Application Patents (Class 704/270)
  • Patent number: 9412352
    Abstract: In an ensemble performance, performance lesson or the like, a musical score (display content) is displayed and input audio is recorded. The input audio includes notes, comments or the like uttered by a human player or an instructor. During recording of the input audio is received a user input designating a desired time position on the musical score displayed on the display device. A recording time of the input audio based on a time point at which the user input has been received and the time position on the musical score designated by the user input are stored into a storage device in association with each other. An icon is displayed in association with the time position on the musical score designated by the user input. Once the icon is selected, voice based on the recording time recorded in association with the icon is reproduced to sound the comments, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiro Uemura
  • Patent number: 9401157
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a customizable system for modifying voice dimensions. The system comprises a program interface located on an electronic device. The program interface is used to manipulate user input from one or more individuals relating to voice parameters. Instructions are then created by the program interface that allow for one or more individuals to modify the voice dimensions of the one or more individuals by following the instructions. The disclosure further provides a method for modifying an individual's voice dimensions. The method comprises identifying one or more dimensions in an individual's vocal dimensions that are to be modified. On an electronic device, a voice exercise is created by selecting at least one parameter that modifies the one or more dimensions in an individual's voice. Instructions created by the electronic device that are based on the selection of at least one parameter are then followed by the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventor: Richard Fink, IV
  • Patent number: 9401147
    Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a mobile computing device, ambiguous user input that indicates more than one of a plurality of commands; and determining a current context associated with the mobile computing device that indicates where the mobile computing device is currently located. The method can further include disambiguating the ambiguous user input by selecting a command from the plurality of commands based on the current context associated with the mobile computing device; and causing output associated with performance of the selected command to be provided by the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: John Nicholas Jitkoff, Michael J. LeBeau
  • Patent number: 9402099
    Abstract: This technology concerns, in one aspect, using a person's social network graph data as a virtual visual cortex—taking image input from a smartphone or the like, and processing it with the graph data to yield a personalized form of processing based on the imagery. The user's network graph data is typically updated by such processing—providing a form of virtual image memory that can influence future social network behavior. In another aspect, the technology concerns identifying content (e.g., audio) by both fingerprint-based and watermark-based techniques, and arrangements employing such identification data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Tony F. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9401154
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Avery Li-Chun Wang, Julius O. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 9398150
    Abstract: A method of setting detection parameters in an apparatus for on-hold music detection, includes comparing a telephone number dialed with telephone numbers in a database. If the telephone number dialed is found in the database, detection parameters and/or detection software associated with the telephone number are retrieved from the database, and the retrieved detection parameters and/or detection software are provided to an on-hold music detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Anton Werner Keller, Rolf Guldener, Stefan Dubach
  • Patent number: 9396729
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and computer program products are for facilitating enhanced social interactions using a mobile device. A method for facilitating an enhanced social interaction using a mobile device includes receiving an audio input at the mobile device, determining a salient portion of the audio input, receiving relevant information associated with the salient portion, and presenting the relevant information via the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Pratt, Marc Sullivan, Steven Belz
  • Patent number: 9397853
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (100) for broadcasting targeted information for a home network (RD) to which at least one electronic device (4) including a processing means is connected, said broadcasting system including: at least one detector agent (1) for detecting a predefined event (Eid), said at least one detector agent (1) being arranged on the at least one electronic device (4); at least one selector agent (2) for selecting an action (Aid) to be performed, the at least one selector agent (2) being arranged on the at least one electronic device (4); and at least one broadcasting agent (3) for broadcasting targeted information content (Cid) for an end user (5), the at least one broadcasting agent (3) being arranged on the at least one electronic device (4). The detector (1), selector (2) and broadcasting (3) agents perform tasks in separate execution contexts on a processing means of the at least one electronic device (4) connected to the home network (RD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CYBRONICS SASU
    Inventor: Jerome Derozard
  • Patent number: 9393918
    Abstract: Vehicles, computer-implemented methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for providing application generated information for presentation at an automotive head unit (AHU) of a vehicle. For example, a vehicle is provided that is configured to communicate with an application server. The application server hosts and executes an application to generate information. The application server provides a first part of a MirrorLink server since the application hosted at the application server is normally hosted at and designed to be executed by a consumer electronics device to generate the information, and the information is normally presented at the consumer electronics device. The vehicle includes a network access device (NAD) integrated within the vehicle and an AHU that communicatively coupled to the NAD. The AHU includes a human-machine-interface (HMI). The NAD includes a wireless communication interface that serves as a second part of the MirrorLink server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Hrabak
  • Patent number: 9392322
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method to automatically generate synchronization points based on a common characteristic given a plurality of random video feeds. The common characteristic can be based on changes in motion, audio, image, etc between the feeds. A feedback process attempts to time align the synchronized video outputs based on discontinuities in the feeds. Once the video feeds are time aligned, the aligned content can be used for recreating a multi-view video montage or feeding it into a 3-D correlation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Dean E. Thorson
  • Patent number: 9390727
    Abstract: An audio identification system generates a probe audio fingerprint of an audio signal and determines amount of pitch shifting in the audio signal based on analysis of correlation between the probe audio fingerprint and a reference audio fingerprint. The audio identification system applies a time-to-frequency domain transform to frames of the audio signal and filters the transformed frames. The audio identification system applies a two-dimensional discrete cosine transform (DCT) to the filtered frames and generates the probe audio fingerprint from a selected number of DCT coefficients. The audio identification system calculates a DCT sign-only correlation between the probe audio fingerprint and the reference audio fingerprint, and the DCT sign-only correlation closely approximates the similarity between the audio characteristics of the probe audio fingerprint and those of the reference audio fingerprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergiy Bilobrov, I, Maksim Khadkevich
  • Patent number: 9378741
    Abstract: Systems and methods for responding to an audio query are presented. More particularly, vocalization nuances of a vocalized search query (audio query) are identified are utilized in responding to the audio query. In addition to converting the audio query to a textual representation, vocalization nuances of the audio query are identified. Search results are identified according to the textual representation of the audio query and in light of the vocalization nuances. A search results presentation is prepared in response to the audio query, where the search results presentation is based on the identified search results and also based on the vocalization nuances. The search results presentation is returned in response to the audio query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Didier Coussemaeker, Loic Deniel, Hoon Kong, Nicolas Mai, Narayan Krishnamoorthy, Ty Long Na
  • Patent number: 9372835
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for a network-based content management system (CMS) for creating and sharing presentation objects, and for generating revenue based on providing access to tools by which the presentation objects are created, stored and managed. In the system, a content management service includes a database that stores a presentation object, and a Web server stores a Web page including a link to the presentation object. When the Web page is displayed on a computing device that accesses the Web page via the Web, the presentation object appears as an embedded presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: PILOT.IS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Kief, David Lee
  • Patent number: 9374393
    Abstract: A telephony application such as an interactive voice response (“IVR”) needs to identify quickly the nature of the call (e.g., whether it is a person or machine answering a call) in order to initiate an appropriate voice application. Conventionally, the call stream is sent to a call-progress analyzer (“CPA”) for analysis. Once a result is reached, the call stream is redirected to a call processing unit running the IVR according to the analyzed result. The present scheme feeds the call stream simultaneous to both the CPA and the IVR. The CPA is allowed to continue analyzing and outputting a series of analysis results until a predetermined result appears. In the meantime, the IVR can dynamically adapt itself to the latest analysis results and interact with the call with a minimum of delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Aspect Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Taylor, Ryan Stephen Campbell, Robert J. Auburn, Alexander S. Agranovsky, Robbie A. Green
  • Patent number: 9372974
    Abstract: A method for determining if a user of a computer system is a human. A processor receives an indication that a computer security program is needed and acquires at least one image depicting a first string of characters including at least a first and second set of one or more characters. A processor assigns a substitute character to be used as input for each of the second set of one or more characters. A processor presents the at least one image and an indication of the substitute character and when to use the substitute character to the user. A processor receives a second string of characters from the user. A processor determines whether the second string of characters substantially matches the first string of characters based on the substitute character assigned to each of the second set of one or more characters and determines whether the user is a human.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Carlos F. Franca da Fonseca, Neil I. Readshaw
  • Patent number: 9367824
    Abstract: An action item specifying one or more tasks is instantiated. Thereafter, data characterizing the action item is associated with at least one tool to perform at least one task. Each tool comprises at least one service, application or procedure to facilitate or perform the at least one task. Subsequently, the at least one tool is initiated. User-generated input and/or other data is received from the at least one tool. Performance of one or more of the tasks specified by the action item is then finalized using the at least one tool and the user-generated input and/or other data. In some variations, the action item can be provisioned with at least one contextual resource to facilitate performance of at least one task. The at least one contextual resource can be associated with the action item and/or at least one user associated with the action item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Joerg Beringer, Prasad Bhamidipati, Frederic Samson, Murray Spork
  • Patent number: 9367537
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for assisting authors in composing suitable messages or documents for intended recipients. A profile to be used in analyzing the message/document is obtained, where the profile contains a set of corrections and correlations to be applied to the message/document for the intended recipients of the message/document. The content of the message/document is analyzed using the obtained profile to assess for any language that may be misunderstood or offensive to the intended recipients. Upon identifying words, phrases, sentences or images in the message/document as being potentially misunderstood or offensive to the recipients, suggestions are provided to modify such language. In this manner, the author of the message/document is able to assess the content and context of the message/document based on the intended recipients prior to sending the message/document thereby reducing the likelihood that the recipients will interpret the message/document in an untoward manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Saurabh Dua, Mario A. Maldari, Paul A. Smith, Jarett Stein, Sahdevsinh P. Zala
  • Patent number: 9367544
    Abstract: Techniques for efficient database formation and search in applications embedded in a media device are provided. The search may be performed synchronously with presentation of media programming content on a nearby media presentation device. A mobile media device captures some temporal fragments of the presented audio/video content on its microphone and camera, and then generates query fingerprints for the captured fragment. A local reference database resides on the mobile media device and a master reference database resides on a remote server with a most recent chunk of reference fingerprints transferred dynamically to the local mobile media device. A chunk of the query fingerprints generated locally on the mobile media device are searched on the local reference database for continuous content search and identification. The method presented automatically switches between the local search on the mobile media device and a remote search on an external search server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Gracenote, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihailo M. Stojancic, Sunil Suresh Kulkarni, Shashank Merchant, Jose Pio Pereira, Oleksiy Bolgarov
  • Patent number: 9363614
    Abstract: In a method of fitting a hearing aid system, a hearing aid user's hearing loss is classified and the hearing aid fitting is adapted in response to this classification. The hearing loss classification is, in one example, classified by determining an audiogram for the user, testing the user's hearing function under conditions that, for a user with that audiogram, would result in a predicted intelligibility, and comparing the measured intelligibility to the predicted intelligibility. Also disclosed is a hearing aid fitting system (100, 200) adapted to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Morten Love Jepsen, Sigfrid Daniel Soli
  • Patent number: 9354891
    Abstract: A processor may include a vector functional unit that supports concurrent operations on multiple data elements of a maximum element size. The functional unit may also support concurrent execution of multiple distinct vector program instructions, where the multiple vector instructions each operate on multiple data elements of less than the maximum element size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffry E. Gonion
  • Patent number: 9349365
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) of a hands-free module may be tested by an automated voice based testing tool in a first device. The tool reads test input data from an Excel input file. The tool generates simulated audible voice commands in a specified language, accent, pitch, volume or speed to test the hands-free module. The voice commands are transmitted via a speaker to a hands-free module microphone. The hands-free ECU is coupled to a CAN bus and the tool receives CAN bus information corresponding to hands-free module operations. The tool outputs test verdict information and/or CAN bus message logs as text in an Excel file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Vidya Rajagopal, Divya Kilari Chandrababu naidu, Marin Grace
  • Patent number: 9348479
    Abstract: The customization of an application user interface with a skin package based on context data that includes the emotional states of a user may strengthen the emotional attachment for the application by the user. The customization includes determining an emotional state of a user that is inputting content into an application. A skin package for the user interface of the application is selected based on the emotional state of the user. The selected skin package is further applied to the user interface of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Weipeng Liu, Matthew Robert Scott, Huihua Hou, Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 9348907
    Abstract: A personalized audio system and method that overcomes many of the broadcast-type disadvantages associated with conventional radio stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: MUSIC CHOICE
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Rosenberg, Ronald M. Yurman
  • Patent number: 9348417
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to user input into a computer system, and a technology by which one or more users interact with a computer system via a combination of input modalities. When the input data of two or more input modalities are related, they are combined to interpret an intended meaning of the input. For example, speech when combined with one input gesture has one intended meaning, e.g., convert the speech to verbatim text for consumption by a program, while the exact speech when combined with a different input gesture has a different meaning, e.g., convert the speech to a command that controls the operation of that same program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Oscar E. Murillo, Janet E. Galore, Jonathan C. Cluts, Colleen G. Estrada, Michael Koenig, Jack Creasey, Subha Bhattacharyay
  • Patent number: 9348488
    Abstract: Methods for specifying and using objects, paths, initial and second individual real-time directions, and audio and video recordings entice users to create, share, and explore personally moving presentations and exhibits, without infringing copyrights. Similarly produced shows may comprise rich, interactive, graphical user interfaces, (GUIs), for additional services, applications, and content. Shows may be re-purposed to influence lighting devices and mechanical movements. Methods for implementing auxiliary activation inputs that are blatantly displayed provide productivity boosts without memorization, efficient display utilization one fullscreen at a time, and efficacious use of available device inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Andrew Renema, II
  • Patent number: 9344554
    Abstract: A method for activating user functions by types of input signals and a portable terminal adapted to the method are disclosed. The input means of the portable terminal generate various types of input signals. The portable terminal activates and controls particular user functions according to corresponding input signals. In a multi-tasking situation where a plurality of user functions are simultaneously used, the portable terminal can activate and control the user functions according to the particular types of input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Yong Kim, Dong Jun Shin, Hee Woon Kim
  • Patent number: 9339725
    Abstract: When an operator blows a breath of a strength S on a microphone 34, for example, clouds C move in directions of vectors (A) at an initial velocity (constant L×breathing strength S/magnitude of vector A1). The vector A1 is a vector spanning from a reference point 105 to a center of the cloud C1. For example, even when the operator blows a breath of the same strength, the clouds C do not move in the same direction at the same velocity but a moving velocity and a moving direction of each cloud C vary depending on each position of the clouds C. Therefore, amusement of a game can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Ohta, Kenta Sato
  • Patent number: 9338162
    Abstract: A method for determining if a user of a computer system is a human. A processor receives an indication that a computer security program is needed and acquires at least one image depicting a first string of characters including at least a first and second set of one or more characters. A processor assigns a substitute character to be used as input for each of the second set of one or more characters. A processor presents the at least one image and an indication of the substitute character and when to use the substitute character to the user. A processor receives a second string of characters from the user. A processor determines whether the second string of characters substantially matches the first string of characters based on the substitute character assigned to each of the second set of one or more characters and determines whether the user is a human.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Carlos F. Franca da Fonseca, Neil I. Readshaw
  • Patent number: 9329676
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a control method and an electronic device, which are capable of solving the technical problem in the prior art that it is not rapid enough when controlling a voice recognition engine to enter an operating state. The control method is applied in an electronic device which comprises a voice recognition engine and comprises or is connected to a microphone, wherein the method comprises: acquiring first airflow information collected by the microphone; determining whether the first airflow information satisfies a first preset condition; and controlling the voice recognition engine to enter a second state when the first airflow information satisfies the first preset condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited, Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoting Shao, Haisheng Xu
  • Patent number: 9316400
    Abstract: In a case of receiving, from an audio input device, instruction information including first audio information indicating operation instructions for a cooking appliance when first and second cooking units are executing first and second cooking programs, respectively, operation instructions are recognized from the first audio information. In a case where it is determined that the instruction information includes second audio information related to the first cooking menu information or the second cooking menu information, a control command is transmitted to the cooking appliance to cause the cooking appliance to execute a process corresponding to the operation instructions, without executing a process according to the first cooking program or the second cooking program corresponding to one of the first cooking menu information or the second cooking menu information to which the second audio information is related.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLCTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yuri Nishikawa, Aki Yoneda, Katsuyoshi Yamagami
  • Patent number: 9317574
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes collecting communications from a plurality of sources. The method further includes selecting a set of topics and a set of users. In addition, the method includes, for each user, identifying, from the collected communications, conversations in which the user has participated. Moreover, the method includes, for each topic, for each user: measuring a proportion of the identified conversations that contain content suggestive of the topic; analyzing timing of the identified conversations; and examining relationships among data attributes of the identified conversations. Further, the method includes generating multidimensional expertise data. The multidimensional expertise data is representative of the user's expertise on the topic. The multidimensional expertise data includes a topical dimension, an expertise-scope dimension, and a timeline dimension. The method also includes, for each topic, ranking the set of users by expertise index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Software Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Brisebois, Curtis Johnstone
  • Patent number: 9313317
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining when an audio notification should be generated includes detecting receipt of a triggering event that occurs on a user device; generating, based on detecting, the audio notification for the triggering event; receiving, from the user device, a user voice command responding to the audio notification; and generating a response to the user voice command based on one or more of (i) information associated with the audio notification, and (ii) information associated with the user voice command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. LeBeau, John Nicholas Jitkoff
  • Patent number: 9307337
    Abstract: Devices and methods for scoring viewer's interactions with content broadcast on a presentation device by processing at least one audio signal received by a microphone proximate the viewer and the presentation device, to generate at least one audio signature, which is compared to at least two different reference audio signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Benedito J. Fonseca, Jr., Kevin L. Baum, Faisal Ishtiaq, Michael L. Needham
  • Patent number: 9298690
    Abstract: A method for analyzing emotion based upon a messenger conversation is disclosed herein. The method may include the steps of storing survey information of a user respective to a specific counterpart with whom the user wishes to analyze emotion, opening a conversation history between the user and the specific counterpart, analyzing the survey information and the conversation history, thereby analyzing the emotion between the user and the specific counterpart, and showing the emotion analysis to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ScatterLab Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Youn Kim
  • Patent number: 9300517
    Abstract: A method for transmitting a signal by a signal transmission apparatus in a communication system is provided. The method includes detecting a parameter related to a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme and a parameter related to a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) scheme based on channel quality and an interference component, and modulating information bits using a modulation scheme based on the QAM scheme and the FSK scheme which uses the parameter related to the QAM scheme and the parameter related to the FSK scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Park, Tae-Young Kim, Won-Il Roh, Min Sagong, Ji-Yun Seol, Hyun-Kyu Yu, Kyung-Whoon Cheun, Jae-Weon Cho, Sung-Nam Hong
  • Patent number: 9300618
    Abstract: A user can specify particular news weather, traffic, or other perishable content received on a particular Internet radio station or other media channel. The user can customize the station so that wherever the user is currently located, he can receive perishable content related to a preferred geographic location or other category. In some embodiments, a user can specify that a customized station plays local news from one city at the top of the hour, traffic from another city at 10 minutes past the hour, and music or other content at other times. The user can also customize the station to select the perishable content, or other original content, from the personal libraries of specified users. Thus, a user can customize not only the genre of content or select a particular local station, but can also modify the perishable content provided by the customized station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Jacqueline J. Lockhart
  • Patent number: 9300880
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing sensor data and image data to an application processor on a mobile device are described. An example method involves receiving image data from at least one camera of the mobile device and receiving sensor data from an inertial measurement (IMU) of the mobile device. The method further involves generating a digital image that includes at least the image data and the sensor data. The sensor data may be embedded in pixels of the digital image, for instance. Further, the method then involves providing the digital image to an application processor of the mobile device using a camera bus interface. Thus, the sensor data and the image data may be provided to the application processor in a single data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: James Fung, Johnny Lee
  • Patent number: 9291473
    Abstract: A navigation includes a next audio output state storage that stores, as a next audio output, an audio output which is started the next time when one audio output is completed, a next audio output state determiner that determines whether or not to output the next audio output on the basis of both the storing state of the next audio output and current navigation information, and an output determiner that, when a plurality of playback requests coincide, outputs an audio output having a higher one of priorities acquired from the priority holder, and stores an audio output having a lower one of the priorities in the next audio output state storage as a next audio output, and that determines an audio output to be played back according to the determination by the next audio output state determiner when one audio output is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9292516
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and systems for use in generating, organizing, and/or playing back multimedia content. Some embodiments provide methods for use in organizing source content by accessing a plurality of media content having parameter data associated with each of the media content, identifying a first organizational style, identifying a first parameter data according to the first organizational style, analyzing the parameter data of each of the plurality of media content relative to the first parameter data, organizing the plurality of media content as the parameter data for each of the plurality of media content relates to the identified first parameter data according to the first organizational style, and generating an output content incorporating the plurality of media content as organized according to the first organizational style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sonic Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Bruce W. Randall, Todd Daggert, Paul R. Wenker, Sergio M. Etcheverry
  • Patent number: 9293133
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving communication over a network are provided. A system for improving communication over a network, comprises a detection module capable of detecting data indicating a problem with a communication between at least two participants communicating via communication devices over the network, a management module capable of analyzing the data to determine whether a participant is dissatisfied with the communication, wherein the management module includes a determining module capable of determining that the participant is dissatisfied, and identifying an event causing the dissatisfaction, and a resolution module capable of providing a solution for eliminating the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Pamela A. Nesbitt, Tara N. Sainath, Elizabeth V. Woodward
  • Patent number: 9286889
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving communication over a network are provided. A system for improving communication over a network, comprises a detection module capable of detecting data indicating a problem with a communication between at least two participants communicating via communication devices over the network, a management module capable of analyzing the data to determine whether a participant is dissatisfied with the communication, wherein the management module includes a determining module capable of determining that the participant is dissatisfied, and identifying an event causing the dissatisfaction, and a resolution module capable of providing a solution for eliminating the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Pamela A. Nesbitt, Tara N. Sainath, Elizabeth V. Woodward
  • Patent number: 9286893
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to virtualization and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for annotation of street grammar in speech enabled navigation devices. In an embodiment of the invention, a pre-processing street grammar annotation system can be provided. The system can include an annotated street grammar storage that contains street root names wherein each street root name has more than one street suffix associated with said street root name, and a street annotation pre-processor wherein the street annotation pre-processor contains logic enabled to annotate a set of street suffixes to a street root name prior to processing a voice input in a speech enabled navigation device, wherein the street root name has more than one street suffix associated with said street root name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick E. Bollenbacher, Samuel L. Karns
  • Patent number: 9286897
    Abstract: In an automatic speech recognition (ASR) processing system, ASR processing may be configured to process speech based on multiple channels of audio received from a beamformer. The ASR processing system may include a microphone array and the beamformer to output multiple channels of audio such that each channel isolates audio in a particular direction. The multichannel audio signals may include spoken utterances/speech from one or more speakers as well as undesired audio, such as noise from a household appliance. The ASR device may simultaneously perform speech recognition on the multi-channel audio to provide more accurate speech recognition results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Maximilian Emanuel Bisani, Nikko Strom, Bjorn Hoffmeister, Ryan Paul Thomas
  • Patent number: 9280906
    Abstract: A selective synchronization service may facilitate the synchronous presentation of corresponding audio content and textual content. Corresponding words in companion items of audio and textual content may be selected for synchronous presentation. A corresponding word may be selected for synchronous audible and textual presentation according to any of a number of criteria. Further, a corresponding word may be selected for a modified synchronous presentation, in which the audible and/or textual presentation of the corresponding word is modified. Alternately, a corresponding word may be selected for an audible presentation without a textual presentation, or a textual presentation without an audible presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Audible. Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Arora, Guy Ashley Story, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9280973
    Abstract: In a content browsing environment, a system analyzes content to identify audio commands to be made available to users. The audio commands may be chosen so that they are easily differentiable from each other when using machine-based speech recognition techniques. When the content is displayed, the system monitors a user's speech to detect user utterances corresponding to the audio commands and performs content navigation in response to the user utterances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Olusanya T. Soyannwo, Ramy S. Sadek, Edward Dietz Crump, Siddarth Raghunathan, Renwei Yan
  • Patent number: 9275641
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for creating custom dialog system engines. The system comprises a dialog system interface installed on a first server or a user device and a platform deployed on a second server. The platform is configured to receive dialog system entities and intents associated with a developer profile and associate the dialog system entities with the dialog system intents to form a custom dialog system engine associated with the dialog system interface. The web platform receives a user request from the dialog system interface, activates the custom dialog system engine based on identification, and retrieves the dialog system entities and intents. The user request is processed by applying the dialog system entities and intents to generate a response to the user request. The response is sent to the dialog system interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventors: Ilya Genadevich Gelfenbeyn, Artem Goncharuk, Pavel Aleksandrovich Sirotin
  • Patent number: 9275075
    Abstract: To provide an information processing device, an information processing method, an information storage medium, and a program capable of providing information and executing a processing according to a situation in which content is used. A channel data obtaining unit obtains content-corresponding images corresponding to a plurality of respective contents. An index screen image producing and outputting unit outputs a screen image showing a picture in which the respective content-corresponding images are placed according to a rule determined based on data that is updated upon use of the respective contents. An index-object-related processing executing unit executes, upon receipt of selection of the content-corresponding image, a processing that corresponds to a content-corresponding image selected and is based on data that is updated upon use of a content corresponding to the content-corresponding image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yoko Isobe, Shigeru Enomoto
  • Patent number: 9270514
    Abstract: A multimedia event recording apparatus, and more particularly, a multimedia event recording method by which multimedia data and multimedia event contents are related and then stored, and an apparatus suitable for the method are provided. The multimedia recording method includes: detecting an occurrence of a control event in relation to multimedia data; closing a file in which an audio and/or video (A/V) stream is being recorded if the control event occurs, before the control event occurs is recorded; recording a position of data at which the control event corresponding to the closed file occurs and file information of the closed file in a mark table; and opening a new file and storing an A/V stream after the control event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gung-eun Nam
  • Patent number: 9269357
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable article of manufacture for extracting a specific situation in a conversation. The system includes: an acquisition unit for acquiring speech voice data of speakers in the conversation; a specific expression detection unit for detecting the speech voice data of a specific expression from speech voice data of a specific speaker in the conversation; and a specific situation extraction unit for extracting, from the speech voice data of the speakers in the conversation, a portion of the speech voice data that forms a speech pattern that includes the speech voice data of the specific expression detected by the specific expression detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Itoh, Gakuto Kurata, Masafumi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9264906
    Abstract: A user is provided with access to a systems interface to back-end legacy systems using voice inputs. The user dials-in to the voice server using an access device. A voice recognition server performs voice authentication, speech recognition, and speech synthesis. The voice server authenticates the user based on a voice exemplar provided by the user. Using speech synthesis, the voice server provides a menu of operations from which the user can select. By speaking into the access device, the user selects an operation and provides any additional data needed for the operation. Using speech recognition, the voice server prepares a user request based on the spoken user input. The user request is forwarded to the systems interface to the legacy systems. The systems interface includes a protocol server for providing a protocol interface and a transaction server for receiving user requests and generating legacy transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven G. Smith, Ralph J. Mills, Roland T. Morton, Jr., Mitchell E. Davis