Patent Overview

VB Assets owns and licenses a portfolio of more than 30 issued patents relating to foundational aspects of conversational AI and voice-enabled systems, including natural language understanding, voice commerce, voice advertising, and content dedication.

These patents originated from innovations developed by its predecessor companies and address core technologies used in modern voice-enabled platforms. VB Assets continues to file new patents, reflecting its ongoing commitment to advancing and protecting conversational AI technologies.

In litigation involving Amazon Alexa technologies, a Delaware jury awarded VB Assets damages after finding certain patents valid and infringed, and the Court subsequently established ongoing royalty rates.

VB Assets actively licenses its intellectual property and works with companies utilizing technologies covered by its patents to establish appropriate licensing arrangements.

Key Patents and Technologies

Natural Language Understanding (NLU)

Our patents in the Natural Language Understanding (NLU) category, including U.S. Patent No. 8,073,681, address cooperative (goal-oriented) conversational interaction between users and voice-enabled systems. These patents relate to interpreting complex commands, maintaining contextual awareness, and generating structured responses across multiple steps.

In practical terms, this includes conversational interactions such as requesting weather updates, adjusting smart home settings, troubleshooting a device through voice prompts, or navigating multi-step service requests. The patented methods address how systems refine user intent, remember prior inputs, and guide structured conversational flows within a natural language interface.

The portfolio includes U.S. Patent Nos. 8,073,681; 8,515,765; 9,015,049; 10,297,249; 11,222,626; 10,515,682; 10,510,341; and 10,755,699.

  • United States Patent: 8073681
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: December 06, 2011
    Inventor(s): Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Everett, WA)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

  • United States Patent: 8515765
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor(s): Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Everett, WA)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

  • United States Patent: 9015049
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor(s): Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Everett, WA)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

  • United States Patent: 10297249
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor(s): Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Everett, WA)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

  • United States Patent: 11222626
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor(s): Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Seattle, WA)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

  • United States Patent: 10515682
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor(s): Koladi; Krishnaprasad (Whitefield Bengaluru, IN), Chalfant; David K. (Round Rock, TX), Bollandoor; Jagadeesha (Bangalore, IN), Kadaba; Swamy (Round Rock, TX)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for memory fault resiliency in a server using multi-channel dynamic random access memory

    Abstract

    An on-package multi-channel dynamic random access memory stores data associated with write requests. An off-package memory stores a copy of the data associated with the write requests. A resiliency driver detects a write request, stores data for the write request to the on-package multi-channel dynamic random access memory as a primary image, stores a backup of the data for the write request to the off-package memory as a secondary image, detects a read request, and reads data for the read request from the on-package multi-channel dynamic random access memory as the primary image.

  • United States Patent: 10510341
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor(s): Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Seattle, WA)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

  • United States Patent: 10755699
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor(s): Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Seattle, WA)

    Cooperative Conversation: System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

Voice Commerce

Our Voice Commerce patent portfolio, including U.S. Patent No. 9,626,703, relates to enabling transactions through natural language commands, including the use of short-term and long-term user context. From ordering groceries to booking services, these patented systems streamline the buying process, reduce friction, and support more personalized shopping experiences. Our patented solutions enable secure, intuitive transactions through voice-based interactions.

The portfolio includes U.S. Patent Nos. 9,626,703; 10,430,863; 11,087,385; and 8,073,681.

  • United States Patent: 9626703
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor(s)Kennewick, Sr.; Michael R.

    Voice commerce

    Abstract

    In certain implementations, a system for facilitating voice commerce is provided. A user input comprising a natural language utterance related to a product or service to be purchased may be received. A first product or service that is to be purchased may be determined based on the utterance. First payment information that is to be used to purchase the first product or service may be obtained. First shipping information that is to be used to deliver the first product or service may be obtained. A purchase transaction for the first product or service may completed based on the first payment information and the first shipping information without further user input, after the receipt of utterance, that identifies a product or service type or a product or service, seller information, payment information, shipping information, or other information related to purchasing the first product or service.

    Inventors:

    Kennewick, Sr.; Michael R. (Bellevue, WA)

    Applicant:

    VOICEBOX TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (Bellevue, WA)

    Family ID:

    55455147

    Assignee:

    VoiceBox Technologies Corporation (Bellevue, WA)

    Appl. No.:

    14/855334

    Filed:

    September 15, 2015

  • United States Patent: 10430863
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: October 01, 2019
    Inventor(s)Kennewick, Sr.; Michael R.

    Voice commerce

    Abstract

    In certain implementations, a system for facilitating voice commerce is provided. A user input comprising a natural language utterance related to a product or service to be purchased may be received. A first product or service that is to be purchased may be determined based on the utterance. First payment information that is to be used to purchase the first product or service may be obtained. First shipping information that is to be used to deliver the first product or service may be obtained. A purchase transaction for the first product or service may completed based on the first payment information and the first shipping information without further user input, after the receipt of utterance, that identifies a product or service type or a product or service, seller information, payment information, shipping information, or other information related to purchasing the first product or service.

    Inventors:

    Kennewick, Sr.; Michael R. (Bellevue, WA)

    Applicant:

    VB ASSETS, LLC (Bellevue, WA)

    Family ID:

    55455147

    Assignee:

    VB Assets, LLC (Bellevue, WA)

    Appl. No.:

    15/484930

    Filed:

    April 11, 2017

    Prior Publication Data

    Document IdentifierPublication DateUS 20170221134 A1Aug. 03, 2017

  • United States Patent: 11087385
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor(s)Kennewick, Sr.; Michael R.

    Voice commerce

    Abstract

    In certain implementations, a system for facilitating voice commerce is provided. A user input comprising a natural language utterance related to a product or service to be purchased may be received. A first product or service that is to be purchased may be determined based on the utterance. First payment information that is to be used to purchase the first product or service may be obtained. First shipping information that is to be used to deliver the first product or service may be obtained. A purchase transaction for the first product or service may completed based on the first payment information and the first shipping information without further user input, after the receipt of utterance, that identifies a product or service type or a product or service, seller information, payment information, shipping information, or other information related to purchasing the first product or service.

    Inventors:

    Kennewick, Sr.; Michael R. (Bellevue, WA)

    Applicant:

    VB Assets, LLC (Bellevue, WA)

    Family ID:

    55455147

    Assignee:

    VB Assets, LLC (Bellevue, WA)

    Appl. No.:

    16/553553

    Filed:

    August 28, 2019

    Prior Publication Data

    Document IdentifierPublication DateUS 20190385218 A1Dec. 19, 2019

  • United States Patent: 8073681
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: December 06, 2011
    Inventor(s)Baldwin; Larry et al.

    System and method for a cooperative conversational voice user interface

    Abstract

    A cooperative conversational voice user interface is provided. The cooperative conversational voice user interface may build upon short-term and long-term shared knowledge to generate one or more explicit and/or implicit hypotheses about an intent of a user utterance. The hypotheses may be ranked based on varying degrees of certainty, and an adaptive response may be generated for the user. Responses may be worded based on the degrees of certainty and to frame an appropriate domain for a subsequent utterance. In one implementation, misrecognitions may be tolerated, and conversational course may be corrected based on subsequent utterances and/or responses.

    Inventors:

    Baldwin; Larry (Maple Valley, WA), Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Tjalve; Michael (Bellevue, WA), Ebersold; Blane (Seattle, WA), Weider; Chris (Everett, WA)

    Family ID:

    39304061

    Assignee:

    VoiceBox Technologies, Inc. (Bellevue, WA)

    Appl. No.:

    11/580926

    Filed:

    October 16, 2006

    Prior Publication Data

    Document IdentifierPublication DateUS 20080091406 A1Apr. 17, 2008

Voice Advertising

Our Voice Advertising patent portfolio, including U.S. Patent No. 9,269,097, relates to delivering advertising within voice and conversational interactions. These patents address personalized and context-driven ad experiences presented as part of a conversational exchange, making advertising more relevant to the user’s request.

Examples include presenting a relevant offer while a user is searching for a product or service by voice, or offering a sponsored option during a voice-guided selection process.

Representative patents include U.S. Patent Nos. 7,818,176; 8,145,489; 8,527,274; 8,886,536; 9,269,097; 9,406,078; 10,134,060; and 11,080,758.

  • United States Patent: 7818176
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor(s): Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennewick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Voice Advertising: System and method for selecting and presenting advertisements based on natural language processing of voice-based input

    Abstract

    A system and method for selecting and presenting advertisements based on natural language processing of voice-based inputs is provided. A user utterance may be received at an input device, and a conversational, natural language processor may identify a request from the utterance. At least one advertisement may be selected and presented to the user based on the identified request. The advertisement may be presented as a natural language response, thereby creating a conversational feel to the presentation of advertisements. The request and the user's subsequent interaction with the advertisement may be tracked to build user statistical profiles, thus enhancing subsequent selection and presentation of advertisements.

    Inventors:

    Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennewick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Applicant:

    VOICEBOX TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION (Bellevue, WA)

  • United States Patent: 8145489
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor(s)Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennewick; Mike (Bellevue, WA).

    Voice Advertising: System and method for selecting and presenting advertisements based on natural language processing of voice-based input.

    Abstract

    A system and method for selecting and presenting advertisements based on natural language processing of voice-based inputs is provided. A user utterance may be received at an input device, and a conversational, natural language processor may identify a request from the utterance. At least one advertisement may be selected and presented to the user based on the identified request. The advertisement may be presented as a natural language response, thereby creating a conversational feel to the presentation of advertisements. The request and the user's subsequent interaction with the advertisement may be tracked to build user statistical profiles, thus enhancing subsequent selection and presentation of advertisements.

  • United States Patent: 8527274
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: September 03, 2013
    Inventor(s)Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennewick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Voice Advertising: System and method for delivering targeted advertisements and tracking advertisement interactions in voice recognition contexts.

    Abstract

    The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and track advertisement interactions in voice recognition contexts. In particular, in response to an input device receiving an utterance, a conversational language processor may select and deliver one or more advertisements targeted to a user that spoke the utterance based on cognitive models associated with the user, various users having similar characteristics to the user, an environment in which the user spoke the utterance, or other criteria. Further, subsequent interaction with the targeted advertisements may be tracked to build and refine the cognitive models and thereby enhance the information used to deliver targeted advertisements in response to subsequent utterances.

  • United States Patent: 8886536
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor(s)Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennwick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Voice Advertising: System and method for delivering targeted advertisements and tracking advertisement interactions in voice recognition contexts

    Abstract

    The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and track advertisement interactions in voice recognition contexts. In particular, in response to an input device receiving an utterance, a conversational language processor may select and deliver one or more advertisements targeted to a user that spoke the utterance based on cognitive models associated with the user, various users having similar characteristics to the user, an environment in which the user spoke the utterance, or other criteria. Further, subsequent interaction with the targeted advertisements may be tracked to build and refine the cognitive models and thereby enhance the information used to deliver targeted advertisements in response to subsequent utterances.

  • United States Patent: 9269097
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor(s)Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennwick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Voice Advertising: System and method for delivering targeted advertisements and/or providing natural language processing based on advertisements

    Abstract

    The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and/or provide natural language processing based on advertisements. In one implementation, an advertisement associated with a product or service may be provided for presentation to a user. A natural language utterance of the user may be received. The natural language utterance may be interpreted based on the advertisement and, responsive to the existence of a pronoun in the natural language utterance, a determination of whether the pronoun refers to one or more of the product or service or a provider of the product or service may be effectuated.

  • United States Patent: 9406078
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventor(s)Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennwick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Voice Advertising: System and method for delivering targeted advertisements and/or providing natural language processing based on advertisements

    Abstract

    The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and/or provide natural language processing based on advertisements. In one implementation, an advertisement associated with a product or service may be provided for presentation to a user. A natural language utterance of the user may be received. The natural language utterance may be interpreted based on the advertisement and, responsive to the existence of a pronoun in the natural language utterance, a determination of whether the pronoun refers to one or more of the product or service or a provider of the product or service may be effectuated.

  • United States Patent: 10134060
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor(s)Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennwick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Voice Advertising: System and method for delivering targeted advertisements and/or providing natural language processing based on advertisements

    Abstract

    The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and/or provide natural language processing based on advertisements. In one implementation, an advertisement associated with a product or service may be provided for presentation to a user. A natural language utterance of the user may be received. The natural language utterance may be interpreted based on the advertisement and, responsive to the existence of a pronoun in the natural language utterance, a determination of whether the pronoun refers to one or more of the product or service or a provider of the product or service may be effectuated.

  • United States Patent: 11080758
    Kind Code: B2
    Date of Patent: August 03, 2021
    Inventor(s)Freeman; Tom (Mercer Island, WA), Kennwick; Mike (Bellevue, WA)

    Voice Advertising: System and method for delivering targeted advertisements and/or providing natural language processing based on advertisements

    Abstract

    The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and/or provide natural language processing based on advertisements. In one implementation, an advertisement associated with a product or service may be provided for presentation to a user. A natural language utterance of the user may be received. The natural language utterance may be interpreted based on the advertisement and, responsive to the existence of a pronoun in the natural language utterance, a determination of whether the pronoun refers to one or more of the product or service or a provider of the product or service may be effectuated.

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Our patents cover foundational conversational AI technologies used in modern voice-enabled products.

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