Patents by Inventor Gregory Mack Garner

Gregory Mack Garner 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: 11463130
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for determining physical possession of one or more IoT devices. According to some embodiments, a method for determining physical possession of a plurality of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices includes determining physical possession of a first IoT device of the plurality of IoT devices. The method further includes determining whether the first IoT device with the determined physical possession satisfies a condition. In response to determining that the first IoT device with the determined physical possession does not satisfy the condition, determining physical possession of a second IoT device of the plurality of IoT devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David L. Stern, David A. Westerhoff
  • Publication number: 20220260669
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method, and/or computer program product embodiments for a mobile device based control device locator. An embodiment operates by receiving a request to locate a control device, transmitting acoustic token transmission information to the control device to activate an electroacoustic transducer on the control device, receiving an acoustic signal including an acoustic token signal from the control device via a plurality of acoustic sensors, and determining distance information of the control device based on the received acoustic token signal generated by the electroacoustic transducer of the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Mack GARNER, Patrick Alan BROUILLETTE
  • Publication number: 20220244748
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method, and computer program product embodiments for modifying the functionality of an alternating current (AC) controlling device. An example computer-implemented method includes determining whether an electrical terminal of an AC controlling device is connected to a grounded conductor. In response to determining that the electrical terminal is connected to the grounded conductor, the example computer-implemented method includes generating a first control signal configured to permit the AC controlling device to perform a function. In response to determining that the electrical terminal is not connected to the grounded conductor, the example computer-implemented method includes generating a second control signal configured to prevent the AC controlling device from performing the function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Mack GARNER
  • Patent number: 11375588
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a dimmer device including a driver, and a controller communicatively coupled to the driver and to a monitor device. The monitor device can include a camera and is configured to take a plurality of images of the illumination load. The controller provides a control signal that indicates to the driver to adjust power supplied to an illumination load. The control signal is provided in response to a determination that a performance of the illumination load fails to satisfy a predetermined performance indicator. The performance of the illumination load is determined based on information related to the plurality of images of the illumination load taken by the camera of the monitor device. The controller can adjust a dimming level of the illumination load by providing the control signal to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Mack Garner
  • Patent number: 11327150
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method, and/or computer program product embodiments for a mobile device based control device locator. An embodiment operates by receiving a request to locate a control device, transmitting acoustic token transmission information to the control device to activate an electroacoustic transducer on the control device, receiving an acoustic signal including an acoustic token signal from the control device via a plurality of acoustic sensors, and determining distance information of the control device based on the received acoustic token signal generated by the electroacoustic transducer of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, Patrick Alan Brouillette
  • Publication number: 20220103428
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for automatically determining the functionality and capabilities of electronic components. Some embodiments operate by transmitting a command to the display device in question (sometimes called the device under test—DUT—herein) and monitoring the device. Then, it is determined whether an action by the display device was one of a set of proper responses to the command. If the action was proper, then it is determined that the display device supports the command set associated with the command. The command set may be the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) set, although this disclosure is not limited to that example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya ASNIS, Daniel Martin Daly, Gregory Mack Garner, Scott Edward De Haas, David Allen Westerhoff, Anthony John Wood
  • Publication number: 20220083184
    Abstract: Various embodiments for customizing a user interface based on user capabilities are described herein. An embodiment operates by detecting an interaction performed by a user with a user interface of a mobile device, the interaction being detected on a detection date and time. A biometric of the user is determined based on the interaction with the user interface of the mobile device. An initial identity of the user based is generated on the determined biometric of the user. A usage history for the initial identity of the user is retrieved. The detection date and time is compared to the usage history. The initial identity of the user is verified as an actual identity of the user based on the comparing. The user interface is customized based on the capabilities of the user in interacting with the user interface corresponding to the determined biometric after the verifying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: JAMES GREEN, Ilya Asnis, Gregory Mack Garner, Tito Thomas
  • Patent number: 11240555
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for providing over-the-air (OTA) content to electronic devices. Some embodiments operate by automatically providing program listings of OTA content to the electronic devices, wherein the program listings are displayed in user interfaces of the electronic devices; receiving a user selection of particular OTA content from one of the electronic devices; receiving electronic signals containing OTA content from an antenna; processing, using a tuner, the received electronic signals to extract the particular OTA content therefrom; and transmitting the extracted OTA content to the electronic device for playback. In some embodiments, the extracted OTA content is stored in storage of said the electronic device for future on-demand playback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Mack Garner
  • Patent number: 11216160
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for customizing a user interface on a remote control (or other device, such as a display device or mobile device) based on biometrics of the user. In a non-limiting embodiment, a method operates by receiving an interaction by a user of the remote control, wherein the interaction relates to a biometric of the user. An identity of the user is determined based on the interaction. Information associated with the determined user identity is accessed. Then, the user interface on the remote control is customized based on the accessed information. The biometric may be, for example, associated with a finger size of the user, or associated with motions made by the user with the remote control in forming the interaction. In an embodiment, the user identity is verified by comparing a date/time of the interaction with viewing history of the user, and/or by comparing the date/time of the interaction with a schedule of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: James Green, Ilya Asnis, Gregory Mack Garner, Tito Thomas, Anthony John Wood
  • Publication number: 20210327433
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for distributing the performance of speech recognition among a remote control device and a voice platform in the cloud. In some embodiments, the remote control device operates to receive a voice input from a user. The remote control device detects a trigger word in the voice input. The remote control device then processes the voice input. The remote control device then transmits the voice input to a voice platform based on the detecting in order to determine an intent associated with the voice input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John WOOD, David STERN, Gregory Mack GARNER
  • Patent number: 11140034
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for automatically determining the functionality and capabilities of electronic components. Some embodiments operate by transmitting a command to the display device in question (sometimes called the device under test—DUT—herein) and monitoring the device. Then, it is determined whether an action by the display device was one of a set of proper responses to the command. If the action was proper, then it is determined that the display device supports the command set associated with the command. The command set may be the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) set, although this disclosure is not limited to that example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Asnis, Daniel Martin Daly, Gregory Mack Garner, Scott Edward De Haas, David Allen Westerhoff, Anthony John Wood
  • Publication number: 20210304765
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for providing voice control using multiple digital assistants. In some embodiments, a voice platform operates to receive a voice input from a user. The voice platform selects a digital assistant from a plurality of digital assistants based on a trigger word. The voice platform then generates an intent from the voice input using the selected digital assistant. The voice platform then transmits the intent to a media device for processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John WOOD, David Stern, Gregory Mack Garner
  • Patent number: 11062702
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for providing voice control using multiple digital assistants. In some embodiments, a voice platform operates to receive a voice input from a user. The voice platform selects a digital assistant from a plurality of digital assistants based on a trigger word. The voice platform then generates an intent from the voice input using the selected digital assistant. The voice platform then transmits the intent to a media device for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John Wood, David Stern, Gregory Mack Garner
  • Patent number: 11062710
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for distributing the performance of speech recognition among a remote control device and a voice platform in the cloud. In some embodiments, the remote control device operates to receive a voice input from a user. The remote control device detects a trigger word in the voice input. The remote control device then processes the voice input. The remote control device then transmits the voice input to a voice platform based on the detecting in order to determine an intent associated with the voice input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John Wood, David Stern, Gregory Mack Garner
  • Patent number: 11017776
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for distributing the performance of speech recognition among a remote control device and a voice platform in the cloud. In some embodiments, the remote control device operates to receive a voice input from a user. The remote control device detects a trigger word in the voice input. The remote control device then processes the voice input. The remote control device then transmits the voice input to a voice platform based on the detecting in order to determine an intent associated with the voice input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John Wood, David Stern, Gregory Mack Garner
  • Patent number: 10827264
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and tangible computer readable medium for creating a desired audio effect for a user. The method includes operations including: causing a plurality of speakers to play test signals, each test signal being specific to one of the speakers; receiving from a remote device recorded frequency responses of the speakers resulting from the playing of the test signals; creating one or more filters to match an audio profile selected by a user; applying the filters to the recorded frequency responses to obtain filtered transformations of the speakers; and transmitting the filtered transformations to the speakers; wherein the filtered transformations are applied at the speakers to thereby achieve the user audio profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, Patrick Alan Brouillette
  • Patent number: 10777197
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments for an audio responsive electronic device. The audio responsive electronic device includes a data storage having stored therein an intent queue. Intents are stored in the intent queue. The audio responsive electronic device operates by receiving an indication that a user pressed the play/stop button. The audio responsive electronic device retrieves from the intent queue an intent last stored in the queue, wherein the retrieved intent is associated with content previously paused. The audio responsive electronic device also retrieves from the intent queue state information associated with the paused content, and then causes content to be played based on at least the paused content and the state information. In some embodiments, the audio responsive electronic device receives an indication that a user selected tell me something functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John Wood, David Stern, Gregory Mack Garner
  • Publication number: 20200186862
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for providing advertising-based video on demand (AVOD) content to electronic devices. Some embodiments operate by receiving non-AVOD content requested by a user; selecting advertisement types and categories based on at least the user and a type of the non-AVOD content; receiving advertisements corresponding to the selected advertisement types and categories; generating AVOD content comprising the non-AVOD content and the advertisements; and transmitting the AVOD content to the electronic device, wherein the electronic device monitors the user as the advertisements are played to generate monitoring information. The monitoring information indicates whether the user watched the advertisements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mack Garner, David Sharp
  • Publication number: 20200044922
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for automatically determining the functionality and capabilities of electronic components. Some embodiments operate by transmitting a command to the display device in question (sometimes called the device under test—DUT—herein) and monitoring the device. Then, it is determined whether an action by the display device was one of a set of proper responses to the command. If the action was proper, then it is determined that the display device supports the command set associated with the command. The command set may be the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) set, although this disclosure is not limited to that example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya ASNIS, Daniel Martin DALY, Gregory Mack GARNER, Scott Edward DE HAAS, David Allen WESTERHOFF, Anthony John WOOD
  • Publication number: 20190369206
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method, and/or computer program product embodiments for a mobile device based control device locator. An embodiment operates by receiving a request to locate a control device, transmitting acoustic token transmission information to the control device to activate an electroacoustic transducer on the control device, receiving an acoustic signal including an acoustic token signal from the control device via a plurality of acoustic sensors, and determining distance information of the control device based on the received acoustic token signal generated by the electroacoustic transducer of the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory Mack GARNER, Patrick Alan BROUILLETTE