Patents by Inventor Michael L S Dodge

Michael L S Dodge 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: 11057664
    Abstract: Techniques for providing instruction to devices in the network are provided. For example, based at least in part on the list of currently active devices and the command, a controller can determine a sequence of IR signals associated with at least one currently active device and transmit, utilizing an IR transmitter incorporated with the controller, the sequence of IR signals to one or more of the currently active devices. In another example, an audio command and location information can be received and used to determine where a controller should transmit an IR signal that corresponds with the audio command, based at least in part on the location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner
  • Patent number: 10853032
    Abstract: Techniques for curating audio and IR commands using machine learning may be provided. For example, the system can receive an audio stream that includes a plurality of audio segments provided by a particular user (e.g., as determined through acoustic fingerprinting) and the system can store the audio stream and/or segments in the user's profile. The system can also store a command associated with the audio segment(s). When a portion of the audio is provided in conjunction with a same command over a threshold number of repetitions, the next time that that audio segment is received, the system may provide the command that corresponds with that audio segment to an output device to cause an operation of the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner
  • Patent number: 10469787
    Abstract: Techniques for providing instruction to devices in the network are provided. For example, based at least in part on the list of currently active devices and the command, a controller can determine a sequence of IR signals associated with at least one currently active device and transmit, utilizing an IR transmitter incorporated with the controller, the sequence of IR signals to one or more of the currently active devices. In another example, an audio command and location information can be received and used to determine where a controller should transmit an IR signal that corresponds with the audio command, based at least in part on the location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner
  • Patent number: 10417356
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for dynamically generating enhanced content showing an item to simulate a physics property of the item via an interaction that will initiate such interactive features. A physics model may be generated to enhance existing content. To generate the physics model, the system analyzes the content such as to detect a feature of the item (e.g., zipper on a clothing item or button on an electronic device item) shown in the content. Some aspects also consider the access device rendering the enhanced content to ensure the enhanced content is appropriately selected and formatted for presentation via the access device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron James Arterburn, Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner, Janet Ellen Galore, Gonzalo Alberto Ramos
  • Patent number: 10402068
    Abstract: Features are disclosed for dynamically generating a navigation interface for rendering content related to an item. To generate the interface, the system analyzes the content available and organizes the content in an intuitive way that keeps the user oriented as they explore the product. Some aspects also consider the access device rendering the interface to ensure the interface includes content that is appropriately selected and formatted for presentation via the access device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner, Janet Ellen Galore, Zakaria David Zajac
  • Patent number: 10375340
    Abstract: Techniques for providing instruction to devices in the network are provided. For example, based at least in part on the list of currently active devices and the command, a controller can determine a sequence of IR signals associated with at least one currently active device and transmit, utilizing an IR transmitter incorporated with the controller, the sequence of IR signals to one or more of the currently active devices. In another example, an audio command and location information can be received and used to determine where a controller should transmit an IR signal that corresponds with the audio command, based at least in part on the location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner
  • Patent number: 10268447
    Abstract: Techniques for curating audio and IR commands using machine learning may be provided. For example, the system can receive an audio stream that includes a plurality of audio segments and the system can store the audio stream and/or segments. The system can also store a command in a second data store. When a portion of the audio is provided in conjunction with a same command around the same time and exceeds a threshold number of repetitions, the next time that that audio segment is received, the system may provide a command that corresponds with that audio segment to an output device to cause an operation of the output device. In some examples, the system may confirm that the audio segment corresponds with the command before providing the command. This disclosure may use, for example, signal detection, acoustic fingerprinting, and shared vocabulary lists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L S Dodge, Charles Shearer Dorner
  • Patent number: 10070194
    Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for generating and providing micro-previews of edited content (e.g., a movie trailer) associated with media content (e.g., a motion picture). In accordance with at least one embodiment, a movie trailer may be obtained. A micro-preview may be played from the movie trailer by modifying the start time and playback duration of the movie trailer. In some embodiments, the start time and duration may be customized based on information associated with the user. While viewing the micro-preview, the user can be provided options to select an attribute associated with the movie trailer (e.g., director, actor, etc.) and selection options may be provided corresponding to motion pictures that share the attribute. A new movie may be selected from the selection options and a new micro-preview may begin to play based on customizing a corresponding movie trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L S Dodge
  • Patent number: 9762971
    Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for generating and providing micro-previews of edited versions (e.g., a movie trailer) associated with media content. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a plurality of edited content (e.g., movie trailers) corresponding to a collection of motion pictures may be obtained, the collection of motion pictures being related by a collection category. A plurality of respective play durations for respective items of the plurality of edited content may be determined. A plurality of respective start times for the respective items of the plurality of edited content may be determined. At least a subset of the plurality of edited content may be played (e.g., consecutively) based at least in part on the plurality of respective start times and the plurality of respective play durations for the respective items of the collection of motion pictures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L S Dodge