IP Library Granted Patent US 9,971,984
Granted Patent B2
US 9,971,984 · App. 15/208,331 · Granted May 15, 2018

Observation platform for using structured communications

Inventors: Steven Paul Russell (Menlo Park, CA); Guy R. VanBuskirk (Spicewood, TX); Andrew W. Kittler (Atherton, CA)
Assignee: Theatro Labs, Inc.
G06Q10/06398G06Q10/10G10L15/26G10L17/22H04B7/14H04L67/2804H04M3/02H04W4/02H04W4/021H04W4/029H04W4/043H04W4/20H04L67/327H04W4/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,971,984
App. No.
15/208,331
Granted
May 15, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method of characterizing communications in a group of users, a computer system recognizes a group of users. Each user of the group of users is associated with one of a plurality of communication devices. The computer system records a communication between at least two of the communication devices. At least a portion of the communication is an audible communication. The computer system identifies features based upon the communication. The computer system generates a visual representation of the features.

Claims (42)

1. A method of characterizing communications in a group of users, comprising:

recognizing, by a computer system, a group of users wherein each user of said group of users is associated with one of a plurality of communication devices, wherein said plurality of communication devices are separate from said computer system;

recording, by said computer system in storage of said computer system, a communication between at least two of said communication devices wherein at least a portion of said communication is an audible communication;

identifying, by said computer system, features based upon said communication; and

generating, by said computer system, a visual representation of said features that is displayed on a display.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

making said visual representation available to a manager for making a decision.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said features are selected from the group of features consisting of: availability of a user of said group of users, location of a user of said group of users, communication history of a user, context of said communication, a classification of said communication, a frequency of communications between two users of said group of users, a length of said communication, and a response time to said communication.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said group of users is recognized based on a geographic location of users.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said group of users is recognized based on a classification of users.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said visual representation represents when a user of said group of users is engaged in said communication.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said visual representation represents when a user of said group of users asks a question in said communication.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

recording, by said computer system, geographic locations of said plurality of communication devices.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein said visual representation represents where users of said group of users are located.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein said visual representation represents where said group of users is not located.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said communication is a pre-recorded audible communication.

12. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method of characterizing communications in a group of users, said method comprising:

recognizing, by a computer system, a group of users wherein each user of said group of users is associated with one of a plurality of communication devices, wherein said plurality of communication devices are separate from said computer system;

recording, by said computer system in storage of said computer system, a communication between at least two of said communication devices wherein at least a portion of said communication is an audible communication;

identifying, by said computer system, features based upon said communication; and

generating, by said computer system, a visual representation of said features that is displayed on a display.

13. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:

making said visual representation available to a manager for making a decision.

14. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:

recording, by said computer system, geographic locations of said communication devices.

15. A structured communications observation platform comprising:

a plurality of communication devices comprising:

a first communication device;

a second communication device; and

a third communication device; and

a computer system, wherein said second communication device is associated with said computer system, wherein said plurality of communication devices are separate from said computer system, and wherein said computer system is configured to:

recognize a group of users wherein each user of said group of users are associated with one of said plurality of communication devices;

record, in storage of said computer system, a communication between at least two of said plurality of communication devices, wherein at least a portion of said communication is an audible communication;

identify features based upon said communication; and

generate a visual representation of said features that is displayed on a display.

16. The structured communications observation platform recited in claim 15 , wherein said computer system is further configured to:

make said visual representation available to a manager for a decision making purpose.

17. The structured communications observation platform recited in claim 15 , wherein said visual representation represents when a user of said group of users is engaged in said communication.

18. The structured communications observation platform recited in claim 15 , wherein said visual representation represents where said each user of said group of users is located.

19. The structured communications observation platform recited in claim 15 , wherein said visual representation represents where said group of users is not located.

20. The structured communications observation platform recited in claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of said communication is a pre-recorded audible communication.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2025
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070779/0538 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2024
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066524/0950 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2024
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066524/0966 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059051/0030 →
FIRST AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059232/0505 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST (035329/0527) Recorded Mar 22, 2021
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VIII, INC.
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055679/0379 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST (047052/0301) Recorded Mar 22, 2021
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VIII, INC.
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055684/0013 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 18, 2021
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 055334/0321 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2021
From: RUSSELL, STEVEN PAUL; VANBUSKIRK, GUY R.; KITTLER, ANDREW W.
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055088/0533 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2018
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VIII, INC.
Reel/Frame 047052/0301 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14572450 · Dec 16, 2014
Continuation 13401146 · Feb 21, 2012
Provisional Application 61445504 · Feb 22, 2011
Provisional Application 61487432 · May 18, 2011
Related Publication 20160321596A1 · Nov 3, 2016