Patents Examined by Sonia Gay
  • Patent number: 9431983
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus for adjusting volume and an electronic device using the same is provided. The method comprises: receiving a volume adjusting signal; detecting a current application scene based on a display content of the electronic device after receiving the volume adjusting signal; displaying a volume adjusting interface, the volume adjusting interface including an volume adjusting area which corresponds to the detected current application scene and a selecting area for indicating whether the volume adjusting signal is applied to all application scenes of the electronic device; adjusting volume based on the volume adjusting signal and applying the adjusted volume to the detected current application scene in case that a selected state of the selecting area is in a first state or applying the adjusted volume to all application scenes of the electronic device in case that the selected state of the selecting area is in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Boke Lin
  • Patent number: 9407759
    Abstract: Processing telephonic communication is disclosed. A request to establish communication is received from a first communication participant. A first identifier associated with the request is mapped to a second identifier associated with a second communication participant. The second identifier is used to establish communication between the first and the second participant in a manner that allows at least a portion of the communication between the first and second participants to be monitored. Compliance processing is performed with respect to at least a portion of said at least a portion of the communication between first and the second participant. The first identifier is made available to the first participant in a manner that causes the first participant to associated the first identifier with the second participant, the first identifier cannot be used to reach the second participant directly, and the second identifier is not provided to the first participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher H. Claudatos, William Dale Andruss
  • Patent number: 9401934
    Abstract: The present invention allows different types of communication applications to cooperate with an associated communication client to facilitate communications having a defined quality of service. The communication client may establish an authorized virtual circuit having a defined quality of service through a network using a first session establishment protocol on behalf of the communication application. Once the authorized virtual circuit is established, the communication application may establish one or more communication sessions, which may support different types of multimedia services, through the virtual connection. In one embodiment, the virtual connection extends through the local access network, which may be supported by an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). The communication client may use the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as the first session establishment protocol to establish the virtual circuit through the local access network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Dany Sylvain
  • Patent number: 9396731
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an audio output signal to simulate a recording of a virtual microphone at a configurable virtual position in an environment includes a sound events position estimator and an information computation module. The former is adapted to estimate a sound source position indicating a position of a sound source in the environment, wherein the sound events position estimator is adapted to estimate the sound source position based on first and second direction information provided by first and second real spatial microphones, respectively, located at first and second real microphone positions in the environment, respectively. The information computation module is adapted to generate the audio output signal based on a first recorded audio input signal, on the first real microphone position, on the virtual position of the virtual microphone, and on the sound source position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Juergen Herre, Fabian Kuech, Markus Kallinger, Giovanni Del Galdo, Oliver Thiergart, Dirk Mahne, Achim Kuntz, Michael Kratschmer, Alexandra Craciun
  • Patent number: 9390423
    Abstract: Techniques are generally described that relate to a method and system for verifying the presentment of an advertisement on a multi-platform system that comprises a plurality of telecommunication platforms, each capable of being accessed by a subscriber over a single transmission medium. A monitoring computer presents an advertisement over a first telecommunication platform. The advertisement is targeted to the subscriber. A monitoring computer selects a monitoring criteria based at least in part on the presented advertisement. The subscriber's use of a second telecommunication platform is monitored by the monitoring computer based on the selected monitoring criteria. The monitoring computer reports a subscriber behavior observed on the second telecommunication platform that is commensurate with the selected monitoring criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PRIME RESEARCH ALLIANCE E, INC.
    Inventors: Charles A. Eldering, Yang Yu
  • Patent number: 9385679
    Abstract: A multiband limiter with Staggered-Y topology including a band splitter having a signal input and a plurality of bands, a first band limiter having an input coupled to a first band of the band splitter, a first summer having a first input coupled to an output of the first band limiter and a second input coupled to a second band of the band splitter, and a first summer limiter having an input coupled to an output of the first summer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Polleros
  • Patent number: 9363616
    Abstract: A test system for testing directional capabilities of an audio device includes a horizontal linear actuator and a vertical linear actuator. The horizontal linear actuator supports a rotary actuator upon which the audio device is placed. The vertical linear actuator supports a sound source. To test the device, the actuators are controlled to establish multiple relative positions of the audio device and the sound source. A test sound is emitted at each of the relative positions. The audio device is configured to provide data generated in response to the test sound at each of the relative positions. The test system receives and records the data along with coordinates indicating the relative positions to which the data corresponds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wai Chung Chu, Steve Anthony Quento, Robert Gregory Deacon, Colter Earl Cederlof, Steve Gil Gonzalez, Philip Ryan Hilmes
  • Patent number: 9355632
    Abstract: An apparatus for reverberation time extension is provided. The apparatus includes a module for calculating wave field synthesis information, and a signal processor for generating a plurality of audio output signals for a plurality of loudspeakers based on the audio input signals that have been recorded by a plurality of microphones, and based on the wave field synthesis information. Further, the apparatus includes an operating unit for determining a virtual position of one or several virtual walls. The module for calculating wave field synthesis information is implemented to calculate the wave field synthesis information based on the virtual position of the one or several virtual walls. Further, the virtual position is adjustable by the operating unit for at least one of the virtual walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Rene Rodigast
  • Patent number: 9357068
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9342752
    Abstract: A video conferencing system contains one or more display adjusting components, whereby an object to be displayed can be adjusted to appropriately fit various sized display screens. A display adjusting component is contained within the sending client, which adjusts the image of the object to be appropriately displayed to one or more receiving clients. The receiving clients also contain a display adjusting component, which can further adjust the image of the object to be displayed, as necessary. The multimedia conferencing server of the video conferencing system also contains a display adjusting component, which negotiates parameters of the sending and receiving clients. Any of the display adjusting components can function alone, or in any combination together. A method, and computer readable media which contain computer readable instructions to perform a method, of adjusting an image for video conference display are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Woo Jae Lee, Hannah Jo Sifuentes, Trevor Daniel Shipley
  • Patent number: 9344795
    Abstract: Provided is an active vibration noise suppression apparatus having good robustness without determining a secondary transfer function while not performing adaptive control. A first control unit generates a control signal by a first adaptive algorithm as a direct adaptive algorithm. A storing unit stores an equivalent value Gh of a secondary transfer function G which is adaptively updated as an adaptive filter by the first control unit. A second control unit uses a second adaptive algorithm which uses the equivalent value Gh of the secondary transfer function G stored in the storing unit as a feedforward coefficient and updates a filter coefficient C2 of the control signal as an adaptive filter based on the feedforward coefficient. The second control unit generates the control signal by the second adaptive algorithm when the first control unit does not generate the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwamoto, Kouichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9344050
    Abstract: A system for echo cancellation includes a dynamic speaker management (DSM) module, a current/voltage sensing amplifier, a sound pressure level (SPL) model module and an echo canceller. The example DSM module is receptive to a far-end signal and is operative to develop a modified far-end signal and a plurality of parameter outputs. The example current/voltage sensing amplifier is coupled to the modified far-end signal and develops an amplifier output, a voltage (V) parameter output, and a current (I) parameter output. The example sound pressure level (SPL) model module is coupled to the plurality of parameter outputs of the of the DSM module and is operative to develop a predicted SPL. The example echo canceller module is responsive to the predicted SPL and to a near-end signal and operative to develop an echo-canceled output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek P. Nigam, Anthony S. Doy, Robert Polleros
  • Patent number: 9337898
    Abstract: A digital intercom system provides DC power and multi-channel bidirectional digital communications over existing cabling such as microphone cabling used in analog intercom networks. Three or more conductors in the cabling are used for both transmitting and receiving digital signals and carrying DC power. The digital intercom system includes digital user stations and a digital master station which can be used to retrofit an existing analog intercom network or deployed in a new network. User stations can be connected to the cabling via drop cables which do not use active electronic components. The master station routes digital audio and control data packets in three or more channels based on respective network addresses of the user stations to provide point-to-point, point-to-multi-point, and party line communications among the user stations. Sessions and groups can be configured which define talker and listener user stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CLEAR-COM LLC
    Inventors: David Albiston, Nigel Gordon, David Prime
  • Patent number: 9332415
    Abstract: Method and apparatus delivering voice/data services within a piconet operating over a limited range or over a WLAN communicating with 3GPP devices by reformatting data into IP format before delivering to the WLAN. The service is short message service (SMS). Upon receipt of an SMS message, relevant routing information is retrieved. A PDGW address for the SMS message is identified and is sent to the PDGW address which identifies the WLAN user equipment (UE) for receiving the SMS and reformats the SMS message into IP format (text or encapsulation) for delivery to the UE. A protocol architecture is provided for SMS delivery over WLANs, in particular, for UMTS/CDMA based SMS over WLAN through two alternative mechanisms, i.e., SMS tunneling and SMS proxy, for protocols for the delivery of SMS across the WLAN. The invention enhances standard 802.11 in the context of UMTS and CDMA 2000; as well as other scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kamel M. Shaheen, Prabhakar R. Chitrapu, Brian G. Kiernan, Debashish Purkayastha
  • Patent number: 9330653
    Abstract: A noise reduction apparatus includes: a speaker with a speaker unit held by holding means to make it possible to mix sounds emitted from front and rear of a vibration plate of the speaker; a microphone provided in an area where the sounds emitted from the front and rear of the vibration plate of the speaker are mixed and cancelled; and means for supplying a noise reduction audio signal obtained by phase-inverting an audio signal collected by the microphone to the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Teppei Yokota
  • Patent number: 9326087
    Abstract: A vehicle system is provided that includes a sound augmentation system with a sound augmentation generator that produces an augmented audio output to drive at least one audio output based on a transfer function and a plurality of audio tuning parameters. The vehicle system also includes a sound augmentation system health monitor that compares a feedback of the augmented audio output to a level of at least one input relative to at least one environmental condition to determine a current performance level of the sound augmentation system. The sound augmentation system health monitor also determines a difference between the current performance level of the sound augmentation system and at least one performance threshold level, and initiates an alert upon determining that the difference is at a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank C. Valeri, Scott M. Reilly
  • Patent number: 9319794
    Abstract: A surround sound system for reproducing a spatial sound field in a sound control region within a room having at least one sound reflective surface. The system uses multiple steerable loudspeakers located about the sound control region, each loudspeaker having a plurality of different individual directional response channels being controlled by respective speaker input signals to generate sound waves emanating from the loudspeaker with a desired overall directional response. A control unit connected drives each of the loudspeakers and has pre-configured filters based on measured acoustic transfer functions for the room for filtering the input spatial audio signals to generate the speaker input signals for all the loudspeakers to generate sound waves with coordinated overall directional responses that combine together at the sound control region in the form of either direct sound or reflected sound from the reflective surface(s) of the room to reproduce the spatial sound field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Industrial Research Limited
    Inventors: Terence Betlehem, Mark Alistair Poletti
  • Patent number: 9311925
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus in which samples of at least a part of an audio signal of a first channel and a part of an audio signal of a second channel are used to produce a sparse representation of the audio signals to increase the encoding efficiency. In an example embodiment one or more audio signals are input and relevant auditory cues are determined in a time-frequency plane. The relevant auditory cues are combined to form an auditory neurons map. Said one or more audio signals are transformed into a transform domain and the auditory neurons map is used to form a sparse representation of said one or more audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Juha Ojanperä
  • Patent number: 9313597
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a pickup system includes a wind detector and a wind suppressor. The wind detector has a plurality of analyzers each configured to analyze first and second input signals, and a combiner configured to combine outputs of the plurality of analyzers and issue, based on the combined outputs, a wind level indication signal indicative of wind activity. The analyzers can be selected from a group of analyzers including a spectral slope analyzer, a ratio analyzer, a coherence analyzer, a phase variance analyzer and the like. The wind suppressor has a ratio calculator configured to generate a ratio of the first and second input signals, and a mixer configured to select one of the first or second input signals and to apply to the selected input signal one of first or second panning coefficients based on the wind level indication signal and on the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Dolby International AB
    Inventors: Glenn N. Dickins, Leif Jonas Samuelsson
  • Patent number: 9306822
    Abstract: A system and method for performing a first diagnostic test on a first class of service on a network link during a current measurement period, performing at least one further diagnostic test on a second class of service on the network link during the current measurement period, determining whether an alert was present during a previous measurement period and generating a current failure alert based on results of the first and the at least one further diagnostic tests if an alert was present during the previous measurement period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AT & T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Chuan-Chuen Chang, Li-Jin Wu Chung