Patents by Inventor Miroslav Ristic

Miroslav Ristic 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: 11902707
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Miroslav Ristic, Robert Franklin Ebert, Eric Peter Raeber, Tarun Yohann Morton
  • Patent number: 11809150
    Abstract: Traditional home-automation systems utilize a single hub for controlling secondary devices within a home. The techniques described herein, meanwhile, utilize multiple hubs within the environment and/or located remotely from the environment. For instance, an environment may include multiple electronic devices, each configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. In addition, a remote service may be configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. As such, each controlling device stores and executes an instance of a control engine, rather than relying on a single instance of a control engine located at a single controlling hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Peter Raeber, Robert Franklin Ebert, Adam Barry Fineberg, Mark Sander Urbanus, Miroslav Ristic, Maxim Spivak
  • Patent number: 11437057
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input, generating an electrical signal having a first gain level that is below a gain threshold for audible detection by a user, transmitting the electrical signal to the speaker and detecting, by the microphone, an audio signal that includes a combination of ambient noise and a probe audio signal, wherein the probe audio signal is output by the speaker based on the electrical signal. The method further includes determining a power level of the probe audio signal and determining a state of the display based on the power level of the probe audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen
  • Patent number: 11340566
    Abstract: Traditional home-automation systems utilize a single hub for controlling secondary devices within a home. The techniques described herein, meanwhile, utilize multiple hubs within the environment and/or located remotely from the environment. For instance, an environment may include multiple electronic devices, each configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. In addition, a remote service may be configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. As such, each controlling device stores and executes an instance of a control engine, rather than relying on a single instance of a control engine located at a single controlling hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Peter Raeber, Robert Franklin Ebert, Adam Barry Fineberg, Mark Sander Urbanus, Miroslav Ristic, Maxim Spivak
  • Patent number: 11234039
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input from a user and determining, by the voice-controlled device, that a power state of an AV display device that is coupled to the voice-controlled device is an ON or OFF state. Based on the user intent determined from the speech input and the power state of the AV display, the voice-controlled device sends data to the AV display device to switch the AV display device ON or OFF. The method can further include receiving, by the voice-controlled device, content from a content source location and sending the content to the AV display device via an AV port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Donald L. Cantrell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11212486
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
  • Publication number: 20210074314
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input, generating an electrical signal having a first gain level that is below a gain threshold for audible detection by a user, transmitting the electrical signal to the speaker and detecting, by the microphone, an audio signal that includes a combination of ambient noise and a probe audio signal, wherein the probe audio signal is output by the speaker based on the electrical signal. The method further includes determining a power level of the probe audio signal and determining a state of the display based on the power level of the probe audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen
  • Patent number: 10847176
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input, generating an electrical signal having a first gain level that is below a gain threshold for audible detection by a user, transmitting the electrical signal to the speaker and detecting, by the microphone, an audio signal that includes a combination of ambient noise and a probe audio signal, wherein the probe audio signal is output by the speaker based on the electrical signal. The method further includes determining a power level of the probe audio signal and determining a state of the display based on the power level of the probe audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen
  • Publication number: 20200177945
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input from a user and determining, by the voice-controlled device, that a power state of an AV display device that is coupled to the voice-controlled device is an ON or OFF state. Based on the user intent determined from the speech input and the power state of the AV display, the voice-controlled device sends data to the AV display device to switch the AV display device ON or OFF. The method can further include receiving, by the voice-controlled device, content from a content source location and sending the content to the AV display device via an AV port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Donald L. Cantrell, JR.
  • Patent number: 10609331
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
  • Patent number: 10560737
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input from a user and determining, by the voice-controlled device, that a power state of an AV display device that is coupled to the voice-controlled device is an ON or OFF state. Based on the user intent determined from the speech input and the power state of the AV display, the voice-controlled device sends data to the AV display device to switch the AV display device ON or OFF. The method can further include receiving, by the voice-controlled device, content from a content source location and sending the content to the AV display device via an AV port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Donald L. Cantrell, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190279655
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input, generating an electrical signal having a first gain level that is below a gain threshold for audible detection by a user, transmitting the electrical signal to the speaker and detecting, by the microphone, an audio signal that includes a combination of ambient noise and a probe audio signal, wherein the probe audio signal is output by the speaker based on the electrical signal. The method further includes determining a power level of the probe audio signal and determining a state of the display based on the power level of the probe audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen
  • Publication number: 20190281341
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a microphone of a voice-controlled device, a speech input from a user and determining, by the voice-controlled device, that a power state of an AV display device that is coupled to the voice-controlled device is an ON or OFF state. Based on the user intent determined from the speech input and the power state of the AV display, the voice-controlled device sends data to the AV display device to switch the AV display device ON or OFF. The method can further include receiving, by the voice-controlled device, content from a content source location and sending the content to the AV display device via an AV port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence, Balsa Laban, Anna Chen Santos, Joseph Pedro Tavares, Miroslav Ristic, Valere Joseph Vanderschaegen, Trausti Thor Kristjansson, Srivatsan Kandadai, Donald L. Cantrell, JR.
  • Patent number: 10365620
    Abstract: Traditional home-automation systems utilize a single hub for controlling secondary devices within a home. The techniques described herein, meanwhile, utilize multiple hubs within the environment and/or located remotely from the environment. For instance, an environment may include multiple electronic devices, each configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. In addition, a remote service may be configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. As such, each controlling device stores and executes an instance of a control engine, rather than relying on a single instance of a control engine located at a single controlling hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Peter Raeber, Robert Franklin Ebert, Adam Barry Fineberg, Mark Sander Urbanus, Miroslav Ristic, Maxim Spivak
  • Patent number: 10142591
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
  • Patent number: 9749583
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
  • Patent number: 9729821
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic