Patents by Inventor Simon Corston

Simon Corston 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: 10176803
    Abstract: Technology for improving the predictive accuracy of input word recognition on a device by dynamically updating the lexicon of recognized words based on the word choices made by similar users. The technology collects users' vocabulary choices (e.g., words that each user uses, or adds to or removes from a word recognition dictionary), associates users who make similar choices, aggregates related vocabulary choices, filters the words, and sends words identified as likely choices for that user to the user's device. Clusters may include, for example, users in a particular location (e.g., sets of people who use words such as “Puyallup,” “Gloucester,” or “Waiheke”), users with a particular professional or hobby vocabulary, or application-specific vocabulary (e.g., word choices in map searches or email messages).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan R. Bradford, Simon Corston, David J. Kay, Donni McCray, Keith Trnka
  • Publication number: 20170365253
    Abstract: Technology for improving the predictive accuracy of input word recognition on a device by dynamically updating the lexicon of recognized words based on the word choices made by similar users. The technology collects users' vocabulary choices (e.g., words that each user uses, or adds to or removes from a word recognition dictionary), associates users who make similar choices, aggregates related vocabulary choices, filters the words, and sends words identified as likely choices for that user to the user's device. Clusters may include, for example, users in a particular location (e.g., sets of people who use words such as “Puyallup,” “Gloucester,” or “Waiheke”), users with a particular professional or hobby vocabulary, or application-specific vocabulary (e.g., word choices in map searches or email messages).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Ethan R. Bradford, Simon Corston, David J. Kay, Donni McCray, Keith Trnka
  • Patent number: 9760560
    Abstract: The disclosed system provides an efficient method of using a later word or words entered after a previous word along with one or more language models that show which words are likely to occur together to identify a better disambiguated choice for the previous word. To identify the better disambiguated choice for the previous word, the system can evaluate the conditional probability for the later word of various candidate previous words, and select the candidate previous word that has the highest conditional probability. If the conditional probability of the selected candidate previous word exceeds that of the previous word that was entered by at least a factor, then the system can include the selected candidate previous word in a selection list for user selection. The disclosed system also provides an efficient method for using one or more language models and a later word to correct errors in segmenting the word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Corston, Ethan R. Bradford, Donni McCray, Erland Unruh, Claes-Fredrik Mannby, David J. Kay, Keith Trnka
  • Patent number: 9672818
    Abstract: Technology for improving the predictive accuracy of input word recognition on a device by dynamically updating the lexicon of recognized words based on the word choices made by similar users. The technology collects users' vocabulary choices (e.g., words that each user uses, or adds to or removes from a word recognition dictionary), associates users who make similar choices, aggregates related vocabulary choices, filters the words, and sends words identified as likely choices for that user to the user's device. Clusters may include, for example, users in a particular location (e.g., sets of people who use words such as “Puyallup,” “Gloucester,” or “Waiheke”), users with a particular professional or hobby vocabulary, or application-specific vocabulary (e.g., word choices in map searches or email messages).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ethan R. Bradford, Simon Corston, David J. Kay, Donni McCray, Keith Trnka
  • Publication number: 20170076181
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for detecting numerical text strings within a text string and converting those numerical text strings into digit strings. The digit strings may be reflected in real-time, such as when the user is typing a text message. If more than one possible format of the digit string is determined, the system may then provide a selection of the various formats for selection. Once the proper format for the digit string is determined, that digit string may replace the numerical string previously detected in the text string. The text to digit conversion and associated formatting expedites user text entry such that the user is not required to switch keyboard views, (e.g., virtual keyboards). Additionally, converting to digit strings compresses message length, as well as provide other benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Wendy Bannister, Simon Corston
  • Patent number: 9508028
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for detecting numerical text strings within a text string and converting those numerical text strings into digit strings. The digit strings may be reflected in real-time, such as when the user is typing a text message. If more than one possible format of the digit string is determined, the system may then provide a selection of the various formats for selection. Once the proper format for the digit string is determined, that digit string may replace the numerical string previously detected in the text string. The text to digit conversion and associated formatting expedites user text entry such that the user is not required to switch keyboard views, (e.g., virtual keyboards). Additionally, converting to digit strings compresses message length, as well as provide other benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendy Bannister, Simon Corston
  • Publication number: 20160275070
    Abstract: The disclosed system provides an efficient method of using a later word or words entered after a previous word along with one or more language models that show which words are likely to occur together to identify a better disambiguated choice for the previous word. To identify the better disambiguated choice for the previous word, the system can evaluate the conditional probability for the later word of various candidate previous words, and select the candidate previous word that has the highest conditional probability. If the conditional probability of the selected candidate previous word exceeds that of the previous word that was entered by at least a factor, then the system can include the selected candidate previous word in a selection list for user selection. The disclosed system also provides an efficient method for using one or more language models and a later word to correct errors in segmenting the word.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Simon Corston, Ethan R. Bradford, Donni McCray, Erland Unruh, Claes-Fredrik Mannby, David J. Kay, Keith Trnka
  • Publication number: 20160085726
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for detecting numerical text strings within a text string and converting those numerical text strings into digit strings. The digit strings may be reflected in real-time, such as when the user is typing a text message. If more than one possible format of the digit string is determined, the system may then provide a selection of the various formats for selection. Once the proper format for the digit string is determined, that digit string may replace the numerical string previously detected in the text string. The text to digit conversion and associated formatting expedites user text entry such that the user is not required to switch keyboard views, (e.g., virtual keyboards). Additionally, converting to digit strings compresses message length, as well as provide other benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Wendy Bannister, Simon Corston
  • Publication number: 20150309984
    Abstract: Technology is described for developing a language model for a language recognition system from scratch based on aggregating and analyzing text input from multiple users of the language. The technology allows a user to select a language, and if no existing language model is available for the selected language, provides a new language model for the selected language, monitors and collects information about the use of words in the selected language, combines information collected from multiple users of the selected language, and updates the user's language model based on the combined information from multiple users of the selected language.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ethan R. Bradford, Simon Corston, Donni McCray, Ryan N. Cross
  • Publication number: 20150169537
    Abstract: The present technology describes context based text input, which uses linguistic models based on conditional probabilities to provide meaningful word completion and modification suggestions, such as auto-capitalization, based on previously entered words. The technology may use previously entered left context words to modify a list of candidate words matching a current user input. The left context may include one or more previously input words followed by a space, hyphen, or another word. The technology may then modify the list of candidate words based on one or more conditional probabilities, where the conditional probabilities show a probability of a candidate list modification given a particular left context. The modifying may comprise reordering the list or modifying properties of words on the list such as capitalization. The technology may then display the modified list of candidate words to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Corston, Keith Trnka, Ethan R. Bradford, David J. Kay, Donni McCray, Gaurav Tandon, Erland Unruh, Wendy Bannister
  • Publication number: 20140316784
    Abstract: Technology for improving the predictive accuracy of input word recognition on a device by dynamically updating the lexicon of recognized words based on the word choices made by similar users. The technology collects users' vocabulary choices (e.g., words that each user uses, or adds to or removes from a word recognition dictionary), associates users who make similar choices, aggregates related vocabulary choices, filters the words, and sends words identified as likely choices for that user to the user's device. Clusters may include, for example, users in a particular location (e.g., sets of people who use words such as “Puyallup,” “Gloucester,” or “Waiheke”), users with a particular professional or hobby vocabulary, or application-specific vocabulary (e.g., word choices in map searches or email messages).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Ethan R. Bradford, Simon Corston, David J. Kay, Donni McCray, Keith Trnka
  • Patent number: 7526424
    Abstract: The present invention is a sentence realization system that processes an abstract linguistic representation (ALR) of a sentence into a structure that can be fully realizable. The system includes a tree conversion component that receives the ALR and generates a basic syntax tree from the ALR. A global movement component then receives the basic syntax tree and hierarchically orders child nodes in that syntax tree relative to ancestor nodes. An intra-constituent ordering component then establishes a linear order among the nodes such that the syntax tree is fully ordered. A surface cleanup component receives the fully ordered tree and performs a number of realization operations to generate surface realizations for constituents that are still represented in an abstract way in the fully ordered syntax tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Corston-Oliver, Michael Gamon, Eric Ringger, Robert C. Moore, Zhu Zhang
  • Patent number: 7346493
    Abstract: The present invention is a tree ordering component within a sentence realization system which receives an unordered syntax tree and generates a ranked list of alternative ordered syntax trees from the unordered syntax tree. The present invention also includes statistical models of constituent structure employed by the tree ordering component in scoring the alternative ordered trees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Ringger, Michael Gamon, Martine Smets, Simon Corston-Oliver, Robert C. Moore
  • Publication number: 20060200342
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for identifying, extracting, clustering and analyzing sentiment-bearing text. In one embodiment, the invention implements a pipeline capable of accessing raw text and presenting it in a highly usable and intuitive way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Corston-Oliver, Anthony Aue, Eric Ringger, Michael Gamon
  • Publication number: 20060200341
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for identifying, extracting, clustering and analyzing sentiment-bearing text. In one embodiment, the invention implements a pipeline capable of accessing raw text and presenting it in a highly usable and intuitive way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Corston-Oliver, Anthony Aue, Eric Ringger, Michael Gamon
  • Publication number: 20060184351
    Abstract: A text processor processes text in a message. The text processor generates a plurality of compressed forms of components of the message. The processor performs a linguistic analysis on the body of text to obtain a linguistic output indicative of linguistic components of the body of text. The processor then generates the plurality of compressed forms that can be used to compress the body of text. The plurality of compressed forms are generated based on the linguistic output. The invention can be implemented as a method of generating the compressed forms and as an apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Corston-Oliver, Sharad Mathur
  • Publication number: 20050192992
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that determine intent for received data (e.g., email, voice, graphics . . . ) and respond to the data based on the intent. The systems and methods employ various combinations of features based on shallow and deep linguistic analysis (e.g., semantic and syntactic) to yield very high accuracy. The systems and methods analyze and categorize received data to locate data that can include intent. This data can be further refined by extracting features related to the intent. The features can be utilized by a classifier to determine the intent. If the intent warrants a response, the data are further scrutinized and reformulated to generate a description that is indicative of the intent. The reformulation can include representing the features in a logical form, transforming the form and generating a description of the intent that can be presented to a user visually and/or audibly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Reed, Eric Ringger, Michael Gamon, Richard Campbell, Robert Atkinson, Simon Corston, Malcolm Pearson
  • Publication number: 20050165753
    Abstract: A system that facilitates performance of a focused search over a collection of sites comprises a subweb that corresponds to a topic and/or user characteristic(s) that are of interest to the user. The subweb includes a plurality of domains and/or paths (e.g. sites) that are related to the topic and/or the user characteristic(s). Each of the sites within the subweb is assigned a weight that indicates relevance of the site to the desirable topic and/or user characteristic(s). A search engine employs the subweb to facilitate focusing a search over a collection of sites. The search engine receives a query, and utilizes the subweb to focus a search over the selection of sites corresponding to the topic and/or user characteristic(s) represented by the subweb. The results from the search are returned to the user based at least in part upon the relevance weights assigned to the sites within the subweb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Harr Chen, Raman Chandrasekar, Simon Corston, Eric Brill
  • Publication number: 20050154686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology that applies automated learning procedures for determining document relevance and assisting information retrieval activities. A system is provided that facilitates a machine-learned approach to determine document relevance. The system includes a storage component that receives a set of human selected items to be employed as positive test cases of highly relevant documents. A training component trains at least one classifier with the human selected items as positive test cases and one or more other items as negative test cases in order to provide a query-independent model, wherein the other items can be selected by a statistical search, for example. Also, the trained classifier can be employed to aid an individual in identifying and selecting new positive cases or utilized to filter or re-rank results from a statistical-based search.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Simon Corston, Raman Chandrasekar, Harr Chen
  • Publication number: 20050125429
    Abstract: A system is utilized for determining a relationship between first and second textual inputs. The system identifies constituents in the first textual input, having predetermined characteristics indicative of usefulness in determining the relationship. The relationship is then determined based on the constituents identified. The constituents can be eliminated from the first textual input, weighted in the first textual input, or simply annotated in one of a variety of ways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Corston-Oliver, William Dolan, Hisami Suzuki