Patents by Inventor Michael Hart

Michael Hart 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: 10262657
    Abstract: A system that is capable of controlling multiple entertainment systems and/or speakers using voice commands. The system receives voice commands and may determine audio sources and speakers indicated by the voice commands. The system may generate audio data from the audio sources and may send the audio data to the speakers using multiple interfaces. For example, the system may send the audio data directly to the speakers using a network address, may send the audio data to the speakers via a voice-enabled device or may send the audio data to the speakers via a speaker controller. The system may generate output zones including multiple speakers and may associate input devices with speakers within the output zones. For example, the system may receive a voice command from an input device in an output zone and may reduce output audio generated by speakers in the output zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Williams, Steven Todd Rabuchin, Gregory Michael Hart
  • Patent number: 10249299
    Abstract: Techniques for tailoring beamforming techniques to environments such that processing resources may be devoted to a portion of an audio signal corresponding to a lobe of a beampattern that is most likely to contain user speech. The techniques take into account both acoustic characteristics of an environment and heuristics regarding lobes that have previously been found to include user speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Kavitha Velusamy, William Spencer Worley, III
  • Patent number: 10242187
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for providing integrated security management may include (1) identifying a computing environment protected by security systems and monitored by a security management system that receives event signatures from the security systems, where a first security system uses a first event signature naming scheme that differs from a second event signature naming scheme used by a second security system, (2) observing a first event signature that originates from the first security system and uses the first event signature naming scheme, (3) determine that the first event signature is equivalent to a second event signature that uses the second event signature naming scheme, and (4) performing, in connection with observing the first event signature, a security action associated with the second event signature and directed to the computing environment. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Symantec Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Roundy, Matteo Dell'Amico, Chris Gates, Michael Hart, Stanislav Miskovic
  • Patent number: 10242201
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for predicting security incidents triggered by security software may include (i) collecting, by a computing device, telemetry data from a set of security products deployed by a set of client machines, (ii) identifying, by the computing device, a selected security product within the set of security products that is missing telemetry data for a target client machine, (iii) building a classifier, by the computing device using the telemetry data, that predicts information about security incidents triggered by the selected security product, (iv) determining, by the computing device and based on the classifier, that the selected security product triggers a new security incident on the target client machine, and (v) performing a security action, by the computing device, to secure the target client machine against the new security incident. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Symantec Corporation
    Inventors: Shang-Tse Chen, Chris Gates, Yufei Han, Michael Hart, Kevin Roundy
  • Patent number: 10234853
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are configured for managing industrial assets. In an example embodiment, information about industrial assets or their use conditions, such as gathered from sensors embedded at or near industrial machines or assets themselves, can be aggregated, analyzed, and processed in software residing locally or remotely from the assets. In an example embodiment, applications can be provided to optimize an industrial asset for operation in a business context. In an example embodiment, a cloud-based asset management platform can include development tools to facilitate development, by end-users, of applications for interfacing with and optimizing industrial assets, and for managing relationships between various industrial assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Himagiri Mukkamala, Steve Winkler, Subrata Roy, Harel Kodesh, Marc-Thomas Schmidt, Michael Hart
  • Patent number: 10228323
    Abstract: A photo-acoustic polarimetric remote sensing apparatus includes a telescope that directs visible light photons from an object. A polarizing beam splitter is in optical alignment with the telescope. The polarizing beam splitter has first and second pathways corresponding to first and second polarization states, respectively. The first and second pathways are substantially perpendicular. A first photodetector is in optical alignment with the first pathway, and a second photodetector is in optical alignment with the second pathway. At least one processor is in communication with the first and second photodetectors. The at least one processor generates a signal corresponding to a degree of linear polarization of the photons over time, and the signal is indicative of an acoustic signature of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Hart, Zachary Watson
  • Publication number: 20190064636
    Abstract: A vehicle driver assist system includes a housing having a main body portion and a viewing window in the main body portion. A camera is provided in the main body portion and has a field of view through the viewing window. A glare reduction portion is adjacent the camera. The glare reduction portion has a textured surface for attenuating light reflection off of the glare reduction portion and into the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Shaoying Kang, Michael A. Hart, Harsh G. Shah, Matthew M. Jazwiecki
  • Patent number: 10186266
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing message playback using a shared electronic device is described herein. In response to receiving a request to output messages, a speech-processing system may determine a group account associated with a requesting device, and may determine messages stored by a message data store for the group account. Speaker identification processing may also be performed to determine a speaker of the request. A user account associated with the speaker, and messages stored for the user account, may be determined. A summary response indicating the user account's messages and the group account's message may then be generated such that the user account messages are identified prior to the group account's messages. The messages may then be analyzed to determine an appropriate voice user interface for the requester such that the playback of the messages using a shared electronic device is more natural and conversational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Brian Oliver, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Gregory Michael Hart, Ran Mokady
  • Patent number: 10187503
    Abstract: A system capable of connecting a device to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using an adapter. The adapter may connect to the PSTN and send audio data between the PSTN and a server via a data network, enabling the device to communicate over the PSTN. In addition, the adapter enables a telephone connected to a home telephone circuit to perform voice commands, by sending audio data from the telephone to the server and the server determining voice commands included in the audio data. In addition, the system may enable additional functionality for the home telephone circuit, such as three way calling, avoiding charge calls, detecting outgoing alarm signals and triggering an alarm response, monitoring call statistics of telephone calls and sending intercom signals to telephones connected to the home telephone circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Brian Oliver, Adrian Hurditch, Nawdesh Uppal, Reza Abdollahi
  • Patent number: 10186267
    Abstract: Methods and systems for prioritizing messages for playback are described herein. In some embodiments, a request for messages to be output may be received by a speech-processing system. The speech-processing system may include a message database that includes messages received for a speaker of the request's user account and/or a group account associated with a shared electronic device that the request was received from. One or more prioritization rules may be applied to the messages to order the messages for playback in order to provide an optimal voice user interface for the requesting individual. For instance, messages received for the user account may be prioritized over messages received for the group account, messages received from a similar sender or a high priority sender may be prioritized over other messages, and messages that are indicating as being urgent may be prioritized over messages that are indicated as being non-urgent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Brian Oliver, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Gregory Michael Hart, Ran Mokady
  • Patent number: 10157614
    Abstract: Methods and systems for redirecting messages based on contextual information associated with the messages are described herein. In some embodiments, a first individual may speak an utterance including a message, where the utterance indicates a first recipient for the message. Audio data representing the utterance may be provided to a speech-processing system, which may performed automatic speech recognition processing, natural language understanding processing, and contextual recognition processing to the audio data. In some embodiments, the contextual recognition processing may determine that the message may be intended for a second recipient. If so, the speech-processing system may cause the message to be redirected to the second recipient, such that the second recipient may receive the message as opposed to the first recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Brian Oliver, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Gregory Michael Hart, Ran Mokady
  • Patent number: 10142213
    Abstract: Techniques for providing event driven notifications are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing event driven notifications comprising monitoring an electronic media feed for an event associated with a specified criteria, identifying, using at least one computer processor, a plurality of events in the electronic media feed, filtering the plurality of events, identifying an event of the plurality of events matching a specified location, and providing a notification associated with the identified event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SYMANTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Hart, Darren Shou
  • Patent number: 10133546
    Abstract: Techniques for receiving a voice command from a user and, in response, providing audible content to the user using a first device and providing visual content for the user using a second device. In some instances, the first device includes a microphone for generating audio signals that include user speech, as well as a speaker for outputting audible content in response to identified voice commands from the speech. However, the first device might not include a display for displaying graphical content. As such, the first device may be configured to identify devices that include displays and that are proximate to the first device. The first device may then instruct one or more of these other devices to output visual content associated with a user's voice command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Scott Ian Blanksteen, John Daniel Thimsen, Allan Timothy Lindsay, Robert David Owen, Charles Peter Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10121465
    Abstract: Techniques for receiving a voice command from a user and, in response, providing audible content to the user via a first device and providing visual content for the user via a second device. In some instances, the first device includes a microphone for generating audio signals that include user speech, as well as a speaker for outputting audible content in response to identified voice commands from the speech. However, the first device might not include a display for displaying graphical content. As such, the first device may be configured to identify devices that include displays and that are proximate to the first device. The first device may then instruct one or more of these other devices to output visual content associated with a user's voice command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Jeffrey P. Bezos
  • Publication number: 20180309866
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sender profile and/or recipient profile disambiguation and/or confirmation are disclosed. In instances where a sender profile is not indicated by a user sending a communication from a communal device, heuristic data may be utilized to infer the sender profile. Similar heuristic data may also be used when selection of the sender profile is associated with a low confidence level. Heuristic data may also be used to infer the recipient profile when the user does not indicate the recipient profile or when selection of the recipient profile is associated with a low confidence. Various confirmations may result from the sender and recipient profile disambiguation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, James Alexander Stanton, Sumedha Arvind Kshirsagar, Christopher Geiger Parker, Aaron Takayanagi Barnet, Venkatesh Kancharla, Gregory Michael Hart
  • Patent number: 10091231
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method for detecting security blind spots may include (i) detecting, via an endpoint security program, a threat incident at a set of client machines associated with a security vendor server, (ii) obtaining an indication of how the set of client machines will respond to the detecting of the threat incident, (iii) predicting how a model set of client machines would respond to the threat incident, (iv) determining that a delta exceeds a security threshold, and (v) performing a security action by the security vendor server, in response to determining that the delta exceeds the security threshold, to protect the set of client machines at least in part by electronically notifying the set of client machines of information about the prediction of how the model set of client machines would respond to the threat incident. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Symantec Corporation
    Inventors: Chris Gates, Stanislav Miskovic, Michael Hart, Kevin Roundy
  • Publication number: 20180257261
    Abstract: A tile saw includes a frame supporting a saw, a table, and pan. The pan includes an inside bottom surface and an outer wall defined by a first end wall, a second end wall spaced away from the first end wall, and first and second side walls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall. A connection assembly couples the frame to the pan, and includes a first engagement member disposed on the first end wall, and second and third engagement members disposed on the second end wall. A stand includes a plurality of legs that support the pan. A transport assembly transports the pan, the table, and the frame separately from the stand. The transport assembly includes wheels coupled to one of the first end wall or second end wall, and a handle coupled to the other of the first end wall or second end wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Alek Ipatenco, Michael Hart, C. Scott Tennant, Kenneth Brazell, Jesse J. Jerabek, Taku Ohi
  • Publication number: 20180204574
    Abstract: Techniques for altering audio being output by a voice-controlled device, or another device, to enable more accurate automatic speech recognition (ASR) by the voice-controlled device. For instance, a voice-controlled device may output audio within an environment using a speaker of the device. While outputting the audio, a microphone of the device may capture sound within the environment and may generate an audio signal based on the captured sound. The device may then analyze the audio signal to identify speech of a user within the signal, with the speech indicating that the user is going to provide a subsequent command to the device. Thereafter, the device may alter the output of the audio (e.g., attenuate the audio, pause the audio, switch from stereo to mono, etc.) to facilitate speech recognition of the user's subsequent command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, William Spencer Worley, III
  • Publication number: 20180189038
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a characteristic of a first plurality of lines of code of an application program. Adapter software code lines are automatically generated in response to the detected characteristic of the first plurality of lines of code. The adapter software code lines are for constituting a portion of an adapter software module. A characteristic of a second plurality of lines of code of the application program is detected. In response to the detected characteristic of the second plurality of lines of code, adapter software code lines are not automatically generated with respect to the second plurality of lines of code and the second plurality of lines of code are listed with the adapter software code lines, along with an indication that manual coding is required with respect to the second plurality of lines of code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Michael HART, Milton WAID, Jeremy OSTERHOUDT, Andy JOHNS
  • Patent number: D841644
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Giles David Matthew McWilliam, Christopher Green, Gregory Michael Hart, Marc Rene Walliser, Sun Joo Han