Patents by Inventor Ryan E. Kitson

Ryan E. Kitson 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: 20250045013
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are computing devices, including playback devices, that are configured to facilitate re-joining of playback and other devices to a bonded zone based on the specific context relating to how the playback and other devices previously left the bonded zone. The computing devices may determine that playback devices that had been previously bonded in the bonded zone are now capable of communicating with each other again. The computing devices may proceed to identify how and/or why the playback devices previously left the bonded zone. Based on how and/or why the playback devices previously left the bonded zone, the computing devices may determine whether one or more of the playback devices should re-join the bonded zone. For playback devices to be re-joined to the bonded zone, the computing devices may determine audio content to be played back by one or more playback devices of the bonded zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Maria-Jose Ramos, Jonathan Herbst, Justin A. Gallo, Ryan E. Kitson
  • Patent number: 12093606
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are computing devices, including playback devices, that are configured to facilitate re-joining of playback and other devices to a bonded zone based on the specific context relating to how the playback and other devices previously left the bonded zone. The computing devices may determine that playback devices that had been previously bonded in the bonded zone are now capable of communicating with each other again. The computing devices may proceed to identify how and/or why the playback devices previously left the bonded zone. Based on how and/or why the playback devices previously left the bonded zone, the computing devices may determine whether one or more of the playback devices should re-join the bonded zone. For playback devices to be re-joined to the bonded zone, the computing devices may determine audio content to be played back by one or more playback devices of the bonded zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria-Jose Ramos, Jonathan Herbst, Justin A. Gallo, Ryan E. Kitson
  • Publication number: 20240061643
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are computing devices, including playback devices, that are configured to facilitate re-joining of playback and other devices to a bonded zone based on the specific context relating to how the playback and other devices previously left the bonded zone. The computing devices may determine that playback devices that had been previously bonded in the bonded zone are now capable of communicating with each other again. The computing devices may proceed to identify how and/or why the playback devices previously left the bonded zone. Based on how and/or why the playback devices previously left the bonded zone, the computing devices may determine whether one or more of the playback devices should re-join the bonded zone. For playback devices to be re-joined to the bonded zone, the computing devices may determine audio content to be played back by one or more playback devices of the bonded zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Maria-Jose Ramos, Jonathan Herbst, Justin A. Gallo, Ryan E. Kitson
  • Patent number: 10042336
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for defining and activating scenes in a home automation system. In one embodiment, a user-defined scene is automatically captured based on current states in a home automation system and a last media query. Current states in the home automation system are automatically captured for services to build a set of states, the set of states including states of services provided by multiple different types of devices, the multiple different types including two or more of audio/video (A/V) devices, lighting devices, heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) devices, security devices, shade control devices, energy conservation devices, or communications devices. A last media query performed by the home automation system is also captured. A user-defined scene is generated from both. The user-defined scene is stored, and when it is determined it should be activated, service requests are sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cipollo, Andrew R. Hamm, Ryan E. Kitson, Nathan A. Trapp, Cameron B. Pulsford, Timothy R. Locascio, George T. Katsiris, Michael C. Silva, Jose J. Ronquillo Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10018977
    Abstract: In one embodiment, history-based key phrase suggestions are provided for voice control of a home automation system. A host controller builds a history database that maintains a history of events, each event indicating one or more services activated, one or more scenes activated or one or more types of media content presented by the home automation system. A predictions process on the host controller selects a subset of the events of the history database based on a present condition of the home automation system to produce a predication dataset. A grammar process on a remote control or mobile device selects one or more intentions from a list used by a voice recognition engine, based on the prediction dataset. Each intention includes a key phrase paired with an action. A voice user interface (UI) process suggests key phrases from the one or more selected intentions in a voice control UI on the remote control or mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cipollo, Ryan E. Kitson, George T. Katsiris
  • Publication number: 20170097618
    Abstract: In one embodiment, history-based key phrase suggestions are provided for voice control of a home automation system. A host controller builds a history database that maintains a history of events, each event indicating one or more services activated, one or more scenes activated or one or more types of media content presented by the home automation system. A predictions process on the host controller selects a subset of the events of the history database based on a present condition of the home automation system to produce a predication dataset. A grammar process on a remote control or mobile device selects one or more intentions from a list used by a voice recognition engine, based on the prediction dataset. Each intention includes a key phrase paired with an action. A voice user interface (UI) process suggests key phrases from the one or more selected intentions in a voice control UI on the remote control or mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cipollo, Ryan E. Kitson, George T. Katsiris
  • Publication number: 20160070244
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for defining and activating scenes in a home automation system. In one embodiment, a user-defined scene is automatically captured based on current states in a home automation system and a last media query. Current states in the home automation system are automatically captured for services to build a set of states, the set of states including states of services provided by multiple different types of devices, the multiple different types including two or more of audio/video (A/V) devices, lighting devices, heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) devices, security devices, shade control devices, energy conservation devices, or communications devices. A last media query performed by the home automation system is also captured. A user-defined scene is generated from both. The user-defined scene is stored, and when it is determined it should be activated, service requests are sent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cipollo, Andrew R. Hamm, Ryan E. Kitson, Nathan A. Trapp, Cameron B. Pulsford, Timothy R. Locascio, George T. Katsiris, Michael C. Silva, Jose J. Ronquillo Rodriguez