Patents Examined by Binh K. Tieu
  • Patent number: 10009462
    Abstract: A user equipment and method for call filtering is provided. On receipt of an incoming call, the incoming call's telephone number or other caller identifier is determined and then used as a search query in a search engine search. Using natural language processing or text string comparison, text from the search hits is processed by comparing with the stored permitted caller description(s). If a match is found, then a call alert is generated, whereas if not, then the call is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Henry J. Collinson, Julie E. Stalley, Tom Waterton
  • Patent number: 9959084
    Abstract: A communication terminal displays an image having a plurality of image layers, being shared with a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal. In response to a user input for changing appearance of a first image layer of the image, the communication terminal stores information reflecting the change caused by the user input to the first image layer in a memory, and generates an updated image having the first image layer that reflects the change caused by the user input. The communication terminal transmits the information reflecting the change to the first image layer to the first communication terminal to cause the first communication terminal to generate and display the updated image. The communication terminal transmits the updated image having the first image layer that reflects the change to the second communication terminal to cause the second communication terminal to store the updated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuhei Tsubone
  • Patent number: 9924043
    Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, media, and systems for managing emergency communications and providing seamless data extraction from a communication device by an emergency service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: RAPIDSOS, INC.
    Inventors: Anil Mehta, Michael John Martin, Nicholas Edward Horelik, Reinhard Ekl
  • Patent number: 9917945
    Abstract: A voice quality estimation process may be triggered by receiving one or more alarms corresponding to one or more endpoint terminals being used during a teleconference. The alarm(s) may include uplink transmission alarms, downlink transmission alarms and/or acoustic quality alarms. The alarms may be based on evaluating transmission metrics and/or acoustic quality metrics. The voice quality estimation process may require a relatively greater computational burden than the processes of evaluating the transmission metrics and/or acoustic quality metrics for the purpose of potentially triggering an alarm. The accuracy and computational complexity of voice quality estimation may be adjusted by selecting times during which alarm detection will take place, alarm detector thresholds, alarm analyzer thresholds and/or levels of voice quality estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Doh-Suk Kim, Jean-Francois Catz
  • Patent number: 9912821
    Abstract: A system for customizing time limits for inmate communications in a correctional facility is disclosed. The system includes a profile subsystem that stores an inmate profile of the inmate and a communication processing subsystem comprising one or more processors configured to receive data of an inmate communication of an inmate, identify a type of communication device of the inmate and a call recipient of the inmate communication based on the data of the inmate communication, retrieve the inmate profile of the inmate form the profile subsystem, identify a plurality of behaviors of the inmate based on the inmate profile, determine a time limit based on at least one of the type of communication device, the call recipient of the inmate communication, and the plurality of behaviors of the inmate, and assign the time limit to the inmate communication of the inmate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Hodge
  • Patent number: 9883142
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes retrieving positions P1, P2 and P3 of a first, second and third attendee position, respectively, P1, P2, P3 being determined based on detecting speech from the first, second and third attendee position, respectively, by a first microphone array of a first collaboration apparatus, retrieving distances D1, D2 and D3 from the first, second and third attendee position, respectively, to a second microphone array of a second collaboration apparatus, D1, D2, D3 being determined based on detecting speech from the first, second and third attendee position, respectively, by the second microphone array, P1 and D1 defining a circle C1 centered at P1 with radius D1, P2 and D2 defining a circle C2 centered at P2 with radius D2, P3 and D3 defining a circle C3 centered at P3 with radius D3, calculating a position P4 based on a proximity of a circumference of C1, C2 and C3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: HaoHai Sun
  • Patent number: 9883046
    Abstract: Described herein is a retrofit digital speaker system comprising two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures, each of the two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures (enclosures) comprising: at least one speaker; and an analog-and-digital interface adapted to receive digitally encoded audio signals, electrical power, and digital command signals, and wherein the digitally encoded audio signals, electrical power, and digital command signals are transmitted over existing two wire analog audio cables, and further wherein the two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures are wired in a daisy chain fashion, via the existing two wire analog audio cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark LaBosco, Alexander Marra
  • Patent number: 9871912
    Abstract: In a conference call having a plurality of participants interacting in a conference exchange of information in a digital transmission environment, the interaction being across a variable network transmission resource, a method of allocating the level of transmission resource, the methods including the steps of: (a) monitoring predetermined aspects of the participant's behavior during the conference call; (b) determining a divergence of participants behavior from normative values; (c) utilizing any divergence as an indicator of aberrant operation of the participants; and (d) allocating the resource determinative on the divergence of participants behavior from normative values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Li, Glenn N. Dickins, Xuejing Sun
  • Patent number: 9832313
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for establishing inbound calls and outbound calls involving inmates and outside parties. One exemplary technique receives input identifying authorized sources who are authorized to initiate and conduct calls with an inmate and stores a list of the authorized sources. The list, for example, can include telephone numbers, VOIP caller identifiers, and/or call privileges associated with the sources. The technique receives an inbound call directed to the inmate and determines whether the source of the inbound call is authorized or not, for example, by comparing information about the source with information in the list of authorized sources and/or based on the call privileges. If the source is authorized, the call is permitted. If not the technique routes the call to a payment interface for the caller to provide payment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: CONFINEMENT TELEPHONY TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Alan Way, Timothy Edwin Pabon, Todd Russell Thomasson, Rick Allen Lubbehusen
  • Patent number: 9819867
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Changsoo Jeong, John Modestine, Trevor Phillips, Mark Siminoff, Robert Tso, Stuart Westerman
  • Patent number: 8223936
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for connecting consumers and merchants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventors: Thirunarayanan Srinivasan, Ramesh Ramamurthy, Krishnan Kannan, Muralidharan Anakavur, Gopakumar Padmanabhan
  • Patent number: 8064583
    Abstract: System and methods for authenticating access to multiple data stores are disclosed. The system may include a server coupled to a network, a client device in communication with the server via the network and a plurality of data stores. The server may authenticate access to the data stores and forward information from those stores to the client device. An exemplary authentication method receives a request for access to data. Information concerning access to that data is stored and associated with an identifier assigned to a client device. If the identifier is found to correspond to the stored information during a future request for access to the store, access to that store is granted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seven Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Sutaria, Brian Daniel Gustafson, Robert Paul van Gent, Ruth Lin, David Merriwether, Parvinder Sawhney
  • Patent number: 8027333
    Abstract: Providing enhanced emergency services (E-911) to an IP Telephony-based PBX or similar system, by utilizing aspects of the intelligence of end-user SIP client devices to address challenges and difficulties associated with E-911-like services in LAN-based telephony environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: David Grabelsky, Michael Homeier, Anoop Tripathi, Boby Joseph
  • Patent number: 8014504
    Abstract: A system for generating usage statistics for a communications routing system from data generated at routing points and at end points of the system has a processor having access to the communications routing system for analyzing the data and generating the statistics, and a server having access to the processor for rendering the generated statistics into a format for display. The data used to generate the statistics includes routing path information for events routed through the communications routing system and optionally interaction histories recorded at certain routing points and end points in the communications routing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Galvin
  • Patent number: 8009573
    Abstract: A method for controlling the charging of packet data service includes: monitoring a number of event triggers; and when one of the event triggers is met, a Traffic Plane Function (TPF) requesting charging rules from a Charging Rule Function (CRF). In the preferred embodiments, the event triggers, which the TPF is required for request charging rules from the CRF according to are set by the CRF and then are provided to the TPF. Charging-relevant input information is provided in the request, based on which the CRF determines proper charging rules and sends the determined charging rules to the TPF. In this way, the timing that the TPF requests charging rules from the CRF becomes controllable, and redundant information caused by the unnecessary charging rule from the TPF becomes avoidable, which enables effective interaction between the TPF and the CRF and reasonable charging control of packet data service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Xiaoqin Duan
  • Patent number: 7995725
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium that comprises, receiving an incoming communication, compiling statistics related to the incoming communication and analyzing the compiled statistics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventor: Richard K. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7995723
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for specifying and obtaining services through audio commands, resulting in a live conversation between a user and a selected service provider using an audio-transmission medium (the telephone). A service seeker locates a service provider by entering a keypad code corresponding to a field of service or by speaking the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system. The seeker can then specify, via voice or keypad entry, a price range, quality rating, language, and keyword descriptors of the service provider, such as a service provider code number. In response, the system offers currently available service providers. Once an available service provider is selected, the system connects the service seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. The system bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Jacob, Scott Faber, Sean Van der Linden
  • Patent number: 7995727
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for managing the calling-party identification information offered to called parties. Accordingly, a caller can designate the Caller ID information to the called party based on the context of the call (e.g. the role of the caller) rather than the terminal used. Typically the calling party does this by selecting which of multiple values they wish to have sent with the call request. It is beneficial to implement such a mechanism in a secure manner—the ability to employ a different calling-number or calling-name ID should be restricted to properly-authorized and authenticated persons—in order to ensure the quality of this information. Accordingly, preferred embodiments include an authentication mechanism for verifying the calling party information is authentic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Thomas P. Chmara, Raymond Bruce Wallace
  • Patent number: 7995726
    Abstract: A system for notifying an Internet-accessible device of a communication placed from a first telecommunications device to a second telecommunications device by a calling party is disclosed. The system includes a switch and a node in communication with the switch. The switch is for detecting the communication. The node is configured for communication with the Internet-accessible device and includes a first module and a second module. The first module is for determining information about the calling party. The second module is for determining information about the Internet-accessible device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: James C. Bedingfield
  • Patent number: 7991134
    Abstract: An intelligent telephone set is disclosed that includes a caller-ID circuit that extracts a call identifier from an incoming call. A call processing circuit in communication with the caller-ID circuit assigns the incoming call to a caller category associated with the call identifier. Subsequently, it selects a call processing action corresponding to the caller category and processes the incoming call using the selected call processing action. The intelligent telephone set allows users to set criteria for receiving and processing calls based on CID data. One such call processing action is to use CID data to forward an incoming call to a predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventor: Hack Kim