Patents by Inventor Craig Gunther

Craig Gunther 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: 11721337
    Abstract: A personal assistant device configured to control companion devices may include a memory configured to maintain a companion device library including a plurality of companion device each associated with at least one long-name, short-cut name and companion device room location, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a user command from a microphone, extract a companion device name and action from the user command, determine whether the companion device name includes a unique name, and command a companion device associated with the unique name to perform the action from the user command in response to the user command including the unique name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Publication number: 20200349945
    Abstract: A personal assistant device configured to control companion devices may include a memory configured to maintain a companion device library including a plurality of companion device each associated with at least one long-name, short-cut name and companion device room location, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a user command from a microphone, extract a companion device name and action from the user command, determine whether the companion device name includes a unique name, and command a companion device associated with the unique name to perform the action from the user command in response to the user command including the unique name.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Craig GUNTHER
  • Patent number: 10748533
    Abstract: A personal assistant device configured to control companion devices may include a memory configured to maintain a companion device library including a plurality of companion device each associated with at least one long-name, short-cut name and companion device room location, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a user command from a microphone, extract a companion device name and action from the user command, determine whether the companion device name includes a unique name, and command a companion device associated with the unique name to perform the action from the user command in response to the user command including the unique name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 10298768
    Abstract: Examples include controlling voice input detection in a voice agent network including a plurality of voice agents. An example voice agent includes an audio sensor, a communication interface, a processor, and a memory device storing instructions executable by the processor to detect, via the audio sensor, audio data corresponding to a voice input, and responsive to determining that at least one other voice agent of a voice agent network is detecting audio data corresponding to the voice input determine a signal strength at which the audio data is detected, compare the signal strength to a reported signal strength from the at least one other voice agent, and selectively transmit one or more of an indication of the signal strength and the detected audio data based on comparing the signal strength to the reported signal strength from the at least one other voice agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Publication number: 20190139542
    Abstract: A personal assistant device configured to control companion devices may include a memory configured to maintain a companion device library including a plurality of companion device each associated with at least one long-name, short-cut name and companion device room location, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a user command from a microphone, extract a companion device name and action from the user command, determine whether the companion device name includes a unique name, and command a companion device associated with the unique name to perform the action from the user command in response to the user command including the unique name.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Craig GUNTHER
  • Publication number: 20190058650
    Abstract: The various embodiments set forth a method of establishing a connection between a talker device and a listener device over a network. The method comprises receiving first stream identification information for a first data stream segment disposed in a first layer 2 domain that includes a talker device, based at least in part on a mapping of the first stream identification information to the second stream identification information, determining second stream identification information for a second data stream segment that links the first layer 2 domain to a second layer 2 domain that includes a listener device, and transmitting the second stream identification information to the second layer 2 domain via a layer 3 protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventor: Craig GUNTHER
  • Publication number: 20190058668
    Abstract: The various embodiments set forth a method of establishing a connection between a talker device and a listener device over a network. The method comprises receiving first stream identification information for a first data stream segment disposed in a first layer 2 domain that includes a talker device, based at least in part on a mapping of the first stream identification information to the second stream identification information, determining second stream identification information for a second data stream segment that links the first layer 2 domain to a second layer 2 domain that includes a listener device, and transmitting the second stream identification information to the second layer 2 domain via a layer 3 protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig GUNTHER
  • Publication number: 20180359364
    Abstract: Examples include controlling voice input detection in a voice agent network including a plurality of voice agents. An example voice agent includes an audio sensor, a communication interface, a processor, and a memory device storing instructions executable by the processor to detect, via the audio sensor, audio data corresponding to a voice input, and responsive to determining that at least one other voice agent of a voice agent network is detecting audio data corresponding to the voice input determine a signal strength at which the audio data is detected, compare the signal strength to a reported signal strength from the at least one other voice agent, and selectively transmit one or more of an indication of the signal strength and the detected audio data based on comparing the signal strength to the reported signal strength from the at least one other voice agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 10097944
    Abstract: The sound reproduction includes generating from a customized audio signal an acoustically isolated sound field at a position dependent on a sound field position control signal; providing a listening position signal representing a position of a listener and a listener identification signal representing the identity of the listener; and processing the listening position signal, the listener identification signal, and an audio signal. The sound reproduction further includes controlling, via the sound field position control signal, the position of the sound field dependent on the listening position signal so that the position of the sound field is at the position of the listener; and processing the audio signal according to an audio setting dependent on the identity of the listener to provide the customized audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Christoph, Craig Gunther, Matthias Kronlachner, Juergen Zollner
  • Patent number: 10069976
    Abstract: Examples include controlling voice input detection in a voice agent network including a plurality of voice agents. An example voice agent includes an audio sensor, a communication interface, a processor, and a memory device storing instructions executable by the processor to detect, via the audio sensor, audio data corresponding to a voice input, and responsive to determining that at least one other voice agent of a voice agent network is detecting audio data corresponding to the voice input determine a signal strength at which the audio data is detected, compare the signal strength to a reported signal strength from the at least one other voice agent, and selectively transmit one or more of an indication of the signal strength and the detected audio data based on comparing the signal strength to the reported signal strength from the at least one other voice agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 9998549
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for networked computing devices and methods of managing talker and listener attributes in a network. In some embodiments, a computing device comprises a networking device that receives and propagates data streams and information relating to the data streams to other devices in a network and a processor. The computing device also comprises a storage device that stores the information related to the data streams and instructions executable by the processor to receive a first talker attribute, selectively discard a second talker attribute, the second talker attribute being stored on the storage device prior to receiving the first talker attribute, and store the first talker attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 9854325
    Abstract: Electronic modules in a vehicle may communicate over an Audio/Video Bridging (AVB) network. The modules normally cooperate to send and receive streams of data with a specified quality of service as AVB streams. When conditions are present in which an AVB-quality stream cannot be sent over the network, the modules can communicate with certain limp-home functionality. Sending modules may send streams of data without a stream reservation as multicast messages. Receiving modules may be configured to receive the multicast messages. Network bridge modules may be configured to enable a Talker Pruning feature to facilitate handling of the multicast messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Publication number: 20170195815
    Abstract: The sound reproduction includes generating from a customized audio signal an acoustically isolated sound field at a position dependent on a sound field position control signal; providing a listening position signal representing a position of a listener and a listener identification signal representing the identity of the listener; and processing the listening position signal, the listener identification signal, and an audio signal. The sound reproduction further includes controlling, via the sound field position control signal, the position of the sound field dependent on the listening position signal so that the position of the sound field is at the position of the listener; and processing the audio signal according to an audio setting dependent on the identity of the listener to provide the customized audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus CHRISTOPH, Craig GUNTHER, Matthias KRONLACHNER, Juergen ZOLLNER
  • Patent number: 9686091
    Abstract: A network communication system includes a network address management and functional object discovery system. The network address management and functional object discovery system includes a network manager that manages network addresses for functional objects of electronic devices that communicate with each other over a network. The network manager may maintain a database that maps or associates unique IDs of the functional objects with associated network addresses. The network manager may provide non-conflicting instance IDs and network addresses to the electronic devices. The network manager may also provide instance IDs and/or network addresses for other electronic devices so that the electronic devices may communicate with each other over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Levi Pearson, David Olsen, Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 9451313
    Abstract: A network media adapter includes peripheral interfaces for connection to connectors of audio/video (“A/V”) sources and sinks to respectively receive media data from the A/V sources and to transmit media data to the A/V sinks. Components are configured to syntonize or synchronize local media clocks of the A/V sources and sinks to ensure media data integrity affiliated with a protocol of a media network over which the media data is transported. A quality of service (QoS)-compliant media interface is integrated in the network media adapter through which to send and receive processed A/V media data to and from the media network according to the protocol. Other components may be configured to process, encapsulate, and transport over the media network the media data received from the A/V sources. Still other components may be configured to receive media data from the media network and decapsulate, process, and transmit the media data through one or more peripheral interfaces connected to the A/V sinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Hutchings, Aaron Gelter, Craig Gunther
  • Publication number: 20160036926
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for networked computing devices and methods of managing talker and listener attributes in a network. In some embodiments, a computing device comprises a networking device that receives and propagates data streams and information relating to the data streams to other devices in a network and a processor. The computing device also comprises a storage device that stores the information related to the data streams and instructions executable by the processor to receive a first talker attribute, selectively discard a second talker attribute, the second talker attribute being stored on the storage device prior to receiving the first talker attribute, and store the first talker attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 9232026
    Abstract: A system that includes a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus may communicate over an Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging network. The transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus may each include an application layer module in communication with an application interface module. The application layer module of the transmitting apparatus may interface with the application interface module to send a control message over the network to control flow of a data stream over the network. The application layer module of the receiving apparatus may interface with the application to interface module to receive the control message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: David Olsen, Levi Pearson, Craig Gunther
  • Publication number: 20150365255
    Abstract: Electronic modules in a vehicle may communicate over an Audio/Video Bridging (AVB) network. The modules normally cooperate to send and receive streams of data with a specified quality of service as AVB streams. When conditions are present in which an AVB-quality stream cannot be sent over the network, the modules can communicate with certain limp-home functionality. Sending modules may send streams of data without a stream reservation as multicast messages. Receiving modules may be configured to receive the multicast messages. Network bridge modules may be configured to enable a Talker Pruning feature to facilitate handling of the multicast messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 9207095
    Abstract: An integrated navigation and collision avoidance system for a source object may include a navigation module and a collision avoidance module. The collision avoidance module may identify an external object that could possibly collide with the source object. The collision avoidance module may determine a likelihood of collision with the external object based on navigation information received from the navigation module. The navigation module may receive information pertaining to the likelihood of collision determination from the collision avoidance module and determine whether to include collision avoidance information and/or modify navigation instructions to generate a navigation output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig Gunther
  • Patent number: 8977759
    Abstract: A system that includes a talker, a listener, and a controller may communicate over an Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging network. The controller may communicate control messages to manage data streams between the talker and the listener through one or more application layer interfaces of the talker and the listener. Based on the control messages, the talker and the listener may communicate using a Stream Reservation Protocol to reserve connection for, or remove connection from, the data streams. The talker and listener may communicate the success of reserving or removing the connections to the controller through the application layer interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: David Olsen, Levi Pearson, Craig Gunther