Patents by Inventor Walter Tackett
Walter Tackett 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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Patent number: 6754647Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for the development and implementation of virtual robot's (bot's) directed natural language interaction with computer users. Bots employing the present invention base natural language interaction on a predefined universe of discourse that is decomposed hierarchically into domains. A data structure provides a storage area for each domain. The data structure may reflect the hierarchical decomposition. Domain topics containing program code directing the bot's interaction are placed in domain storage areas. Pattern lists associate words expected to be “heard” by the bot with particular domain topics. Domain topics are provided, as appropriate, to direct a user's attention toward the instant domain's parent, siblings, or children, with lower topics in the hierarchy getting higher preference. Domain censoring and domain tiebreakers improve usability.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2000Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Verity, Inc.Inventors: Walter Tackett, John B. Hodges, Scott Benson, D. Patrick Blair, Kate Boynton, Ray Dillinger, Martin Eggenberger, Tom Schofield
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Patent number: 6629087Abstract: Automated methods are provided for the editing and authoring of topic scripts for the dynamic operation of virtual robots. A virtual robot, or BOT, processes natural language input from a user to effect certain actions according to user input. Typically, BOTs are constructed using topic scripts. Topic scripts may comprise example statements that typify the topic in question and patterns that are matched against user input to determine if the topic is activated by the user input.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1999Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Nativeminds, Inc.Inventors: Scott S. Benson, Walter A. Tackett, Ray S. Dillinger
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Patent number: 6615111Abstract: A virtual robot (or BOT) is disclosed that interfaces and automatically interacts with users desiring to be guided or informed about certain aspects or features of the entity with which they are interacting. Several mechanisms are further disclosed that aid the effectiveness of that interaction. Mechanisms to focus the attention of the BOT on certain aspects of the interaction or communication are disclosed. These mechanisms can be made explicitly or can be performed automatically. Mechanisms are disclosed to aid the BOT to automatically learn from its interactions with users to increase the effectiveness of the interaction.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Nativeminds, Inc.Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson
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Patent number: 6604090Abstract: An automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users, is disclosed that defines a list of categories activatable by the program; identifies a set of categories activated by user input; selects another set of categories from the activated categories based upon a metric and thereafter executes actions associated with the selected categories. The metric is a computed value based on conditions located within each category. The metric gives an estimate of the appropriateness of the particular response included in an activated category. This estimate is currently based on the current input and the current state of the automated interface program at the time user input is entered.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1998Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Nativeminds, Inc.Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson
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Patent number: 6532401Abstract: In an automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users, said program executing actions when a category among a predefined set of categories is activated, a method is disclosed for automatically verifying the performance of said program, the steps of said method comprising: specifying inputs under which the program should be tested; associating said inputs with conditions within categories in the program, each said condition comprising at least one response which could be given if said condition is satisfied; executing said program under at least one said input; determining whether the associated condition is satisfied upon said input; and determining whether the response associated with said condition is given upon said input. In another aspect of the present invention, the test inputs are embedded within the script itself, and specifically, within categories that can be automatically listed upon compilation of the script.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Nativeminds, Inc.Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson
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Publication number: 20020156551Abstract: A virtual robot (or BOT) is disclosed that interfaces and automatically interacts with users desiring to be guided or informed about certain aspects or features of the entity with which they are interacting. Several mechanisms are further disclosed that aid the effectiveness of that interaction. Mechanisms to focus the attention of the BOT on certain aspects of the interaction or communication are disclosed. These mechanisms can be made explicitly or can be performed automatically. Mechanisms are disclosed to aid the BOT to automatically learn from its interactions with users to increase the effectiveness of the interaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2001Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson
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Publication number: 20020059045Abstract: In an automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users, said program executing actions when a category among a predefined set of categories is activated, a method is disclosed for automatically verifying the performance of said program, the steps of said method comprising: specifying inputs under which the program should be tested; associating said inputs with conditions within categories in the program, each said condition comprising at least one response which could be given if said condition is satisfied; executing said program under at least one said input; determining whether the associated condition is satisfied upon said input; and determining whether the response associated with said condition is given upon said input. In another aspect of the present invention, the test inputs are embedded within the script itself, and specifically, within categories that can be automatically listed upon compilation of the script.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson
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System and method for automatically focusing the attention of a virtual robot interacting with users
Patent number: 6363301Abstract: A virtual robot (or BOT) is disclosed that interfaces and automatically interacts with users desiring to be guided or informed about certain aspects or features of the entity with which they are interacting. Several mechanisms are further disclosed that aid the effectiveness of that interaction. Mechanisms to focus the attention of the BOT on certain aspects of the interaction or communication are disclosed. These mechanisms can be made explicitly or can be performed automatically. Mechanisms are disclosed to aid the BOT to automatically learn from its interactions with users to increase the effectiveness of the interaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1997Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Nativeminds, Inc.Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson -
Patent number: 6314410Abstract: In an automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users, said program executing actions when a category among a predefined set of categories is activated, a method is disclosed for interpreting the context of a user input, the steps of said method comprising: associating subjects with categories; maintaining a list of the subjects associated with the most recently activated category; testing conditions in categories such that the condition is true if the comprises at least one subject in common with said list of subjects; and activating a set of categories, said set comprising those categories whose conditions are satisfied based on the list of subjects.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1998Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Nativeminds, Inc.Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson, Ray S. Dillinger
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Patent number: 6259969Abstract: In an automated interface program designed to interact and communicate with users, said program executing actions when a category among a predefined set of categories is activated, a method is disclosed for automatically verifying the performance of said program, the steps of said method comprising: specifying inputs under which the program should be tested; associating said inputs with conditions within categories in the program, each said condition comprising at least one response which could be given if said condition is satisfied; executing said program under at least one said input; determining whether the associated condition is satisfied upon said input; and determining whether the response associated with said condition is given upon said input. In another aspect of the present invention, the test inputs are embedded within the script itself, and specifically, within categories that can be automatically listed upon compilation of the script.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: NativeMinds, Inc.Inventors: Walter A. Tackett, Scott S. Benson
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Patent number: 5321798Abstract: A high resolution imaging system having a wide field-of-regard. The wide field image generation system (10) of the present invention is operative to provide a composite digital representation of a scene within a field-of-regard. The invention (10) includes a sensor arrangement (12, 14, and 16) for generating first and second frames of image data. A scene correlator (18) registers the first and second frames of image data within the field-of-regard. A temporal filter (22) averages image data in the first frame with image data at a respective corresponding location in the second frame to provide a third frame of image data. When displayed, the third frame of image data provides a wide field-of-regard, high resolution image with minimal undesirable seams therein.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1991Date of Patent: June 14, 1994Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Jerry A. Burman, Walter A. Tackett, Gina Berry