Patents by Inventor Ralph BIRT

Ralph BIRT 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).

  • Publication number: 20250308525
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice control device including a microphone, a mute control, and a push-to-talk (PTT) control. An example embodiment operates by: entering a mute state from an always-listening state when the device receives a mute control signal; entering a PTT state from the mute state when the device is in the mute state and receives a first PTT control signal; activating the microphone when the device is in the PTT state; and entering the mute state from the PTT state when the device is in the PTT state and receives a second PTT control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin VERHOEVE, Ralph BIRT
  • Publication number: 20250279097
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice command recognition system (VCR). An example embodiment operates by receiving a voice command directed to controlling a device, the voice command including a wake command and an action command. An amplitude of the wake command is determined. A gain adjustment for the voice command is calculated based on a comparison of the amplitude of the wake command to a target amplitude. An amplitude of the action command is adjusted based on the calculated gain adjustment for the voice command based on the comparison of the amplitude of the wake command to the target amplitude. A device command for controlling the device is identified based on the action command comprising the adjusted amplitude. The device command is provided to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2025
    Publication date: September 4, 2025
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph BIRT, Robert Curtis, David H. Friedman
  • Patent number: 12361945
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice control device including a microphone, a mute control, and a push-to-talk (PTT) control. An example embodiment operates by: entering a mute state from an always-listening state when the device receives a mute control signal; entering a PTT state from the mute state when the device is in the mute state and receives a first PTT control signal; activating the microphone when the device is in the PTT state; and entering the mute state from the PTT state when the device is in the PTT state and receives a second PTT control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Dustin Verhoeve, Ralph Birt
  • Patent number: 12334065
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice command recognition system (VCR). An example embodiment operates by receiving a voice command directed to controlling a device, the voice command including a wake command and an action command. An amplitude of the wake command is determined. A gain adjustment for the voice command is calculated based on a comparison of the amplitude of the wake command to a target amplitude. An amplitude of the action command is adjusted based on the calculated gain adjustment for the voice command based on the comparison of the amplitude of the wake command to the target amplitude. A device command for controlling the device is identified based on the action command comprising the adjusted amplitude. The device command is provided to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Ralph Birt, Robert Curtis, David H. Friedman
  • Publication number: 20240312458
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice control device including a microphone, a mute control, and a push-to-talk (PTT) control. An example embodiment operates by: entering a mute state from an always-listening state when the device receives a mute control signal; entering a PTT state from the mute state when the device is in the mute state and receives a first PTT control signal; activating the microphone when the device is in the PTT state; and entering the mute state from the PTT state when the device is in the PTT state and receives a second PTT control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin VERHOEVE, Ralph BIRT
  • Patent number: 12033625
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice control device including a microphone, a mute control, and a push-to-talk (PTT) control. An example embodiment operates by: entering a mute state from an always-listening state when the device receives a mute control signal; entering a PTT state from the mute state when the device is in the mute state and receives a first PTT control signal; activating the microphone when the device is in the PTT state; and entering the mute state from the PTT state when the device is in the PTT state and receives a second PTT control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Verhoeve, Ralph Birt
  • Publication number: 20220406300
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice control device including a microphone, a mute control, and a push-to-talk (PTT) control. An example embodiment operates by: entering a mute state from an always-listening state when the device receives a mute control signal; entering a PTT state from the mute state when the device is in the mute state and receives a first PTT control signal; activating the microphone when the device is in the PTT state; and entering the mute state from the PTT state when the device is in the PTT state and receives a second PTT control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Roku, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin VERHOEVE, Ralph BIRT
  • Publication number: 20220358915
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a voice command recognition system (VCR). An example embodiment operates by receiving a voice command directed to controlling a device, the voice command including a wake command and an action command. An amplitude of the wake command is determined. A gain adjustment for the voice command is calculated based on a comparison of the amplitude of the wake command to a target amplitude. An amplitude of the action command is adjusted based on the calculated gain adjustment for the voice command based on the comparison of the amplitude of the wake command to the target amplitude. A device command for controlling the device is identified based on the action command comprising the adjusted amplitude. The device command is provided to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ralph BIRT, Robert CURTIS, David FRIEDMAN