Patents by Inventor Duane Richard Valz

Duane Richard Valz 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: 11910169
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric H C Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Publication number: 20230092307
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric HC Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Patent number: 11516580
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric H. C. Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Publication number: 20210051400
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric HC Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Patent number: 10880641
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric H C Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Patent number: 10652307
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for providing content. A user of an initiating device is identified. Profile information for the identified user is located. The initiating device includes a display for presenting content to the user. An indication is received from an application running on the initiating device of an intent by the user to receive a first content item on a separate but co-located presentation device having enhanced presentation characteristics for presenting content. Additional content items are selected for delivery along with the first content item. The selection includes identifying a second different content item based on the profile information for the identified user and the enhanced presentation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Duane Richard Valz
  • Publication number: 20200015006
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric HC Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Patent number: 10425725
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric H C Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Publication number: 20180007467
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric HC Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Patent number: 9769564
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric HC Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz
  • Publication number: 20160234595
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Charles Goran, Eric HC Liu, Kevin Brune, Duane Richard Valz