Patents by Inventor Gregory Michael Hart
Gregory Michael Hart 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).
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Patent number: 11968271Abstract: Systems and methods for sender profile and/or recipient profile disambiguation and/or confirmation are disclosed. In instances where a sender profile is not indicated by a user sending a communication from a communal device, heuristic data may be utilized to infer the sender profile. Similar heuristic data may also be used when selection of the sender profile is associated with a low confidence level. Heuristic data may also be used to infer the recipient profile when the user does not indicate the recipient profile or when selection of the recipient profile is associated with a low confidence. Various confirmations may result from the sender and recipient profile disambiguation.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Christopher Geiger Parker, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, James Alexander Stanton, Aaron Takayanagi Barnet, Venkatesh Kancharla, Gregory Michael Hart
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Patent number: 11893603Abstract: Techniques for selecting and providing highly targeted, interactive advertisements in a personalized manner. These advertisements may be audio-only advertisements, video-only advertisements, or advertisements that include both audio and video. As described below, advertisements may be selected and/or generated for a particular user based on an array of factors, including the user's interactions with multiple different client devices (e.g., a tablet computing device, a voice-controlled device, a television etc.), as well as additional behavior of the user. In some instances, the client devices may include a voice-controlled device that the user interacts with via voice commands and that provides audible content for output to the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Ian W. Freed
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Publication number: 20240005918Abstract: An audio controlled assistant captures environmental noise and converts the environmental noise into audio signals. The audio signals are provided to a system which analyzes the audio signals for a plurality of audio prompts, which have been customized for the acoustic environment surrounding the audio controlled assistant by an acoustic modeling system. The system configured to detect the presence of an audio prompt in the audio signals and transmit instructions associated with the detected audio prompt to at least one of the audio controlled assistant or one or more cloud based services, in response.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: John Daniel Thimsen, Gregory Michael Hart, Ryan Paul Thomas
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Patent number: 11862153Abstract: An audio controlled assistant captures environmental noise and converts the environmental noise into audio signals. The audio signals are provided to a system which analyzes the audio signals for a plurality of audio prompts, which have been customized for the acoustic environment surrounding the audio controlled assistant by an acoustic modeling system. The system configured to detect the presence of an audio prompt in the audio signals and transmit instructions associated with the detected audio prompt to at least one of the audio controlled assistant or one or more cloud based services, in response.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John Daniel Thimsen, Gregory Michael Hart, Ryan Paul Thomas
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Publication number: 20230216927Abstract: Systems and methods for sender profile and/or recipient profile disambiguation and/or confirmation are disclosed. In instances where a sender profile is not indicated by a user sending a communication from a communal device, heuristic data may be utilized to infer the sender profile. Similar heuristic data may also be used when selection of the sender profile is associated with a low confidence level. Heuristic data may also be used to infer the recipient profile when the user does not indicate the recipient profile or when selection of the recipient profile is associated with a low confidence. Various confirmations may result from the sender and recipient profile disambiguation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Christopher Geiger Parker, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, James Alexander Stanton, Aaron Takayanagi Barnet, Venkatesh Kancharla, Gregory Michael Hart
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Patent number: 11657812Abstract: Methods and systems for providing message playback using a shared electronic device is described herein. In response to receiving a request to output messages, a speech-processing system may determine a group account associated with a requesting device, and may determine messages stored by a message data store for the group account. Speaker identification processing may also be performed to determine a speaker of the request. A user account associated with the speaker, and messages stored for the user account, may be determined. A summary response indicating the user account's messages and the group account's message may then be generated such that the user account messages are identified prior to the group account's messages. The messages may then be analyzed to determine an appropriate voice user interface for the requester such that the playback of the messages using a shared electronic device is more natural and conversational.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Brian Oliver, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Gregory Michael Hart, Ran Mokady
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Patent number: 11546434Abstract: Systems and methods for sender profile and/or recipient profile disambiguation and/or confirmation are disclosed. In instances where a sender profile is not indicated by a user sending a communication from a communal device, heuristic data may be utilized to infer the sender profile. Similar heuristic data may also be used when selection of the sender profile is associated with a low confidence level. Heuristic data may also be used to infer the recipient profile when the user does not indicate the recipient profile or when selection of the recipient profile is associated with a low confidence. Various confirmations may result from the sender and recipient profile disambiguation.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Christopher Geiger Parker, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, James Alexander Stanton, Aaron Takayanagi Barnet, Venkatesh Kancharla, Gregory Michael Hart
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Patent number: 11545115Abstract: A video display hub is mounted in a common household area such as a kitchen or family room. The display hub is configured to display various types of information for users in the area, such as weather, traffic updates, schedules, notes, messages, lists, news, etc. When the user is at a distance from the display hub, information is presented at a relatively low density, with a low level of granularity and detail in conjunction with large fonts, graphics, and icons. When the user is close to the display hub, information is presented at a relatively high density, with a high level of granularity and detail in conjunction with small fonts, graphics, and icons.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Douglas McQueen, Meng Li, Eric Alan Breitbard, Robert Steven Murdock, Julien George Beguin, Gregory Michael Hart, Scott Ian Blanksteen
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Patent number: 11488591Abstract: Techniques for altering audio being output by a voice-controlled device, or another device, to enable more accurate automatic speech recognition (ASR) by the voice-controlled device. For instance, a voice-controlled device may output audio within an environment using a speaker of the device. While outputting the audio, a microphone of the device may capture sound within the environment and may generate an audio signal based on the captured sound. The device may then analyze the audio signal to identify speech of a user within the signal, with the speech indicating that the user is going to provide a subsequent command to the device. Thereafter, the device may alter the output of the audio (e.g., attenuate the audio, pause the audio, switch from stereo to mono, etc.) to facilitate speech recognition of the user's subsequent command.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, William Spencer Worley, III
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Patent number: 11468889Abstract: A speech recognition platform configured to receive an audio signal that includes speech from a user and perform automatic speech recognition (ASR) on the audio signal to identify ASR results. The platform may identify: (i) a domain of a voice command within the speech based on the ASR results and based on context information associated with the speech or the user, and (ii) an intent of the voice command. In response to identifying the intent, the platform may perform a corresponding action, such as streaming audio to the device, setting a reminder for the user, purchasing an item on behalf of the user, making a reservation for the user or launching an application for the user. The speech recognition platform, in combination with the device, may therefore facilitate efficient interactions between the user and a voice-controlled device.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Peter Paul Henri Carbon, John Daniel Thimsen, Vikram Kumar Gundeti, Scott Ian Blanksteen, Allan Timothy Lindsay, Frederic Johan Georges Deramat
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Patent number: 11184412Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and apparatus that enable constraint based communications between two or more devices. For example, a first user of a first device may submit a communication request to establish a communication session with a second user and provide a constraint for that communication session, such as a time-limit (e.g., limit the communication session to five minutes). In such an example, if the second user accepts the communication request with the constraint, a communication session is established and the system monitors the communication session to determine when a condition corresponding to the constraint has been satisfied. When the condition is satisfied, the communication session is terminated by the system.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Martin George, Maria Christine Renz, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Gregory Michael Hart, Rohit Prasad, Brian Oliver, Jae Pum Park
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Publication number: 20210210094Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating communications between shared electronic devices are described herein. In some embodiments, a group account may be assigned to a shared electronic device. The group account may include one or more user accounts, where individuals associated with those user accounts may interact with the shared electronic device, and also may form a part of the group account. When a message is sent from one shared electronic device to another personal device or shared electronic device, the message may be indicated as being sent from the group account, as if the shared electronic device corresponds to its own separate account. In some embodiments, speaker identification processing may be employed to determine a speaker of the message and, if the speaker is able to be identified, the message may be sent from the corresponding speaker's user account instead of the shared electronic device's corresponding group account.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Venkata Krishnan Ramamoorthy, Gregory Michael Hart, Samuel Scott Gigliotti, Scott Southwood, Ran Mokady, Hale Sostock, Roman Yusufov
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Publication number: 20210174802Abstract: A system that is capable of controlling multiple entertainment systems and/or speakers using voice commands. The system receives voice commands and may determine audio sources and speakers indicated by the voice commands. The system may generate audio data from the audio sources and may send the audio data to the speakers using multiple interfaces. For example, the system may send the audio data directly to the speakers using a network address, may send the audio data to the speakers via a voice-enabled device or may send the audio data to the speakers via a speaker controller. The system may generate output zones including multiple speakers and may associate input devices with speakers within the output zones. For example, the system may receive a voice command from an input device in an output zone and may reduce output audio generated by speakers in the output zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Robert Williams, Steven Todd Rabuchin, Gregory Michael Hart
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Publication number: 20210144230Abstract: Systems and methods for sender profile and/or recipient profile disambiguation and/or confirmation are disclosed. In instances where a sender profile is not indicated by a user sending a communication from a communal device, heuristic data may be utilized to infer the sender profile. Similar heuristic data may also be used when selection of the sender profile is associated with a low confidence level. Heuristic data may also be used to infer the recipient profile when the user does not indicate the recipient profile or when selection of the recipient profile is associated with a low confidence. Various confirmations may result from the sender and recipient profile disambiguation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Christopher Geiger Parker, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, James Alexander Stanton, Aaron Takayanagi Barnet, Venkatesh Kancharla, Gregory Michael Hart
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Publication number: 20210110823Abstract: Methods and systems for providing message playback using a shared electronic device is described herein. In response to receiving a request to output messages, a speech-processing system may determine a group account associated with a requesting device, and may determine messages stored by a message data store for the group account. Speaker identification processing may also be performed to determine a speaker of the request. A user account associated with the speaker, and messages stored for the user account, may be determined. A summary response indicating the user account's messages and the group account's message may then be generated such that the user account messages are identified prior to the group account's messages. The messages may then be analyzed to determine an appropriate voice user interface for the requester such that the playback of the messages using a shared electronic device is more natural and conversational.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Brian Oliver, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Gregory Michael Hart, Ran Mokady
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Patent number: 10950220Abstract: An interactive system may be implemented in part by an audio device located within a user environment, which may accept speech commands from a user and may also interact with the user by means of generated speech. In order to improve performance of the interactive system, a user may use a separate device, such as a personal computer or mobile device, to access a graphical user interface that lists details of historical speech interactions. The graphical user interface may be configured to allow the user to provide feedback and/or corrections regarding the details of specific interactions.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gilles Jean Roger Belin, Charles S. Rogers, III, Robert David Owen, Jeffrey Penrod Adams, Rajiv Ramachandran, Gregory Michael Hart
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Patent number: 10916243Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating communications between shared electronic devices are described herein. In some embodiments, a group account may be assigned to a shared electronic device. The group account may include one or more user accounts, where individuals associated with those user accounts may interact with the shared electronic device, and also may form a part of the group account. When a message is sent from one shared electronic device to another personal device or shared electronic device, the message may be indicated as being sent from the group account, as if the shared electronic device corresponds to its own separate account. In some embodiments, speaker identification processing may be employed to determine a speaker of the message and, if the speaker is able to be identified, the message may be sent from the corresponding speaker's user account instead of the shared electronic device's corresponding group account.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Venkata Krishnan Ramamoorthy, Gregory Michael Hart, Samuel Scott Gigliotti, Scott Southwood, Ran Mokady, Hale Sostock, Roman Yusufov
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Patent number: 10878815Abstract: A system that is capable of controlling multiple entertainment systems and/or speakers using voice commands. The system receives voice commands and may determine audio sources and speakers indicated by the voice commands. The system may generate audio data from the audio sources and may send the audio data to the speakers using multiple interfaces. For example, the system may send the audio data directly to the speakers using a network address, may send the audio data to the speakers via a voice-enabled device or may send the audio data to the speakers via a speaker controller. The system may generate output zones including multiple speakers and may associate input devices with speakers within the output zones. For example, the system may receive a voice command from an input device in an output zone and may reduce output audio generated by speakers in the output zone.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert Williams, Steven Todd Rabuchin, Gregory Michael Hart
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Patent number: 10848591Abstract: Systems and methods for sender profile and/or recipient profile disambiguation and/or confirmation are disclosed. In instances where a sender profile is not indicated by a user sending a communication from a communal device, heuristic data may be utilized to infer the sender profile. Similar heuristic data may also be used when selection of the sender profile is associated with a low confidence level. Heuristic data may also be used to infer the recipient profile when the user does not indicate the recipient profile or when selection of the recipient profile is associated with a low confidence. Various confirmations may result from the sender and recipient profile disambiguation.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, James Alexander Stanton, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Christopher Geiger Parker, Aaron Takayanagi Barnet, Venkatesh Kancharla, Gregory Michael Hart
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Patent number: 10832653Abstract: Techniques for receiving a voice command from a user and, in response, providing audible content to the user via a first device and providing visual content for the user via a second device. In some instances, the first device includes a microphone for generating audio signals that include user speech, as well as a speaker for outputting audible content in response to identified voice commands from the speech. However, the first device might not include a display for displaying graphical content. As such, the first device may be configured to identify devices that include displays and that are proximate to the first device. The first device may then instruct one or more of these other devices to output visual content associated with a user's voice command.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Jeffrey P. Bezos