Patents by Inventor Nirmal Patel

Nirmal Patel 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: 10194121
    Abstract: A computing device configured to dynamically capture and store experience data received the by the computing device. An example method involves: (a) receiving first experience data that indicates at least one environmental condition; (b) selecting a capture mode from a plurality of capture modes based on the at least one environmental condition, where the capture mode defines a manner of capturing experience data; and (c) causing the computing device to operate in the selected capture mode, where operating in the selected capture mode includes capturing second experience data in the manner defined by the capture mode. The method may optionally additionally involve: (d) after entering the capture mode, receiving third experience data; (e) determining that the capture mode should be exited based on at least the received third experience data; and (f) based on the determination that the capture mode should be exited, exiting the capture mode such that at least one type of experience data is not captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mat Balez, Nirmal Patel, Thad Eugene Starner
  • Publication number: 20190011982
    Abstract: Methods and systems involving navigation of a graphical interface are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) cause a head-mounted display (HMD) to provide a graphical interface, the graphical interface comprising (i) a view port having a view-port orientation and (ii) at least one navigable area having at least one border, the at least one border having a first border orientation; (b) receive input data that indicates movement of the view port towards the at least one border; (c) determine that the view-port orientation is within a predetermined threshold distance from the first border orientation; and (d) based on at least the determination that the view-port orientation is within a predetermined threshold distance from the first border orientation, adjust the first border orientation from the first border orientation to a second border orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron Wheeler, Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Sebastian Thrun, Hayes Solos Raffle, Nirmal Patel
  • Patent number: 10114466
    Abstract: Methods and systems for hands-free browsing in a wearable computing device are provided. A wearable computing device may provide for display a view of a first card of a plurality of cards which include respective virtual displays of content. The wearable computing device may determine a first rotation of the wearable computing device about a first axis and one or more eye gestures. Based on a combination of the first rotation and the eye gestures, the wearable computing device may provide for display the navigable menu, which may include an alternate view of the first card and at least a portion of one or more cards. Then, based on a determined second rotation of the wearable computing device about a second axis and based on a direction of the second rotation, the wearable computing device may generate a display indicative of navigation through the navigable menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Nirmal Patel, Hayes Solos Raffle, Mat Balez, Max Benjamin Braun, Jerrica Jones
  • Patent number: 10067559
    Abstract: Methods and systems involving navigation of a graphical interface are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) cause a head-mounted display (HMD) to provide a graphical interface, the graphical interface comprising (i) a view port having a view-port orientation and (ii) at least one navigable area having at least one border, the at least one border having a first border orientation; (b) receive input data that indicates movement of the view port towards the at least one border; (c) determine that the view-port orientation is within a predetermined threshold distance from the first border orientation; and (d) based on at least the determination that the view-port orientation is within a predetermined threshold distance from the first border orientation, adjust the first border orientation from the first border orientation to a second border orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Wheeler, Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Sebastian Thrun, Hayes Solos Raffle, Nirmal Patel
  • Publication number: 20180152628
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to adjusting a virtual camera's orientation when a vehicle is making a turn. One or more computing devices may receive the vehicle's original heading prior to making the turn and the vehicle's current heading. Based on the vehicle's original heading and the vehicle's current heading, the one or more computing devices may determine an angle of a turn the vehicle is performing and The one or more computing devices may determine a camera rotation angle and adjust the virtual camera's orientation relative to the vehicle to an updated orientation by rotating the virtual camera by the camera rotation angle and generate a video corresponding to the virtual camera's updated orientation. The video may be displayed on the display by the one or more computing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventor: Nirmal Patel
  • Publication number: 20180135972
    Abstract: The technology relates to generating a representation of an object detected by a perception system of a vehicle. For instance, a set of data points corresponding to an object is received from the perception system. Map information identifying shapes and locations of lanes as well as locations of center points for the lanes is retrieved. A representative point of the center points is selected based on the set of data points. A first position is determined based on the location of the representative point. A second position is determined based on the set of data points. The first and second positions are used to determine a third position for a representation of the object based on a distance the first position and the second position. The he representation of the object is generated using the third position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventor: Nirmal Patel
  • Patent number: 9857965
    Abstract: Methods and systems involving resolution of directional ambiguity between a graphical display and a touch-based user-interface are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) cause a visual depiction of a first reference marker on a graphical display; (b) receive first input data indicating an initial touch input on a touch-based user-interface, where the initial touch input corresponds to an input-direction path having a first end and a second end, and where the touch input corresponds to movement of the input-direction path; (c) associate movement of the first reference marker with subsequent touch inputs; (d) receive second input data indicating a subsequent touch input; and (e) cause a visual depiction of movement of a second reference marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner, Nirmal Patel, Adrian Wong, Michael Patrick Johnson
  • Patent number: 9830071
    Abstract: Example method and systems for text-entry are disclosed. A method may involve displaying a user interface comprising a character line, the character line comprising a plurality of characters in a substantially linear arrangement. The method may then involve receiving a first input via a touch-sensitive input device, wherein the first input comprises a detected movement on a first portion of the touch-sensitive input device. Further, the method may involve, in response to receiving the first input, displaying an indication of a selected character. The method may then involve receiving a second input via the touch-sensitive input device, wherein the second input comprises a detected movement from the first portion to a second portion of the touch-sensitive input device and back to the first portion. The method may then involve displaying the selected character in a text-entry area of the user interface that is separate from the character line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Nirmal Patel, Thad Eugene Starner
  • Patent number: 9811154
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to displaying and cropping viewable objects. A viewable object can be displayed on a display of a head-mountable device (HMD) configured with a hand-movement input device. The HMD can receive both head-movement data corresponding to head movements and hand-movement data from the hand-movement input device. The viewable object can be panned on the display based on the head-movement data. The viewable object can be zoomed on the display based on the hand-movement data. The HMD can receive an indication that navigation of the viewable object is complete. The HMD can determine whether a cropping mode is activated. After determining that the cropping mode is activated, the HMD can generate a cropped image of the viewable object on the display when navigation is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Hayes Solos Raffle, Nirmal Patel, Max Benjamin Braun
  • Patent number: 9794527
    Abstract: A computing device configured to dynamically capture and store experience data received the by the computing device. An example method involves: (a) receiving first experience data that indicates at least one environmental condition; (b) selecting a capture mode from a plurality of capture modes based on the at least one environmental condition, where the capture mode defines a manner of capturing experience data; and (c) causing the computing device to operate in the selected capture mode, where operating in the selected capture mode includes capturing second experience data in the manner defined by the capture mode. The method may optionally additionally involve: (d) after entering the capture mode, receiving third experience data; (e) determining that the capture mode should be exited based on at least the received third experience data; and (f) based on the determination that the capture mode should be exited, exiting the capture mode such that at least one type of experience data is not captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Mat Balez, Nirmal Patel, Thad Eugene Starner
  • Publication number: 20170277255
    Abstract: The present description discloses systems and methods for changing the state of a device. One embodiment may include a device configured to provide a device in a first state, receive a signal indicative of first angular data of the device, and compare the first angular data to a first threshold. The device may then execute instructions to initiate a timer when the first angular data is greater than the first threshold, receive a signal indicative of a second angular data of the device, and compare the second angular data to a second threshold. When the second angular data is less than the second threshold and the time passed is within a pre-determined time period, the device may execute instructions to transition the device to a second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Johnson, Steve Lee, Mat Balez, Nirmal Patel
  • Patent number: 9710056
    Abstract: The present description discloses systems and methods for changing the state of a device. One embodiment may include a device configured to provide a device in a first state, receive a signal indicative of first angular data of the device, and compare the first angular data to a first threshold. The device may then execute instructions to initiate a timer when the first angular data is greater than the first threshold, receive a signal indicative of a second angular data of the device, and compare the second angular data to a second threshold. When the second angular data is less than the second threshold and the time passed is within a pre-determined time period, the device may execute instructions to transition the device to a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Johnson, Steve Lee, Mat Balez, Nirmal Patel
  • Publication number: 20170193627
    Abstract: The technology relates to facilitating transportation services between a user and a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode. For instance, one or more server computing devices having one or more processors may information identifying the current location of the vehicle. The one or more server computing devices may determine that the user is likely to want to take a trip to a particular destination based on prior location history for the user. The one or more server computing devices may dispatch the vehicle to cause the vehicle to travel in the autonomous driving mode towards a location of the user. In addition, after dispatching, the one or more server computing devices sending a notification to a client computing device associated with the user indicating that the vehicle is currently available to take the passenger to the particular destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Peter Colijn, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Nathaniel Fairfield, Salil Pandit, Nirmal Patel, Ryan Powell, Min Li Chan
  • Publication number: 20170115736
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide a lock-screen for a computing device. An example method involves: (a) displaying an image and an input region that is moveable over the image, (b) based on head-movement data, determining movement of the input region with respect to the image, (c) during the movement of the input region, receiving gesture data corresponding to a plurality of gestures, (d) determining an input pattern, wherein the input pattern comprises a sequence that includes a plurality of locations in the image, wherein each location in the sequence is a location of the input region in the image at or near a time of a corresponding one of the gestures, (e) determining whether or not the input pattern matches a predetermined unlock pattern, and (f) if the input pattern matches the predetermined unlock pattern, then unlocking the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Nirmal Patel, Steven John Lee
  • Publication number: 20160357266
    Abstract: Methods and systems for hands-free browsing in a wearable computing device are provided. A wearable computing device may provide for display a view of a first card of a plurality of cards which include respective virtual displays of content. The wearable computing device may determine a first rotation of the wearable computing device about a first axis and one or more eye gestures. Based on a combination of the first rotation and the eye gestures, the wearable computing device may provide for display the navigable menu, which may include an alternate view of the first card and at least a portion of one or more cards. Then, based on a determined second rotation of the wearable computing device about a second axis and based on a direction of the second rotation, the wearable computing device may generate a display indicative of navigation through the navigable menu.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Nirmal Patel, Hayes Solos Raffle, Mat Balez, Max Benjamin Braun, Jerrica Jones
  • Patent number: 9454288
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to a user interface (UI) for a computing device, such as a head-mountable device (HMD). The computing device can display a first card of an ordered plurality of cards using a timeline display. The computing device can receive a first input and, responsively determine a group of cards for a grid view and display the grid view. The group of cards can include the first card. The grid view can include the group of cards arranged in a grid and be focused on the first card. The computing device can receive a second input, and responsively modify the grid view and display the modified grid view. The modified grid view can be focused on a second card. The computing device can receive a third input and responsively display the timeline display, where the timeline display includes the second card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Hayes Solos Raffle, Nirmal Patel
  • Patent number: 9448687
    Abstract: A device may be configured to generate a display of a content in a view region. The view region has a given boundary, and the content is provided for display at a first size. The device may be configured to receive a size-adjusting input for adjusting a size of the content. The device may be configured to cause the size of the content to change from the first size to a second size. The device may be configured to receive an indication of ending the size-adjusting operation, and in response to receiving the indication, cause the size of the content to change to a third size that is between the first size and the second size. In addition, or alternative, to receiving the size-adjusting input, the device may also receive a position-adjusting input and, in response, adjust the position and/or size of the content within the given boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher McKenzie, Hayes Solos Raffle, Nirmal Patel, Richard The, Matthew Tait
  • Patent number: 9442631
    Abstract: Methods and systems for hands-free browsing in a wearable computing device are provided. A wearable computing device may provide for display a view of a first card of a plurality of cards which include respective virtual displays of content. The wearable computing device may determine a first rotation of the wearable computing device about a first axis and one or more eye gestures. Based on a combination of the first rotation and the eye gestures, the wearable computing device may provide for display the navigable menu, which may include an alternate view of the first card and at least a portion of one or more cards. Then, based on a determined second rotation of the wearable computing device about a second axis and based on a direction of the second rotation, the wearable computing device may generate a display indicative of navigation through the navigable menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Nirmal Patel, Hayes Solos Raffle, Mat Balez, Max Benjamin Braun, Jerrica Jones
  • Patent number: 9383919
    Abstract: Described techniques enable a computing system to receive character string input (e.g., words, numbers, mathematical expressions, symbolic strings, etc.) by detecting and interpreting an input movement across a user-interface. A touch-based computing system may, for instance, detect an input movement by tracking the path of a pointing element (e.g., a stylus or finger) as it is dragged across a contact-sensitive input surface (e.g., a touch-sensitive screen or external touch pad). Then, the system may interpret the detected input movement using Hidden Markov Modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner, Nirmal Patel, Shumin Zhai
  • Patent number: 9336779
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide a lock-screen for a computing device. An example method involves: (a) while a computing device is locked, displaying an interface that comprises a fixed arrangement of input regions, wherein an image from a set of images is displayed in each input region, and wherein each input region is associated with an image-name for the image that is displayed in the input region, (b) receiving audio data that comprises speech, (c) detecting a sequence of one or more of the image-names in the speech, (d) determining an input sequence based on the input regions that are associated with the detected sequence of image-names, (e) determining whether or not the input sequence matches a predetermined unlock sequence, and (f) if the input sequence matches the predetermined unlock sequence, then unlocking the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Nirmal Patel, Yury Pinsky