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).

  • Publication number: 20250086334
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using data capture devices at a building to automatically generate a building floor plan and associate absolute location data with it, such as by associating separately captured GPS data or other absolute location data with the floor plan, and for presenting a model of the generated floor plan using the associated absolute location data (e.g., at a map position corresponding to the associated absolute location data). In some situations, the presenting of such a building floor plan includes showing varying levels of detail about structural aspects of the building interior and other interior aspects, such as based on the map zoom level and/or other factors. In addition, such presenting of a building floor plan may include automatically determining and using data about surroundings of the building, such as to provide information about views from the building, about directions to nearby points of interest, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Manjunath Narayana, Solon Chen Mao, Romualdo Impas, Sean P. Cier, Sing Bing Kang
  • Publication number: 20240251378
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using computing devices to perform automated operations for using generated building information to further generate and present visual data enhancements on images that are captured by and displayed on a mobile device in the building (e.g., concurrent with capture of the images by a camera of the mobile device, such as in a real-time or near-real-time manner with respect to image capture), such as using descriptive information about a building that is generated from analysis of acquired building images and optionally other building information (e.g., floor plans), and such as to improve navigation of the building (e.g., for autonomous vehicles) and provide other functionality as the mobile device moves through the building. The descriptive building information may include structural elements and other objects identified in the building and other determined attributes of the building, and automatically generated textual descriptions of the objects and other attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Sean P. Cier, Joshua Weisberg, Christopher Buehler
  • Publication number: 20240233260
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using computing devices to perform automated operations for using wireless transmitter devices (e.g., beacon devices) at a building for determining the acquisition locations of images or other data acquired at the building, and for subsequently using the acquired data and determined acquisition location information in one or more further automated manners. Images to be analyzed may include panorama images acquired at acquisition locations in an interior of a multi-room building, and the determined acquisition location information may include a location on a building floor plan and optionally orientation direction—the acquisition location determination may further be performed without having or using information from any distance-measuring devices about distances from an image's acquisition location to objects in the surrounding building. The acquisition location information may be used in various automated manners, including for controlling navigation of devices (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Sean P. Cier, Sing Bing Kang, Chris North
  • 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