Patents by Inventor Steven H Lewis

Steven H Lewis 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: 10968300
    Abstract: A method of increasing a polymerization reaction rate of a base monomer composition that has slow free-radical polymerization kinetics. The method comprises combining an effective amount of a nanogel to the base monomer composition to form a monomer-nanogel mixture having a polymerization reaction rate that is greater than the polymerization reaction rate of the base monomer composition when subjected to an identical free-radical polymerization reaction conducted under identical conditions. The base monomer composition comprises one or more slow-kinetic monomers with slow free radical polymerization kinetics in which <25% of the double bonds are converted within the first 10 mintes of said reaction. The nanogel is soluble in the base monomer composition. The nanogel is derived from a nanogel-forming monomer mixture that comprises: at least one monovinyl monomer; at least one divinyl monomer; a chain transfer agent; and an initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Stansbury, Devatha P. Nair, Steven H. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20200247927
    Abstract: A method of increasing a polymerization reaction rate of a base monomer composition that has slow free-radical polymerization kinetics. The method comprises combining an effective amount of a nanogel to the base monomer composition to form a monomer-nanogel mixture having a polymerization reaction rate that is greater than the polymerization reaction rate of the base monomer composition when subjected to an identical free-radical polymerization reaction conducted under identical conditions. The base monomer composition comprises one or more slow-kinetic monomers with slow free radical polymerization kinetics in which <25% of the double bonds are converted within the first 10 mintes of said reaction. The nanogel is soluble in the base monomer composition. The nanogel is derived from a nanogel-forming monomer mixture that comprises: at least one monovinyl monomer; at least one divinyl monomer; a chain transfer agent; and an initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Stansbury, Devatha P. Nair, Steven H. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10623571
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention involve providing automated assistance to an agent operating an agent terminal. A database stores an automated assistance session comprising communications between at least one client terminal and at least one agent terminal during a communication session. The automated assistance session is restored in response to a connection being reestablished with the client terminal after the client terminal disconnects during the communication session. A client communication is received from the client terminal, and a plurality of statements is determined based on the client communication and the communications of the automated assistance session stored in the database. The statements are configured to be manually selected by an agent or automatically selected by an automated agent. The automated agent is engaged for automatically selecting one of the statements in response to a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: [24]7.ai, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Griesmer, James Gordon Beattie, Jr., Charles Richard Cooke, Monowar Hossain, Steven H. Lewis, Benjamin Rudman
  • Patent number: 10051123
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention involve providing automated assistance to an agent operating an agent terminal. A database stores an automated assistance session comprising communications between at least one client terminal and at least one agent terminal during a communication session. The automated assistance session is restored in response to a connection being reestablished with the client terminal after the client terminal disconnects during the communication session. A client communication is received from the client terminal, and a plurality of statements is determined based on the client communication and the communications of the automated assistance session stored in the database. The statements are configured to be manually selected by an agent or automatically selected by an automated agent. The automated agent is engaged for automatically selecting one of the statements in response to a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: [27]7.ai, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Griesmer, James Gordon Beattie, Charles Richard Cooke, Monowar Hossain, Steven H. Lewis, Benjamin Rudman
  • Patent number: 9756183
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170163805
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Putz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9635176
    Abstract: A system for providing automated assistance to an agent includes a database that stores an automated assistance session in association with a client terminal. The automated assistance session comprises communications between the client terminal and an agent terminal during a communication session. The automated assistance session is restored in response to a connection being reestablished with the client terminal after the client terminal disconnects during the communication session. A client communication is received from the client terminal, and a plurality of statements is determined based on the client communication and the communications of the automated assistance session stored in the database. The statements are configured to be manually selected by an agent or automatically selected by an automated agent. The automated agent is engaged for automatically selecting one of the statements in response to a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: 24/7 Customer, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Griesmer, James Gordon Beattie, Jr., Charles Richard Cooke, Monowar Hossain, Steven H. Lewis, Benjamin Rudman
  • Patent number: 9621723
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9412364
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for recognizing speech. A method embodiment comprises comparing received speech with a precompiled grammar based on a database and if the received speech matches data in the precompiled grammar then returning a result based on the matched data. If the received speech does not match data in the precompiled grammar, then dynamically compiling a new grammar based only on new data added to the database after the compiling of the precompiled grammar. The database may comprise a directory of names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Sivaprasad Shankarnarayan, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9361880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for recognizing speech. The method includes receiving speech from a user, perceiving at least one speech dialect in the received speech, selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars based on at least one score associated with the perceived speech dialect and the perceived at least one speech dialect, and recognizing the received speech with the selected at least one grammar. Selecting at least one grammar can be further based on a user profile. Multiple grammars can be blended. Predefined parameters can include pronunciation differences, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Optimized dialect grammars can be domain specific. The method can further include recognizing initial received speech with a generic grammar until an optimized dialect grammar is selected. Selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars can be based on a certainty threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Interactions LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9357068
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150271328
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9082405
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for recognizing speech. The method includes receiving speech from a user, perceiving at least one speech dialect in the received speech, selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars based on at least one score associated with the perceived speech dialect and the perceived at least one speech dialect, and recognizing the received speech with the selected at least one grammar. Selecting at least one grammar can be further based on a user profile. Multiple grammars can be blended. Predefined parameters can include pronunciation differences, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Optimized dialect grammars can be domain specific. The method can further include recognizing initial received speech with a generic grammar until an optimized dialect grammar is selected. Selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars can be based on a certainty threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Interactions LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9060061
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8924215
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for recognizing speech. The method includes receiving speech from a user, perceiving at least one speech dialect in the received speech, selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars based on at least one score associated with the perceived speech dialect and the perceived at least one speech dialect, and recognizing the received speech with the selected at least one grammar. Selecting at least one grammar can be further based on a user profile. Multiple grammars can be blended. Predefined parameters can include pronunciation differences, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Optimized dialect grammars can be domain specific. The method can further include recognizing initial received speech with a generic grammar until an optimized dialect grammar is selected. Selecting at least one grammar from a plurality of optimized dialect grammars can be based on a certainty threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory Pulz, Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140270117
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140244256
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for recognizing speech. A method embodiment comprises comparing received speech with a precompiled grammar based on a database and if the received speech matches data in the precompiled grammar then returning a result based on the matched data. If the received speech does not match data in the precompiled grammar, then dynamically compiling a new grammar based only on new data added to the database after the compiling of the precompiled grammar The database may comprise a directory of names.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry BLANCHARD, Steven H. Lewis, Sivaprasad Shankarnarayan, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8781098
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8725511
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for recognizing speech. A method embodiment comprises comparing received speech with a precompiled grammar based on a database and if the received speech matches data in the precompiled grammar then returning a result based on the matched data. If the received speech does not match data in the precompiled grammar, then dynamically compiling a new grammar based only on new data added to the database after the compiling of the precompiled grammar. The database may comprise a directory of names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Shankarnarayan Sivaprasad, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8689308
    Abstract: In one aspect, a disclosed portable authentication device (PAD) includes a processor, storage media, an interface for enabling communication with an external information handling system (IHS), e.g., a computer or a telephony device, and executable instructions embedded in the storage media, for automated authentication. The embedded instructions include instructions for enabling a user to store authentication information, e.g., use ID and password information, corresponding to an IHS destination, e.g., a telephone number of an interactive voice response system or an IP address of a web server. If the PAD recognizes the current destination, the PAD may respond to an assertion of a keypad control element by making authorization information corresponding to the current destination available to the user or providing the authorization information directly to the current destination. The PAD may include one or more telephony interface(s), e.g., RJ-11 jack(s) and one or more computer interfaces, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Lan Zhang, Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz