Patents by Inventor Horacio E. Franco

Horacio E. Franco 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: 11217228
    Abstract: Systems and methods for speech recognition are provided. In some aspects, the method comprises receiving, using an input, an audio signal. The method further comprises splitting the audio signal into auditory test segments. The method further comprises extracting, from each of the auditory test segments, a set of acoustic features. The method further comprises applying the set of acoustic features to a deep neural network to produce a hypothesis for the corresponding auditory test segment. The method further comprises selectively performing one or more of: indirect adaptation of the deep neural network and direct adaptation of the deep neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Vikramjit Mitra, Horacio E. Franco, Chris D. Bartels, Dimitra Vergyri, Julien van Hout, Martin Graciarena
  • Patent number: 10755713
    Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Osher Yadgar, Neil Yorke-Smith, Bart Peintner, Gokhan Tur, Necip Fazil Ayan, Michael J. Wolverton, Girish Acharya, Venkatarama Satyanarayana Parimi, William S. Mark, Wen Wang, Andreas Kathol, Regis Vincent, Horacio E. Franco
  • Publication number: 20200168208
    Abstract: Systems and methods for speech recognition are provided. In some aspects, the method comprises receiving, using an input, an audio signal. The method further comprises splitting the audio signal into auditory test segments. The method further comprises extracting, from each of the auditory test segments, a set of acoustic features. The method further comprises applying the set of acoustic features to a deep neural network to produce a hypothesis for the corresponding auditory test segment. The method further comprises selectively performing one or more of: indirect adaptation of the deep neural network and direct adaptation of the deep neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Vikramjit Mitra, Horacio E. Franco, Chris D. Bartels, Dimitra Vergyri, Julien van Hout, Martin Graciarena
  • Patent number: 10366336
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for exploiting human feedback in an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes inferring an intent from data entered by the human user, formulating a response in accordance with the intent, receiving feedback from a human advisor in response to at least one of the inferring and the formulating, wherein the human advisor is a person other than the human user, and adapting at least one model used in at least one of the inferring and the formulating, wherein the adapting is based on the feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Gokhan Tur, Horacio E. Franco, William S. Mark, Norman D. Winarsky, Bart Peintner, Michael J. Wolverton, Neil Yorke-Smith
  • Publication number: 20190130912
    Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Osher Yadgar, Neil Yorke-Smith, Bart Peintner, Gokhan Tur, Necip Fazil Ayan, Michael J. Wolverton, Girish Acharya, Venkatarama Satyanarayana Parimi, William S. Mark, Wen Wang, Andreas Kathol, Regis Vincent, Horacio E. Franco
  • Patent number: 10163440
    Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Osher Yadgar, Neil Yorke-Smith, Bart Peintner, Gokhan Tur, Necip Fazil Ayan, Michael J. Wolverton, Girish Acharya, Venkatarama Satyanarayana Parimi, William S. Mark, Wen Wang, Andreas Kathol, Regis Vincent, Horacio E. Franco
  • Patent number: 9928832
    Abstract: A method for classifying lexical stress in an utterance includes generating a feature vector representing stress characteristics of a syllable occurring in the utterance, wherein the feature vector includes a plurality of features based on prosodic information and spectral information, computing a plurality of scores, wherein each of the plurality of scores is related to a probability of a given class of lexical stress, and classifying the lexical stress of the syllable based on the plurality of scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Horacio E. Franco, Luciana Ferrer, Harry Bratt, Colleen Richey, Kristin Precoda, Victor Abrash
  • Publication number: 20170116989
    Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: SRI International
    Inventors: Osher Yadgar, Neil Yorke-Smith, Bart Peintner, Gokhan Tur, Necip Fazil Ayan, Michael J. Wolverton, Girish Acharya, Venkatarama Satyanarayana Parimi, William S. Mark, Wen Wang, Andreas Kathol, Regis Vincent, Horacio E. Franco
  • Publication number: 20170061316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Gokhan Tur, Horacio E. Franco, Elizabeth Shriberg, Gregory K. Myers, William S. Mark, Norman D. Winarsky, Andreas Stolcke, Bart Peintner, Michael J. Wolverton, Luciana Ferrer, Martin Graciarena, Neil Yorke-Smith, Harry Bratt
  • Patent number: 9575964
    Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Osher Yadgar, Neil Yorke-Smith, Bart Peintner, Gokhan Tur, Necip Fazil Ayan, Michael J. Wolverton, Girish Acharya, Venkatarama Satyanarayana Parimi, William S. Mark, Wen Wang, Andreas Kathol, Regis Vincent, Horacio E. Franco
  • Patent number: 9501743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Gokhan Tur, Horacio E. Franco, Elizabeth Shriberg, Gregory K. Myers, William S. Mark, Norman D. Winarsky, Andreas Stolcke, Bart Peintner, Michael J. Wolverton, Luciana Ferrer, Martin Graciarena, Neil Yorke-Smith, Harry Bratt
  • Publication number: 20160086090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Gokhan Tur, Horacio E. Franco, Elizabeth Shriberg, Gregory K. Myers, William S. Mark, Norman D. Winarsky, Andreas Stolcke, Bart Peinter, Michael J. Wolverton, Luciana Ferrer, Martin Graciarena, Neil Yorke-Smith, Harry Bratt
  • Patent number: 9213558
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Gokhan Tur, Horacio E. Franco, Elizabeth Shriberg, Gregory K. Myers, William S. Mark, Norman D. Winarsky, Andreas Stolcke, Bart Peintner, Michael J. Wolverton, Luciana Ferrer, Martin Graciarena, Harry Bratt, Neil Yorke-Smith
  • Publication number: 20150302003
    Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Osher Yadgar, Neil Yorke-Smith, Bart Peintner, Gokhan Tur, Necip Fazil Ayan, Michael J. Wolverton, Girish Acharya, Venkatarama Satyanarayana Parimi, William S. Mark, Wen Wang, Andreas Kathol, Regis Vincent, Horacio E. Franco
  • Patent number: 9082402
    Abstract: A method for assisting a user with one or more desired tasks is disclosed. For example, an executable, generic language understanding module and an executable, generic task reasoning module are provided for execution in the computer processing system. A set of run-time specifications is provided to the generic language understanding module and the generic task reasoning module, comprising one or more models specific to a domain. A language input is then received from a user, an intention of the user is determined with respect to one or more desired tasks, and the user is assisted with the one or more desired tasks, in accordance with the intention of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Osher Yadgar, Neil Yorke-Smith, Bart Peintner, Gokhan Tur, Necip Fazil Ayan, Michael J. Wolverton, Girish Acharya, Venkatarama Satyanarayana Parimi, William S. Mark, Wen Wang, Andreas Kathol, Regis Vincent, Horacio E. Franco
  • Publication number: 20150170644
    Abstract: A method for classifying lexical stress in an utterance includes generating a feature vector representing stress characteristics of a syllable occurring in the utterance, wherein the feature vector includes a plurality of features based on prosodic information and spectral information, computing a plurality of scores, wherein each of the plurality of scores is related to a probability of a given class of lexical stress, and classifying the lexical stress of the syllable based on the plurality of scores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Horacio E. Franco, Luciana Ferrer, Harry Bratt, Colleen Richey, Kristin Precoda, Victor Abrash
  • Publication number: 20120173464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for exploiting human feedback in an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes inferring an intent from data entered by the human user, formulating a response in accordance with the intent, receiving feedback from a human advisor in response to at least one of the inferring and the formulating, wherein the human advisor is a person other than the human user, and adapting at least one model used in at least one of the inferring and the formulating, wherein the adapting is based on the feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Gokhan Tur, Horacio E. Franco, William S. Mark, Norman D, Winarsky, Bart Peintner, Michael J. Wolverton, Neil Yorke-Smith
  • Publication number: 20120166365
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for tailoring the output of an intelligent automated assistant. One embodiment of a method for conducting an interaction with a human user includes collecting data about the user using a multimodal set of sensors positioned in a vicinity of the user, making a set of inferences about the user in accordance with the data, and tailoring an output to be delivered to the user in accordance with the set of inferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Gokhan Tur, Horacio E. Franco, Elizabeth Shriberg, Gregory K. Myers, William S. Mark, Norman D. Winarsky, Andreas Stolcke, Bart Peintner, Michael J. Wolverton, Luciana Ferrer, Martin Graciarena, Neil Yorke-Smith
  • Patent number: 7324945
    Abstract: A method of speech recognition that uses hierarchical data structures that include a top level grammar and various related subgrammars, such as word, phone, and state subgrammars. A speech signal is acquired, and a probabilistic search is performed using the speech signal as an input, and using the (unexpanded) grammars and subgrammars as possible inputs. Memory is allocated to a subgrammar when a transition to that subgrammar is made during the probabilistic search. The subgrammar may then be expanded and evaluated, and the probability of a match between the speech signal and an element of the subgrammar for which memory has been allocated may be computed. Because unexpanded grammars and subgrammars take up very little memory, this method enables systems to recognize and process a larger vocabulary that would otherwise be possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: John W. Butzberger, Horacio E. Franco, Leonardo Neumeyer, Jing Zheng
  • Patent number: 7308404
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing speech recognition using a dynamic vocabulary. Results from a preliminary speech recognition pass can be used to update or refine a language model in order to improve the accuracy of search results and to simplify subsequent recognition passes. This iterative process greatly reduces the number of alternative hypotheses produced during each speech recognition pass, as well as the time required to process subsequent passes, making the speech recognition process faster, more efficient and more accurate. The iterative process is characterized by the use of results from one or more data set queries, where the keys used to query the data set, as well as the queries themselves, are constructed in a manner that produces more effective language models for use in subsequent attempts at decoding a given speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Anand Venkataraman, Horacio E. Franco, Douglas A. Bercow