Patents by Inventor Thomas Barton Schalk

Thomas Barton Schalk 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: 20130346332
    Abstract: A method for screening candidates by a screening entity that includes remotely accessing a screening entity's online web page by a candidate. The candidate inputs responses to a set of queries tailored to the screening entity. The responses thereto are stored in a candidate profile. An interactive audio session is initiated and an interactive information gathering process with the candidate occurs using both the audio session and the computer. Prompts are generated via the audio session and web page. Verbal responses are recorded and confidence scores are automatically calculated. The verbal responses are stored with the candidate profile for later access and analysis by the screening entity. The stored information is analyzed by the screening entity to make quality and criteria judgments about the candidate to determine a hiring potential of the candidate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Agero Connected Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Jimmy Lee Stovall, Walter Phillip Brooks
  • Publication number: 20130297200
    Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes the step of processing destination information spoken by a user of a mobile processing system and transmitting the processed voice information via a wireless link to a remote data center. The processed voice information is analyzed with a voice recognition system at the remote data center to recognize components of the destination information spoken by the user. The remote data center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels as calculated for each component of the destination information analyzed by the voice recognition system. The remote data center determines if a confidence score is below a recognition confidence value and, if the confidence score is below the recognition confidence value, transmits an automated request to have the user speak the destination information again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130293367
    Abstract: A method for delivering a criteria-based message to a vehicle occupant includes the steps of transmitting a user initiated telematics request from a telematics unit integral with a vehicle to a data center remote from the vehicle, determining at the remote data center a response to the telematics request including both a descriptive response and an audio service demonstration, the user selecting one of the descriptive response and the audio service demonstration, dependent upon the selection by the user, communicating the response to the telematics request and the one of the descriptive response and the audio service demonstration from the remote data center to the telematics unit, and outputting the one of the descriptive response and the audio service demonstration to a user in the vehicle through a speaker within the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130297312
    Abstract: A system for surfing the web includes a mobile system for processing and transmitting through a wireless link a voice stream spoken by a user of the mobile system and a data center for processing the voice stream received into voice web search information. The continuous voice stream includes a web search request. The data center performs automated voice recognition processing on the voice web search information to recognize components of the web search request, confirms the recognized components of the web search request through interactive speech exchanges with the user through the wireless link and the mobile system, selectively allows human data center operator intervention to assist in identifying the selected recognized web search components having a recognition confidence below a selected threshold value, and downloads web search results pertaining to the web search request for transmission to the mobile system derived from the confirmed recognized web search components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130268269
    Abstract: A system for providing navigational information comprises a mobile system processing and transmitting via a wireless link a continuous voice stream spoken by a user of the mobile system, the continuous voice stream including a complete destination address and a data center processing the continuous voice stream received via the wireless link into voice navigational information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130262126
    Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes processing destination information spoken by a vehicle occupant on-board. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote center wirelessly. The processed voice information is voice recognition analyzed at the remote data center to recognize components of the destination information spoken. The remote center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels as calculated for each component of the destination information analyzed by the voice recognition system. The hypothetical recognized component list is displayed with confidence levels at the remote center for selective checking by a human data center operator. A component set is selected based on the confidence levels and accuracy of the selected set is confirmed by interactive voice exchanges between the vehicle driver and the remote data center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130262102
    Abstract: A method of providing navigational information comprises processing destination information spoken by a user of a mobile processing system. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote data center. The processed voice information is analyzed at the data center to recognize components of the destination information. The center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination by confidence levels as calculated for each component of the information analyzed. The hypothetical recognized component list is displayed with confidence levels at the data center for selective checking by a human data center operator. A set of hypothetical components is selected based on confidence levels in the list. The accuracy of the selected set of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information is confirmed though interactive voice exchanges between the mobile system user and the remote data center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Patent number: 8478520
    Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes processing destination information spoken by a mobile processing system user. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote center wirelessly. The processed voice information is voice recognition analyzed to recognize components of the destination information spoken. The remote center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels. The list of hypothetical recognized components is displayed with confidence levels at the remote center for selective checking by a human data center operator. A component set is selected based on the confidence levels and accuracy of the selected set is confirmed by interactive voice exchanges. A destination is determined from confirmed components of the destination information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Agero Connected Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130006769
    Abstract: A method for providing marketing materials from a marketing and information service platform to a vehicle telematics system comprises the steps of receiving route information at an integral telematics system of a vehicle and delivering personalized messages to the telematics system for transmission to a user of the vehicle based on at least one of location and pre-defined preference information corresponding to the route information. A method for providing marketing materials from a marketing and information services platform to a vehicle telematics system comprises the steps of sending route information from the vehicle telematics system integral with a vehicle to the marketing and information service platform remote from the vehicle and receiving personalized messages at the vehicle telematics system from the marketing and information service platform based on at least one of location and pre-defined preference information corresponding to the route information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Steven Deeb, Tod Farrell, Kirill Izotov
  • Publication number: 20120259951
    Abstract: A content delivery system includes a remote data center in wireless communication with a vehicle telematics system. The remote data center includes a content server, an automated voice recognition system, and a database. The remote data center utilizes combinations of GPS information, voice automation technology, and preconfigured vehicle operator preferences to deliver content to vehicles over a wireless link. The content delivery system includes a web portal at which vehicle operators configure personal profiles, including information regarding personal preferences and/or information pertaining to application access. The web portal feeds the profile information to the remote data center over a remote Internet connection. The remote data center stores the preconfigured vehicle operator profiles in the database, which is later accessed in response to vehicle operator commands recognized by the voice recognition system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Sammy Hallmi, Scott Nelson, Frank Hirschenberger, Karen Snow, Leonel Saenz, Barry Burch
  • Publication number: 20120253823
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing a server-based speech recognition system for multi-modal automated interaction in a vehicle includes receiving, by a vehicle driver, audio prompts by an on-board human-to-machine interface and a response with speech to complete tasks such as creating and sending text messages, web browsing, navigation, etc. This service-oriented architecture is utilized to call upon specialized speech recognizers in an adaptive fashion. The human-to-machine interface enables completion of a text input task while driving a vehicle in a way that minimizes the frequency of the driver's visual and mechanical interactions with the interface, thereby eliminating unsafe distractions during driving conditions. After the initial prompting, the typing task is followed by a computerized verbalization of the text. Subsequent interface steps can be visual in nature, or involve only sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Leonel Saenz, Barry Burch
  • Publication number: 20120253822
    Abstract: A method for providing audio prompts via a service-providing remote center includes receiving a list of requested data from an on-board navigation system of a vehicle, and, for each item in the list of requested data, determining whether an audio prompt is available and delivering an associated audio prompt from the service-providing remote center over a data channel. Also provided is a method for obtaining audio prompts using a minimal amount of text-to-speech ports including determining a plurality of known data items, generating audio prompts for the plurality of known data items with a single text-to-speech engine using batch mode processing, obtaining an associated audio prompt for each of the known data items, and storing each associated audio prompt in a recording database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20110213726
    Abstract: A method for screening applicants by a screening entity includes the steps of remotely accessing a screening entity's multi-modal pre-screening tool by a candidate using an Internet-accessible device, the pre-screening tool comprising audio and visual elements operable to communicatively interact with the candidate, and carrying out an interactive skills assessment of the candidate by communicating at least one cue to the candidate from the screening entity, requiring the candidate, upon receiving the at least one cue, to simultaneously interact with the pre-screening tool and, based upon this interaction, communicate a verbal response to the cue, recording the candidate's verbal response with the pre-screening tool and storing the verbal response in a database profile associated with the candidate and accessible by the screening entity, and analyzing the candidate's recorded response by the screening entity and carrying out a quality and criteria judgment to determine the hiring potential of the candidate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Jimmy Lee Stovall, Walter Phillip Brooks
  • Patent number: 7966265
    Abstract: A method for screening applicants includes remotely accessing a screening entity's web page by a potential candidate. The candidate is asked, via the pre-screening web page, to input responses to a set of queries tailored to the screening entity and the candidate's responses to the queries are stored. A phone call is automatically initiated to the candidate in response to at least one of the candidate's responses. An interactive information gathering process is started with the candidate using both the telephone and the computer. In the process, audio prompts to the candidate are generated via the telephone and the candidate's verbal responses are recorded via the telephone. A profile of the candidate is stored in a database including the verbal responses from the candidate for later access and analysis by the screening entity. The recorded responses are analyzed by the screening entity to make quality judgments about the candidate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: ATX Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Jimmy Lee Stovall, Walter Phillip Brooks
  • Publication number: 20100250243
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing a server-based speech recognition system for multi-modal automated interaction in a vehicle includes receiving, by a vehicle driver, audio prompts by an on-board human-to-machine interface and a response with speech to complete tasks such as creating and sending text messages, web browsing, navigation, etc. This service-oriented architecture is utilized to call upon specialized speech recognizers in an adaptive fashion. The human-to-machine interface enables completion of a text input task while driving a vehicle in a way that minimizes the frequency of the driver's visual and mechanical interactions with the interface, thereby eliminating unsafe distractions during driving conditions. After the initial prompting, the typing task is followed by a computerized verbalization of the text. Subsequent interface steps can be visual in nature, or involve only sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Leonel Saenz, Barry Burch
  • Publication number: 20100185392
    Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes processing destination information spoken by a mobile processing system user. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote center wirelessly. The processed voice information is voice recognition analyzed to recognize components of the destination information spoken. The remote center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels. The list of hypothetical recognized components is displayed with confidence levels at the remote center for selective checking by a human data center operator. A component set is selected based on the confidence levels and accuracy of the selected set is confirmed by interactive voice exchanges. A destination is determined from confirmed components of the destination information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ATX GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20100042498
    Abstract: A method for delivering a criteria-based message to a vehicle occupant includes establishing a wireless communication session between a mobile device integral with a vehicle and a data center remote from the vehicle. Next, identifier of the vehicle and at least one criteria from the mobile device is communicated to the remote data center. The at least one criteria includes a statistic of the vehicle and/or a statistic of a user of the mobile device. Based on the at least one criteria, an advertisement message for communication to the mobile device is determined. Then, the determined advertisement message is communicated from the remote data center to the mobile device. In a further step, the advertisement message is output with a speaker fixed within the vehicle carrying the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: ATX GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Patent number: 7634357
    Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes processing destination information spoken by a mobile processing system user. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote center wirelessly. The processed voice information is voice recognition analyzed to recognize components of die destination information spoken. The remote center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels. The list of hypothetical recognized components is displayed with confidence levels at the remote center for selective checking by a human data center operator. A component set is selected based on the confidence levels and accuracy of the selected set is confirmed by interactive voice exchanges. A destination is determined from confirmed components of the destination information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: ATX Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk
  • Publication number: 20080281620
    Abstract: A method for screening applicants includes remotely accessing a screening entity's web page by a potential candidate. The candidate is asked, via the pre-screening web page, to input responses to a set of queries tailored to the screening entity and the candidate's responses to the queries are stored. A phone call is automatically initiated to the candidate in response to at least one of the candidate's responses. An interactive information gathering process is started with the candidate using both the telephone and the computer. In the process, audio prompts to the candidate are generated via the telephone and the candidate's verbal responses are recorded via the telephone. A profile of the candidate is stored in a database including the verbal responses from the candidate for later access and analysis by the screening entity. The recorded responses are analyzed by the screening entity to make quality judgments about the candidate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: ATX GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Barton Schalk, Jimmy Lee Stovall, Walter Phillip Brooks
  • Publication number: 20080177551
    Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes processing destination information spoken by a mobile processing system user. The processed voice information is transmitted to a remote center wirelessly. The processed voice information is voice recognition analyzed to recognize components of die destination information spoken. The remote center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels. The list of hypothetical recognized components is displayed with confidence levels at the remote center for selective checking by a human data center operator, A component set is selected based on the confidence levels and accuracy of the selected set is confirmed, by interactive voice exchanges. A destination is determined from confirmed components of the destination information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: ATX GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Barton Schalk