Patents by Inventor Gregory Pulz

Gregory Pulz 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: 11537947
    Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for automatically learning and facilitating interaction routines involving at least one human participant. In one example, a method includes learning an interaction routine conducted between a human user and a second party, wherein the interaction routine comprises a series of prompts and responses designed to identify and deliver desired information, storing a template of the interaction routine based on the learning, wherein the template includes at least a portion of the series of prompts and responses, detecting, in the course of a new instance of the interaction routine, at least one prompt from the second party that requests a response from the human user, and using the template to provide a response to the prompt so that involvement of the human user in the new instance of the interaction routine is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Blanchard, Lan Zhang, Gregory Pulz
  • Patent number: 11195510
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing for intelligent switching of languages and/or pronunciations in a text-to-speech system. As the system receives text, the text is analyzed to identify portions which should have speech constructed using a pronunciation distinct from the remaining portions of the text. The text-to-speech system uses multiple pronunciation dictionaries to generate and produce speech corresponding to the text, where the identified portions of the text are in a different language or have a different accent from the remainder of the text. Having generated speech corresponding to the text in multiple languages, accents, or dialects, the system combines the portions, then communicates the speech to the text recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200250582
    Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for automatically learning and facilitating interaction routines involving at least one human participant. In one example, a method includes learning an interaction routine conducted between a human user and a second party, wherein the interaction routine comprises a series of prompts and responses designed to identify and deliver desired information, storing a template of the interaction routine based on the learning, wherein the template includes at least a portion of the series of prompts and responses, detecting, in the course of a new instance of the interaction routine, at least one prompt from the second party that requests a response from the human user, and using the template to provide a response to the prompt so that involvement of the human user in the new instance of the interaction routine is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Harry Blanchard, Lan Zhang, Gregory Pulz
  • Patent number: 10628754
    Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for automatically learning and facilitating interaction routines involving at least one human participant. In one example, a method includes learning an interaction routine conducted between a human user and a second party, wherein the interaction routine comprises a series of prompts and responses designed to identify and deliver desired information, storing a template of the interaction routine based on the learning, wherein the template includes at least a portion of the series of prompts and responses, detecting, in the course of a new instance of the interaction routine, at least one prompt from the second party that requests a response from the human user, and using the template to provide a response to the prompt so that involvement of the human user in the new instance of the interaction routine is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Blanchard, Lan Zhang, Gregory Pulz
  • Publication number: 20190371293
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing for intelligent switching of languages and/or pronunciations in a text-to-speech system. As the system receives text, the text is analyzed to identify portions which should have speech constructed using a pronunciation distinct from the remaining portions of the text. The text-to-speech system uses multiple pronunciation dictionaries to generate and produce speech corresponding to the text, where the identified portions of the text are in a different language or have a different accent from the remainder of the text. Having generated speech corresponding to the text in multiple languages, accents, or dialects, the system combines the portions, then communicates the speech to the text recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10388269
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing for intelligent switching of languages and/or pronunciations in a text-to-speech system. As the system receives text, the text is analyzed to identify portions which should have speech constructed using a pronunciation distinct from the remaining portions of the text. The text-to-speech system uses multiple pronunciation dictionaries to generate and produce speech corresponding to the text, where the identified portions of the text are in a different language or have a different accent from the remainder of the text. Having generated speech corresponding to the text in multiple languages, accents, or dialects, the system combines the portions, then communicates the speech to the text recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10168867
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for generating a unified menu for multiple communication channels are provided. User interaction information received via the multiple communication channels are transmitted to a central server over a network. The central server also receives notification information or directive information from a source external to the central server. The central server weighs the received information and transforms the weighted information into unified menu options in a unified menu. The unified menu is transmitted to the multiple communication channels, such that same unified menu options are provided at each of the multiple communication channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Lan Zhang, Gregory Pulz
  • Publication number: 20180349799
    Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for automatically learning and facilitating interaction routines involving at least one human participant. In one example, a method includes learning an interaction routine conducted between a human user and a second party, wherein the interaction routine comprises a series of prompts and responses designed to identify and deliver desired information, storing a template of the interaction routine based on the learning, wherein the template includes at least a portion of the series of prompts and responses, detecting, in the course of a new instance of the interaction routine, at least one prompt from the second party that requests a response from the human user, and using the template to provide a response to the prompt so that involvement of the human user in the new instance of the interaction routine is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: HARRY BLANCHARD, Lan Zhang, Gregory Pulz
  • Patent number: 9794405
    Abstract: A dynamically updated script for an interactive communication is generated during an interactive communication. The interactive communication is monitored over a communication network using a computer with a processor and memory for input during the interactive communication. When an input incompatible with an original script for the interactive communication is detected for the interactive communication, a dynamically updated script different from the script is generated in accordance with a type of the incompatible input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9756183
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170236509
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing for intelligent switching of languages and/or pronunciations in a text-to-speech system. As the system receives text, the text is analyzed to identify portions which should have speech constructed using a pronunciation distinct from the remaining portions of the text. The text-to-speech system uses multiple pronunciation dictionaries to generate and produce speech corresponding to the text, where the identified portions of the text are in a different language or have a different accent from the remainder of the text. Having generated speech corresponding to the text in multiple languages, accents, or dialects, the system combines the portions, then communicates the speech to the text recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170142255
    Abstract: A dynamically updated script for an interactive communication is generated during an interactive communication. The interactive communication is monitored over a communication network using a computer with a processor and memory for input during the interactive communication. When an input incompatible with an original script for the interactive communication is detected for the interactive communication, a dynamically updated script different from the script is generated in accordance with a type of the incompatible input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. BLANCHARD, Gregory PULZ, Lan ZHANG
  • Patent number: 9640173
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing for intelligent switching of languages and/or pronunciations in a text-to-speech system. As the system receives text, the text is analyzed to identify portions which should have speech constructed using a pronunciation distinct from the remaining portions of the text. The text-to-speech system uses multiple pronunciation dictionaries to generate and produce speech corresponding to the text, where the identified portions of the text are in a different language or have a different accent from the remainder of the text. Having generated speech corresponding to the text in multiple languages, accents, or dialects, the system combines the portions, then communicates the speech to the text recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9621723
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9609127
    Abstract: A script for an interactive communication is dynamically adjusted during the interactive communication. The interactive communication is monitored over a communication network using a computer with a processor and memory for input during the interactive communication. Input incompatible with a script for the interactive communication is detected for the interactive communication. The incompatible input is categorized. The script is dynamically adjusted during the interactive communication into a dynamically updated script in accordance with the categorizing. Information is provided over the communication network to the initiator in accordance with the dynamically updated script.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170060353
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for generating a unified menu for multiple communication channels are provided. User interaction information received via the multiple communication channels are transmitted to a central server over a network. The central server also receives notification information or directive information from a source external to the central server. The central server weighs the received information and transforms the weighted information into unified menu options in a unified menu. The unified menu is transmitted to the multiple communication channels, such that same unified menu options are provided at each of the multiple communication channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. BLANCHARD, Lan ZHANG, Gregory PULZ
  • Publication number: 20160234385
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, STEVEN H. LEWIS, GREGORY PULZ, LAN ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20160212263
    Abstract: A script for an interactive communication is dynamically adjusted during the interactive communication. The interactive communication is monitored over a communication network using a computer with a processor and memory for input during the interactive communication. Input incompatible with a script for the interactive communication is detected for the interactive communication. The incompatible input is categorized. The script is dynamically adjusted during the interactive communication into a dynamically updated script in accordance with the categorizing. Information is provided over the communication network to the initiator in accordance with the dynamically updated script.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9361880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for recognizing speech. The method includes receiving speech from a user, perceiving at least one speech dialect in the received speech, selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars based on at least one score associated with the perceived speech dialect and the perceived at least one speech dialect, and recognizing the received speech with the selected at least one grammar. Selecting at least one grammar can be further based on a user profile. Multiple grammars can be blended. Predefined parameters can include pronunciation differences, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Optimized dialect grammars can be domain specific. The method can further include recognizing initial received speech with a generic grammar until an optimized dialect grammar is selected. Selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars can be based on a certainty threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Interactions LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9357068
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang