Patents by Inventor William G. Harless

William G. Harless 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: 20130018895
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for simulating an interactive conversation with a recorded subject. In accordance with an implementation, a server receives a text string corresponding to a query spoken by a user during the interactive conversation, and subsequently obtains information associated with a plurality of candidate queries posed to the recorded subject. The obtained information may include, for corresponding ones of the candidate queries, a primary keyword, at least one of a contextual keyword or a qualifier keyword associated with the primary keyword, and synonym data. The server may generate scores for the candidate queries based on the text string and at least one of the keyword data or the synonym data. Based on the candidate query scores, the server may select one of the candidate queries that corresponds to the text string and video content that responds to the spoken query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: William G. Harless, Michael G. Harless, Marcia A. Zier
  • Patent number: 7797146
    Abstract: A method of simulating interactive communication between a user and a human subject. The method comprises: assigning at least one phrase to a stored content sequence, wherein the content sequence comprises a content clip of the subject; parsing the at least one phrase to produce at least one phonetic clone; associating the at least one phonetic clone with the stored content sequence; receiving an utterance from the user; matching the utterance to the at least one phonetic clone; and displaying the stored content sequence associated with the at least one phonetic clone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Interactive Drama, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Harless, Michael G. Harless, Marcia A. Zier
  • Patent number: 6944586
    Abstract: An audiovisual simulation system and method facilitates simulated long distance dialogue, face-to-face, natural language, human interaction between a user and a pre-recorded human character. It does so by utilizing communications features of the Internet to survey a remote user system and establish a suitable voice recognition and digital video link, then providing that user access to specific interactive software capable of supporting a continuous virtual dialogue in natural spoken language with a pre-recorded human character stored as digital video signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Interactive Drama, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Harless, Michael G. Harless, Marcia A. Zier
  • Publication number: 20040230410
    Abstract: A method of simulating interactive communication between a user and a human subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: William G. Harless, Michael G. Harless, Marcia A. Zier
  • Patent number: 5730603
    Abstract: An audiovisual simulation system and method facilitates simulated human interaction between a user and a prerecorded human character. It does so by providing dynamic intelligent prompts to guide users unobtrusively during simulated human interactions in order to support a continuous dialogue and sustain a natural conversational rhythm. Various interactive instructional learning tools are available to assist users of the system in maximizing learning opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Interactive Drama, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Harless
  • Patent number: 5006987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an interactive video drama employing a personal computer, a voice recognition device, and a programmable videodisc player. A plurality of dramatic scenes are stored on a videodisc and displayed to the user in response to spoken commands. At certain scenes designated as decision points, the next displayed scene is selected based on a probability technique. By storing audiovisual representations of a speaking human being and by selecting scenes for display based on spoken input signals, the apparatus provides the illusion of dialog between a user and prerecorded human characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventor: William G. Harless