Patents by Inventor Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs
Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs 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).
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Patent number: 11785572Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include identifying, by a computing device, a geographic proximity of an entity, establishing, by the computing device, direct short-range communications with the entity, the computing device and the entity being able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. The method can further include receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the computing device shares an identifier with the entity, and receiving, by the computing device, information relevant to the computing device regarding the entity based on the shared identifier.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Randall Cole Luecke
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Patent number: 11692841Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating and providing route options for an autonomous vehicle. For example, a user may identify a destination, and in response the vehicle's computer may provide routing options to the user. The routing options may be based on typical navigating considerations such as the total travel time, travel distance, fuel economy, etc. Each routing option may include not only an estimated total time, but also information regarding whether and which portions of the route may be maneuvered under the control of the vehicle alone (fully autonomous), a combination of the vehicle and the driver (semiautonomous), or the driver alone. The time of the longest stretch of driving associated with the autonomous mode as well as map information indicating portions of the routes associated with the type of maneuvering control may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Lawrence Burns, Brian Cullinane
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Publication number: 20230048123Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include identifying, by a computing device, a geographic proximity of an entity, establishing, by the computing device, direct short-range communications with the entity, the computing device and the entity being able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. The method can further include receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the computing device shares an identifier with the entity, and receiving, by the computing device, information relevant to the computing device regarding the entity based on the shared identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Randall Cole Luecke
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Patent number: 11496984Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include identifying, by a computing device, a geographic proximity of an entity, establishing, by the computing device, direct short-range communications with the entity, the computing device and the entity being able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. The method can further include receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the computing device shares an identifier with the entity, and receiving, by the computing device, information relevant to the computing device regarding the entity based on the shared identifier.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Randall Cole Luecke
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Patent number: 11231292Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating and providing route options for an autonomous vehicle. For example, a user may identify a destination, and in response the vehicle's computer may provide routing options to the user. The routing options may be based on typical navigating considerations such as the total travel time, travel distance, fuel economy, etc. Each routing option may include not only an estimated total time, but also information regarding whether and which portions of the route may be maneuvered under the control of the vehicle alone (fully autonomous), a combination of the vehicle and the driver (semiautonomous), or the driver alone. The time of the longest stretch of driving associated with the autonomous mode as well as map information indicating portions of the routes associated with the type of maneuvering control may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Lawrence Burns, Brian Cullinane
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Publication number: 20200351812Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include identifying, by a computing device, a geographic proximity of an entity, establishing, by the computing device, direct short-range communications with the entity, the computing device and the entity being able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. The method can further include receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the computing device shares an identifier with the entity, and receiving, by the computing device, information relevant to the computing device regarding the entity based on the shared identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Randall Cole Luecke
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Patent number: 10816983Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for customizing driving operations of a vehicle based on occupant(s) of the vehicle. An autonomous vehicle that includes a passenger compartment can determine a presence of an occupant of the passenger compartment. The autonomous vehicle can determine a location of the occupant within the passenger compartment. Additional information about the occupant can be determined. A driving operation can be selected from among a plurality of driving operations based on the location and additional information about the occupant. The selected driving operation can be performed, perhaps by the autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Brian Cullinane, Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs
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Patent number: 10721706Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include identifying, by a computing device, a geographic proximity of an entity, establishing, by the computing device, direct short-range communications with the entity, the computing device and the entity being able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. The method can further include receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the computing device shares an identifier with the entity, and receiving, by the computing device, information relevant to the computing device regarding the entity based on the shared identifier.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Randall Cole Luecke
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Patent number: 10451433Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating and providing route options for an autonomous vehicle. For example, a user may identify a destination, and in response the vehicle's computer may provide routing options to the user. The routing options may be based on typical navigating considerations such as the total travel time, travel distance, fuel economy, etc. Each routing option may include not only an estimated total time, but also information regarding whether and which portions of the route may be maneuvered under the control of the vehicle alone (fully autonomous), a combination of the vehicle and the driver (semiautonomous), or the driver alone. The time of the longest stretch of driving associated with the autonomous mode as well as map information indicating portions of the routes associated with the type of maneuvering control may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Lawrence Burns, Brian Cullinane
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Publication number: 20180364723Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for customizing driving operations of a vehicle based on occupant(s) of the vehicle. An autonomous vehicle that includes a passenger compartment can determine a presence of an occupant of the passenger compartment. The autonomous vehicle can determine a location of the occupant within the passenger compartment. Additional information about the occupant can be determined. A driving operation can be selected from among a plurality of driving operations based on the location and additional information about the occupant. The selected driving operation can be performed, perhaps by the autonomous vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Brian Cullinane, Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs
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Publication number: 20180302875Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include identifying, by a computing device, a geographic proximity of an entity, establishing, by the computing device, direct short-range communications with the entity, the computing device and the entity being able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. The method can further include receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the computing device shares an identifier with the entity, and receiving, by the computing device, information relevant to the computing device regarding the entity based on the shared identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Randall Cole Luecke
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Patent number: 10036648Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating and providing route options for an autonomous vehicle. For example, a user may identify a destination, and in response the vehicle's computer may provide routing options to the user. The routing options may be based on typical navigating considerations such as the total travel time, travel distance, fuel economy, etc. Each routing option may include not only an estimated total time, but also information regarding whether and which portions of the route may be maneuvered under the control of the vehicle alone (fully autonomous), a combination of the vehicle and the driver (semiautonomous), or the driver alone. The time of the longest stretch of driving associated with the autonomous mode as well as map information indicating portions of the routes associated with the type of maneuvering control may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Lawrence Burns, Brian Douglas Cullinane
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Patent number: 9950708Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for customizing driving operations of a vehicle based on occupant(s) of the vehicle. An autonomous vehicle that includes a passenger compartment can determine a presence of an occupant of the passenger compartment. The autonomous vehicle can determine a location of the occupant within the passenger compartment. Additional information about the occupant can be determined. A driving operation can be selected from among a plurality of driving operations based on the location and additional information about the occupant. The selected driving operation can be performed, perhaps by the autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Brian Cullinane, Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs
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Patent number: 9894633Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include identifying, by a computing device, a geographic proximity of an entity, establishing, by the computing device, direct short-range communications with the entity, the computing device and the entity being able to communicate with one another using a short-range communication protocol. The method can further include receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the computing device shares an identifier with the entity, and receiving, by the computing device, information relevant to the computing device regarding the entity based on the shared identifier.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Randall Cole Luecke
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Patent number: 9632570Abstract: A data processing device may receive, from an application running on the data processing device, an indication that one or more sensors may be associated with a user input for the application. Based on sensing information collected from the one or more sensors, a characteristic of the user input may be determined by the data processing device. The data processing device may refrain from entering a sleep mode if the characteristic of the user input matches a specific characteristic condition specified by the application. The data processing device may allow entering the sleep mode if the characteristic of the user input does not match the specific characteristic condition for a specific timeout period specified by the application. The data processing device may receive the indication, information on the specific characteristic condition and/or information on the specific timeout period via invoking, by the application, one or more application programming interfaces (APIs).Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Alex Ainslie
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Patent number: 9528850Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating and providing route options for an autonomous vehicle. For example, a user may identify a destination, and in response the vehicle's computer may provide routing options to the user. The routing options may be based on typical navigating considerations such as the total travel time, travel distance, fuel economy, etc. Each routing option may include not only an estimated total time, but also information regarding whether and which portions of the route may be maneuvered under the control of the vehicle alone (fully autonomous), a combination of the vehicle and the driver (semiautonomous), or the driver alone. The time of the longest stretch of driving associated with the autonomous mode as well as map information indicating portions of the routes associated with the type of maneuvering control may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Lawrence Burns, Brian Douglas Cullinane
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Publication number: 20160334862Abstract: A data processing device may receive, from an application running on the data processing device, an indication that one or more sensors may be associated with a user input for the application. Based on sensing information collected from the one or more sensors, a characteristic of the user input may be determined by the data processing device. The data processing device may refrain from entering a sleep mode if the characteristic of the user input matches a specific characteristic condition specified by the application. The data processing device may allow entering the sleep mode if the characteristic of the user input does not match the specific characteristic condition for a specific timeout period specified by the application. The data processing device may receive the indication, information on the specific characteristic condition and/or information on the specific timeout period via invoking, by the application, one or more application programming interfaces (APIs).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Alex Ainslie
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Patent number: 9454208Abstract: A data processing device may receive, from an application running on the data processing device, an indication that one or more sensors may be associated with a user input for the application. Based on sensing information collected from the one or more sensors, a characteristic of the user input may be determined by the data processing device. The data processing device may refrain from entering a sleep mode if the characteristic of the user input matches a specific characteristic condition specified by the application. The data processing device may allow entering the sleep mode if the characteristic of the user input does not match the specific characteristic condition for a specific timeout period specified by the application. The data processing device may receive the indication, information on the specific characteristic condition and/or information on the specific timeout period via invoking, by the application, one or more application programming interfaces (APIs).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Alex Ainslie
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Patent number: 9323362Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosure, an input device may include a first adjustment region, a second adjustment region, a connector region, a function region, and a display region. In one example, A user may access a particular function by providing a gesture to the function region. The user may then continue the gesture from the function region to the connector region for a predetermined length along the connector region. Once a particular function is accessed, a user may control the parameters or settings associated with that particular function via one or both of the first adjustment region and second adjustment region. For example, a user may provide a gesture to either the first or second adjustment region in order to modify parameters associated with the function.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs
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Patent number: 9268442Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosure, an input device may include a first adjustment region, a second adjustment region, a connector region, a function region, and a display region. In one example, a user may access a particular function by providing a gesture to the function region. The user may then continue the gesture from the function region to the connector region for a predetermined length along the connector region. Once a particular function is accessed, a user may control the parameters or settings associated with that particular function via one or both of the first adjustment region and second adjustment region. For example, a user may provide a gesture to either the first or second adjustment region in order to modify parameters associated with the function.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs