Patents by Inventor Robert Blair
Robert Blair 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: 11645947Abstract: This disclosure describes a tabletop game assistant system configured to ingest and guide tangible games (such as board games, card games, etc.) using natural language interaction and image capture/visual display components. The system can include features enabling a game developer to “teach” the system the rules of a game using natural language, such as written instructions, to reduce or eliminate the need for writing dedicated code. The system may process images of a game board and/or tokens such as game pieces and/or cards to further generate game data in the form of a logical game model. The system can use the game data to guide human players of the game and, in some cases, participate as a player itself. The system may further be configured to observe a game and detect invalid actions, answer questions regarding the rules, and suggest moves. The system may provide additional utilities such as generating a random output (e.g., rolling virtual dice) and learning to recognize new game pieces.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James Robert Blair, Mark Chien, Farah Lynn Houston, Steven T Rabuchin
-
Patent number: 11600263Abstract: This disclosure describes a tabletop game assistant system configured to ingest and guide tangible games (such as board games, card games, etc.) using natural language interaction and image capture/visual display components. The system can include features enabling a game developer to “teach” the system the rules of a game using natural language, such as written instructions, to reduce or eliminate the need for writing dedicated code. The system may process images of a game board and/or tokens such as game pieces and/or cards to further generate game data in the form of a logical game model. The system can use the game data to guide human players of the game and, in some cases, participate as a player itself. The system may further be configured to observe a game and detect invalid actions, answer questions regarding the rules, and suggest moves. The system may provide additional utilities such as generating a random output (e.g., rolling virtual dice) and learning to recognize new game pieces.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James Robert Blair, Mark Chien, Farah Lynn Houston, Steven T Rabuchin
-
Publication number: 20220142145Abstract: An actuation valve for a pest control device, the actuation valve including a primary valve seat; a secondary valve seat; a valve seal, a recess between the primary and secondary valve seats, and an actuation arm. The actuation valve includes primary and secondary valves. The recess is located between primary and secondary valve seats to receive gas from the primary valve and promote displacement of the valve seal from the secondary valve seat. Also provided are an actuation valve with magnetic elements, an actuation valve with a trigger, a pest control device, a piston assembly for a pest control device, and a pest control assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Craig Richard BOND, Robert Blair VAN DAM
-
Patent number: 11250857Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to using a voice user interface for creating a poll to send to users. A poll requestor can create a poll using voice instructions and specify response options and setup information. After creating the poll, the system broadcasts it to users who can respond to the poll. The poll may be broadcasted while a user is receiving content. The users can respond using a voice user interface. The system compiles the responses and provides them to the poll requestor.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Sungmin Kim, Greg Roberts, Daniel Zi Wang, Dylan Robert House, Luis Valencia, Paul Damian Tidwell, John Benjamin Dalin, Steven T. Rabuchin, James Robert Blair, Vicky Ge
-
Patent number: 10977518Abstract: Techniques for generating and utilizing machine learning based adaptive instructions for annotation are described. An annotation service can use models to identify edge case data elements predicted to elicit differing annotations from annotators, “bad” data elements predicted to be difficult to annotate, and/or “good” data elements predicted to elicit matching or otherwise high-quality annotations from annotators. These sets of data elements can be automatically incorporated into annotation job instructions provided to annotators, resulting in improved overall annotation results via having efficiently and effectively “trained” the annotators how to perform the annotation task.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Rahul Sharma, Vikram Madan, James Robert Blair, Charles Bell
-
Publication number: 20200396981Abstract: An animal trap includes: a bait, a support, and an elastic band, wherein in a set state the support supports the elastic band in an expanded state, and wherein removal, consumption or destruction of the bait by an animal: causes the elastic band to contract around the animal to kill the animal; or causes the elastic band to drive a kill mechanism to kill the animal. Animal traps may be formed substantially or entirely of biodegradable materials. Animal traps may be adapted for aerial distribution. A trap dispenser may dispense traps as they are triggered.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: GOODNATURE LIMITEDInventors: Craig Richard BOND, Robert Blair VAN DAM, Stuart William BARR
-
Patent number: 10798935Abstract: An animal trap includes: a bait, a support, and an elastic band, wherein in a set state the support supports the elastic band in an expanded state, and wherein removal, consumption or destruction of the bait by an animal: causes the elastic band to contract around the animal to kill the animal; or causes the elastic band to drive a kill mechanism to kill the animal. Animal traps may be formed substantially or entirely of biodegradable materials. Animal traps may be adapted for aerial distribution. A trap dispenser may dispense traps as they are triggered.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: GOODNATURE LIMITEDInventors: Craig Richard Bond, Robert Blair Van Dam, Stuart William Barr
-
Patent number: 10505315Abstract: A tool to maintain an electrical connector plug in an electrical connector outlet has a variable cross-sectional thickness. The tool is inserted into a gap between the plug and outlet to create lateral displacement of the plug to a force between the plug and the outlet to retain the plug within the outlet via increased friction, and also enhance electrical connectivity of the internal electrical pins. The tool may also include surface texturing to further increase friction, and to hold the tool firmly in place. The tool may also include a rubberized coating to further increase friction and to dampen vibrations that would otherwise serve to dislodge the plug.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Inventor: Robert Blair Patterson
-
Publication number: 20190174918Abstract: A furniture assembly includes a vertical panel configured to vertically extend relative to a working surface once the vertical panel, in use, is positioned on the working surface. A first horizontal panel is fixedly attachable to the vertical panel. A second horizontal panel is fixedly attachable to the vertical panel. The second horizontal panel and the first horizontal panel are spaced apart from each other, one vertically above the other. A first side vertical panel and a second side vertical panel are fixedly attachable to the vertical panel. The first side vertical panel and the second side vertical panel are fixedly attachable to the first outer edge of the first horizontal panel. The first side vertical panel and the second side vertical panel are fixedly attachable to the second outer edge of the second horizontal panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventor: Robert Blair KING
-
Patent number: 10205653Abstract: Implementations of discovery functionalities in accordance with the present invention are characterized by being exceptionally minimalistic. A primary reason and benefit for such minimalistic implementations relate to these discovery functionalities being implemented via a management processor and associated resources of a system on a chip (SoC) unit as opposed to them being implemented on data processing components of a cluster of nodes (i.e., central processing core components). By focusing on such a minimalist implementation, embodiments of the present invention allow discovery functionalities to be implemented on a relatively low-cost low-power management processor coupled to processing cores that provide for data serving functionality in the cluster of nodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: III Holdings 2, LLCInventors: Kenneth S. Goss, Daniel M. Nold, Sumedh Sathaye, Mark Bradley Davis, George Robert Blair
-
Patent number: 10026099Abstract: Tracking waiting lists associated with merchants and presenting deals to users based on adding the users to waiting lists is described. A service provider may enable merchants to track waiting lists associated with their own services and services of other merchants. Users may be automatically added to waiting lists of merchants based at least in part on a service provider determining that a user is at a geographic location of a merchant. Based at least in part on adding a user to a waiting list for a particular merchant, the service provider may access and select deals from one or more alternative merchants. The one or more alternative merchants may not have waiting lists or may have waiting lists with fewer groups than the waiting list for the particular merchant. The service provider may offer the deals to the user via a user device.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Siddharth Vivek Joshi, David Aronchick, James Robert Blair, Canku Alp Calargun, Hyma Srinivasa Murthy, Vishal Bethur Sathyamurthy, Scott Kerns Windsor
-
Publication number: 20170346723Abstract: Implementations of discovery functionalities in accordance with the present invention are characterized by being exceptionally minimalistic. A primary reason and benefit for such minimalistic implementations relate to these discovery functionalities being implemented via a management processor and associated resources of a system on a chip (SoC) unit as opposed to them being implemented on data processing components of a cluster of nodes (i.e., central processing core components). By focusing on such a minimalist implementation, embodiments of the present invention allow discovery functionalities to be implemented on a relatively low-cost low-power management processor coupled to processing cores that provide for data serving functionality in the cluster of nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Kenneth S. Goss, Daniel M. Nold, Sumedh Sathaye, Mark Bradley Davis, George Robert Blair
-
Publication number: 20170202206Abstract: An animal trap may include a source of compressed gas; a trigger mechanism configured to be actuated by an animal, and a kill mechanism powered by compressed gas. The trap may include two or more trigger valves connected in series. At least one trigger valve may include an opening, a valve seat surrounding the opening, a valve member having a sealing surface, and an O-ring arranged to seal between the sealing surface and the valve seat. One or more flow paths may allow gas to flow along at least part of an internal periphery of the O-ring. The trigger may include a trigger rod extending in a rest position from a mount at or near a first end thereof. The trigger rod may be mounted for pivoting movement about the mount, and may have two rotational degrees of freedom. Pivoting movement of the trigger rod in any direction away from the rest position may result in actuation of the trigger.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: Goodnature LimitedInventors: Craig Richard Bond, Stuart William Barr, Robert Blair van Dam
-
Patent number: 9615566Abstract: An animal trap may include a source of compressed gas; a trigger mechanism configured to be actuated by an animal, and a kill mechanism powered by compressed gas. The trap may include two or more trigger valves connected in series. At least one trigger valve may include an opening, a valve seat surrounding the opening, a valve member having a sealing surface, and an O-ring arranged to seal between the sealing surface and the valve seat. One or more flow paths may allow gas to flow along at least part of an internal periphery of the O-ring. The trigger may include a trigger rod extending in a rest position from a mount at or near a first end thereof. The trigger rod may be mounted for pivoting movement about the mount, and may have two rotational degrees of freedom. Pivoting movement of the trigger rod in any direction away from the rest position may result in actuation of the trigger.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Goodnature LimitedInventors: Craig Richard Bond, Stuart William Barr, Robert Blair van Dam
-
Patent number: 9468204Abstract: An animal trap is powered by compressed gas and includes a trigger mechanism and kill mechanism. The trap is preferably self-resetting. A variety of sources of compressed gas may be used, and different kill mechanisms may also be used. The trap is particularly suited to applications where low-maintenance traps are required, because it uses a simple, reliable mechanism which can kill a number of animals over a long period of time without requiring maintenance or manual resetting.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Goodnature LimitedInventors: Craig Richard Bond, Robert Blair van Dam, Stuart William Barr
-
Publication number: 20160249599Abstract: An animal trap includes: a bait, a support, and an elastic band, wherein in a set state the support supports the elastic band in an expanded state, and wherein removal, consumption or destruction of the bait by an animal: causes the elastic band to contract around the animal to kill the animal; or causes the elastic band to drive a kill mechanism to kill the animal. Animal traps may be formed substantially or entirely of biodegradable materials. Animal traps may be adapted for aerial distribution. A trap dispenser may dispense traps as they are triggered.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: CRAIG RICHARD BOND, ROBERT BLAIR VAN DAM, STUART WILLIAM BARR
-
Patent number: 9020116Abstract: A system and method for incremental do-not-disturb. User input is received to activate the incremental do-not-disturb on a telephone. The incremental do-not-disturb is activated for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb. Incoming calls are diverted during the time period in response to activating the incremental do-not-disturb.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLCInventors: David E. Rondeau, Jill B. Brunton, Victoria M. Toner, Jenny Lou Fisher, Randall Robert Blair
-
Patent number: 8994229Abstract: The wireless non-contact switch detects movement of human body in the beam-shaped detection are which extends from the upper area on the wall toward the floor surface, and controls opening and closing of the automatic door. Regardless of the height of the location of the movement, as long as it is in the detection area, the switch detects the movement of different height location in the detection area. Therefore, regardless of the difference of regulation between each states, it can be operated at any height of the movement.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Optex Inc.Inventors: Robert Blair, James Sargent, Toshiyasu Matsuyama
-
Patent number: 8872710Abstract: A satellite dish heating system is installed on the rear side of a residential or commercial satellite dish to generate enough heat to keep the front face of a satellite dish reflector and the extension arm leading to the Lnbf warm enough to defrost the dish and arm during winter weather conditions including snow, ice, frost and ice fog, which interfere with satellite dish reception.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Inventor: Robert Blair Wallace
-
Publication number: 20140308928Abstract: A system and method for incremental do-not-disturb. User input is received to activate the incremental do-not-disturb on a telephone. The incremental do-not-disturb is activated for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb. Incoming calls are diverted during the time period in response to activating the incremental do-not-disturb.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventors: David E. Rondeau, Jill B. Brunton, Victoria M. Toner, Jenny Lou Fisher, Randall Robert Blair