Patents by Inventor Shona Douglas

Shona Douglas 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: 11194883
    Abstract: Disclosed is a web server that includes a headlines module for automatically generating headlines based on data retrieved from a network (e.g., World Wide Web). The web server also includes an interactive agent for generating responses to inquiries relating to the headlines based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Shona Douglas, Junlan Feng, Mazin E. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20170308618
    Abstract: Disclosed is a web server that includes a headlines module for automatically generating headlines based on data retrieved from a network (e.g., World Wide Web). The web server also includes an interactive agent for generating responses to inquiries relating to the headlines based on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Shona Douglas, Junlan Feng, Mazin E. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9734259
    Abstract: Disclosed is a web server that includes a headlines module for automatically generating headlines based on data retrieved from a network (e.g., World Wide Web). The web server also includes an interactive agent for generating responses to inquiries relating to the headlines based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Shona Douglas, Junlan Feng, Mazin E. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20160026734
    Abstract: Disclosed is a web server that includes a headlines module for automatically generating headlines based on data retrieved from a network (e.g., World Wide Web). The web server also includes an interactive agent for generating responses to inquiries relating to the headlines based on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Shona Douglas, Junlan Feng, Mazin E. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9176939
    Abstract: Disclosed is a web server that includes a headlines module for automatically generating headlines based on data retrieved from a network (e.g., World Wide Web). The web server also includes an interactive agent for generating responses to inquiries relating to the headlines based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Shona Douglas, Junlan Feng, Mazin Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8589172
    Abstract: A method and system for reporting data from a spoken dialog service is disclosed. The method comprises extracting data regarding user dialogs using a dialog logging module in the spoken dialog service, analyzing the data to identify trends and reporting the trends. The data may be presented in a visual form for easier consumption. The method may also relate to identifying data within the control or outside the control of a service provider that is used to adjust the spoken dialog service to maximize customer retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Tirso M. Alonso, Shona Douglas, Mazin G. Rahim, Benjamin J. Stern
  • Patent number: 8429148
    Abstract: Disclosed is a web server that includes a headlines module for automatically generating headlines based on data retrieved from a network (e.g., World Wide Web). The web server also includes an interactive agent for generating responses to inquiries relating to the headlines based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Shona Douglas, Junlan Feng, Mazin Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20120072222
    Abstract: A method and system for reporting data from a spoken dialog service is disclosed. The method comprises extracting data regarding user dialogs using a dialog logging module in the spoken dialog service, analyzing the data to identify trends and reporting the trends. The data may be presented in a visual form for easier consumption. The method may also relate to identifying data within the control or outside the control of a service provider that is used to adjust the spoken dialog service to maximize customer retention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Tirso M. Alonso, Shona Douglas, Mazin G. Rahim, Benjamin J. Stern
  • Patent number: 8086462
    Abstract: A method and system for reporting data from a spoken dialog service is disclosed. The method comprises extracting data regarding user dialogs using a dialog logging module in the spoken dialog service, analyzing the data to identify trends and reporting the trends. The data may be presented in a visual form for easier consumption. The method may also relate to identifying data within the control or outside the control of a service provider that is used to adjust the spoken dialog service to maximize customer retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Tirso M. Alonso, Shona Douglas, Mazin G. Rahim, Benjamin J. Stern
  • Patent number: 8073683
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for augmenting a training database of an automated language-understanding system. In one embodiment, a training example in a first language is received from the training database. The first language-training example is translated to a second language output. The second language output is translated to a first variant of the first language-training example. An action pair including the first variant of the first language-training example and an action command associated with the first language-training example is stored in an augmented training database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Patent number: 7912726
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for providing speech-enabled application programs. The speech-enabled programs automatically execute requests input by users. One or more natural language variants may be mapped with at least one natural language exemplar. The natural language exemplar may correspond to a typical way to express a request relevant to the speech-enabled application program. The natural language variant may correspond to an alternative way of expressing the same request. A recognized input string is received and a prospective variant that most resembles the received recognized input string is selected from the natural language variants. The natural language exemplar mapped to the prospective variant is identified. An action instruction associated with the identified natural language exemplar is executed to fulfill the user's request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Publication number: 20090099837
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for augmenting a training database of an automated language-understanding system. In one embodiment, a training example in a first language is received from the training database. The first language-training example is translated to a second language output. The second language output is translated to a first variant of the first language-training example. An action pair including the first variant of the first language-training example and an action command associated with the first language-training example is stored in an augmented training database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Patent number: 7467081
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for augmenting a training database of an automated language-understanding system. In one embodiment, a training example in a first language is received from the training database. The first language-training example translated to a second language output. The second language output is translated to a first variant of the first language-training example. An action pair including the first variant of the first language-training example and an action command associated with the first language-training example is stored in an augmented training database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Publication number: 20070118352
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for augmenting a training database of an automated language-understanding system. In one embodiment, a training example in a first language may be received from the training database. The first language-training example may be translated to a second language output. The second language output may be translated to a first variant of the first language-training example. An action pair including the first variant of the first language-training example and an action command associated with the first language-training example may be stored in an augmented training database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Patent number: 7212964
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for augmenting a training database of an automated language-understanding system. In one embodiment, a training example in a first language may be received from the training database. The first language-training example may be translated to a second language output. The second language output may be translated to a first variant of the first language-training example. An action pair including the first variant of the first language-training example and an action command associated with the first language-training example may be stored in an augmented training database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Publication number: 20060004575
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for providing speech-enabled application programs. The speech-enabled programs automatically execute requests input by users. One or more natural language variants may be mapped with at least one natural language exemplar. The natural language exemplar may correspond to a typical way to express a request relevant to the speech-enabled application program. The natural language variant may correspond to an alternative way of expressing the same request. A recognized input string is received and a prospective variant that most resembles the received recognized input string is selected from the natural language variants. The natural language exemplar mapped to the prospective variant is identified. An action instruction associated with the identified natural language exemplar is executed to fulfill the user's request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Publication number: 20020072914
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for providing speech-enabled application programs. The speech-enabled programs automatically execute requests input by users. One or more natural language variants may be mapped with at least one natural language exemplar. The natural language exemplar may correspond to a typical way to express a request relevant to the speech-enabled application program. The natural language variant may correspond to an alternative way of expressing the same request. A recognized input string is received and a prospective variant that most resembles the received recognized input string is selected from the natural language variants. The natural language exemplar mapped to the prospective variant is identified. An action instruction associated with the identified natural language exemplar is executed to fulfill the user's request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas
  • Patent number: 6195631
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically constructing hierarchical transduction models for language translation is presented. The input to the construction process may be a database of examples each consisting of a transcribed speech utterance and its translation into another language. A translation pairing score is assigned (or computed) for translating a word in the source language into each of the possible translations it has in the target language. For each instance of the resulting training dataset, a head transducer may be constructed that translates the source string into the target string by splitting the source string into a source head word, the words preceding the source head word, and the words following the source head word. This process may be performed recursively to generate a set of transducer fragments. The transducer fragments may form a statistical head transducer model. The head transducer translation model may then be input into a transduction search module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: AT&T Corporation
    Inventors: Hiyan Alshawi, Shona Douglas