Patents by Inventor Ethan Zane Evans

Ethan Zane Evans 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: 20240363106
    Abstract: Functionality is disclosed herein for using an interactive content service to provide content. A user may interact with the interactive content service to access interactive content, such as interactive fiction, interactive text adventure games, and other interactive content. A user may also use the interactive content to receive auditory output from applications configured to provide text-based content. The interactive content service maintains state information that identifies the current state of the interactive content. For example, before starting a particular interactive adventure game, the state identifies a beginning location within the interactive content. As the user interacts with the game, the interactive content service updates the state of the user within the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: David Allen Markley, Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 12039974
    Abstract: Functionality is disclosed herein for using an interactive content service to provide content. A user may interact with the interactive content service to access interactive content, such as interactive fiction, interactive text adventure games, and other interactive content. A user may also use the interactive content to receive auditory output from applications configured to provide text-based content. The interactive content service maintains state information that identifies the current state of the interactive content. For example, before starting a particular interactive adventure game, the state identifies a beginning location within the interactive content. As the user interacts with the game, the interactive content service updates the state of the user within the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allen Markley, Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 11835947
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward the use of two or more autonomous vehicles, working in cooperation, to deliver an item between a source location and a destination location. For example, an autonomous ground based vehicle may transport an item from a source location to a transfer location and an autonomous aerial vehicle will transport the item from the transfer location to the destination location. The transfer location may be at any location along a navigation path between the source location and the destination location. In some examples, the transfer location may be adjacent the destination location such that the autonomous aerial vehicle is only transporting the item a short distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 11829923
    Abstract: A mobile base is provided that travels through delivery areas and utilizes associated transportation units (e.g., automated aerial vehicles, automated mobile vehicles, etc.) for delivering items from the mobile base to user specified delivery locations. The transportation units may be carried on the mobile base and may utilize navigation systems (e.g., utilizing GPS) to travel back and forth to the mobile base when making deliveries. Tracking data (e.g., GPS) may be utilized for status monitoring and notifications, as well as providing a map that may show and update the current locations of the transportation units and/or mobile base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Zane Evans, Atishkumar Kalyan
  • Patent number: 11625651
    Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing a repository of customizable itineraries are disclosed. Based at least in part on user input, trip components are selected from a repository of itineraries based at least in part on user input from a first user. The trip components represent events or locations. Recommendation input for customizing the trip components is obtained from additional users. A customized itinerary is selected based at least in part on the itinerary and the recommendation input. The customized itinerary comprises one or more user-selected modifications to a chronological order or one or more user-selected substitutions to the set of trip components. The customized itinerary is stored in the repository of itineraries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Anne Gorman-Ladd, Ethan Zane Evans, Taneem Talukdar, Glenn Warren Van Houten
  • Patent number: 11402837
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward the use of two or more autonomous vehicles, working in cooperation, to deliver an item between a source location and a destination location. For example, an autonomous ground based vehicle may transport an item from a source location to a transfer location and an autonomous aerial vehicle will transport the item from the transfer location to the destination location. The transfer location may be at any location along a navigation path between the source location and the destination location. In some examples, the transfer location may be adjacent the destination location such that the autonomous aerial vehicle is only transporting the item a short distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 11263579
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a network of autonomous vehicles, such as autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) that deliver items to and/or from a destination location and/or perform a service. For example, a community (e.g., neighborhood, apartment complex) may include a plurality of autonomous vehicles that deliver payloads to different locations (e.g., homes, apartments) within the community for use or consumption. Some of the payloads are community items (e.g., microwave, stove top, cooking utensils) that are shared by members of the community and transferred between locations within the community by autonomous vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Pragyana K. Mishra, Darren Ernest Canavor, Ethan Zane Evans, Tye Michael Brady
  • Patent number: 11235929
    Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tye Michael Brady, Darren Ernest Canavor, Ethan Zane Evans, Pragyana K. Mishra, Hilliard Bruce Siegel
  • Patent number: 11071919
    Abstract: A game spectating system that leverages game metadata to allow spectators to join or “step into” games being broadcast. Broadcast content may include user interface elements via which spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain demo or full versions of games. Game client software and game data may be obtained and downloaded to the spectator's devices via the spectating system interfaces and broadcast streams. Spectators can order, purchase, or otherwise obtain characters, avatars, and gear for participation in particular games. Using the spectating UI to obtain the game client software, game data, characters, and gear via the broadcast streams, the spectators may join live game sessions of online games, start new game sessions, and/or replay previously recorded game sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Willette, David Hendrik Verfaillie, Hok Peng Leung, Patrick Gilmore, Ethan Zane Evans, Christopher Paul Dury, Collin Charles Davis, Richard Bantegui, Francis Xavier Surjo-Subagio, Michael Anthony Frazzini, Michael Martin George
  • Patent number: 11017448
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for on-demand customization of products. A product distributor may provide a product customization service and user interface to its customers that may be used to enhance, extend, customize, or combine stock physical products offered by the product distributor by providing custom add-on physical items for or customizations to the stock products. The product distributor may leverage on-demand production technologies such as additive manufacturing technologies to produce the custom physical items or customizations according to specifications received from the customer or generated according to descriptive information for the stock products. The custom items may be combined with one or more stock products to produce customized products for the customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Zane Evans
  • Publication number: 20210141377
    Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) receive items from transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks) for delivery to specified locations (e.g., user residences, etc.). The AGVs may travel along travel paths to and from the delivery locations to deliver the items, and may be equipped with access mechanisms (e.g., which transmit remote control signals) to open and close access barriers (e.g., garage doors, etc.) that are encountered along the travel paths. Transportation vehicles may transport items from materials handling facilities, and the AGVs may travel to meeting locations to meet the transportation vehicles to receive the items for delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Tye Michael Brady, Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 10987596
    Abstract: An audio analysis system that may analyze participant audio input in a game spectating environment. The audio analysis system may receive audio input for participants (broadcasters and/or spectators) in a game spectating system. The audio analysis system may analyze the audio input to generate audio analysis information for broadcasts, and provide the information to the game spectating system. The audio analysis information may be applied in the game spectating system in various ways. For example, the information may be used to determine active or popular broadcasts, broadcasters, games, and/or recordings of broadcasts, and the active or popular content may be indicated to spectators via a game spectating user interface. The audio analysis system may provide an application programming interface (API) to receive the audio input and to provide audio analysis information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Zane Evans, Michael Martin George, Michael Anthony Frazzini, Alistair Robert Hirst, Matthew James Van Gorder
  • Patent number: 10901418
    Abstract: Autonomous ground vehicles (“AGVs”) receive items from transportation vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks) for delivery to specified locations. After the items are received, the AGVs may navigate along travel paths to delivery locations (e.g., at user residences) to deliver the items. The AGVs may include navigation systems and sensors (e.g., imaging sensors, distance detection sensors, etc.) to assist with the navigation, and may include locking mechanisms that lock the storage compartments of the AGVs while travelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tye Michael Brady, Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 10902509
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting information for physical products by providing virtual products to customers. Virtual products (digital representations of physical products) may be provided to customers that provide item information including but not limited to evidence of ownership of corresponding physical products, for example photographs or sales receipts. The customers may use the virtual products in various applications in which the customers may establish a virtual presence. The information provided by the customers may be collected, analyzed, and applied in one or more areas of real-world production and marketing, for example in obtaining competitive pricing information. Digital lockers may be provided for the customers to which the virtual products are stored; the applications may access the virtual products for a customer from a respective digital locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schleif Pesce, Ethan Zane Evans, Michael Anthony Frazzini, Michael Martin George
  • Patent number: 10885491
    Abstract: A mobile base is provided that travels through delivery areas and utilizes associated transportation units (e.g., automated aerial vehicles, automated mobile vehicles, etc.) for delivering items from the mobile base to user specified delivery locations. The transportation units may be carried on the mobile base and may utilize navigation systems (e.g., utilizing GPS) to travel back and forth to the mobile base when making deliveries. Tracking data (e.g., GPS) may be utilized for status monitoring and notifications, as well as providing a map that may show and update the current locations of the transportation units and/or mobile base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Zane Evans, Atishkumar Kalyan
  • Patent number: 10864447
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for presenting highlights from broadcasts in spectating environments. A highlight service determines highlight events in the broadcasts, and extracts highlight segments from the broadcasts according to the determined events. Highlight reels may be created from the highlight segments according to highlight selection criteria (genre, game title, broadcaster, time period, etc.) and/or spectator preferences. The highlight service may provide a highlight user interface (UI) via which spectators may selectively view the highlights and highlight reels. The highlight service may generate highlight reels targeted to particular spectators or groups of spectators according to spectators' specified or otherwise determined preferences, demographics, viewing history, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Willette, Patrick Gilmore, Ethan Zane Evans, Michael Martin George, Michael Anthony Frazzini
  • Patent number: 10684866
    Abstract: Functionality is disclosed herein for using a context sensitive framework to identify relevant applications to a current context and to provide data received from the relevant applications to a user. Instead of a user having to manually locate and launch an application, relevant applications determined by a contextual service may provide data in response to receiving the context data. The applications that are identified as relevant to the context determine the application data to provide to the contextual service. The contextual service selects at least a portion of the application data to provide for display within a user interface. In some configurations, the selected application data is displayed within a user interface that maintains a same look and feel regardless of the application data that is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 10679283
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting information for physical products by providing virtual products to customers. Virtual products (digital representations of physical products) may be provided to customers that provide item information including but not limited to evidence of ownership of corresponding physical products, for example photographs or sales receipts. The customers may use the virtual products in various applications in which the customers may establish a virtual presence. The information provided by the customers may be collected, analyzed, and applied in one or more areas of real-world production and marketing, for example in obtaining competitive pricing information. Digital lockers may be provided for the customers to which the virtual products are stored; the applications may access the virtual products for a customer from a respective digital locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Schleif Pesce, Ethan Zane Evans, Michael Anthony Frazzini, Michael Martin George
  • Publication number: 20200160852
    Abstract: Functionality is disclosed herein for using an interactive content service to provide content. A user may interact with the interactive content service to access interactive content, such as interactive fiction, interactive text adventure games, and other interactive content. A user may also use the interactive content to receive auditory output from applications configured to provide text-based content. The interactive content service maintains state information that identifies the current state of the interactive content. For example, before starting a particular interactive adventure game, the state identifies a beginning location within the interactive content. As the user interacts with the game, the interactive content service updates the state of the user within the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: David Allen Markley, Ethan Zane Evans
  • Patent number: 10643292
    Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing a trust-based social graph for travel planning are disclosed. Social data is obtained from one or more social network services. Based at least in part on the social data, trust scores are determined between an entity and a plurality of additional entities. For one of the additional entities, the respective trust score is determined based at least in part on a respective relationship score and a respective similarity score for the additional entity. One or more respective connections are generated in a social graph between the entity and one or more trusted entities of the additional entities. The one or more respective connections with the trusted entities are generated based at least in part on the respective trust scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Anne Gorman-Ladd, Ethan Zane Evans, Taneem Talukdar, Glenn Warren Van Houten