Patents by Inventor Larry Paul

Larry Paul 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: 10296587
    Abstract: An augmented conversational understanding agent may be provided. Upon receiving, by an agent, at least one natural language phrase from a user, a context associated with the at least one natural language phrase may be identified. The natural language phrase may be associated, for example, with a conversation between the user and a second user. An agent action associated with the identified context may be performed according to the at least one natural language phrase and 201 a result associated with performing the action may be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Paul Heck, Madhusudan Chinthakunta, David Mitby, Lisa Stifelman
  • Patent number: 10293371
    Abstract: An assembly and a method of joining a first part with a second part at an attachment area that includes a localized area on the first part. The localized area is cleaned and activated by a plasma jet. An organosilicon composition is applied by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition to the localized area. An adhesive is applied to the localized area and the second part is mechanically fastened to the first part in the localized area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Paul Haack, Kimberly Ann Lazarz, Ann Marie Straccia, Joy Hines Forsmark
  • Publication number: 20190115027
    Abstract: Techniques are described related to turn-based reinforcement learning for dialog management. In various implementations, dialog states and corresponding responsive actions generated during a multi-turn human-to-computer dialog session may be obtained. A plurality of turn-level training instances may be generated, each including: a given dialog state of the plurality of dialog states at an outset of a given turn of the human-to-computer dialog session; and a given responsive action that was selected based on the given dialog state. One or more of the turn-level training instances may further include a turn-level feedback value that reflects on the given responsive action selected during the given turn. A reward value may be generated based on an outcome of the human-to-computer dialog session. The dialog management policy model may be trained based on turn-level feedback values of the turn-level training instance(s) and the reward value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Pararth Shah, Larry Paul Heck, Dilek Hakkani-Tur
  • Patent number: 10191999
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a technique to validate the transfer of intents or entities between existing natural language model domains (hereafter “domain” or “NLU”) using click logs, a knowledge graph, or both. At least two different types of transfers are possible. Intents from a first domain may be transferred to a second domain. Alternatively or additionally, entities from the second domain may be transferred to an existing intent in the first domain. Either way, additional intent/entity pairs can be generated and validated. Before the new intent/entity pair is added to a domain, aspects of the present invention validate that the intent or entity is transferable between domains. Validation techniques that are consistent with aspects of the invention can use a knowledge graph, search query click logs, or both to validate a transfer of intents or entities from one domain to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohu Liu, Ali Mamdouh Elkahky, Ruhi Sarikaya, Gokhan Tur, Dilek Hakkani-Tur, Larry Paul Heck
  • Patent number: 10181322
    Abstract: A dialog system for use in a multi-user, multi-domain environment. The dialog system understands user requests when multiple users are interacting with each other as well as the dialog system. The dialog system uses multi-human conversational context to improve domain detection. Using interactions between multiple users allows the dialog system to better interpret machine directed conversational inputs in multi-user conversational systems. The dialog system employs topic segmentation to chunk conversations for determining context boundaries. Using general topic segmentation methods, as well as the specific domain detector trained with conversational inputs collected by a single user system, allows the dialog system to better determine the relevant context. The use of conversational context helps reduce the domain detection error rate, especially in certain domains, and allows for better interactions with users when the machine addressed turns are not recognized or are ambiguous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dilek Hakkani-Tur, Gokhan Tur, Larry Paul Heck, Dong Wang
  • Publication number: 20180329918
    Abstract: Natural language query translation may be provided. A statistical model may be trained to detect domains according to a plurality of query click log data. Upon receiving a natural language query, the statistical model may be used to translate the natural language query into an action. The action may then be performed and at least one result associated with performing the action may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dilek Zeynep Hakkani-Tur, Gokhan Tur, Rukmini Iyer, Larry Paul Heck
  • Publication number: 20180299265
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing the adhesiveness of enamel frits using topography. One method includes analyzing a topography of a defined area of an enamel frit surface having a plurality of peaks and determining a topographical parameter of the defined area based on peak shape and/or density. The determined topographical parameter may be compared to a threshold value. The method may then include applying an adhesive to the enamel frit and bonding the enamel frit to a substrate if the determined topographical parameter is below the threshold value. The analysis of the topography may be performed using a non-contact profilometer, such as an optical profilometer. In one embodiment, the topographical parameter may be developed interfacial roughness (Sdr). The method may be integrated into a manufacturing/assembly line for vehicle glass components, such as windshields or side windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Larry Paul Haack, Shannon Christine Bollin, Ann Marie Straccia, Sabrina Louise Peczonczyk, Steven J. Simko, Patricia Karen Konopka
  • Patent number: 10101149
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing the adhesiveness of enamel frits using topography. One method includes analyzing a topography of a defined area of an enamel frit surface having a plurality of peaks and determining a topographical parameter of the defined area based on peak shape and/or density. The determined topographical parameter may be compared to a threshold value. The method may then include applying an adhesive to the enamel frit and bonding the enamel frit to a substrate if the determined topographical parameter is below the threshold value. The analysis of the topography may be performed using a non-contact profilometer, such as an optical profilometer. In one embodiment, the topographical parameter may be developed interfacial roughness (Sdr). The method may be integrated into a manufacturing/assembly line for vehicle glass components, such as windshields or side windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Paul Haack, Shannon Christine Bollin, Ann Marie Straccia, Sabrina Louise Peczonczyk, Steven J. Simko, Patricia Karen Konopka
  • Patent number: 10083169
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for processing word sequences using neural networks. One of the methods includes receiving a first sequence of words arranged according to a first order; and for each word in the first sequence, beginning with a first word in the first order: determining a topic vector that is associated with the word; generating a combined input from the word and the topic vector, and processing the combined input through one or more sequence modeling layers to generate a sequence modeling output for the word; and processing one or more of the sequence modeling outputs through an output layer to generate a neural network output for the first sequence of words.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Shalini Ghosh, Oriol Vinyals, Brian Patrick Strope, Howard Scott Roy, Thomas L. Dean, Larry Paul Heck
  • Patent number: 10073840
    Abstract: A relation detection model training solution. The relation detection model training solution mines freely available resources from the World Wide Web to train a relationship detection model for use during linguistic processing. The relation detection model training system searches the web for pairs of entities extracted from a knowledge graph that are connected by a specific relation. Performance is enhanced by clipping search snippets to extract patterns that connect the two entities in a dependency tree and refining the annotations of the relations according to other related entities in the knowledge graph. The relation detection model training solution scales to other domains and languages, pushing the burden from natural language semantic parsing to knowledge base population. The relation detection model training solution exhibits performance comparable to supervised solutions, which require design, collection, and manual labeling of natural language data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dilek Z. Hakkani-Tur, Gokhan Tur, Larry Paul Heck
  • Patent number: 10061843
    Abstract: Natural language query translation may be provided. A statistical model may be trained to detect domains according to a plurality of query click log data. Upon receiving a natural language query, the statistical model may be used to translate the natural language query into an action. The action may then be performed and at least one result associated with performing the action may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dilek Zeynep Hakkani-Tur, Gokhan Tur, Rukmini Iyer, Larry Paul Heck
  • Publication number: 20180239615
    Abstract: A method is described for processing keyed data items that are each associated with a value of a key, the keyed data items being from a plurality of distinct data streams, the processing including collecting the keyed data items, determining, based on contents of at least one of the keyed data items, satisfaction of one or more specified conditions for execution of one or more actions and causing execution of at least one of the one or more actions responsive to the determining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Oded Ravid, Larry Paul Rossi, Peter Baxter, Joel Gould
  • Patent number: 10049667
    Abstract: Location-based conversational understanding may be provided. Upon receiving a query from a user, an environmental context associated with the query may be generated. The query may be interpreted according to the environmental context. The interpreted query may be executed and at least one result associated with the query may be provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Paul Heck, Madhusudan Chinthakunta, David Mitby, Lisa Stifelman
  • Publication number: 20180129646
    Abstract: An augmented conversational understanding agent may be provided. Upon receiving, by an agent, at least one natural language phrase from a user, a context associated with the at least one natural language phrase may be identified. The natural language phrase may be associated, for example, with a conversation between the user and a second user. An agent action associated with the identified context may be performed according to the at least one natural language phrase and 201 a result associated with performing the action may be displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Larry Paul HECK, Madhusudan CHINTHAKUNTA, David MITBY, Lisa STIFELMAN
  • Patent number: 9932656
    Abstract: A nickel-based alloy, consisting of (in mass %) 1.5-3.0% Si, 1.5-3.0% Al, and >0.1-3.0% Cr, where Al+Si+Cr is ?4.0 and ?8.0 for the contents of Si, Al, and Cr in %; 0.005-0.20% Fe, 0.01-0.20% Y, and <0.001-0.20% of one or more the elements Hf, Zr, La, Ce, Ti, where Y+0.5*Hf+Zr+1.8*Ti+0.6*(La+Ce) is ?0.02 and ?0.30 for the contents of Y, Hf, Zr, La, Ce, and Ti in %; 0.001-0.10% C; 0.0005-0.10% N; 0.001-0.20% Mn; 0.0001-0.08% Mg; 0.0001-0.010% O; max. 0.015% S; max. 0.80% Cu; Ni remainder; and the usual production-related impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: VDM Metals International GmbH
    Inventors: Heike Hattendorf, Frank Scheide, Larry Paul
  • Publication number: 20180075151
    Abstract: Identification of user intents may be provided. A plurality of network applications may be identified, and an ontology associated with each of the plurality of applications may be defined. If a phrase received from a user is associated with at least one of the defined ontologies, an action associated with the network application may be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Larry Paul HECK, Madhusudan CHINTHAKUNTA, David MITBY, Lisa STIFELMAN
  • Patent number: 9858343
    Abstract: Personalization of user interactions may be provided. Upon receiving a phrase from a user, a plurality of semantic concepts associated with the user may be loaded. If the phrase is determined to comprise at least one of the plurality of semantic concepts associated with the user, a first action may be performed according to the phrase. If the phrase is determined not to comprise at least one of the plurality of semantic concepts associated with the user, a second action may be performed according to the phrase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Larry Paul Heck, Madhusudan Chinthakunta, David Mitby, Lisa Stifelman
  • Patent number: 9842168
    Abstract: Identification of user intents may be provided. A plurality of network applications may be identified, and an ontology associated with each of the plurality of applications may be defined. If a phrase received from a user is associated with at least one of the defined ontologies, an action associated with the network application may be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Paul Heck, Madhusudan Chinthakunta, David Mitby, Lisa Stifelman
  • Patent number: 9760566
    Abstract: An augmented conversational understanding agent may be provided. Upon receiving, by an agent, at least one natural language phrase from a user, a context associated with the at least one natural language phrase may be identified. The natural language phrase may be associated, for example, with a conversation between the user and a second user. An agent action associated with the identified context may be performed according to the at least one natural language phrase and a result associated with performing the action may be displayed, wherein the agent action comprises providing a list of movies, a list of night clubs, a search for restaurants, or other action suggestions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Paul Heck, Madhusudan Chinthakunta, David Mitby, Lisa Stifelman
  • Publication number: 20170125018
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of suggesting intent frame(s) for user request(s). For instance, the intent frame(s) may be suggested to elicit a request from a user. An intent frame is a natural language phrase (e.g., a sentence) that includes at least one carrier phrase and at least one slot. A slot in an intent frame is a placeholder that is identified as being replaceable by one or more words that identify an entity and/or an action to indicate an intent of the user. A carrier phrase in an intent frame includes one or more words that suggest a type of entity and/or action that is to be identified by the one or more words that may replace the corresponding slot. In accordance with these techniques, the intent frame(s) are suggested in response to determining that natural language functionality of a processing system is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shane J. Landry, Anne K. Sullivan, Lisa J. Stifelman, Adam D. Elman, Larry Paul Heck, Sarangarajan Parthasarathy