Patents by Inventor Simon Tickner

Simon Tickner 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: 9378730
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are described for receiving, by a speech recognition engine, audio data that encodes an utterance and determining, by the speech recognition engine, that a transcription of the utterance includes one or more keywords associated with a command, and a pronoun. In addition, the methods, computer program products, and systems described herein pertain to transmitting a disambiguation request to an application, wherein the disambiguation request identifies the pronoun, receiving, by the speech recognition engine, a response to the disambiguation request, wherein the response references an item of content identified by the application, and generating, by the speech recognition engine, the command using the keywords and the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Tickner, Richard Z. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20160180851
    Abstract: The present application describes systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for continuous speech recognition for mobile computing devices. One embodiment includes determining whether a mobile computing device is receiving operating power from an external power source or a battery power source, and activating a trigger word detection subroutine in response to determining that the mobile computing device is receiving power from the external power source. In some embodiments, the trigger word detection subroutine operates continually while the mobile computing device is receiving power from the external power source. The trigger word detection subroutine includes determining whether a plurality of spoken words received via a microphone includes one or more trigger words, and in response to determining that the plurality of spoken words includes at least one trigger word, launching an application corresponding to the at least one trigger word included in the plurality of spoken words.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Peter John Hodgson, Pawel Pietryka, Simon Tickner, Richard Zarek Cohen, Henrique Penha, Luca Zanolin, Dave Burke
  • Patent number: 9135914
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for providing a layered user interface for one or more applications. A user-interface layer for a voice user interface is generated. The user-interface layer can be based on a markup-language-structured user-interface description for an application configured to execute on a computing device. The user-interface layer can include a command display of one or more voice-accessible commands for the application. The computing device can display at least the user-interface layer of the voice user interface. The computing device can receive an input utterance, obtain input text based upon speech recognition performed upon the input utterance, and determine that the input text corresponds to a voice-accessible command displayed as part of the command display. The computing device can execute the application to perform the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Simon Tickner, Henrique Penha, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin
  • Patent number: 9082407
    Abstract: In an example implementation of the disclosed technology, a method includes setting a command entry timer based on a predetermined command entry threshold. The method also includes receiving an indication of user input to prompt receipt of an audio command and, responsive to determining that the command entry timer has expired since receiving the indication of user input, outputting, for display, at least one indicator associated with at least one supported audio command that is associated with at least one function of the computing device. The method also includes receiving a plurality of audio input samples and updating the command entry threshold based on plurality of audio input samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander James Faaborg, Simon Tickner
  • Patent number: 9031209
    Abstract: A computing device displays a call history graphical user interface (GUI). The call history GUI includes a new list and an old list. The new list may include new missed call elements and missed call elements associated with new unopened voicemails. The old list may include other call history GUI elements, such as old missed call elements and missed call elements associated with opened voicemails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Flavio Lerda, Hugo Hudson, Debashish Chatterjee, Simon Tickner, Marcus Alexander Foster
  • Patent number: 9009042
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating direct speech messages based on voice commands that include indirect speech messages. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a voice input corresponding to an utterance. A determination is made whether a transcription of the utterance includes a command to initiate a communication to a user and a segment that is classified as indirect speech. In response to determining that the transcription of the utterance includes the command and the segment that is classified as indirect speech, the segment that is classified as indirect speech is provided as input to a machine translator. In response to providing the segment that is classified as indirect speech to the machine translator, a direct speech segment is received from the machine translator. A communication is initiated that includes the direct speech segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Quasthoff, Simon Tickner
  • Patent number: 9001978
    Abstract: A computing device displays a call history graphical user interface (GUI). The call history GUI includes a new list and an old list. The new list may include new missed call elements and missed call elements associated with new unopened voicemails. The old list may include other call history GUI elements, such as old missed call elements and missed call elements associated with opened voicemails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Flavio Lerda, Hugo Hudson, Debashish Chatterjee, Simon Tickner, Marcus Alexander Foster
  • Publication number: 20150074003
    Abstract: Cloud-based media can be locally cached at a vehicle in which a user will travel. The media may be accessed by an authorized user during an authorized period that can be based upon vehicle status, such as vehicle speed or altitude. When the authorized period expires, the media stored at the vehicle can be deleted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Tickner, Richard Zarek Cohen
  • Patent number: 8959023
    Abstract: A computing device may receive an incoming communication and, in response, generate a notification that indicates that the incoming communication can be accessed using a particular application on the communication device. The computing device may further provide an audio signal indicative of the notification and automatically activate a listening mode. The computing device may receive a voice input during the listening mode, and an input text may be obtained based on speech recognition performed upon the voice input. A command may be detected in the input text. In response to the command, the computing device may generate an output text that is based on at least the notification and provide a voice output that is generated from the output text via speech synthesis. The voice output identifies at least the particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Dave Burke, Henrique Penha, Simon Tickner, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin, Michael J. LeBeau
  • Patent number: 8848020
    Abstract: A method of controlling a user interface to display participants of a call in dependence upon the participants' speech activity in the call, the method including monitoring the speech activity of the participants in the call and determining whether a participant is an active participant or an inactive participant in dependence on the participants' speech activity over a minimum time period of the call. In response to determining whether a participant is an active or inactive participant, an active participant is displayed in a first area of the user interface and an inactive participant is displayed in a second area of the user interface. The first area of the user interface is larger than the second area of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventors: Umberto Abate, Michael Bartlett, Dmytro Izotoy, Ole Mahrt, Torsten Rehberg, Simon Tickner, Hando Tint
  • Publication number: 20140244253
    Abstract: The present application describes systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for continuous speech recognition for mobile computing devices. One embodiment includes determining whether a mobile computing device is receiving operating power from an external power source or a battery power source, and activating a trigger word detection subroutine in response to determining that the mobile computing device is receiving power from the external power source. In some embodiments, the trigger word detection subroutine operates continually while the mobile computing device is receiving power from the external power source. The trigger word detection subroutine includes determining whether a plurality of spoken words received via a microphone includes one or more trigger words, and in response to determining that the plurality of spoken words includes at least one trigger word, launching an application corresponding to the at least one trigger word included in the plurality of spoken words.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Peter John Hodgson, Pawel Pietryka, Simon Tickner, Richard Zarek Cohen, Henrique Penha, Luca Zanolin, Dave Burke
  • Patent number: 8768687
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating direct speech messages based on voice commands that include indirect speech messages. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a voice input corresponding to an utterance. A determination is made whether a transcription of the utterance includes a command to initiate a communication to a user and a segment that is classified as indirect speech. In response to determining that the transcription of the utterance includes the command and the segment that is classified as indirect speech, the segment that is classified as indirect speech is provided as input to a machine translator. In response to providing the segment that is classified as indirect speech to the machine translator, a direct speech segment is received from the machine translator. A communication is initiated that includes the direct speech segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Quasthoff, Simon Tickner
  • Patent number: 8731912
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for audible alert tones are disclosed. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of determining whether audio input data received after ceasing output of a first instance of an audible alert tone includes voice activity and determining whether to delay a successive instance of the audible alert tone based on determining whether the audio input data includes voice activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Tickner, Peter J Hodgson, Richard Z. Cohen
  • Patent number: 8706505
    Abstract: A computing device is configured to initiate actions in response to speech input that includes a name or other indication of an entity, in a first spoken utterance, followed by an action, in a second spoken utterance. The computing device receives the first spoken utterance, identifies an entity based on the first spoke utterance, and indicates a plurality of available actions based on the identified entity. The computing device then receives the second spoken utterance and identifies a selection of at least one of the available actions based on the second spoken utterance. The computing device then initiates the at least one selected action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Simon Tickner, Henrique Penha, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin, Marcus Foster
  • Publication number: 20130346076
    Abstract: A computing device receives an audio input from a user. The computing device determines a series of words from the audio input. The computing device outputs, for display, one or more substituted symbols. The one or more substituted symbols correspond to at least a portion of the series of words. In response to determining that receipt of the audio input has completed, the computing device outputs, for display, alphanumeric characters comprising the series of words in place of the one or more substituted symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Andrew Stewart, Peter Ng, Alexander Faaborg, Matias Gonzalo Duarte, Daniel Marc Gatan Shiplacoff, Bjorn Erik Bringert, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Simon Tickner, Henrique Penha
  • Patent number: 8606577
    Abstract: A computing device receives an audio input from a user. The computing device determines a series of words from the audio input. The computing device outputs, for display, one or more substituted symbols. The one or more substituted symbols correspond to at least a portion of the series of words. In response to determining that receipt of the audio input has completed, the computing device outputs, for display, alphanumeric characters comprising the series of words in place of the one or more substituted symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Stewart, Peter Ng, Alexander Faaborg, Matias Gonzalo Duarte, Daniel Marc Gatan Shiplacoff, Bjorn Erik Bringert, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Simon Tickner, Henrique Penha
  • Patent number: 8606568
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are described for receiving, by a speech recognition engine, audio data that encodes an utterance and determining, by the speech recognition engine, that a transcription of the utterance includes one or more keywords associated with a command, and a pronoun. In addition, the methods, computer program products, and systems described herein pertain to transmitting a disambiguation request to an application, wherein the disambiguation request identifies the pronoun, receiving, by the speech recognition engine, a response to the disambiguation request, wherein the response references an item of content identified by the application, and generating, by the speech recognition engine, the command using the keywords and the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Tickner, Richard Z. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20130295887
    Abstract: A computing device displays a call history graphical user interface (GUI). The call history GUI includes a new list and an old list. The new list may include new missed call elements and missed call elements associated with new unopened voicemails. The old list may include other call history GUI elements, such as old missed call elements and missed call elements associated with opened voicemails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Flavio Lerda, Hugo Hudson, Debashish Chatterjee, Simon Tickner, Marcus Alexander Foster
  • Patent number: 8571851
    Abstract: Methods, and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage mediums, including a method for performing semantic interpretation using gaze order. The method includes obtaining data identifying a sequence of gaze attention dwell positions, obtaining a semantic description of elements displayed on a visual display, obtaining a transcription of an utterance, correlating the gaze attention dwell positions with the semantic description of elements to generate a sequence of one or more of the elements, performing semantic interpretation of at least one term included in the transcription based at least on the sequence of the elements, and outputting a result of performing the semantic interpretation of the at least one term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Tickner, Richard Z. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20130253928
    Abstract: A computing device may receive an incoming communication and, in response, generate a notification that indicates that the incoming communication can be accessed using a particular application on the communication device. The computing device may further provide an audio signal indicative of the notification and automatically activate a listening mode. The computing device may receive a voice input during the listening mode, and an input text may be obtained based on speech recognition performed upon the voice input. A command may be detected in the input text. In response to the command, the computing device may generate an output text that is based on at least the notification and provide a voice output that is generated from the output text via speech synthesis. The voice output identifies at least the particular application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Erik Bringert, Pawel Pietryka, Peter John Hodgson, Dave Burke, Henrique Penha, Simon Tickner, Richard Zarek Cohen, Luca Zanolin, Michael J. LeBeau