Patents by Inventor Johan Schalkwyk

Johan Schalkwyk 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).

  • Publication number: 20220157312
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for hotword trigger suppression are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a microphone of a computing device, audio corresponding to playback of an item of media content, the audio including an utterance of a predefined hotword that is associated with performing an operation on the computing device. The actions further include processing the audio. The actions further include in response to processing the audio, suppressing performance of the operation on the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Alexander H. Gruenstein, Johan Schalkwyk, Matthew Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20220130399
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining hotword suitability. In one aspect, a method includes receiving speech data that encodes a candidate hotword spoken by a user, evaluating the speech data or a transcription of the candidate hotword, using one or more predetermined criteria, generating a hotword suitability score for the candidate hotword based on evaluating the speech data or a transcription of the candidate hotword, using one or more predetermined criteria, and providing a representation of the hotword suitability score for display to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Andrew E. Rubin, Johan Schalkwyk, Maria Carolina Parada San Martin
  • Publication number: 20220115000
    Abstract: Processor(s) of a client device can: identify a textual segment stored locally at the client device; process the textual segment, using an on-device TTS generator model, to generate synthesized speech audio data that includes synthesized speech of the textual segment; process the synthesized speech, using an on-device ASR model to generate predicted ASR output; and generate a gradient based on comparing the predicted ASR output to ground truth output corresponding to the textual segment. Processor(s) of the client device can also: process the synthesized speech audio data using an on-device TTS generator model to make a prediction; and generate a gradient based on the prediction. In these implementations, the generated gradient(s) can be used to update weight(s) of the respective on-device model(s) and/or transmitted to a remote system for use in remote updating of respective global model(s). The updated weight(s) and/or the updated model(s) can be transmitted to client device(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Françoise Beaufays, Johan Schalkwyk, Khe Chai Sim
  • Patent number: 11257498
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for hotword trigger suppression are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a microphone of a computing device, audio corresponding to playback of an item of media content, the audio including an utterance of a predefined hotword that is associated with performing an operation on the computing device. The actions further include processing the audio. The actions further include in response to processing the audio, suppressing performance of the operation on the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Alexander H. Gruenstein, Johan Schalkwyk, Matthew Sharifi
  • Patent number: 11227611
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining hotword suitability. In one aspect, a method includes receiving speech data that encodes a candidate hotword spoken by a user, evaluating the speech data or a transcription of the candidate hotword, using one or more predetermined criteria, generating a hotword suitability score for the candidate hotword based on evaluating the speech data or a transcription of the candidate hotword, using one or more predetermined criteria, and providing a representation of the hotword suitability score for display to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Andrew E. Rubin, Johan Schalkwyk, Maria Carolin Parada San Martin
  • Publication number: 20220005458
    Abstract: Processor(s) of a client device can: identify a textual segment stored locally at the client device; process the textual segment, using a speech synthesis model stored locally at the client device, to generate synthesized speech audio data that includes synthesized speech of the identified textual segment; process the synthesized speech, using an on-device speech recognition model that is stored locally at the client device, to generate predicted output; and generate a gradient based on comparing the predicted output to ground truth output that corresponds to the textual segment. In some implementations, the generated gradient is used, by processor(s) of the client device, to update weights of the on-device speech recognition model. In some implementations, the generated gradient is additionally or alternatively transmitted to a remote system for use in remote updating of global weights of a global speech recognition model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Françoise Beaufays, Johan Schalkwyk, Khe Chai Sim
  • Publication number: 20210405868
    Abstract: In some examples, a computing device includes at least one processor; and at least one module, operable by the at least one processor to: output, for display at an output device, a graphical keyboard; receive an indication of a gesture detected at a location of a presence-sensitive input device, wherein the location of the presence-sensitive input device corresponds to a location of the output device that outputs the graphical keyboard; determine, based on at least one spatial feature of the gesture that is processed by the computing device using a neural network, at least one character string, wherein the at least one spatial feature indicates at least one physical property of the gesture; and output, for display at the output device, based at least in part on the processing of the at least one spatial feature of the gesture using the neural network, the at least one character string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Shumin Zhai, Thomas Breuel, Ouais Alsharif, Yu Ouyang, Francoise Beaufays, Johan Schalkwyk
  • Publication number: 20210334070
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for attending to a presenting user. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device that includes an image sensor, microphones, a display, processor(s), and memory. The device (1) obtains audio signals by concurrently receiving audio data at each microphone; (2) determines based on the obtained audio signals that a person is speaking in a vicinity of the device; (3) obtains video data from the image sensor; (4) determines via the video data that the person is not within a field of view of the image sensor; (5) reorients the electronic device based on differences in the received audio data; (6) after reorienting the electronic device, obtains second video data from the image sensor and determines that the person is within the field of view; and (7) attends to the person by directing the display toward the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Yuan Yuan, Johan Schalkwyk, Kenneth Mixter
  • Publication number: 20210327410
    Abstract: Processor(s) of a client device can: receive audio data that captures a spoken utterance of a user of the client device; process, using an on-device speech recognition model, the audio data to generate a predicted textual segment that is a prediction of the If spoken utterance; cause at least part of the predicted textual segment to be rendered (e.g., visually and/or audibly); receive further user interface input that is a correction of the predicted textual segment to an alternate textual segment; and generate a gradient based on comparing at least part of the predicted output to ground truth output that corresponds to the alternate textual segment. The gradient is used, by processor(s) of the client device, to update weights of the on-device speech recognition model and/or is transmitted to a remote system for use in remote updating of global weights of a global speech recognition model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Françoise Beaufays, Johan Schalkwyk, Giovanni Motta
  • Patent number: 11150804
    Abstract: In some examples, a computing device includes at least one processor; and at least one module, operable by the at least one processor to: output, for display at an output device, a graphical keyboard; receive an indication of a gesture detected at a location of a presence-sensitive input device, wherein the location of the presence-sensitive input device corresponds to a location of the output device that outputs the graphical keyboard; determine, based on at least one spatial feature of the gesture that is processed by the computing device using a neural network, at least one character string, wherein the at least one spatial feature indicates at least one physical property of the gesture; and output, for display at the output device, based at least in part on the processing of the at least one spatial feature of the gesture using the neural network, the at least one character string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Shumin Zhai, Thomas Breuel, Ouais Alsharif, Yu Ouyang, Francoise Beaufays, Johan Schalkwyk
  • Patent number: 11127392
    Abstract: Processor(s) of a client device can: identify a textual segment stored locally at the client device; process the textual segment, using a speech synthesis model stored locally at the client device, to generate synthesized speech audio data that includes synthesized speech of the identified textual segment; process the synthesized speech, using an on-device speech recognition model that is stored locally at the client device, to generate predicted output; and generate a gradient based on comparing the predicted output to ground truth output that corresponds to the textual segment. In some implementations, the generated gradient is used, by processor(s) of the client device, to update weights of the on-device speech recognition model. In some implementations, the generated gradient is additionally or alternatively transmitted to a remote system for use in remote updating of global weights of a global speech recognition model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Françoise Beaufays, Johan Schalkwyk, Khe Chai Sim
  • Publication number: 20210287678
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for detecting hotwords using a server. One of the methods includes receiving an audio signal encoding one or more utterances including a first utterance; determining whether at least a portion of the first utterance satisfies a first threshold of being at least a portion of a key phrase; in response to determining that at least the portion of the first utterance satisfies the first threshold of being at least a portion of a key phrase, sending the audio signal to a server system that determines whether the first utterance satisfies a second threshold of being the key phrase, the second threshold being more restrictive than the first threshold; and receiving tagged text data representing the one or more utterances encoded in the audio signal when the server system determines that the first utterance satisfies the second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Alexander H. Gruenstein, Petar Aleksic, Johan Schalkwyk, Pedro J. Moreno Mengibar
  • Patent number: 11086597
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for attending to a presenting user. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device that includes an image sensor, microphones, a display, processor(s), and memory. The device (1) obtains audio signals by concurrently receiving audio data at each microphone; (2) determines based on the obtained audio signals that a person is speaking in a vicinity of the device; (3) obtains video data from the image sensor; (4) determines via the video data that the person is not within a field of view of the image sensor; (5) reorients the electronic device based on differences in the received audio data; (6) after reorienting the electronic device, obtains second video data from the image sensor and determines that the person is within the field of view; and (7) attends to the person by directing the display toward the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Yuan Yuan, Johan Schalkwyk, Kenneth Mixter
  • Patent number: 11049504
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for detecting hotwords using a server. One of the methods includes receiving an audio signal encoding one or more utterances including a first utterance; determining whether at least a portion of the first utterance satisfies a first threshold of being at least a portion of a key phrase; in response to determining that at least the portion of the first utterance satisfies the first threshold of being at least a portion of a key phrase, sending the audio signal to a server system that determines whether the first utterance satisfies a second threshold of being the key phrase, the second threshold being more restrictive than the first threshold; and receiving tagged text data representing the one or more utterances encoded in the audio signal when the server system determines that the first utterance satisfies the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Alexander H. Gruenstein, Petar Aleksic, Johan Schalkwyk, Pedro J. Moreno Mengibar
  • Publication number: 20210104223
    Abstract: Processor(s) of a client device can: identify a textual segment stored locally at the client device; process the textual segment, using a speech synthesis model stored locally at the client device, to generate synthesized speech audio data that includes synthesized speech of the identified textual segment; process the synthesized speech, using an on-device speech recognition model that is stored locally at the client device, to generate predicted output; and generate a gradient based on comparing the predicted output to ground truth output that corresponds to the textual segment. In some implementations, the generated gradient is used, by processor(s) of the client device, to update weights of the on-device speech recognition model. In some implementations, the generated gradient is additionally or alternatively transmitted to a remote system for use in remote updating of global weights of a global speech recognition model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Françoise Beaufays, Johan Schalkwyk, Khe Chai Sim
  • Publication number: 20210074292
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for hotword trigger suppression are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a microphone of a computing device, audio corresponding to playback of an item of media content, the audio including an utterance of a predefined hotword that is associated with performing an operation on the computing device. The actions further include processing the audio. The actions further include in response to processing the audio, suppressing performance of the operation on the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Alexander H. Gruenstein, Johan Schalkwyk, Matthew Sharifi
  • Patent number: 10867600
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for hotword trigger suppression are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a microphone of a computing device, audio corresponding to playback of an item of media content, the audio including an utterance of a predefined hotword that is associated with performing an operation on the computing device. The actions further include processing the audio. The actions further include in response to processing the audio, suppressing performance of the operation on the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Alexander H. Gruenstein, Johan Schalkwyk, Matthew Sharifi
  • Publication number: 20200365158
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for detecting hotwords using a server. One of the methods includes receiving an audio signal encoding one or more utterances including a first utterance; determining whether at least a portion of the first utterance satisfies a first threshold of being at least a portion of a key phrase; in response to determining that at least the portion of the first utterance satisfies the first threshold of being at least a portion of a key phrase, sending the audio signal to a server system that determines whether the first utterance satisfies a second threshold of being the key phrase, the second threshold being more restrictive than the first threshold; and receiving tagged text data representing the one or more utterances encoded in the audio signal when the server system determines that the first utterance satisfies the second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Alexander H. Gruenstein, Petar Aleksic, Johan Schalkwyk, Pedro J. Moreno Mengibar
  • Publication number: 20200302941
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining hotword suitability. In one aspect, a method includes receiving speech data that encodes a candidate hotword spoken by a user, evaluating the speech data or a transcription of the candidate hotword, using one or more predetermined criteria, generating a hotword suitability score for the candidate hotword based on evaluating the speech data or a transcription of the candidate hotword, using one or more predetermined criteria, and providing a representation of the hotword suitability score for display to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Andrew E Rubin, Johan Schalkwyk, Maria Carolin Parada San Martin
  • Publication number: 20200293276
    Abstract: A computer-implemented input-method editor process includes receiving a request from a user for an application-independent input method editor having written and spoken input capabilities, identifying that the user is about to provide spoken input to the application-independent input method editor, and receiving a spoken input from the user. The spoken input corresponds to input to an application and is converted to text that represents the spoken input. The text is provided as input to the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Brandon M. Ballinger, Johan Schalkwyk, Michael H. Cohen, William J. Byrne, Gudmundur Hafsteinsson, Michael J. Lebeau