Patents by Inventor Sean P. Cier

Sean P. Cier 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: 11943679
    Abstract: Location mapping and navigation user interfaces may be generated and presented via mobile computing devices. A mobile device may detect its location and orientation using internal systems, and may capture image data using a device camera. The mobile device also may retrieve map information from a map server corresponding to the current location of the device. Using the image data captured at the device, the current location data, and the corresponding local map information, the mobile device may determine or update a current orientation reading for the device. Location errors and updated location data also may be determined for the device, and a map user interface may be generated and displayed on the mobile device using the updated device orientation and/or location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Mayor, Isaac T. Miller, Adam S. Howell, Vinay R. Majjigi, Oliver Ruepp, Daniel Ulbricht, Oleg Naroditsky, Christian Lipski, Sean P. Cier, Hyojoon Bae, Saurabh Godha, Patrick J. Coleman
  • Patent number: 11632602
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using multiple devices to automatically determine the acquisition location of an image from a camera device, such as within a building interior and by using data from the multiple devices (e.g., visual data from the camera device's image, and additional data captured by a separate mobile computing device in the same area as the camera device), and for subsequently using determined image acquisition location information in one or more further automated manners. The image may be a panorama image or of another type, and the determined acquisition location for such an image may be at least a location on the building's floor plan—in addition, the automated image acquisition location determination may be further performed without having or using information from any depth sensors or other distance-measuring devices about distances from an image's acquisition location to walls or other objects in the surrounding building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MFIB Holdco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Cier, Sing Bing Kang, Mitchell David Dawson, Pierre Moulon
  • Publication number: 20220345849
    Abstract: Location mapping and navigation user interfaces may be generated and presented via mobile computing devices. A mobile device may detect its location and orientation using internal systems, and may capture image data using a device camera. The mobile device also may retrieve map information from a map server corresponding to the current location of the device. Using the image data captured at the device, the current location data, and the corresponding local map information, the mobile device may determine or update a current orientation reading for the device. Location errors and updated location data also may be determined for the device, and a map user interface may be generated and displayed on the mobile device using the updated device orientation and/or location data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Mayor, Isaac T. Miller, Adam S. Howell, Vinay R. Majjigi, Oliver Ruepp, Daniel Ulbricht, Oleg Naroditsky, Christian Lipski, Sean P. Cier, Hyojoon Bae, Saurabh Godha, Patrick J. Coleman
  • Patent number: 11412350
    Abstract: Location mapping and navigation user interfaces may be generated and presented via mobile computing devices. A mobile device may detect its location and orientation using internal systems, and may capture image data using a device camera. The mobile device also may retrieve map information from a map server corresponding to the current location of the device. Using the image data captured at the device, the current location data, and the corresponding local map information, the mobile device may determine or update a current orientation reading for the device. Location errors and updated location data also may be determined for the device, and a map user interface may be generated and displayed on the mobile device using the updated device orientation and/or location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Mayor, Isaac T. Miller, Adam S. Howell, Vinay R. Majjigi, Oliver Ruepp, Daniel Ulbricht, Oleg Naroditsky, Christian Lipski, Sean P. Cier, Hyojoon Bae, Saurabh Godha, Patrick J. Coleman
  • Patent number: 11405549
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using a smart phone or other mobile device to perform automated operations for generating panorama images of building environments and for subsequently using the generated panorama images in further automated manners. In at least some situations, the generation of a panorama image by a mobile device is based at least in part on automatically acquiring multiple constituent images on the mobile device in multiple directions from an acquisition location and on concurrently combining acquired constituent images on the mobile device, such as in a real-time manner relative to the constituent image capture, to generate a panorama image with 360° of horizontal coverage of the view from that acquisition location. Information about such identified building floor plans may be used in various automated manners, including for controlling navigation of devices (e.g., autonomous vehicles), for display on client devices in corresponding graphical user interfaces, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Zillow, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Cier, Sing Bing Kang, Mitchell David Dawson
  • Publication number: 20220224833
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using multiple devices to automatically determine the acquisition location of an image from a camera device, such as within a building interior and by using data from the multiple devices (e.g., visual data from the camera device's image, and additional data captured by a separate mobile computing device in the same area as the camera device), and for subsequently using determined image acquisition location information in one or more further automated manners. The image may be a panorama image or of another type, and the determined acquisition location for such an image may be at least a location on the building's floor plan—in addition, the automated image acquisition location determination may be further performed without having or using information from any depth sensors or other distance-measuring devices about distances from an image's acquisition location to walls or other objects in the surrounding building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Sean P. Cier, Sing Bing Kang, Mitchell David Dawson, Pierre Moulon
  • Patent number: 11252329
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using multiple devices to automatically determine the acquisition location of an image from a camera device, such as within a building interior and by using data from the multiple devices (e.g., visual data from the camera device's image, and additional data captured by a separate mobile computing device in the same area as the camera device), and for subsequently using determined image acquisition location information in one or more further automated manners. The image may be a panorama image or of another type, and the determined acquisition location for such an image may be at least a location on the building's floor plan—in addition, the automated image acquisition location determination may be further performed without having or using information from any depth sensors or other distance-measuring devices about distances from an image's acquisition location to walls or other objects in the surrounding building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Zillow, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Cier, Sing Bing Kang, Mitchell David Dawson, Pierre Moulon
  • Publication number: 20210385378
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using a smart phone or other mobile device to perform automated operations for generating panorama images of building environments and for subsequently using the generated panorama images in further automated manners. In at least some situations, the generation of a panorama image by a mobile device is based at least in part on automatically acquiring multiple constituent images on the mobile device in multiple directions from an acquisition location and on concurrently combining acquired constituent images on the mobile device, such as in a real-time manner relative to the constituent image capture, to generate a panorama image with 360° of horizontal coverage of the view from that acquisition location. Information about such identified building floor plans may be used in various automated manners, including for controlling navigation of devices (e.g., autonomous vehicles), for display on client devices in corresponding graphical user interfaces, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Sean P. Cier, Sing Bing Kang, Mitchell David Dawson
  • Publication number: 20210092555
    Abstract: Location mapping and navigation user interfaces may be generated and presented via mobile computing devices. A mobile device may detect its location and orientation using internal systems, and may capture image data using a device camera. The mobile device also may retrieve map information from a map server corresponding to the current location of the device. Using the image data captured at the device, the current location data, and the corresponding local map information, the mobile device may determine or update a current orientation reading for the device. Location errors and updated location data also may be determined for the device, and a map user interface may be generated and displayed on the mobile device using the updated device orientation and/or location data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Robert William Mayor, Isaac T. Miller, Adam S. Howell, Vinay R. Majjigi, Oliver Ruepp, Daniel Ulbricht, Oleg Naroditsky, Christian Lipski, Sean P. Cier, Hyojoon Bae, Saurabh Godha, Patrick J. Coleman
  • Patent number: 10296953
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabien G. Hertschuh, Benoit St-Pierre, James L. Ford, Sean P. Cier, Samuel P. Hall, VI, Peter C. Wong
  • Publication number: 20160350825
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Fabien G. Hertschuh, Benoit St-Pierre, James L. Ford, Sean P. Cier, Samuel P. Hall, VI, Peter C. Wong
  • Patent number: 9454779
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabien G. Hertschuh, Benoit St-Pierre, James L Ford, Sean P. Cier, Samuel P. Hall, VI, Peter C. Wong
  • Publication number: 20150294386
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Fabien G. Hertschuh, Benoit St-Pierre, James L. Ford, Sean P. Cier, Samuel P. Hall, VI, Peter C. Wong
  • Patent number: 8977554
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabien G. Hertschuh, Benoit St-Pierre, James L. Ford, Sean P. Cier, Samuel P. Hall, Peter C. Wong
  • Patent number: 8849791
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabien G. Hertschuh, Benoit St-Pierre, James L. Ford, Sean P. Cier, Samuel P. Hall, VI, Peter C. Wong
  • Patent number: 8630851
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating an assisted shopping experience. A speech input can be captured and transcribed. The transcribed speech input can be transmitted to a customer service agent in a data session that is contemporaneous with a voice session. The customer service agent can then facilitate an assisted shopping experience via the voice session and data session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabien G. Hertschuh, Benoit St-Pierre, James L. Ford, Sean P. Cier, Samuel P. Hall, VI, Peter C. Wong