Patents by Inventor William Spencer Worley, III

William Spencer Worley, III 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: 9996972
    Abstract: An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. By monitoring user actions with the augmented reality environment various functions are provided to users. Users may buy or sell items with a gesture, check inventory of objects in the augmented reality environment, view advertisements, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Edward Dietz Crump, Colter E. Cederlof, Christopher Coley, Robert A. Yuan
  • Patent number: 9968078
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus and system for detecting fishing related events and providing notifications to a fisher regarding those events. When a fishing related event, such as a fish on line event occurs, it results in a fishing rod flexing or moving in particular directions. The described implementations include sensors located on or in the fishing rod that provide position data that is utilized to monitor a movement of the fishing rod and determine a type of fishing related event that has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: William Spencer Worley, III
  • Patent number: 9921641
    Abstract: An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. By monitoring user actions with the augmented reality environment various functions are provided to users. Users may buy or sell items with a gesture, check inventory of objects in the augmented reality environment, view advertisements, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Christopher Coley, Robert A. Yuan, Edward Dietz Crump, Colter E. Cederlof
  • Patent number: 9916830
    Abstract: Techniques for altering audio being output by a voice-controlled device, or another device, to enable more accurate automatic speech recognition (ASR) by the voice-controlled device. For instance, a voice-controlled device may output audio within an environment using a speaker of the device. While outputting the audio, a microphone of the device may capture sound within the environment and may generate an audio signal based on the captured sound. The device may then analyze the audio signal to identify speech of a user within the signal, with the speech indicating that the user is going to provide a subsequent command to the device. Thereafter, the device may alter the output of the audio (e.g., attenuate the audio, pause the audio, switch from stereo to mono, etc.) to facilitate speech recognition of the user's subsequent command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, William Spencer Worley, III
  • Publication number: 20170347393
    Abstract: An automated mobile vehicle configured to autonomously provide coverage for inoperable infrastructure components at various locations. In accordance with disclosed implementations, a plurality of automated mobile vehicles are deployed to provide emergency lighting, a wireless network, audio, video, etc., at an indoor and/or outdoor event area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Eric Mathew Clayton
  • Patent number: 9766057
    Abstract: Objects and their placement within a particular scene may be characterized using structured light with no or minimal manual intervention or calibration to the scene. The structured light pattern may be rendered with visible light, yet imperceptible to users, by generating a set of opposing excursions in one or more image properties for durations which are shorter than the integration time of the human eye. A set of assumptions and ongoing testing of those assumptions against physical objects identified within the environment allows characterization of the scene and the objects therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Coley, Jonathan Betts-LaCroix, William Spencer Worley, III
  • Patent number: 9762862
    Abstract: A device includes a projection and camera system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. The projection and camera system have a camera to image scattered light from the environment and determine depth of objects in the environment. The system also has a projector to project the images onto the scene. The projection images and captured environment images share a common optical path through the same lens. The system includes an image noise cancelation system to cancel, remove, or otherwise reduce unwanted image noise caused by internal reflection of the projection images from the environment images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Christopher D. Coley, Eric G. Marason, William Thomas Weatherford
  • Patent number: 9723656
    Abstract: An automated mobile vehicle configured to autonomously provide coverage for inoperable infrastructure components at various locations. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, a plurality of automated mobile vehicles are deployed to provide emergency lighting, a wireless network, audio, video, etc., at an indoor and/or outdoor event area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Eric Mathew Clayton
  • Patent number: 9721386
    Abstract: Augmented reality environments allow users in their physical environment to interact with virtual objects and information. Augmented reality applications are developed and configured to utilize local as well as cloud resources. Application management allows control over distribution of applications to select groups or all users. An application programming interface allows simplified control and distribution of tasks between local and cloud resources during development and post-development operation. This integration between local and cloud resources along with the control afforded by application management allows rapid development, testing, deployment, and updating of augmented reality applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Jonathan Betts-LaCroix, Edward Dietz Crump
  • Patent number: 9640179
    Abstract: Techniques for tailoring beamforming techniques to environments such that processing resources may be devoted to a portion of an audio signal corresponding to a lobe of a beampattern that is most likely to contain user speech. The techniques take into account both acoustic characteristics of an environment and heuristics regarding lobes that have previously been found to include user speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Kavitha Velusamy, William Spencer Worley, III
  • Patent number: 9607315
    Abstract: Techniques for enabling an augmented reality system to complement operation of existing output devices in an environment are described herein. An augmented reality system may include one or more augmented reality functional nodes (ARFNs) that are configured to project content onto different non-powered and/or powered display mediums. The ARFN may identify existing output devices, as well as any content that these content output devices currently output. The ARFN may then either take over the display of the content when appropriate, or may project related content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Spencer Worley, III
  • Publication number: 20160353725
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus and system for detecting fishing related events and providing notifications to a fisher regarding those events. When a fishing related event, such as a fish on line event occurs, it results in a fishing rod flexing or moving in particular directions. The described implementations include sensors located on or in the fishing rod that provide position data that is utilized to monitor a movement of the fishing rod and determine a type of fishing related event that has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: William Spencer Worley, III
  • Patent number: 9508194
    Abstract: Techniques for enabling an augmented reality system to utilize existing output devices in an environment are described herein. An augmented reality system may include one or more augmented reality functional nodes (ARFNs) that are configured to project content onto different non-powered and/or powered display mediums. In addition to projecting content in this manner, the ARFN may also utilize existing content output devices within the environment to further enhance a user's experience while consuming the content. For instance, the ARFN may identify that a television exists within the environment and, in response, the ARFN may instruct the television to display certain content. For instance, if the ARFN is projecting a particular movie, the ARFN may stream or otherwise provide an instruction to the television to begin displaying the movie if the television would provide a better viewing experience than the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Spencer Worley, III
  • Patent number: 9478067
    Abstract: An architecture includes a system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. In addition to primary visual stimuli, the architecture further includes introduction of a secondary form of sensory feedback into the environment to enhance user experience. The secondary sensory feedback may be tactile feedback and/or olfactory feedback. The secondary sensory feedback is provided to the user in coordination with the visual based activity occurring within the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Christopher Coley, Edwin Joseph Selker, William Thomas Weatherford
  • Patent number: 9462262
    Abstract: An architecture includes a system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. The augmented reality environment is hosted within a surrounding area in which various ambient conditions, external to the augmented reality environment, persist. The architecture monitors the external conditions and controls secondary devices that selectively modify the conditions as desired in cooperation with operation of the augmented reality environment to effectively enhance user experience. Alternatively or additionally, the architecture may inform the user of what changes to make, and the user manually makes the adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Edward Dietz Crump, William Thomas Weatherford, Christopher Coley
  • Patent number: 9418479
    Abstract: A virtual overlay alters the appearance of a quasi-virtual object within an augmented reality environment. This quasi-virtual object may display information to the user, accept input from the user via motions or physical interactions between the user and the object, or both. Quasi-virtual objects allow a virtual object to have a physical manifestation within the augmented reality environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Jonathan Betts-LaCroix
  • Patent number: 9383831
    Abstract: An augmented reality system may generate an augmented reality environment by projecting images onto various surfaces within a scene. A projection accessory display device (PADD) provides known characteristics for projection, and may be configured to simplify generation and maintenance of the projected image upon the PADD. The PADD may also provide one or more input devices which accept input from a user within the augmented reality environment. The PADD may comprise non-electronic passive components, electronic active components, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Spencer Worley, III
  • Patent number: 9380270
    Abstract: An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. Wavelength modulated light with a known spectral signature available within the augmented reality environment is used to generate spectral reflectance data for objects within the environment. This reflectance data is used to determine whether objects or portions thereof are skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Ning Yao, Edward Dietz Crump, Sowmya Gopalan
  • Publication number: 20160165661
    Abstract: An automated mobile vehicle configured to autonomously provide coverage for inoperable infrastructure components at various locations. For example, a plurality of automated mobile vehicles may be deployed to provide emergency lighting, a wireless network, audio, video, etc., at an event area. The event area may be indoors and/or outdoors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Eric Mathew Clayton
  • Patent number: 9349217
    Abstract: An architecture is provided to integrate multiple augmented reality environments to expand user experiences that might otherwise be limited in a single augmented reality environment. The architecture includes multiple augmented reality functional nodes located in separate locations to generate augmented reality environments within respective locations. The nodes are communicatively coupled together through a peer network, via cloud services, or other arrangements. The community of environments allows data, such as captured images, to be ported from one location to another, thereby allowing users to share in common experiences. Examples of such experiences might include team software coding, playing software games, virtually extending line-of-sight beyond physical boundaries, and controlling remote locations by virtually placing oneself in those locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Edward Dietz Crump, William Thomas Weatherford, Christopher Coley