Patents by Inventor Tobin E. Farrand

Tobin E. Farrand has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9929981
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ooma, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Patent number: 9787611
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ooma, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Patent number: 9633547
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for monitoring and controlling a security system for a structure are provided herein. An exemplary method may include receiving sensor data from at least one first peripheral, the sensor data associated with at least one of activity inside and activity outside of a structure; determining a critical event based in part on the sensor data; creating an alert based in part on the critical event; getting user preferences associated with at least one of a user and a base unit; determining a response based in part on the alert and user preferences; and activating at least one of a second peripheral and a service based in part on the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ooma, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobin E. Farrand, William M. Gillon, Kevin D. Snow, William T. Krein, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20170104875
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and media for Internet Advertising. Exemplary methods may include: providing an advertisement including a first identifier to a website using at least one of a template and an application programming interface (API), the advertisement to be displayed on the website; receiving a communications session initiated by an end customer using the first identifier, the communications session including a second identifier associated with the end customer; accepting the communications session when the second identifier is not included in a black list; retrieving a record associated with the end customer using the second identifier; determining to provide a promotional message to the end customer using the record; selecting an offer using the record; providing the promotional message to the end customer using the communications session, the promotional message including the offer and a request for an indication of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: James Im, William M. Gillon, Douglas E. Hart, David A. Bryan, Tobin E. Farrand
  • Publication number: 20170084164
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for monitoring and controlling a security system for a structure are provided herein. An exemplary method may include receiving sensor data from at least one first peripheral, the sensor data associated with at least one of activity inside and activity outside of a structure; determining a critical event based in part on the sensor data; creating an alert based in part on the critical event; getting user preferences associated with at least one of a user and a base unit; determining a response based in part on the alert and user preferences; and activating at least one of a second peripheral and a service based in part on the response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Tobin E. Farrand, William M. Gillon, Kevin D. Snow, William T. Krein, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20170034081
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20170034062
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20170034045
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20170034044
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Patent number: 9560198
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for filtering a telephone call is provided. The method may comprise: receiving from a caller the telephone call directed to a communication device associated with an intended call recipient, the Internet being disposed between a computer implementing the method and the communication device, the intended call recipient being in a structure; determining a state of the intended call recipient using telemetry received from at least one of a sensor and an appliance disposed in the structure; scoring the telephone call based on predetermined scoring criteria to create a score indicative of a desirability of the telephone call, the predetermined scoring criteria being provided by the intended call recipient, the predetermined scoring criteria including the state of the intended call recipient; comparing the score to a predetermined threshold score; classifying the telephone call as an unwanted telephone call using the comparison; and selectively rejecting the unwanted telephone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ooma, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobin E. Farrand, Kevin Snow, Dennis Peng, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20160373372
    Abstract: A method for bandwidth sharing is provided. The method may include getting a list of neighboring communications hubs, the neighboring communications hubs being disposed in respective neighboring residences. The neighboring communications hubs may be communicatively coupled to the first communications hub using a first broadband data network provisioned by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and the neighboring residences may be within a same predetermined geographic region as the first residence or within a predetermined temporal distance on a data network from the first residence. The method determines if a data requirement exceeds bandwidth available to the first communications hub and provides a request for data to a neighboring communications hub. The request corresponds to the data requirement. The method then receives data responsive to the request from the neighboring communications hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Patent number: 9521069
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ooma, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20160330319
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for filtering a telephone call is provided. The method may comprise: receiving from a caller the telephone call directed to a communication device associated with an intended call recipient, the Internet being disposed between a computer implementing the method and the communication device, the intended call recipient being in a structure; determining a state of the intended call recipient using telemetry received from at least one of a sensor and an appliance disposed in the structure; scoring the telephone call based on predetermined scoring criteria to create a score indicative of a desirability of the telephone call, the predetermined scoring criteria being provided by the intended call recipient, the predetermined scoring criteria including the state of the intended call recipient; comparing the score to a predetermined threshold score; classifying the telephone call as an unwanted telephone call using the comparison; and selectively rejecting the unwanted telephone call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Tobin E. Farrand, Kevin Snow, Dennis Peng, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20160330108
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. Exemplary methods may include: providing a first data packet to a first interface, the first data packet including a first address and being received from a computing device, the computing device being at a premises and coupled to a third interface, the first interface coupled to a first broadband connection received at the premises, the first broadband connection being coupled to a service using a first data network; determining at least one second data packet to be received at the first interface from the service is lost or delayed; supplying a second address to the computing device for communications with the service, in response to the determining; receiving from the computing device a third data packet including the second address; modifying the third data packet including replacing the second address with the first address; and giving the modified third data packet to a second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Patent number: 9282133
    Abstract: Providing control information is disclosed. A real-time streaming communication channel is established with a communication party using a real-time streaming protocol. It is determined that control information is to be provided to the communication party. The control information is encapsulated using the real-time streaming protocol. The encapsulated control information is marked as including control information content. Streaming content is provided to the communication party via the real-time streaming communication channel using the real-time streaming protocol. The marked encapsulated control information is provided via the real-time streaming communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ooma, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Tsyganok, William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20160012702
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for allowing interaction between consumer appliance devices and security systems are provided herein. An exemplary method may include allowing various interactions of a user with a consumer appliance device to generate n signal, such as a panic signal, causing various forms of security systems to escalate the signal to obtain help. Another exemplary method involves allowing the device, when placing the panic signal, to involve back end systems related to the security system to provision access to an emergency service provider (i.e., 911 provider) “just in time,” eliminating the need for costly pre-provisioning. Another exemplary method involves various sensors of the security system to communicate with consumer appliance devices to improve the performance, usability, or efficiency of the consumer appliance device or related systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas E. Hart, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150339912
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for monitoring and controlling a security system for a structure are provided herein. An exemplary method may include receiving sensor data from at least one first peripheral, the sensor data associated with at least one of activity inside and activity outside of a structure; determining a critical event based in part on the sensor data; creating an alert based in part on the critical event; getting user preferences associated with at least one of a user and a base unit; determining a response based in part on the alert and user preferences; and activating at least one of a second peripheral and a service based in part on the response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ooma, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobin E. Farrand, William M. Gillon, Kevin D. Snow, William T. Krein, David A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150244761
    Abstract: Providing control information is disclosed. A real-time streaming communication channel is established with a communication party using a real-time streaming protocol. It is determined that control information is to be provided to the communication party. The control information is encapsulated using the real-time streaming protocol. The encapsulated control information is marked as including control information content. Streaming content is provided to the communication party via the real-time streaming communication channel using the real-time streaming protocol. The marked encapsulated control information is provided via the real-time streaming communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Vadim Tsyganok, William M. Gillon, Hai Lei, Tobin E. Farrand, David A. Bryan
  • Patent number: 7921440
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring and budgeting television viewing in order to influence and manage television-viewing habits in a manner that promotes self-monitoring. Example embodiments provide a Content Viewer Control System (“CVCS”), which enables devices and systems connected to a head-end, such as through a standard set-top box or a media center, to track and potentially control differing aspects of television viewing according to a viewing budget. For example, the CVCS can allow tracking and control over what content is viewed according to a variety of criteria, during which time periods, and for what duration on an individual or on a per-location basis, and/or based upon other configurable parameters. In summary, the CVCS receives notification of content as potential viewing events, compares a potential viewing event to stored viewing budget “allocations,” and reconciles the potential viewing event against the viewing budget.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: ARRIS Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Hubert E. Kolde, Tobin E. Farrand, Steven J. Young