Patents by Inventor Robert Franklin Ebert
Robert Franklin Ebert 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).
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Patent number: 11902707Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Miroslav Ristic, Robert Franklin Ebert, Eric Peter Raeber, Tarun Yohann Morton
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Patent number: 11809150Abstract: Traditional home-automation systems utilize a single hub for controlling secondary devices within a home. The techniques described herein, meanwhile, utilize multiple hubs within the environment and/or located remotely from the environment. For instance, an environment may include multiple electronic devices, each configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. In addition, a remote service may be configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. As such, each controlling device stores and executes an instance of a control engine, rather than relying on a single instance of a control engine located at a single controlling hub.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Peter Raeber, Robert Franklin Ebert, Adam Barry Fineberg, Mark Sander Urbanus, Miroslav Ristic, Maxim Spivak
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Publication number: 20230120303Abstract: Movement of an autonomously motile device may be controlled by a user device. The user device may display image data captured by a camera of the autonomously motile device; a user may provide input, such as a touch gesture on a display screen, indicating a command for the autonomously motile device to move to a location indicated by the input. The autonomously motile device determines a coordinate of the input and a time of the touch input; the autonomously motile device then determines a direction and distance of a corresponding movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Amy Solenberg, Anil Kumar Katta, Swati S. Rao, Swetha Bijoy, Anthony George Robson, David Allen Fotland, Robert Franklin Ebert, Roger Robert Webster, Adam Fineberg
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Publication number: 20230053276Abstract: An autonomously motile device may be controlled by speech received by a user device. A first speech-processing system associated with the user device may determine that audio data includes a representation of a command; a second speech-processing system associated with the autonomously motile device may determine that the command should be executed by the autonomously motile device. A network connection is established between the user device and the autonomously motile device, and a device manager authorizes execution of the command.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Anil Kumar Katta, Amy Marie Whitberg, Xiaoqing Jing, Swetha Bijoy, Swati S. Rao, Robert Franklin Ebert
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Patent number: 11520332Abstract: An autonomous mobile device (AMD) uses sensors to explore a physical space and determine the locations of obstacles. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques are used by the AMD to designate as keyframes some images and their associated descriptors of features in the space. Each keyframe indicates a location and orientation of the AMD relative to those features. Anchors are specified relative to keyframes. A marker is specified relative to one or more anchors. Because markers are associated with features in the physical space, they maintain their association with the physical space through various processes such as SLAM loop closures. Markers may specify locations in the physical space, such as navigation waypoints, navigation destinations such as a goal pose for exploring an unexplored area, as an observation target to facilitate exploration, and so forth. Markers may also be used to specify block listed locations to be avoided during exploration.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: James Charles Zamiska, David Allen Fotland, Roger Robert Webster, Mohit Deshpande, Robert Franklin Ebert, Nikhil Sharma, Rachel Liao, Chang Young Kim
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Patent number: 11417328Abstract: An autonomously motile device may be controlled by speech received by a user device. A first speech-processing system associated with the user device may determine that audio data includes a representation of a command; a second speech-processing system associated with the autonomously motile device may determine that the command should be executed by the autonomously motile device. A network connection is established between the user device and the autonomously motile device, and a device manager authorizes execution of the command.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Anil Kumar Katta, Amy Marie Whitberg, Xiaoqing Jing, Swetha Bijoy, Swati S. Rao, Robert Franklin Ebert
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Patent number: 11409279Abstract: Movement of an autonomously motile device may be controlled by a user device. The user device may display image data captured by a camera of the autonomously motile device; a user may provide input, such as a touch gesture on a display screen, indicating a command for the autonomously motile device to move to a location indicated by the input. The autonomously motile device determines a coordinate of the input and a time of the touch input; the autonomously motile device then determines a direction and distance of a corresponding movement.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Amy Solenberg, Anil Kumar Katta, Swati S Rao, Swetha Bijoy, Anthony George Robson, David Allen Fotland, Robert Franklin Ebert, Roger Robert Webster, Adam Fineberg
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Patent number: 11340566Abstract: Traditional home-automation systems utilize a single hub for controlling secondary devices within a home. The techniques described herein, meanwhile, utilize multiple hubs within the environment and/or located remotely from the environment. For instance, an environment may include multiple electronic devices, each configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. In addition, a remote service may be configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. As such, each controlling device stores and executes an instance of a control engine, rather than relying on a single instance of a control engine located at a single controlling hub.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Peter Raeber, Robert Franklin Ebert, Adam Barry Fineberg, Mark Sander Urbanus, Miroslav Ristic, Maxim Spivak
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Patent number: 11212486Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
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Patent number: 10609331Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
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Patent number: 10365620Abstract: Traditional home-automation systems utilize a single hub for controlling secondary devices within a home. The techniques described herein, meanwhile, utilize multiple hubs within the environment and/or located remotely from the environment. For instance, an environment may include multiple electronic devices, each configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. In addition, a remote service may be configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. As such, each controlling device stores and executes an instance of a control engine, rather than relying on a single instance of a control engine located at a single controlling hub.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Peter Raeber, Robert Franklin Ebert, Adam Barry Fineberg, Mark Sander Urbanus, Miroslav Ristic, Maxim Spivak
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Patent number: 10142591Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
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Patent number: 9749583Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
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Patent number: 9729821Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Adam Barry Fineberg, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tarun Yohann Morton, Eric Peter Raeber, Miroslav Ristic
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Patent number: 9489190Abstract: Techniques are described for updating applications installed on devices. The applications may include native applications having a web view component to handle interpreted language instructions. The applications may also include web applications executable within a browser. A message may be sent to a computing device, the message including update information specifying one or more updates to the state or the features of an application. The update information may be described using interpreted language instructions. To handle the updates to an application in instances when the application is inactive, a stand-alone interpreter engine may be employed instead of the web view component or instead of the interpreter engine included in a browser. Use of the stand-alone interpreter engine may mitigate possible performance effects or intrusive user interface elements from launching the web view component or the browser-based interpreter engine to perform update operations.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Fei Wang, Maxim Spivak, Robert Franklin Ebert, Tapas Kanti Roy, Arindam Bhattacharya