Patents by Inventor David Robert Thomas

David Robert Thomas 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: 20250306852
    Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 12430097
    Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20250093375
    Abstract: A system for collecting tissue samples, such as meat tissues on carcasses, for example in the food industry. Also provided are methods for collecting tissue samples, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions to execute at least one step of the method for collecting tissue samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: David Robert THOMAS, Ciaran MEGHEN, Gregory Alan PETERS, Amy Johanna DOUGLAS, Robert GALBRAITH, Ryan Michael WATSON
  • Patent number: 12174208
    Abstract: A system for collecting tissue samples, such as meat tissues on carcasses, for example in the food industry. Also provided are methods for collecting tissue samples, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions to execute at least one step of the method for collecting tissue samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: IDENTIGEN LIMITED
    Inventors: David Robert Thomas, Ciaran Meghen, Gregory Alan Peters, Amy Johanna Douglas, Robert Galbraith, Ryan Michael Watson
  • Publication number: 20240211206
    Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 11893310
    Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20230410816
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
  • Publication number: 20230399102
    Abstract: A method for communicating with a passenger making a journey in a vehicle is provided, the vehicle having a broadcast system for transmitting information to one or more passengers, the passenger having and operating a Portable Electronic Device (PED), the PED operable to receive information from the broadcast system of the vehicle and to display information content to the passenger; the method comprising transmitting information to the PED of one or more passengers within the vehicle; wherein the PED displays information content derived from the information transmitted to the PED. A communication system for performing the method and a vehicle comprising the communication system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: David Robert Thomas, James Henry Daniel Woodhead, Phil Hall, Tom Michael Walker, John Michael Wright
  • Patent number: 11688402
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests. Natural Language Understanding (“NLU”) processing may be performed to generate command data that represents a subject of an utterance. The command data may be sent to an application that causes presentation of first output content in a first modality at a first time in response to receiving the command data, and generates second output content in a second modality different from the first modality, wherein the second output content is associated with the first output content. The second output content may be presented in the second modality at a second time subsequent to the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
  • Publication number: 20230051866
    Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20230013750
    Abstract: A system for collecting tissue samples, such as meat tissues on carcasses, for example in the food industry. Also provided are methods for collecting tissue samples, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions to execute at least one step of the method for collecting tissue samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: David Robert Thomas, Ciaran Meghen, Gregory Alan Peters, Amy Johanna Douglas, Robert Galbraith, Ryan Michael Watson
  • Patent number: 11360736
    Abstract: Techniques for routing a user command to a speechlet and resolving conflicts between potential speechlets are described. A system determines an intent of an input command. The system also receives context information associated with the input command. The system determines speechlets (e.g., speechlets and/or skills) that may execute with respect to the input command given the intent and the context data. The system then determines whether conditions of routing rules, associated with the speechlets, are satisfied given the context data. If the conditions of only one routing rule are satisfied, the system causes the speechlet associated with the routing rule to execute with respect to the input command. If the conditions of more than one routing rule are satisfied, the system may determine a speechlet to execute with respect to the input command based on the speechlets' priorities in a list of speechlets and/or based on potential output data provided by the speechlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andres Felipe Borja Jaramillo, David Robert Thomas, Shrish Chandra Mishra, Shijian Zheng, Alberto Milan Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20200402515
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
  • Patent number: 10706854
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
  • Publication number: 20180012601
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
  • Patent number: 9754591
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for performing functions in response to user requests based on contextual data regarding prior user requests. Users may engage in conversations with a computing device in order to initiate some function or obtain some information. A dialog manager may manage the conversations and store contextual data regarding one or more of the conversations. Processing and responding to subsequent conversations may benefit from the previously stored contextual data by, e.g., reducing the amount of information that a user must provide if the user has already provided the information in the context of a prior conversation. Additional information associated with performing functions responsive to user requests may be shared among applications, further improving efficiency and enhancing the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishant Kumar, David Robert Thomas, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Vikas Jain, Jeff Bradley Beal, Ajay Gopalakrishnan, Shishir Sridhar Bharathi
  • Patent number: 9552816
    Abstract: A speech-based system includes an audio device in a user premises and a network-based service that supports use of the audio device by multiple applications. The audio device may be directed to play audio content such as music, audio books, etc. The audio device may also be directed to interact with a user through speech. The network-based service monitors event messages received from the audio device to determine which of the multiple applications currently has speech focus. When receiving speech from a user, the service first offers the corresponding meaning to the application, if any, that currently has primary speech focus. If there is no application that currently has primary speech focus, or if the application having primary speech focus is not able to respond to the meaning, the service then offers the user meaning to the application that currently has secondary speech focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Spalding VanLund, Kurt Wesley Piersol, James David Meyers, Jacob Michael Simpson, Vikram Kumar Gundeti, David Robert Thomas, Andrew Christopher Miles
  • Publication number: 20160180853
    Abstract: A speech-based system includes an audio device in a user premises and a network-based service that supports use of the audio device by multiple applications. The audio device may be directed to play audio content such as music, audio books, etc. The audio device may also be directed to interact with a user through speech. The network-based service monitors event messages received from the audio device to determine which of the multiple applications currently has speech focus. When receiving speech from a user, the service first offers the corresponding meaning to the application, if any, that currently has primary speech focus. If there is no application that currently has primary speech focus, or if the application having primary speech focus is not able to respond to the meaning, the service then offers the user meaning to the application that currently has secondary speech focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Spalding VanLund, Kurt Wesley Piersol, James David Meyers, Jacob Michael Simpson, Vikram Kumar Gundeti, David Robert Thomas, Andrew Christopher Miles