Patents by Inventor Marcus A. Foster

Marcus A. Foster 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: 20180192944
    Abstract: Within this disclosure are new methods of monitoring compositional changes of a body. In one embodiment, the methods comprise three-dimensional models of a body. In one embodiment, two-dimensional MRI images are used to create a three-dimensional model of a body. In one embodiment, the three-dimensional model is segmented and landmarked to provide reference points for monitoring changes. In some embodiments, volumetric values are calculated to provide data about changes the body has undergone. In one embodiment, the body is a human body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Ignatius Dewet Diener, Marcus Foster, David Greer, Kevin Keraudren, Brandon Whitcher
  • Publication number: 20180192945
    Abstract: Within this disclosure are new methods of predicting compositional changes of a body. In one embodiment, the methods disclosed herein comprise three-dimensional models of a body. In one embodiment, MRI data is used to create a three-dimensional model of a body. In one embodiment, a stimulus is chosen to influence change in a body. In one embodiment, comparator bodies are used to predict changes to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Ignatius Dewet Diener, Marcus Foster, David Greer, Kevin Keraudren, Brandon Whitcher
  • Patent number: 9413883
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for sharing information about a client device phone call to enhance other services. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a server device, voice call parameters that describe at least one characteristic of a voice call in which a user of a first device is participating wherein the first device is physically separate from the server device, and responsive to receiving the voice call parameters, determining, by the server device, a status of the user based on the received voice call parameters. The method further includes storing an account for the user on the server device, wherein the account includes a user profile for the user and identifies contacts of the user, and modifying, by the server device, the user profile to reflect the status of the user, and sending the modified user profile to a device associated with a contact of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus Foster
  • Publication number: 20150281437
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for sharing information about a client device phone call to enhance other services. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a server device, voice call parameters that describe at least one characteristic of a voice call in which a user of a first device is participating wherein the first device is physically separate from the server device, and responsive to receiving the voice call parameters, determining, by the server device, a status of the user based on the received voice call parameters. The method further includes storing an account for the user on the server device, wherein the account includes a user profile for the user and identifies contacts of the user, and modifying, by the server device, the user profile to reflect the status of the user, and sending the modified user profile to a device associated with a contact of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Marcus Foster
  • Patent number: 9060059
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for sharing information about a client device phone call to enhance other services. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a server device, voice call parameters that describe at least one characteristic of a voice call in which a user of a first device is participating wherein the first device is physically separate from the server device, and responsive to receiving the voice call parameters, determining, by the server device, a status of the user based on the received voice call parameters. The method further includes storing an account for the user on the server device, wherein the account includes a user profile for the user and identifies contacts of the user, and modifying, by the server device, the user profile to reflect the status of the user, and sending the modified user profile to a device associated with a contact of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus Foster
  • Patent number: 8958775
    Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes identifying, by a computer system, a plurality of voicemail messages that are associated with a particular user and that are from a plurality of voicemail sources; and generating, by the computer system, a plurality of graphical display elements that represent the identified plurality of voicemail messages and that include source identifiers that indicate a voicemail source from the plurality of voicemail sources for each of the plurality of voicemail messages. The method can further include providing the plurality of graphical display elements with the source identifiers for the plurality of voicemail messages in a user interface through which the plurality of voicemail messages from the plurality of voicemail sources are caused to be played based on received user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Flavio Lerda, Hugo Hudson, Debashish Chatterjee, Bryan Mawhinney, Marcus A. Foster
  • Patent number: 8898578
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a conference call within a social network is disclosed. The participants are all members of an affinity group and they communicate with each other using different social streams. When the stream becomes too complicated, a participant transforms the social stream into a conference call so that the discussion is held in real-time. The participant that requests the conference call is designated as a moderator. The moderator controls the conference, including the members of the affinity group, through a user interface. Once the conference is established a notification can be sent to invitees and other members of the affinity group. The notification can also be published on a social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Hecht, Anthony Jawad, Michel Ossesia, Stu Blair, Jacob Hesch, Craig Walker, Marcus Foster, Vincent Paquet
  • Patent number: 8887070
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a conference call within a social network is disclosed. The participants are all members of an affinity group and they communicate with each other using different social streams. When the stream becomes too complicated, a participant transforms the social stream into a conference call so that the discussion is held in real-time. The participant that requests the conference call is designated as a moderator. The moderator controls the conference, including the members of the affinity group, through a user interface. Once the conference is established a notification can be sent to invitees and other members of the affinity group. The notification can also be published on a social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Hecht, Anthony Jawad, Michel Ossesia, Stu Blair, Jacob Hesch, Craig Walker, Marcus Foster, Vincent Paquet
  • Patent number: 8706505
    Abstract: A computing device is configured to initiate actions in response to speech input that includes a name or other indication of an entity, in a first spoken utterance, followed by an action, in a second spoken utterance. The computing device receives the first spoken utterance, identifies an entity based on the first spoke utterance, and indicates a plurality of available actions based on the identified entity. The computing device then receives the second spoken utterance and identifies a selection of at least one of the available actions based on the second spoken utterance. The computing device then initiates the at least one selected action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Simon Tickner, Henrique Penha, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin, Marcus Foster
  • Patent number: 8538754
    Abstract: A method for providing suggestions includes capturing audio that includes speech and receiving textual content from a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine performs speech recognition on the audio signal to obtain the textual content, which includes one or more passages. The method also includes receiving a selection of a portion of a first word in a passage in the textual content, wherein the passage includes multiple words, and retrieving a set of suggestions that can potentially replace the first word. At least one suggestion from the set of suggestions provides a multi-word suggestion for potentially replacing the first word. The method further includes displaying, on a display device, the set of suggestions, and highlighting a portion of the textual content, as displayed on the display device, for potentially changing to one of the suggestions from the set of suggestions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Z. Cohen, Marcus A. Foster, Luca Zanolin
  • Patent number: 8515751
    Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to recognition of text in various media. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include receiving an input signal including data representing one or more words and passing the input signal to a text recognition system that generates a recognized text string based on the input signal. The methods may further include receiving the recognized text string from the text recognition system. The methods may further include presenting the recognized text string to a user and receiving a corrected text string based on input from the user. The methods may further include checking if an edit distance between the corrected text string and the recognized text string is below a threshold. If the edit distance is below the threshold, the corrected text string may be passed to the text recognition system for training purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luca Zanolin, Marcus A. Foster, Richard Z. Cohen
  • Patent number: 8515766
    Abstract: A computing device is configured to initiate actions in response to speech input that includes a name or other indication of an entity, in a first spoken utterance, followed by user choosing an application related to an entity, in a second spoken utterance. The computing device receives the first spoken utterance, identifies an entity based on the first spoke utterance, and indicates a plurality of available applications related to the identified entity. The computing device then receives the second spoken utterance and identifies a selection of at least one of the available applications based on the second spoken utterance. The computing device then invokes the at least one selected application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Simon Tickner, Henrique Penha, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin, Marcus Foster
  • Publication number: 20130085754
    Abstract: A method for providing suggestions includes capturing audio that includes speech and receiving textual content from a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine performs speech recognition on the audio signal to obtain the textual content, which includes one or more passages. The method also includes receiving a selection of a portion of a first word in a passage in the textual content, wherein the passage includes multiple words, and retrieving a set of suggestions that can potentially replace the first word. At least one suggestion from the set of suggestions provides a multi-word suggestion for potentially replacing the first word. The method further includes displaying, on a display device, the set of suggestions, and highlighting a portion of the textual content, as displayed on the display device, for potentially changing to one of the suggestions from the set of suggestions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Z. Cohen, Marcus A. Foster, Luca Zanolin
  • Publication number: 20130080164
    Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to recognition of text in various media. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include receiving an input signal including data representing one or more words and passing the input signal to a text recognition system that generates a recognized text string based on the input signal. The methods may further include receiving the recognized text string from the text recognition system. The methods may further include presenting the recognized text string to a user and receiving a corrected text string based on input from the user. The methods may further include checking if an edit distance between the corrected text string and the recognized text string is below a threshold. If the edit distance is below the threshold, the corrected text string may be passed to the text recognition system for training purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Luca Zanolin, Marcus A. Foster, Richard Z. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20130005305
    Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes identifying, by a computer system, a plurality of voicemail messages that are associated with a particular user and that are from a plurality of voicemail sources; and generating, by the computer system, a plurality of graphical display elements that represent the identified plurality of voicemail messages and that include source identifiers that indicate a voicemail source from the plurality of voicemail sources for each of the plurality of voicemail messages. The method can further include providing the plurality of graphical display elements with the source identifiers for the plurality of voicemail messages in a user interface through which the plurality of voicemail messages from the plurality of voicemail sources are caused to be played based on received user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Flavio Lerda, Hugo Hudson, Debashish Chatterjee, Bryan Mawhinney, Marcus A. Foster
  • Patent number: 8290772
    Abstract: A method for providing suggestions includes capturing audio that includes speech and receiving textual content from a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine performs speech recognition on the audio signal to obtain the textual content, which includes one or more passages. The method also includes receiving a selection of a portion of a first word in a passage in the textual content, wherein the passage includes multiple words, and retrieving a set of suggestions that can potentially replace the first word. At least one suggestion from the set of suggestions provides a multi-word suggestion for potentially replacing the first word. The method further includes displaying, on a display device, the set of suggestions, and highlighting a portion of the textual content, as displayed on the display device, for potentially changing to one of the suggestions from the set of suggestions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Z. Cohen, Marcus A. Foster, Luca Zanolin
  • Publication number: 20120063577
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for sharing information about a client device phone call to enhance other services. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a server device, voice call parameters that describe at least one characteristic of a voice call in which a user of a first device is participating wherein the first device is physically separate from the server device, and responsive to receiving the voice call parameters, determining, by the server device, a status of the user based on the received voice call parameters. The method further includes storing an account for the user on the server device, wherein the account includes a user profile for the user and identifies contacts of the user, and modifying, by the server device, the user profile to reflect the status of the user, and sending the modified user profile to a device associated with a contact of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus Foster
  • Publication number: 20120064862
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for sharing information about a client device phone call to enhance other services. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a server device, voice call parameters that describe at least one characteristic of a voice call in which a user of a first device is participating wherein the first device is physically separate from the server device, and responsive to receiving the voice call parameters, determining, by the server device, a status of the user based on the received voice call parameters. The method further includes storing an account for the user on the server device, wherein the account includes a user profile for the user and identifies contacts of the user, and modifying, by the server device, the user profile to reflect the status of the user, and sending the modified user profile to a device associated with a contact of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventor: Marcus Foster
  • Patent number: 7298714
    Abstract: A system and method are directed towards enabling a server to activate a plurality of peer devices. The server may send a notification to a first peer device and employ subsequent peer devices to send further notifications to other peer devices in a sequence of peer devices, thereby reducing a number of notifications sent by the server. The peer devices may be mobile devices. In one embodiment, the notification indicates that data is available for download to the peer devices. In one embodiment, the sequence is dynamically determined by the server. In one embodiment, an instruction to send a notification to another peer device is provided to a peer device in the sequence along with the downloaded data. In another embodiment, the instruction is provided with the notification. In one embodiment, a notification may be sent using a hidden message mechanism of Short Message Service (SMS), or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus Foster
  • Publication number: 20070076646
    Abstract: A system and method are directed towards enabling a server to activate a plurality of peer devices. The server may send a notification to a first peer device and employ subsequent peer devices to send further notifications to other peer devices in a sequence of peer devices, thereby reducing a number of notifications sent by the server. The peer devices may be mobile devices. In one embodiment, the notification indicates that data is available for download to the peer devices. In one embodiment, the sequence is dynamically determined by the server. In one embodiment, an instruction to send a notification to another peer device is provided to a peer device in the sequence along with the downloaded data. In another embodiment, the instruction is provided with the notification. In one embodiment, a notification may be sent using a hidden message mechanism of Short Message Service (SMS), or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus Foster