Digital Commons Network^™

Emoji Based On User Expression While Composing A Message, Bhuvana Hariharasubramanian

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques to extract real time facial expressions with the use of facial recognition techniques. When a user provides permission, a user device obtains an image of the user’s face and performs facial recognition to detect the facial expression of the user. Upon successful detection of the facial expression, the use of an emoji that represents the facial expression is suggested. For example, if it is detected that the user is confused while typing a reply to a message, an avatar or emoji that expresses confusion is sent to a recipient along with the message. The technique can …

Managing Access To Location Information, Tom Price

Defensive Publications Series

This publication describes systems and techniques directed to managing access to location information. A wireless-communication device, such as a smartphone, includes a sequestered location integrated circuit (IC) component that includes a location security manager application stored in memory circuitry of the sequestered location IC component. The wireless-communication device, using the sequestered location IC component, performs a technique that includes generating, from received data, a set of location information corresponding to a determined security-access level, encrypting the set of location information, and generating, for the encrypted set of location information, a security key that corresponds to the determined security-access level. The …

Preload Documents On Printer For Faster Printing Response, Hp Inc

Defensive Publications Series

Discloses a process that can preload the most probable document choice (or part of it) into a

printer (or local server), so the printing process can initiate faster.

The proposed design can improve user printing experiences on platforms that have limited

feedback. For example, on voice assistant platforms the voice application is not allowed to start

interactions with the user, nor stay with the communication open for much time, thus when using

a web printing service, it can’t wait for the printer to start the job to give feedback for the user.

Virtual Assistant In Phone Conversation, Sooraj Sasindran, Ajay Dudani

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques to provide a virtual assistant in a regular telephone call. The technique provides access to a virtual assistant to phone calls without the calling user device having a data connection. A user interface is provided that enables a user to selectively add a virtual assistant to a telephone call at call initiation or during an ongoing call. Upon user selection, the virtual assistant is added to the call along with the user selected call recipient, thus providing a conference call. With user permission, the virtual assistant accesses call audio and responds to user commands. The techniques …

A Sheet Of Soft Material Is Utilized As Living Hinge, Without Additional Mechanism Where Requires Rotation Function, Hp Inc

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure relates to detachable notebook, it has softcover to provide the input

(keyboard and touch pad) function and protection function. In order to communicate signal

between slate to softcover, it needs a connection point located in both devices. The connection

point in softcover is required to rotate according to slate's tilting angle. Therefore, the connection

point can be connected all the time no matter how it rotates. Usually, a simple hinge mechanism

is designed to offer the rotation ability. In this disclose, it eliminates the conventional mechanical

hinge structure, but still able to provide the rotation ability, by utilizing …

Always-On Lock Screen For Mobile Computers, Hp Inc

Defensive Publications Series

A touch controller of a mobile computer drives an OLED screen to display an

active lock screen whenever the clamshell of the computer is open.

User Interface With Automatic Highlighting Of Content Updates, Victor Carbune, Daniel Keysers, Thomas Deselaers

Defensive Publications Series

Users that visit websites or other content at different times often see content with minor updates. For example, a shopping website may display a list of items and corresponding prices, and the prices may change between multiple user visits. While some websites include built-in functionality to notify users of such changes, no general purpose solution is available to alert users. This disclosure describes techniques to detect the context of a user visit to a website or other content, and determine changes to the webpage since a prior visit. With user permission, the UI of the website is modified to highlight …

System For Passive Natural Telepresence, Garnet Shepherd, David Black, Ben Margolin

Defensive Publications Series

The disclosure describes techniques for passive natural telepresence that allow a user working from home or other remote location to be passively present at work. Existing devices, e.g., work computers, are configured to allow workers in different locations to interact as if they were present at the same physical location. The techniques facilitate casual unplanned interaction between users in different locations. For example, with user permission, a remote user is provided a feed of ambient office conversations and can join a conversation without scheduling a conference call between colleagues. Devices in the different locations, e.g., an office location, a home …

Automatic Adjustment Of Device Volume Based On Context, Supraja Meedinti, Neil Dhillon

Defensive Publications Series

The output volume of a device is usually controlled as a fixed value between zero to a maximum. Unless manually adjusted by a user, the volume of the device output does not vary. In the case of speech output, such constant-volume responses can sound unnatural because human speech typically involves nuanced variations in volume that serve as subtle communicative signals. This disclosure describes techniques to dynamically and automatically adjust the volume of devices such as smartphones, smart speakers, smart appliances, etc. The adjustment is achieved by determining the appropriate level for output volume such that a fixed signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio …

On-Device Assistant To Provide Access To Device Functionality Without Physical Access, Victor Cărbune, Sandro Feuz

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques to access functionality available only on a mobile device such as a smartphone or wearable device via alternate channels when the mobile device is not in close proximity to the user. The on-device assistant is enabled to access mobile specific functionality when the user and their mobile device are in different locations. Comparison of physical locations of the mobile device and user is performed when the user logs into their work terminal or accesses a work device, indicating the user is no longer in the vicinity of the mobile device. For example, the on-device assistant forwards …

Automatic Selection Of Audio Compression For Spoken Commands, Jordan Werthman, Glen Shires

Defensive Publications Series

Voice commands are commonly used for interaction with virtual assistant applications provided via user devices such as smart speakers, appliances, smartphones, etc. When a user provides permission, some voice-enabled applications upload the user’s speech data to a server using lossless compression to enable server-based recognition of the user command. The lossless nature of the transmission can take up significant network resources and receiving a response from the server can take a significant amount of time when the user has a slow network connection. This disclosure provides techniques that enable faster transmission for server-side processing of user speech data while retaining …

Live Head Avatar Using A Single Camera, Per Niklas Enbom, Dillon Cower, Guangyu Zhou, Tarek Hefny

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes generation of a photo-realistic, three-dimensional video of the head of a user using a single mobile device camera. The three-dimensional head video, referred to as an avatar, is live. The video closely resembles the user’s skin texture, and mimics the user’s facial gestures and expressions in real time. The live head avatar is generated and utilized with the user’s permission.

Text Scanner And Touch Reader For Visually-Impaired Users, Zhenping Cui

Defensive Publications Series

This publication describes a text scanner and touch reader application software for visually-impaired users (e.g., blind or partially blind) that may help them gain a higher degree of independence and privacy. As the visually-impaired user moves a user equipment (UE) around a scene with text, the application software records the scene with text. To aid the visually-impaired user record the whole text of interest, the application software verbally instructs the visually-impaired user on how to move the UE. Once the application software collects an adequate input, it instructs the visually-impaired user to stop recording. The application software uses machine learning …

Network Programming For Performance And Liveness Monitoring In Segment Routing Networks, Clarence Filsfils, Rakesh Gandhi

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques are described herein to define network programming functions for performance and liveness monitoring in Segment Routing (SR) and SRv6 networks. The network programming functions enable probe messages to run at significantly faster rates as punting probe messages to the control plane (slow path processing) and re-injecting them are not required. This enables hardware offloading for Performance Measurement (PM) sessions as well with liveness and PM probes combined. Network programming labels may be allocated from the global SR Global Block (SRGB) for SR Multiprotocol Label Switching (SR-MPLS) by a Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller. END functions are defined for SRv6 …

Novel Approach To Store And Use The Rotated Passwords For Authentication For A Privileged Sso In A Distributed Unsynchronized Environment, Saikrushna Samal, Gulshan Vaswani, Srivathsa Rao

Defensive Publications Series

There is a feature developed which would rotate the passwords of privileged accounts. Based on an organization’s compliance policy, the password rotation can be scheduled in an interval of time e.g. every 90 days or can be rotated immediately based on admin actions. As part of password rotation process, the new password is updated in the target system as well as its own primary and backup Credential Vault database. The primary credential vault synchronizes the updated password(s) to backup credential vault(s). While initiating a privileged session for an end user the invention uses the password stored in credential vault and …

Cross Personal Area Network Communication By Connected Grid Mesh Network In Lighting Area, Yinfang Wang, Li Zhao, Lele Zhang, Yajun Xia

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques are described herein for broadcast and unicast mechanisms to perform cross Personal Area Network (PAN) communication in a Connected Grid Mesh (CG-Mesh). Neighboring PAN information (e.g., security, PAN, etc.) is stored in a cross-PAN node. A lighting group Identifier (ID) allocation may be used for the broadcast mechanism, and route table creation may be used for the unicast mechanism. This allows a system to meet any lighting timing requirements.

Collaboration Application Proximity Based Guest Wireless Access Provisioning, Adam Schaeffer, Jason Beltrame, Christopher Bogdon

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques are described herein to consolidate existing technologies to allow end and guest users to rapidly self-provision wireless network access via a collaboration application. The users may obtain their own guest wireless credentials before starting to work. The process automatically learns a valid email address for the user through the collaboration application and a wireless connection. The users selects a “provision” option (e.g., button) on a video endpoint, which pushes identity information to the collaboration application to ultimately configure the user. The user obtains the credential details in the collaboration application only seconds later. Through backend configuration, content and network …

Duration Of Image Display In A Slide Show Based On Image Content, Baron Arnold

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques to automatically display images in a slide show for varying durations. With user permission, objects are automatically detected in images that are included in a slide show. The duration of the display of each image during the slide show is determined based on a number of detected objects in the image. For example, the objects can be faces, such that an image that includes a higher number of faces is automatically displayed for a longer time period than an image that includes a lower number of faces. Such dynamic display duration allows images having greater amounts …

Device Location Identification: Software Notifying Nearby User, Via Device Display And Audible Notification, To Contact Admin Or Input Device Location At Display, Hp Inc

Defensive Publications Series

This invention relates to the field of enterprise device support and servicing.

A method is disclosed to allow a service personnel to trigger a device to audibly notify bystanders of a

request for support, in additional to enabling the device to request specific actions from the bystander

(such as “Please, immediately call #555-555-5555 to provide information about the location of this

device.”, or "Please enter the device location, including building, floor, and location on the floor). This

invention requires firmware changes on the device, software changes in the enterprise-device

administrative solution (such as WebJet Admin), potential application/software changes to the …

Rapid Cable Bundle Size Inspection Of Power Over Ethernet Based Communications Cabling, Joel Goergen, Jason Potterf, Chad Jones, George Zimmerman

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques are described herein to allow a user (e.g., installer, electrician, inspector, etc.) to use a tie for a particular gauge wire system to tie the bundle together. A set of markers on the tie may indicate the number of wires that are in the bundle. If the viewing window exceeds the marked bundle size, then the bundle grouping is too large and the wire count must be reduced.

Advertisement Driven Augmented Reality Navigation In Shopping Malls, Lachlan (Locke) Dunn, Daniel Citron

Defensive Publications Series

Malls and shopping centers employ advertising placed throughout their physical facilities. However, such advertisements often lack any information on the location of the corresponding store within the facility and, consequently, provide no cues regarding how to navigate to the store from the location at which the advertisement is displayed. The techniques described in this disclosure enable an individual to navigate to an establishment upon encountering an advertisement for the establishment within a physical environment. With user permission, an augmented reality (AR) capable device is used to scan the advertisement and locate the advertiser’s store that is closest to the user. …

Energy Savings Using Virtual Assistants And Smart Home Appliances, Yuzhao Ni

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques to monitor and control smart home devices through virtual assistants. Use of the techniques can result in substantial energy savings.

Map Interface For Control Of Smart Home Appliances, Yuzhao Ni

Defensive Publications Series

As homeowners increasingly adopt and install smart appliances and devices, differentiating such appliances and devices by names has become difficult. For example, a typical house may have tens of appliances such as lights, computers, televisions, audio units, game consoles, heaters, air-conditioners, etc. Attempting to control such appliances/devices by assigning names can become tedious and error-prone. This disclosure describes techniques that visually situate home appliances on an indoor map. To control an appliance, a user can quickly select an appliance by its location on the map.

Digital Addressable Lighting Interface Protocol Over Wireless Mesh Network, Lele Zhang, Chuanwei Li, Yinfang Wang, Yajun Xia

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques are described herein for applying Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) protocol in existing Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). The DALI-based lighting market has experienced a large growth in recent years because of the potential for intelligent lighting systems to cut down many costs of initial investment, energy, and maintenance. However, traditional control systems cannot not meet large-scale Light Emitting Diode (LED) deployments in practice. DALI protocol may provide more stable connectivity among nodes, reduce redundant traffic, and transmitting broadcast commands with high efficiency.

Triggering Virtual Assistant Actions By Live Conversation, Joseph Edwin Johnson Jr.

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes virtual assistant techniques that automatically detect, with user permission, a conversation between a user and other individual(s), and provide information relevant to the conversation. For example, a user may be approached by a stranger with a request for directions to a certain business. Based on user-permitted factors such as the ongoing conversation, the user location, the user’s location history, etc., the virtual assistant readies a map relating to the stranger’s query. Further, if the user permits, voice identifier of the participants of a conversation is maintained. If the participants in the conversation meet again, the user is …

Intelligent Memo Highlighting Service, Sammy El Ghazzal, Miglė Padegimaitė

Defensive Publications Series

A technique is proposed for intelligently highlighting memos that are most relevant to users at the time of requesting memos. The method includes receiving, from a user device, a request to access memos associated with a user account. The method also includes determining a keyword based on user activities associated with the user device and performed before the request is received. The method further includes ranking memos associated with the user account based on the keyword. The method finally includes providing the memos associated with the user account while highlighting a subset of the memos based on rankings.

Uncertainty Modeling In Affective Computing, Asma Ghandeharioun, Brendan Jou, Brian Eoff, Florian Schroff

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes techniques that capture the uncertainty in machine-vision based affect (emotion) perception. The techniques are capable of predicting aleatoric, epistemic, and annotation uncertainty. Measures of uncertainty are important to safety-critical and subjective assessment tasks such as those found in the perception of affective expressions.

Automatic, Voice-Activated Adjustment Of Shopping Cart, Ashish Duggal

Defensive Publications Series

Screen-free virtual assistants, e.g., provided via smart speakers or appliances, are often used for online shopping by issuing voice commands. Prior to checkout, a user often finds a need to remove some items, e.g., due to cost or other considerations. When the device lacks a screen that allows viewing the shopping cart, it is difficult for the user to determine an optimal combination of items to remove such that high-priority items remain in the shopping cart and the shopping cart remains within budget.

This disclosure describes techniques that enable a user to command a virtual assistant to automatically prune a …

Location-Based Searches Performed On Behalf Of Users By Trusted Others, Ashish Duggal

Defensive Publications Series

Search engines account for user location into account by tailoring search results based on a user’s current location, if permitted by the user. However, there may be situations in which a user’s information need is tied to the location of another user. In such situations, the user must first ask for the other party’s location and formulate queries that explicitly include the provided location. This disclosure describes techniques that enable a seamless user experience when searching for information or resources connected to the location of another party, such as a relative, friend, co-worker, etc., with permission from the parties involved. …

Personalized Catalog Of Categorized Online Information Resources, Nurzhan Dyussenaliyev, Andrew Nicholson, Nitin Kashyap, Matthias Quasthoff, Simon Tokumine, Jakub Adámek, Benedict Davies

Defensive Publications Series

Novice users often find it challenging to realize the full potential of available information resources. One approach to help overcome these challenges is to present users with a categorized directory of ranked recommendations for useful information resources, such as apps or websites. However, a single directory and categorization is unlikely to be equally relevant and useful for all users. This disclosure describes techniques to provide a continuously updated catalog of categorized information resources personalized to the user’s needs, expertise, and context. The techniques are implemented with user permission. For each resource within the catalog, the user is presented with associated …