Patents by Inventor Robert Duane Rost

Robert Duane Rost 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: 10722798
    Abstract: In some cases, one or more tasks may be selected for inclusion within a content item or portions of a content item such as different story arcs. Each such task may be completed based, at least in part, on an associated set of one or more actions and an associated set of one or more parameters. Also, in some cases, one or more node layouts may be generated in association with a content item or portions of a content item. Each node within a node layout may, for example, have at least one associated task within a respective content item or content item portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Robert Duane Rost, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard
  • Patent number: 9849387
    Abstract: Measurement data is correlated to one or more probable user states. The measurement data is associated with a user of the computing device and received from sensors communicatively coupled to the computing device. Execution of an application running on the computing device is altered based on the probable user states. In another embodiment, probable user states for a user of a computing device are processed. The probable user states are indicative of a level or type of interaction of the user with the computing device. The probable user states are also determined based on analysis of measurement data received from sensors communicatively coupled to the computing device. Indications of the probable user states are provided during execution of an online application on a second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Nicholas Joshua Lawson, Matthew James Van Gorder, Robert Duane Rost, Eadan Bloch
  • Patent number: 9836134
    Abstract: A user can use a stylus to share content between the user's account and second user's account. When the user uses the stylus with a computing device, the stylus can send an identifier to the computing device. The user can also select to share content from the user's account with the second user's account. The computing device can send the identifier of the stylus and a request to share the content with the second user's account to a server that hosts the accounts. The server can associate the content with the second user's account. The server can send the content to the second user's computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Jacob Olsen, Robert Duane Rost, Brett Ethan Johnson
  • Patent number: 9746943
    Abstract: A stylus may comprise a configurable profile to control one or more local and remote operational features. The stylus may comprise a main body configured to receive a nib having an identifier and a sensor configured to detect the identifier of the nib, wherein the identifier is associated with a configurable profile including information for controlling at least one operational feature of the stylus. A sensory feedback element may be configured to provide one or more of a tactile, audible, and visual feedback based at least in part on the configurable profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Duane Rost, Erik Jacob Olsen
  • Patent number: 9731192
    Abstract: In some cases, one or more tasks may be selected for inclusion within a content item or portions of a content item such as different story arcs. Each such task may be completed based, at least in part, on an associated set of one or more actions and an associated set of one or more parameters. Also, in some cases, one or more node layouts may be generated in association with a content item or portions of a content item. Each node within a node layout may, for example, have at least one associated task within a respective content item or content item portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Robert Duane Rost, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard
  • Patent number: 9502197
    Abstract: Disclosed are ergonomic power switches for wearable electronic devices. A wearable electronic device may include a circuit including a power supply, and an ergonomic power switch to selectively close the circuit. The ergonomic power switch may comprise multiple elements that are configured to cause closure of the circuit in response to a connection event. The connection event may occur in response to a portion of a user's body being positioned between the multiple elements. A process may include determining, by a controller of a wearable electronic device, that a connection event has occurred, and setting a power state of the wearable electronic device to a power-on state where power is supplied to multiple electrical components of the wearable electronic device from a power supply of the wearable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Duane Rost
  • Patent number: 9430106
    Abstract: A computing device can coordinate haptic action with a stylus. The computing device can receive an indication of the stylus from the stylus and determine that coordinated haptic action is associated with a user input. The computing device can send haptic instructions to the stylus where the haptic instructions are based at least in part on the coordinated haptic action. The stylus can activate its haptic actuator in response to receiving the haptic instruction. The computing device can also activate its haptic actuator based at least in part on the coordinated haptic action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Jacob Olsen, Robert Duane Rost
  • Patent number: 9387394
    Abstract: Systems and method for creating content in a virtual environment based on sound include components and operations that analyze audio data to identify specific sound qualities or characteristics, such as a specific frequency, period, wavelength, note, key, amplitude or the like that are present in the sound. For an identified sound quality or characteristic, the systems and methods may determine a corresponding or associated virtual content, (or an aspect of the virtual content), and generate that virtual content or that aspect of the virtual content in the virtual environment. The virtual content may be persistent among users and instantiations of the virtual environment. Examples of the virtual content that may be generated include an object, an action, a change to existing content and a real-time change command. Examples of the virtual environments that may include the generated content include a video game, a desktop, and an animated movie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Robert Duane Rost
  • Patent number: 9389703
    Abstract: Approaches enable a display screen to be configured to display content and/or receive touch-based input based on a location of regions of the display screen. For example, the display screen can include a virtual bezel region that extends along, or proximate to, the edges of the display screen. The virtual bezel region can surround a display region that is configured to display image content. By default the virtual bezel region may be configured to display no content, or at least no active content, in order to approximate the appearance of a physical bezel. The virtual bezel can be configured to exhibit characteristics similar to that of the physical bezel. For example, the virtual bezel region can be configured to operate as a ‘dead zone’, where touch-based input is deactivated. The virtual bezel region can also be configured to display a portion of any content displayed in the display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Jacob Olsen, Robert Duane Rost
  • Patent number: 9383839
    Abstract: A stylus may comprise a configurable profile to control one or more local and remote operational features. One or more computing devices may be in communication with the stylus. The one or more computing devices may be configured to receive information relating to the reconfiguration of the settings of the operational profile, reconfigure the operational profile based at least in part on the received information, store the reconfigured operational profile, and associate the reconfigured operational profile with the stylus, wherein the at least one operational feature of the stylus is modified based on the reconfigured operational profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Duane Rost, Erik Jacob Olsen
  • Patent number: 9358464
    Abstract: In some cases, one or more tasks may be selected for inclusion within a content item or portions of a content item such as different story arcs. Each such task may be completed based, at least in part, on an associated set of one or more actions and an associated set of one or more parameters. Also, in some cases, one or more node layouts may be generated in association with a content item or portions of a content item. Each node within a node layout may, for example, have at least one associated task within a respective content item or content item portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Ethan Johnson, Robert Duane Rost, Matthew James Van Gorder, Thomas Richard Leonard
  • Patent number: 9285609
    Abstract: Disclosed are ergonomic power switches for wearable electronic devices. A wearable electronic device may include a circuit including a power supply, and an ergonomic power switch to selectively close the circuit. The ergonomic power switch may comprise multiple elements that are configured to cause closure of the circuit in response to a connection event. The connection event may occur in response to a portion of a user's body being positioned between the multiple elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Duane Rost
  • Patent number: 9122334
    Abstract: When a touchscreen input device is in proximity with a first computing device, the touchscreen input device can send an identifier to the first computing device. The touchscreen input device can be used with the first computing device to define an action that can be performed on other computing devices. The first computing device can send the identifier of the touchscreen input device and an indication of the defined action to a server. When a touchscreen input device is in proximity with a second computing device, the touchscreen input device can send the identifier to the second computing device. The second computing device can send the identifier to the server. The server can send the second computing device an indication that the defined action can be performed on the second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Jacob Olsen, Robert Duane Rost, Brett Ethan Johnson
  • Patent number: 9086746
    Abstract: A stylus can be used with a computing device and send an identifier to the computing device. The computing device can send the identifier of the stylus to a server and the server can provide the user's profile information to the computing device. The user can interact with the computing device using the stylus and any changes made to the profile can be sent back to and stored by the server. When the user uses the stylus with a second computing device the updated profile information can be sent to the second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Erik Jacob Olsen, Robert Duane Rost, Brett Ethan Johnson