Patents by Inventor Nikrouz Ghotbi

Nikrouz Ghotbi 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: 11942090
    Abstract: An example process includes at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory: while the electronic device is in a locked state and in communication with an external accessory device: receiving a natural language input; determining whether the natural language input corresponds to a secure task request; in accordance with a determination that the natural language input corresponds to a secure task request: determining whether one or more states of the external accessory device satisfy a set of authentication criteria; and in accordance with a determination that the one or more states of the external accessory device satisfy the set of authentication criteria: initiating, by the electronic device, a secure task corresponding to the natural language input; and providing an output indicative of the initiated secure task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan D. Webber, Trungtin Tran, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Naresh Kumar Chinnathambi Kailasam, Sue Wen Chiao, Tyler C. Leppek, Brandon J. Newendorp
  • Patent number: 11924254
    Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Hansen, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Yifeng Gui, Xinyuan Huang, Benjamin S. Phipps, Eugene Ray, Mahesh Ramaray Shanbhag, Jaireh Tecarro, Sumit Wattal
  • Patent number: 11907272
    Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, machine-readable media, and devices which provide for real-time personalized suggestions for participants in a network-based communication service. The personalized suggestions may include options for taking actions, content suggestions, and smart replies. These suggestions may be based upon the current conversation and are delivered personally to each participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Nikrouz Ghotbi, Eddie Fusaro, John Alton Price, Jeff Roger DeVries
  • Publication number: 20230394073
    Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, machine-readable media, and devices which provide for real-time personalized suggestions for participants in a network-based communication service. The personalized suggestions may include options for taking actions, content suggestions, and smart replies. These suggestions may be based upon the current conversation and are delivered personally to each participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Nikrouz GHOTBI, Eddie Fusaro, John Alton Price, Jeff R. Devries
  • Patent number: 11765209
    Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Hansen, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Yifeng Gui, Xinyuan Huang, Benjamin S. Phipps, Eugene Ray, Mahesh Ramaray Shanbhag, Jaireh Tecarro, Sumit Wattal
  • Patent number: 11568337
    Abstract: Task assignments are identified. A dataset that includes one or more electronic messages is received. Then, one or more pending tasks in the dataset are identified, and each of a plurality of people who are mentioned in the dataset is also identified. Then, for each of the pending tasks, one or more of the identified people are identified as potentially being people who are assigned to complete the pending task, and the pending task is associated with these identified one or more of the identified people. For each of the pending tasks, one or more of the identified people are also identified as potentially being people for whom the pending task is to be completed, and the pending task is also associated with these identified one or more of the identified people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ajoy Nandi, Jason T. Creighton, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Ryen W. White
  • Patent number: 11570275
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of performing intent-based scheduling via a digital personal assistant. For instance, an intent of user(s) to perform an action (a.k.a. activity) may be used to schedule time (e.g., on a calendar of at least one of the user(s)) in which the action is to be performed. Examples of performing an action include but are not limited to having a meeting, working on a project, participating in a social event, exercising, and reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Liensberger, Marcus A. Ash, Nikrouz Ghotbi
  • Publication number: 20220392446
    Abstract: An example process includes at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory: while the electronic device is in a locked state and in communication with an external accessory device: receiving a natural language input; determining whether the natural language input corresponds to a secure task request; in accordance with a determination that the natural language input corresponds to a secure task request: determining whether one or more states of the external accessory device satisfy a set of authentication criteria; and in accordance with a determination that the one or more states of the external accessory device satisfy the set of authentication criteria: initiating, by the electronic device, a secure task corresponding to the natural language input; and providing an output indicative of the initiated secure task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan D. WEBBER, Trungtin TRAN, Nikrouz GHOTBI, Naresh Kumar CHINNATHAMBI KAILASAM, Sue Wen CHIAO, Tyler C. LEPPEK, Brandon J. NEWENDORP
  • Publication number: 20220284901
    Abstract: Systems and processes for providing personalized suggestions indicating that a task may be performed using a digital assistant of an electronic device are provided. An example method includes, at an electronic device with a display, receiving context data associated with the electronic device; determining, based on the context data, a task that may be performed by a digital assistant of the electronic device in response to a natural-language expression; determining, based on the context data, whether suggestion criteria associated with the determined task are satisfied; and in accordance with a determination that the suggestion criteria are satisfied, providing a suggestion indicating that the determined task may be performed using the digital assistant of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Kirill NOVITCHENKO, Kyle W. LU, Nikrouz GHOTBI, Trungtin TRAN, Lun CUI, Matias Hernan SULZBERGER, Marek Rastislav TELGARSKY, Briana C. CHAPMAN, Kevin Siu Wai LI, Jared CRAWFORD, Robert A. WALKER
  • Patent number: 11386892
    Abstract: Systems and processes for providing personalized suggestions indicating that a task may be performed using a digital assistant of an electronic device are provided. An example method includes, at an electronic device with a display, receiving context data associated with the electronic device; determining, based on the context data, a task that may be performed by a digital assistant of the electronic device in response to a natural-language expression; determining, based on the context data, whether suggestion criteria associated with the determined task are satisfied; and in accordance with a determination that the suggestion criteria are satisfied, providing a suggestion indicating that the determined task may be performed using the digital assistant of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kirill Novitchenko, Kyle W. Lu, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Trungtin Tran, Lun Cui, Matias Hernan Sulzberger, Marek Rastislav Telgarsky, Briana C. Chapman, Kevin Siu Wai Li, Jared Crawford, Robert A. Walker
  • Patent number: 11307764
    Abstract: Generating talking points on behalf of a user and providing the talking points to the user is provided. Talking points can help users to quickly and easily start a personalized conversation that enables participants of the conversation to make a connection, thus eliciting better communication and collaboration. Talking points can be generated based on commitments or requests identified in a previous conversation, anomalies or patterns identified in context data, or information items of interest collected from various data sources. One or more top-ranking talking points are surfaced to the user to help the user start a new conversation or to continue a previous conversation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ryen William White, Nikrouz Ghotbi
  • Publication number: 20220046107
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of performing intent-based scheduling via a digital personal assistant. For instance, an intent of user(s) to perform an action (a.k.a. activity) may be used to schedule time (e.g., on a calendar of at least one of the user(s)) in which the action is to be performed. Examples of performing an action include but are not limited to having a meeting, working on a project, participating in a social event, exercising, and reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Christian LIENSBERGER, Marcus A. ASH, Nikrouz GHOTBI
  • Publication number: 20220046106
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of performing intent-based scheduling via a digital personal assistant. For instance, an intent of user(s) to perform an action (a.k.a. activity) may be used to schedule time (e.g., on a calendar of at least one of the user(s)) in which the action is to be performed. Examples of performing an action include but are not limited to having a meeting, working on a project, participating in a social event, exercising, and reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Christian LIENSBERGER, Marcus A. ASH, Nikrouz GHOTBI
  • Publication number: 20210365161
    Abstract: An example process includes: while displaying a user interface different from a digital assistant user interface, receiving a user input; in accordance with a determination that the user input satisfies a criterion for initiating a digital assistant: displaying, over the user interface, the digital assistant user interface, the digital assistant user interface including: a digital assistant indicator displayed at a first portion of the display; and a response affordance displayed at a second portion of the display, where: a portion of the user interface remains visible at a third portion of the display; and the third portion is between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Neal ELLIS, Oluwatomiwa B. ALABI, Robert BURTON, Richard R. DELLINGER, Thomas R. FAZIO, Craig M. FEDERIGHI, Rebecca P. FISH, Nikrouz GHOTBI, James N. JONES, Ieyuki KAWASHIMA, Stephen O. LEMAY, Pedro MARI, Aaron MUSENGO, James E. PALMER, Patchaya Beam SEILAUDOM, Andrea Valentina SIMES, Tyler McClay SMITH, Trungtin TRAN, Robert A. WALKER, II
  • Publication number: 20210365174
    Abstract: An example process includes: while displaying a user interface different from a digital assistant user interface, receiving a user input, in accordance with a determination that the user input satisfies a criterion for initiating a digital assistant: displaying, over the user interface, the digital assistant user interface, the digital assistant user interface including: a digital assistant indicator displayed at a first portion of the display; and a response affordance displayed at a second portion of the display, where: a portion of the user interface remains visible at a third portion of the display; and the third portion is between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Neal ELLIS, Robert BURTON, Richard R. DELLINGER, Thomas R. FAZIO, Craig M. FEDERIGHI, Rebecca P. FISH, Kenneth Arthur Abraham FERRY, Nikrouz GHOTBI, James N. JONES, Ieyuki KAWASHIMA, Stephen O. LEMAY, Pedro MARI, Aaron MUSENGO, James E. PALMER, Patchaya Beam SEILAUDOM, Tyler McClay SMITH, Trungtin TRAN, Robert A. WALKER, II
  • Patent number: 11183193
    Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Hansen, Nikrouz Ghotbi, Yifeng Gui, Xinyuan Huang, Benjamin S. Phipps, Eugene Ray, Mahesh Ramaray Shanbhag, Jaireh Tecarro, Sumit Wattal
  • Patent number: 11178248
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of performing intent-based scheduling via a digital personal assistant. For instance, an intent of user(s) to perform an action (a.k.a. activity) may be used to schedule time (e.g., on a calendar of at least one of the user(s)) in which the action is to be performed. Examples of performing an action include but are not limited to having a meeting, working on a project, participating in a social event, exercising, and reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Liensberger, Marcus A. Ash, Nikrouz Ghotbi
  • Patent number: 11178082
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for a smart communications assistant with an audio interface. One method includes an operation for getting messages addressed to a user. The messages are from one or more message sources and each message comprising message data that includes text. The method further includes operations for analyzing the message data to determine a meaning of each message, for generating a score for each message based on the respective message data and the meaning of the message, and for generating a textual summary for the messages based on the message scores and the meaning of the messages. A speech summary is created based on the textual summary and the speech summary is then sent to a speaker associated with the user. The audio interface further allows the user to verbally request actions for the messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nikrouz Ghotbi, August Niehaus, Sachin Venugopalan, Aleksandar Antonijevic, Tvrtko Tadic, Vashutosh Agrawal, Lisa Stifelman
  • Publication number: 20210352115
    Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Bryan HANSEN, Nikrouz GHOTBI, Yifeng GUI, Xinyuan HUANG, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Eugene RAY, Mahesh Ramaray SHANBHAG, Jaireh TECARRO, Sumit WATTAL
  • Publication number: 20210350803
    Abstract: This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to intelligent context sharing and task performance among a collection of devices with intelligent automated assistant capabilities. An example method includes, at a first electronic device participating in a context-sharing group associated with a first location: receiving a user voice input; receiving, from a context collector, an aggregate context of the context-sharing group; providing at least a portion of the aggregate context and data corresponding to the user voice input to a remote device; receiving, from the remote device, a command to perform one or more tasks and a device identifier corresponding to a second electronic device; and transmitting the command to the second electronic device based on the device identifier, wherein the command causes the second electronic device to perform the one or more tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Bryan HANSEN, Nikrouz GHOTBI, Yifeng GUI, Xinyuan HUANG, Benjamin S. PHIPPS, Eugene RAY, Mahesh Ramaray SHANBHAG, Jaireh TECARRO, Sumit WATTAL