Patents by Inventor Horst J. Schroeter

Horst J. Schroeter 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: 9142218
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and tangible computer readable-media for detecting synthetic speaker verification. The method comprises receiving a plurality of speech samples of the same word or phrase for verification, comparing each of the plurality of speech samples to each other, denying verification if the plurality of speech samples demonstrate little variance over time or are the same, and verifying the plurality of speech samples if the plurality of speech samples demonstrates sufficient variance over time. One embodiment further adds that each of the plurality of speech samples is collected at different times or in different contexts. In other embodiments, variance is based on a pre-determined threshold or the threshold for variance is adjusted based on a need for authentication certainty. In another embodiment, if the initial comparison is inconclusive, additional speech samples are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Horst J. Schroeter
  • Patent number: 9137314
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products provide personalized feedback in a cloud-based environment. A client device routes image data and audio data to a server for analysis. The server analyzes the image data to recognize people of interest. The server also analyzes the audio data to generate audible feedback. Because the server performs image recognition and audio processing, the client device is relieved of these intensive operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dimitrios B. Dimitriadis, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20150235655
    Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, media, and programs for detecting an emotional state change in an audio signal are provided. A plurality of segments of the audio signal is received, with the plurality of segments being sequential. Each segment of the plurality of segments is analyzed, and, for each segment, an emotional state and a confidence score of the emotional state are determined. The emotional state and the confidence score of each segment are sequentially analyzed, and a current emotional state of the audio signal is tracked throughout each of the plurality of segments. For each segment, it is determined whether the current emotional state of the audio signal changes to another emotional state based on the emotional state and the confidence score of the segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dimitrios DIMITRIADIS, Mazin E. GILBERT, Taniya MISHRA, Horst J. SCHROETER
  • Patent number: 9110989
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products help users recall memories and search for content of those memories. When a user cannot recall a memory, the user is prompted with questions to help recall the memory. As the user answers the questions, a virtual recollection of the memory is synthesized from the answers to the questions. When the user is satisfied with the virtual recollection of the memory, a database of content may be searched for the virtual recollection of the memory. Video data, for example, may be retrieved that matches the virtual recollection of the memory. The video data is thus historical data documenting past events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Raymond Miller, Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Publication number: 20150220830
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide interfaces between intrahost networks and interhost networks within biological hosts. Neuroregional translations are performed to route communications to and from the biological hosts. Bioregional translations may also be performed to route communications to and from the biological hosts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 9083694
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products authenticate users for access to devices, applications, and services. Skills of a user are learned over time, such that an electronic model of random subject matter may be generated. The user is prompted to interpret the random subject matter, such as with a drawing, physical arrangement, or performance. The user's interpretation is then compared to the electronic model of the random subject matter. If the user is truly who they purport to be, their interpretation will match the electronic model, thus authenticating the user. If interpretation fails to match the electronic model, authentication may be denied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 9047871
    Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, media, and programs for detecting an emotional state change in an audio signal are provided. A plurality of segments of the audio signal is received, with the plurality of segments being sequential. Each segment of the plurality of segments is analyzed, and, for each segment, an emotional state and a confidence score of the emotional state are determined. The emotional state and the confidence score of each segment are sequentially analyzed, and a current emotional state of the audio signal is tracked throughout each of the plurality of segments. For each segment, it is determined whether the current emotional state of the audio signal changes to another emotional state based on the emotional state and the confidence score of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Mazin E. Gilbert, Taniya Mishra, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20150145995
    Abstract: Network connectivity is used to share relevant visual and other sensory information between vehicles, as well as delivering relevant information provided by network services to create an enhanced view of the vehicle's surroundings. The enhanced view is presented to the occupants of the vehicle to provide an improved driving experience and/or enable the occupants to take proper action (e.g., avoid obstacles, identify traffic delays, etc.). In one example, the enhanced view comprises information that is not visible to the naked eye and/or cannot be currently sensed by the vehicle's sensors (e.g., due to a partial or blocked view, low visibility conditions, hardware capabilities of the vehicle's sensors, position of the vehicle's sensors, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Behzad Shahraray, Alicia Abella, David Crawford Gibbon, Mazin E. Gilbert, Michael J. Johnston, Horst J. Schroeter, Jay Gordon Wilpon
  • Patent number: 9015087
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide interfaces between intrahost networks and interhost networks within biological hosts. Neuroregional translations are performed to route communications to and from the biological hosts. Bioregional translations may also be performed to route communications to and from the biological hosts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Publication number: 20150073805
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for intelligent caching of concatenative speech units for use in speech synthesis. A system configured to practice the method can identify a speech synthesis context, and determine, based on a local cache of text-to-speech units for a text-to-speech voice and based on the speech synthesis context, additional text-to-speech units which are not in the local cache. The system can request from a server the additional text-to-speech units, and store the additional text-to-speech units in the local cache. The system can then synthesize speech using the text-to-speech units and the additional text-to-speech units in the local cache. The system can prune the cache as the context changes, based on availability of local storage, or after synthesizing the speech. The local cache can store a core set of text-to-speech units associated with the text-to-speech voice that cannot be pruned from the local cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Stern, Mark Charles Beutnagel, Alistair D. Conkie, Horst J. Schroeter, Amanda Joy Stent
  • Publication number: 20150072739
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for answering a communication notification. The method for answering a communication notification comprises receiving a notification of communication from a user, converting information related to the notification to speech, outputting the information as speech to the user, and receiving from the user an instruction to accept or ignore the incoming communication associated with the notification. In one embodiment, information related to the notification comprises one or more of a telephone number, an area code, a geographic origin of the request, caller id, a voice message, address book information, a text message, an email, a subject line, an importance level, a photograph, a video clip, metadata, an IP address, or a domain name. Another embodiment involves notification assigned an importance level and repeat attempts at notification if it is of high importance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Horst J. Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20150046160
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable storage media for captioning a media presentation. The method includes receiving automatic speech recognition (ASR) output from a media presentation and a transcription of the media presentation. The method includes selecting via a processor a pair of anchor words in the media presentation based on the ASR output and transcription and generating captions by aligning the transcription with the ASR output between the selected pair of anchor words. The transcription can be human-generated. Selecting pairs of anchor words can be based on a similarity threshold between the ASR output and the transcription. In one variation, commonly used words on a stop list are ineligible as anchor words. The method includes outputting the media presentation with the generated captions. The presentation can be a recording of a live event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yeon-Jun KIM, David C. GIBBON, Horst J. SCHROETER
  • Publication number: 20140379350
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the method comprising receiving one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content, selecting at least one piece of metadata for output, and outputting the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content. Other aspects of the invention involve alternative output, output speech simultaneously with the primary media content, output speech during gaps in the primary media content, translate metadata in foreign language, tailor voice, accent, and language to match the metadata and/or primary media content. A user may control output via a user interface or output may be customized based on preferences in a user profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Linda ROBERTS, Hong Thi NGUYEN, Horst J. SCHROETER
  • Publication number: 20140350938
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and tangible computer readable-media for detecting synthetic speaker verification. The method comprises receiving a plurality of speech samples of the same word or phrase for verification, comparing each of the plurality of speech samples to each other, denying verification if the plurality of speech samples demonstrate little variance over time or are the same, and verifying the plurality of speech samples if the plurality of speech samples demonstrates sufficient variance over time. One embodiment further adds that each of the plurality of speech samples is collected at different times or in different contexts. In other embodiments, variance is based on a pre-determined threshold or the threshold for variance is adjusted based on a need for authentication certainty. In another embodiment, if the initial comparison is inconclusive, additional speech samples are received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Horst J. Schroeter
  • Patent number: 8892442
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for answering a communication notification. The method for answering a communication notification comprises receiving a notification of communication from a user, converting information related to the notification to speech, outputting the information as speech to the user, and receiving from the user an instruction to accept or ignore the incoming communication associated with the notification. In one embodiment, information related to the notification comprises one or more of a telephone number, an area code, a geographic origin of the request, caller id, a voice message, address book information, a text message, an email, a subject line, an importance level, a photograph, a video clip, metadata, an IP address, or a domain name. Another embodiment involves notification assigned an importance level and repeat attempts at notification if it is of high importance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Horst J. Schroeter
  • Patent number: 8831948
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the method comprising receiving one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content, selecting at least one piece of metadata for output, and outputting the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content. Other aspects of the invention involve alternative output, output speech simultaneously with the primary media content, output speech during gaps in the primary media content, translate metadata in foreign language, tailor voice, accent, and language to match the metadata and/or primary media content. A user may control output via a user interface or output may be customized based on preferences in a user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda Roberts, Hong Thi Nguyen, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20140237577
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products authenticate users for access to devices, applications, and services. Skills of a user are learned over time, such that an electronic model of random subject matter may be generated. The user is prompted to interpret the random subject matter, such as with a drawing, physical arrangement, or performance. The user's interpretation is then compared to the electronic model of the random subject matter. If the user is truly who they purport to be, their interpretation will match the electronic model, thus authenticating the user. If interpretation fails to match the electronic model, authentication may be denied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 8805685
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and tangible computer readable-media for detecting synthetic speaker verification. The method comprises receiving a plurality of speech samples of the same word or phrase for verification, comparing each of the plurality of speech samples to each other, denying verification if the plurality of speech samples demonstrate little variance over time or are the same, and verifying the plurality of speech samples if the plurality of speech samples demonstrates sufficient variance over time. One embodiment further adds that each of the plurality of speech samples is collected at different times or in different contexts. In other embodiments, variance is based on a pre-determined threshold or the threshold for variance is adjusted based on a need for authentication certainty. In another embodiment, if the initial comparison is inconclusive, additional speech samples are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Horst J. Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20140163960
    Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, media, and programs for detecting an emotional state change in an audio signal are provided. A plurality of segments of the audio signal is received, with the plurality of segments being sequential. Each segment of the plurality of segments is analyzed, and, for each segment, an emotional state and a confidence score of the emotional state are determined. The emotional state and the confidence score of each segment are sequentially analyzed, and a current emotional state of the audio signal is tracked throughout each of the plurality of segments. For each segment, it is determined whether the current emotional state of the audio signal changes to another emotional state based on the emotional state and the confidence score of the segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dimitrios DIMITRIADIS, Mazin E. GILBERT, Taniya MISHRA, Horst J. SCHROETER
  • Publication number: 20140162607
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for answering a communication notification. The method for answering a communication notification comprises receiving a notification of communication from a user, converting information related to the notification to speech, outputting the information as speech to the user, and receiving from the user an instruction to accept or ignore the incoming communication associated with the notification. In one embodiment, information related to the notification comprises one or more of a telephone number, an area code, a geographic origin of the request, caller id, a voice message, address book information, a text message, an email, a subject line, an importance level, a photograph, a video clip, metadata, an IP address, or a domain name. Another embodiment involves notification assigned an importance level and repeat attempts at notification if it is of high importance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Horst J. Schroeter