Patents by Inventor Todd A. Hester

Todd A. Hester 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: 11921824
    Abstract: Techniques are generally described for fusing sensor data of different modalities using a transformer. In various examples, first sensor data may be received from a first sensor and second sensor data may be received from a second sensor. A first feature representation of the first sensor data may be generated using a first machine learning model and a second feature representation of the second sensor data may be generated using a second machine learning model. In some examples, a modified first feature representation of the first sensor data may be generated based at least in part on a self-attention mechanism of a transformer encoder. The modified first feature representation may be generated based at least in part on the first feature representation and the second feature representation. A computer vision task may be performed using the modified first feature representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Hester, Sheng Chen, Mark Buckler, Ayan Tuhinendu Sinha, Hitesh Arora, Michael Lawrence LeKander, Hamed Pirsiavash
  • Patent number: 11874122
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting a traversal time for a route. A request for navigation directions is received and a route between the origin and destination is calculated. A series of route segments to be traversed on the route are identified, as well as one or more sub-series of route segments of the series of route segments, with each sub-series having route segments to be traversed consecutively on a portion of the route. For each sub-series, a sub-series traversal time is predicted based on historical traversal time data associated with historical trips where each of the route segments of the sub-series were traversed consecutively. A total route traversal time is predicted based on the sub-series traversal time. A set of navigation directions and the predicted total route traversal time are provided for presentation on a client device for navigating from the origin to the destination via the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Lange, Marc Nunkesser, Seongjae Lee, Todd Hester
  • Publication number: 20220316891
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting a traversal time for a route. A request for navigation directions is received and a route between the origin and destination is calculated. A series of route segments to be traversed on the route are identified, as well as one or more sub-series of route segments of the series of route segments, with each sub-series having route segments to be traversed consecutively on a portion of the route. For each sub-series, a sub-series traversal time is predicted based on historical traversal time data associated with historical trips where each of the route segments of the sub-series were traversed consecutively. A total route traversal time is predicted based on the sub-series traversal time. A set of navigation directions and the predicted total route traversal time are provided for presentation on a client device for navigating from the origin to the destination via the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Lange, Marc Nunkesser, Seongjae Lee, Todd Hester
  • Patent number: 10638292
    Abstract: Systems and Methods disclosed herein relate to providing a message to an application programming interface (API). The message includes a request for data from a data model, a submission of data to the data model, or both; and a host selection between: a representational state transfer (REST) host and a subscription-based application programming interface (API) host, wherein the REST host receives REST-based messages and the subscription-based API host receives messages in accordance with a standard of the subscription-based API host; wherein the request for data, the submission of data, or both are configured to create, delete, modify, or any combination thereof data related to a smart-device environment structure, a thermostat, a hazard detector, or any combination thereof stored in a data model accessible by the API.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Igor Karp, Lev Stesin, Carles Pi-Sunyer, Mark Andrew McBride, Alexander Dubman, James Lyons, Samuel W. Kortz, Gregory J. Hu, Amanda Surya, Aubrey Thelen, David Horton, Michael Soucie, Leon Tan, Christopher Anthony Boross, Jesse Boettcher, Tim Enwall, Prashant P. Reddy, Mark Malhotra, Evan Fisher, Todd Hester, Yoky Matsuoka, Andrew J. Urman
  • Patent number: 10248143
    Abstract: A thermostat my include a stored setpoint schedule, temperature sensors providing temperature sensor measurements; and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system based at least in part on the setpoint temperature and the temperature sensor measurements. The processing system may be configured to control the HVAC system by receiving an indication of a first time interval, where energy is available to the HVAC system at a first rate during the first time interval, energy is available to the HVAC system at a second rate during a second time interval that is outside of the first time interval, and the first rate is higher than the second rate; identifying a first one or more setpoints in the plurality of setpoints of the stored setpoint schedule that occur in the first time interval; and decreasing a temperature component of at least one of the first one or more setpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: William Greene, Scott McGaraghan, Jonathan Crimins, Scott Ruffner, Allen Minich, Todd Hester, Amanda Sahl, Praveen Subramani
  • Patent number: 10248092
    Abstract: A thermostat may include one or more memory devices comprising a stored setpoint schedule, one or more temperature sensors configured to provide temperature sensor measurements, and a processing system configured to be in operative communication the one or more memory devices to determine a setpoint temperature, and in still further operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on the setpoint temperature and the temperature sensor measurements. The processing system may be configured to control the HVAC system by receiving an indication that a total instantaneous energy usage rate for a structure in which the thermostat is installed is projected to exceed a threshold amount; and altering the stored setpoint schedule to reduce an energy usage rate of the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Crimins, Scott Ruffner, Allen Minich, Todd Hester, Amanda Sahl, Praveen Subramani
  • Patent number: 10223896
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for learned overrides for home security. A sensor of a security system may be armed. A trip signal may be received indicating a tripping of the sensor. It may be determined that the trip signal can be automatically overridden based on matching an identity of the sensor and a state of the security system with a pattern in a model. The pattern may represent a state of the security system in which automatically overriding the trip signal from the sensor is permitted. The trip signal from the sensor may be automatically overridden without input from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Mark Rajan Malhotra, Sophie Le Guen, Jeffrey Alan Boyd, Jeffery Theodore Lee, Todd Hester
  • Patent number: 10088192
    Abstract: A thermostat may be programmed to operate during cold-weather months by operating in a heat mode where the thermostat periodically causes the HVAC system to activate a heating function to heat an enclosure based at least in part on the stored setpoint schedule; receiving an indication from a thermostat management server of a demand response event while the thermostat is operating in the heat mode; determining whether the thermostat stores a user setting indicating that the thermostat should preheat the enclosure prior to reaching a scheduled setpoint in the stored setpoint schedule; and preheating the enclosure prior to the demand response event based on a determination that the thermostat stores the user setting indicating that the thermostat should preheat the enclosure prior to reaching the scheduled setpoint in the stored setpoint schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Crimins, Scott Ruffner, Allen Minich, Todd Hester, Amanda Sahl
  • Publication number: 20180204444
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for learned overrides for home security. A sensor of a security system may be armed. A trip signal may be received indicating a tripping of the sensor. It may be determined that the trip signal can be automatically overridden based on matching an identity of the sensor and a state of the security system with a pattern in a model. The pattern may represent a state of the security system in which automatically overriding the trip signal from the sensor is permitted. The trip signal from the sensor may be automatically overridden without input from a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Rajan Malhotra, Sophie Le Guen, Jeffrey Alan Boyd, Jeffery Theodore Lee, Todd Hester
  • Publication number: 20180100663
    Abstract: A thermostat may be programmed to operate during cold-weather months by operating in a heat mode where the thermostat periodically causes the HVAC system to activate a heating function to heat an enclosure based at least in part on the stored setpoint schedule; receiving an indication from a thermostat management server of a demand response event while the thermostat is operating in the heat mode; determining whether the thermostat stores a user setting indicating that the thermostat should preheat the enclosure prior to reaching a scheduled setpoint in the stored setpoint schedule; and preheating the enclosure prior to the demand response event based on a determination that the thermostat stores the user setting indicating that the thermostat should preheat the enclosure prior to reaching the scheduled setpoint in the stored setpoint schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Crimins, Scott Ruffner, Allen Minich, Todd Hester, Amanda Sahl
  • Patent number: 9933177
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an electronic device may include storage containing processor-executable instructions and a current setpoint schedule, and a processor configured to execute the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Todd Hester, Allen Joseph Minich, George Alban Heitz, III
  • Patent number: 9916751
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for learned overrides for home security. A sensor of a security system may be armed. A trip signal may be received indicating a tripping of the sensor. It may be determined that the trip signal can be automatically overridden based on matching an identity of the sensor and a state of the security system with a pattern in a model. The pattern may represent a state of the security system in which automatically overriding the trip signal from the sensor is permitted. The trip signal from the sensor may be automatically overridden without input from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Mark Rajan Malhotra, Sophie Le Guen, Jeffrey Alan Boyd, Jeffery Theodore Lee, Todd Hester
  • Publication number: 20170364105
    Abstract: A thermostat my include a stored setpoint schedule, temperature sensors providing temperature sensor measurements; and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system based at least in part on the setpoint temperature and the temperature sensor measurements. The processing system may be configured to control the HVAC system by receiving an indication of a first time interval, where energy is available to the HVAC system at a first rate during the first time interval, energy is available to the HVAC system at a second rate during a second time interval that is outside of the first time interval, and the first rate is higher than the second rate; identifying a first one or more setpoints in the plurality of setpoints of the stored setpoint schedule that occur in the first time interval; and decreasing a temperature component of at least one of the first one or more setpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: William Greene, Scott McGaraghan, Jonathan Crimins, Scott Ruffner, Allen Minich, Todd Hester, Amanda Sahl, Praveen Subramani
  • Publication number: 20170363312
    Abstract: A thermostat may include one or more memory devices comprising a stored setpoint schedule, one or more temperature sensors configured to provide temperature sensor measurements, and a processing system configured to be in operative communication the one or more memory devices to determine a setpoint temperature, and in still further operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on the setpoint temperature and the temperature sensor measurements. The processing system may be configured to control the HVAC system by receiving an indication that a total instantaneous energy usage rate for a structure in which the thermostat is installed is projected to exceed a threshold amount; and altering the stored setpoint schedule to reduce an energy usage rate of the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Crimins, Scott Ruffner, Allen Minich, Todd Hester, Amanda Sahl, Praveen Subramani
  • Patent number: 9756478
    Abstract: A peer group of a user may be identified on the basis of geographic information and building occupancy information for the user and for possible peers of the user. Energy usage data for each peer group member may be compared with that of the user. A comparison result may be computed between each peer group member and the user. A representation of comparison results may be provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sayed Yusef Shafi, Todd Hester, Jonathan Ben-Meshulam, Sourav Raj Dey
  • Publication number: 20170192402
    Abstract: Systems and Methods disclosed herein relate to providing a message to an application programming interface (API). The message includes a request for data from a data model, a submission of data to the data model, or both; and a host selection between: a representational state transfer (REST) host and a subscription-based application programming interface (API) host, wherein the REST host receives REST-based messages and the subscription-based API host receives messages in accordance with a standard of the subscription-based API host; wherein the request for data, the submission of data, or both are configured to create, delete, modify, or any combination thereof data related to a smart-device environment structure, a thermostat, a hazard detector, or any combination thereof stored in a data model accessible by the API.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Igor KARP, Lev STESIN, Carles PI-SUNYER, Mark Andrew MCBRIDE, Alexander DUBMAN, James LYONS, Samuel W. KORTZ, Gregory J. HU, Amanda SURYA, Aubrey THELEN, David HORTON, Mike SOUCIE, Leon TAN, Christopher Anthony BOROSS, Jesse BOETTCHER, Tim ENWALL, Prashant Papiahgari REDDY, Mark MALHOTRA, Evan Jarman FISHER, Todd HESTER, Yoky MATSUOKA
  • Publication number: 20170180947
    Abstract: A peer group of a user may be identified on the basis of geographic information and building occupancy information for the user and for possible peers of the user. Energy usage data for each peer group member may be compared with that of the user. A comparison result may be computed between each peer group member and the user. A representation of comparison results may be provided to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Sayed Yusef Shafi, Todd Hester, Jonathan Ben-Meshulam, Sourav Raj Dey
  • Publication number: 20170102681
    Abstract: This patent specification relates to systems and methods for coordinating energy use of disparately-controlled devices based on modeling characteristics of an enclosure. More particularly, this patent specification relates to enabling third party vendors to coordinate operation of third party devices existing within the enclosure with the enclosure's building control system to manage energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Pieter Verhoeven, Todd Hester
  • Publication number: 20170061778
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for learned overrides for home security. A sensor of a security system may be armed. A trip signal may be received indicating a tripping of the sensor. It may be determined that the trip signal can be automatically overridden based on matching an identity of the sensor and a state of the security system with a pattern in a model. The pattern may represent a state of the security system in which automatically overriding the trip signal from the sensor is permitted. The trip signal from the sensor may be automatically overridden without input from a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Rajan Malhotra, Sophie Le Guen, Jeffrey Alan Boyd, Jeffery Theodore Lee, Todd Hester
  • Publication number: 20170051933
    Abstract: This patent specification relates to systems and methods for modeling characteristics of an enclosure. More particularly, this patent specification relates to thermal modeling of internal temperature dynamics of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Pieter Verhoeven, Todd Hester