value of the confidence score associated with the selected candidate word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Thaddeus Hughes
  • Publication number: 20110208507
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are provided for correcting one or more typed words on an electronic device. The method can include receiving one or more typed words from a text input device and generating one or more candidate words for the one or more typed words. The method can also include receiving an audio stream at the electronic device that corresponds to the one or more typed words. The audio stream can then be translated into text using the one or more candidate words, where the translation includes assigning a confidence score to each of the one or more candidate words. Based on the confidence score associated with each of the one or more candidate words, a candidate word can be selected among the one or more candidate words to represent each portion of the text. A word from the one or more typed words can be replaced with the selected candidate word based on the value of the confidence score associated with the selected candidate word.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Thaddeus HUGHES