Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Gruber
Thomas R. Gruber 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).
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Publication number: 20220093110Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to provide extension of digital assistant services are provided. An example method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors, receiving, from a first user, a first speech input representing a user request. The method further includes obtaining an identity of the first user; and in accordance with the user identity, providing a representation of the user request to at least one of a second electronic device or a third electronic device. The method further includes receiving, based on a determination of whether the second electronic device or the third electronic device, or both, is to provide the response to the first electronic device, the response to the user request from the second electronic device or the third electronic device. The method further includes providing a representation of the response to the first user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Yoon KIM, Charles SRISUWANANUKORN, David A. CARSON, Thomas R. GRUBER, Justin G. BINDER
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Patent number: 11269678Abstract: The electronic device with one or more processors and memory receives an input of a user. The electronic device, in accordance with the input, identifies a respective task type from a plurality of predefined task types associated with a plurality of third party service providers. The respective task type is associated with at least one third party service provider for which the user is authorized and at least one third party service provider for which the user is not authorized. In response to identifying the respective task type, the electronic device sends a request to perform at least a portion of a task to a third party service provider of the plurality of third party service providers that is associated with the respective task type.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Gruber, Christopher D. Brigham, Adam J. Cheyer, Daniel Keen, Kenneth Kocienda
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Publication number: 20220028387Abstract: Systems and processes for application integration with a digital assistant are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors and memory, receiving a natural-language user input; identifying, with the one or more processors, an intent object of a set of intent objects and a parameter associated with the intent, where the intent object and the parameter are derived from the natural-language user input. The method further includes identifying a software application associated with the intent object of the set of intent objects; and providing the intent object and the parameter to the software application.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Robert A. WALKER, II, Brandon J. NEWENDORP, Rohit DASARI, Richard D. GIULI, Thomas R. GRUBER, Carey E. RADEBAUGH, Ashish GARG, Vineet KHOSLA, Jonathan H. RUSSELL, Corey PETERSON
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Patent number: 11231903Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to perform intelligent list reading are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors, receiving a first user input of a first input type, the first user input including a plurality of words; displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, the plurality of words; receiving a second user input of a second input type indicating a selection of a word of the plurality of words, the second input type different than the first input type; receiving a third user input; modifying the selected word based on the third user input to provide a modified one or more words; and displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, the modified one or more words.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2018Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Gruber, Mohammed A. Tayyeb, Ron C. Santos, Madhusudan Chinthakunta
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Patent number: 11217255Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to provide extension of digital assistant services are provided. An example method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors, receiving, from a first user, a first speech input representing a user request. The method further includes obtaining an identity of the first user; and in accordance with the user identity, providing a representation of the user request to at least one of a second electronic device or a third electronic device. The method further includes receiving, based on a determination of whether the second electronic device or the third electronic device, or both, is to provide the response to the first electronic device, the response to the user request from the second electronic device or the third electronic device. The method further includes providing a representation of the response to the first user.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Yoon Kim, Charles Srisuwananukorn, David A. Carson, Thomas R. Gruber, Justin G. Binder
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Publication number: 20210407318Abstract: The method includes receiving, from a user, a first speech input spoken in a first language; inferring a user intent based on at least the first speech input in the first language; based on the inferred user intent, generating one or more alternative expressions of the first speech input in the first language; and providing feedback to the user introducing the alternative expressions as a more preferred input to express the inferred user intent than the first speech input provided by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Donald W. PITSCHEL, Thomas R. GRUBER
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Publication number: 20210345948Abstract: In some implementations, a mobile device can adjust an alarm siting based of the sleep onset latency duration detected for a user of the mobile device. For example, sleep onset latency can be the amount of time it takes for the user to fall asleep after the user attempts to go to sleep (e.g., goes to bed). The mobile device can determine when the user intends or attempts to go to sleep based on detected sleep ritual activities. Sleep ritual activities can include those activities user performs in preparation for sleep. The mobile device can determine when the user is asleep based on detected sleep signals (e.g., biometric data, sounds, etc.). In some implementations, the mobile device can determine recurring patterns of long or short sleep onset latency and present suggestions that might help the user sleep better or feel more rested.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Roy J. Raymann, Wren N. Dougherty, Divya Nag, Deborah M. Lambert, Stephanie Greer, Thomas R. Gruber
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Patent number: 11152002Abstract: Systems and processes for application integration with a digital assistant are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors and memory, receiving a natural-language user input; identifying, with the one or more processors, an intent object of a set of intent objects and a parameter associated with the intent, where the intent object and the parameter are derived from the natural-language user input. The method further includes identifying a software application associated with the intent object of the set of intent objects; and providing the intent object and the parameter to the software application.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Walker, II, Brandon J. Newendorp, Rohit Dasari, Richard D. Giuli, Thomas R. Gruber, Carey E. Radebaugh, Ashish Garg, Vineet Khosla, Jonathan H. Russell, Corey Peterson
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Patent number: 11151899Abstract: The method includes receiving, from a user, a first speech input spoken in a first language; inferring a user intent based on at least the first speech input in the first language; based on the inferred user intent, generating one or more alternative expressions of the first speech input in the first language; and providing feedback to the user introducing the alternative expressions as a more preferred input to express the inferred user intent than the first speech input provided by the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Donald W. Pitschel, Thomas R. Gruber
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Publication number: 20210318901Abstract: The electronic device with one or more processors and memory receives an input of a user. The electronic device, in accordance with the input, identifies a respective task type from a plurality of predefined task types associated with a plurality of third party service providers. The respective task type is associated with at least one third party service provider for which the user is authorized and at least one third party service provider for which the user is not authorized. In response to identifying the respective task type, the electronic device sends a request to perform at least a portion of a task to a third party service provider of the plurality of third party service providers that is associated with the respective task type.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Thomas R. GRUBER, Christopher D. BRIGHAM, Adam J. CHEYER, Daniel KEEN, Kenneth KOCIENDA
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Publication number: 20210294571Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory includes a procedure for enabling conversation persistence across two or more instances of a digital assistant. In some embodiments, the device displays a first dialogue in a first instance of a digital assistant user interface. In response to a request to display a user interface different from the digital assistant user interface, the device displays the user interface different from the digital assistant user interface. In response to a request to invoke the digital assistant, the device displays a second instance of the digital assistant user interface, including displaying a second dialogue in the second instance of the digital assistant user interface, where the first dialogue remains available for display in the second instance of the digital assistant user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: David A. CARSON, Daniel KEEN, Evan DIBIASE, Harry J. SADDLER, Marco IACONO, Stephen O. LEMAY, Donald W. PITSCHEL, Thomas R. GRUBER
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Patent number: 11120372Abstract: Techniques for processing task items are provided. A task item is electronic data that represents a task to be performed, whether manually or automatically. A task item includes one or more details about its corresponding task, such as a description of the task and a location of the task. Specifically, techniques for generating task items, organizing task items, triggering notifications of task items, and consuming task items are described. In one approach, a task item is generated based on input from a user and context of the input. In another approach, different attributes of task items are used to organize the task items intelligently into multiple lists. In another approach, one or more criteria, such as location, are used to determine when to notify a user of a task. In another approach, actions other than generating notifications are enabled or automatically performed, actions such as emailing, calling, texting, and searching.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Gruber, Alessandro F. Sabatelli, Alexandre A. Aybes, Donald W. Pitschel, Edward D. Voas, Freddy A. Anzures, Paul D. Marcos
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Patent number: 11109798Abstract: In some implementations, a mobile device can adjust an alarm setting based on the sleep onset latency duration detected for a user of the mobile device. For example, sleep onset latency can be the amount of time it takes for the user to fall asleep after the user attempts to go to sleep (e.g., goes to bed). The mobile device can determine when the user intends or attempts to go to sleep based on detected sleep ritual activities. Sleep ritual activities can include those activities a user performs in preparation for sleep. The mobile device can determine when the user is asleep based on detected sleep signals (e.g., biometric data, sounds, etc.). In some implementations, the mobile device can determine recurring patterns of long or short sleep onset latency and present suggestions that might help the user sleep better or feel more rested.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Roy J. Raymann, Wren N. Dougherty, Divya Nag, Deborah M. Lambert, Stephanie Greer, Thomas R. Gruber
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Patent number: 11048473Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory includes a procedure for enabling conversation persistence across two or more instances of a digital assistant. In some embodiments, the device displays a first dialogue in a first instance of a digital assistant user interface. In response to a request to display a user interface different from the digital assistant user interface, the device displays the user interface different from the digital assistant user interface. In response to a request to invoke the digital assistant, the device displays a second instance of the digital assistant user interface, including displaying a second dialogue in the second instance of the digital assistant user interface, where the first dialogue remains available for display in the second instance of the digital assistant user interface.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David A. Carson, Daniel Keen, Evan Dibiase, Harry J. Saddler, Marco Iacono, Stephen O. Lemay, Donald W. Pitschel, Thomas R. Gruber
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Publication number: 20210151070Abstract: A method for operating a voice trigger is provided. In some implementations, the method is performed at an electronic device including one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes receiving a sound input. The sound input may correspond to a spoken word or phrase, or a portion thereof. The method includes determining whether at least a portion of the sound input corresponds to a predetermined type of sound, such as a human voice. The method includes, upon a determination that at least a portion of the sound input corresponds to the predetermined type, determining whether the sound input includes predetermined content, such as a predetermined trigger word or phrase. The method also includes, upon a determination that the sound input includes the predetermined content, initiating a speech-based service, such as a voice-based digital assistant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Justin BINDER, Samuel D. POST, Onur TACKIN, Thomas R. GRUBER
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Publication number: 20210151041Abstract: Systems and processes are disclosed for handling a multi-part voice command for a virtual assistant. Speech input can be received from a user that includes multiple actionable commands within a single utterance. A text string can be generated from the speech input using a speech transcription process. The text string can be parsed into multiple candidate substrings based on domain keywords, imperative verbs, predetermined substring lengths, or the like. For each candidate substring, a probability can be determined indicating whether the candidate substring corresponds to an actionable command. Such probabilities can be determined based on semantic coherence, similarity to user request templates, querying services to determine manageability, or the like. If the probabilities exceed a threshold, the user intent of each substring can be determined, processes associated with the user intents can be executed, and an acknowledgment can be provided to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Thomas R. GRUBER, Harry J. SADDLER, Jerome Rene BELLEGARDA, Bryce H. NYEGGEN, Alessandro SABATELLI
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Publication number: 20210110106Abstract: An exemplary method of using a virtual assistant may include receiving an unstructured natural-language user request for a service from a virtual assistant; determining whether the user request corresponds to at least one of a plurality of plan templates accessible to the virtual assistant, based on the content of the user request and the content of the plan templates; in accordance with a determination that the user request corresponds to at least one of the plurality of plan templates, selecting one of the plurality of plan templates; and in accordance with a determination the user request fails to correspond to at least one of the plurality of plan templates, foregoing selection of a plan template; and in response to selection of one of the plan templates, beginning to respond to the user request according to the selected plan template.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Marcos Regis VESCOVI, Tomás A. VEGA GALVEZ, Pierre KARASHCHUK, Thomas R. GRUBER, Didier R. GUZZONI
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Patent number: 10978090Abstract: A method for operating a voice trigger is provided. In some implementations, the method is performed at an electronic device including one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes receiving a sound input. The sound input may correspond to a spoken word or phrase, or a portion thereof. The method includes determining whether at least a portion of the sound input corresponds to a predetermined type of sound, such as a human voice. The method includes, upon a determination that at least a portion of the sound input corresponds to the predetermined type, determining whether the sound input includes predetermined content, such as a predetermined trigger word or phrase. The method also includes, upon a determination that the sound input includes the predetermined content, initiating a speech-based service, such as a voice-based digital assistant.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Justin Binder, Samuel D. Post, Onur Tackin, Thomas R. Gruber
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Patent number: 10956666Abstract: An exemplary method of using a virtual assistant may include receiving an unstructured natural-language user request for a service from a virtual assistant; determining whether the user request corresponds to at least one of a plurality of plan templates accessible to the virtual assistant, based on the content of the user request and the content of the plan templates; in accordance with a determination that the user request corresponds to at least one of the plurality of plan templates, selecting one of the plurality of plan templates; and in accordance with a determination the user request fails to correspond to at least one of the plurality of plan templates, foregoing selection of a plan template; and in response to selection of one of the plan templates, beginning to respond to the user request according to the selected plan template.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Marcos Regis Vescovi, Tomás A. Vega Galvez, Pierre Karashchuk, Thomas R. Gruber, Didier R. Guzzoni
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Patent number: 10878809Abstract: Systems and processes are disclosed for handling a multi-part voice command for a virtual assistant. Speech input can be received from a user that includes multiple actionable commands within a single utterance. A text string can be generated from the speech input using a speech transcription process. The text string can be parsed into multiple candidate substrings based on domain keywords, imperative verbs, predetermined substring lengths, or the like. For each candidate substring, a probability can be determined indicating whether the candidate substring corresponds to an actionable command. Such probabilities can be determined based on semantic coherence, similarity to user request templates, querying services to determine manageability, or the like. If the probabilities exceed a threshold, the user intent of each sub string can be determined, processes associated with the user intents can be executed, and an acknowledgment can be provided to the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Gruber, Harry J. Saddler, Jerome Rene Bellegarda, Bryce H. Nyeggen, Alessandro Sabatelli